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Road Warrior Newsletter


August 03, 2017

Dear NJGCA Member:

Thank you for reading this week's NJGCA Road Warrior!

Here is what you will find in this edition:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:
• The Importance of Understanding Department of Labor Wage and Hour Regulations; Speedway Lawsuit Against NJ's Below Cost Selling Law; BP Considers Potential Partnership with EV Manufacturer; NJGCA Member Larry Valenzano and "Mighty Joe" in the News; NJGCA 80th Anniversary Celebration Update

NJGCA CLASSIFIEDS
- Asbury Park: Commercial Building for Sale. Possible Sale of Business
- Bergen County: Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale

NEWS AROUND THE STATE
Will the Tobacco Industry Win Its E-Cigarette Fight?
Venezuelan oil supply to Phillips 66 falls amid quality issues
FDA Calls for Lower Nicotine Levels
7-Eleven Signs with New ATM Partner to End ATM Surcharge Fees
Why an election 2,400 miles away could drive up N.J. gas prices

TRAINING CLASS SCHEDULE!
• ONE DAY EMISSIONS INSPECTOR TRAINING - TUES. AUG. 29

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD
• The Amato Agency: Garage Insurance and Workers Compensation! 
• ATS Environmental: Confidence in your Tank & Compliance Testing

• Bellomo Fuel: Exceptional Service, Aggressive Petroleum Marketing
• CBIZ Insurance: Our Business is Growing Yours!

Gill Energy: Getting you There!
• Lending Capital: "Commercial Loans Made Easy" Program
• Salomone Brothers: Tank Testing and Environmental Compliance
• TMP Energy Solutions: Another Way to Save On Your Energy Bills

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC
• Participate in the NJGCA PAC today and help us keep our Agenda rolling in Trenton!

*NEW*Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

JOIN NJGCA ON FACEBOOK -- CLICK HERE
TO SEE OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL -- CLICK HERE

                                                                                                                                                                 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE: GREETINGS & SAL-UTATIONS!

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING DEPT. OF LABOR REGULATIONS
SPEEDWAY LAWSUIT AGAINST NEW JERSEY’S BELOW COST SELLING LAW
BP CONSIDERS POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURER
NJGCA MEMBER LARRY VALENZANO AND “MIGHTY JOE” IN THE NEWS
NJGCA 80TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION UPDATE

 
I’m writing this Road Warrior as I’m leaving the office to go to Alaska with my family but on the way out the door I received a press release from the US DOL announcing that they have cited yet another multi-location operator for not paying their employees properly. I have discussed this many times in the last five years and we've even had representatives from DOL at several meetings to inform you how to properly manage your payroll and avoid violations and heavy fines. If you're still not 100% sure if you are paying your employees properly, please call the office for assistance. It is not OK to simply pay your employees a salary rather than an hourly wage to avoid having to pay overtime. It is important to us that you learn how to do this properly before somebody from DOL walks in your door. You don’t want to be the next operator that the US DOL penalizes almost $500,000!!  You can read the US DOL press release by clicking here.
 
The next issue I need to discuss is the lawsuit that Speedway filed against the State of NJ, challenging the constitutionality of the below cost selling law. There has been a lot of legal wrangling for the past few months, including the State of NJ filing a motion to dismiss Speedway’s lawsuit with the court. This motion is scheduled to be heard in Mercer County Superior Court on Friday, August 18th at 9AM. Since this case is between Speedway and the State of New Jersey, it is being defended by Deputy Attorneys General from the Office of the Attorney General.  NJGCA is not directly involved, but our members do have a significant interest and a lot at stake. Since NJGCA was integral in getting this law passed in the first place, we obviously do not want to see it overturned now. 
 
I will still be in Alaska on the 18th, but it is critical that we have a strong contingent of members who show up to attend, to demonstrate to the State and the Attorneys working on the case that this is a critical issue and we 100% support their efforts to defend the law. I would like to invite any member who would like to be in the courtroom to please attend. If you can make it, please RSVP to Jacy and she will get you details and send a reminder closer to the date of the trial. I am hoping that we will have 10 members present, along with NJGCA attorney Frank Brennan.
 
Moving on, several weeks ago I talked about the fact that although electric vehicles will continue to rise in popularity, the number of EVs expected on the roads in the future is less than was anticipated several years ago, due to the cheap crude oil and gasoline. I read recently that BP is considering a potential partnership with Electric Vehicle manufacturers to equip its global retail distribution network with EV charging installations. I thought you may find this interesting, coming from a major oil company, who expects that even though there are less than 1 million EVs currently on the roads, BP estimates that the number will reach 100 million by 2035.  Even the United Kingdom has recently joined France in their commitment to ban the sales of gasoline and diesel fueled vehicles by 2040. I believe you will see electric charging stations popping up in more and more retail locations and I would like you to consider being one of them. To read the article about BP’s talks, please click HERE.
 
Finally, you all should have received the On the Road newsletter in the mail recently. We have an article in there featuring member Larry Valenzano regarding his location Mighty Joes, and the story behind the gorilla landmark which stands 25 feet tall outside his location. The story was originally written for Weird NJ and Jacy saw the article in the Asbury Park Press a few weeks later. We contacted the original author of the article and got permission to reprint it in the OTR. Just this week we saw that the article has also appeared on NJ.com. Make sure you check it out on pages 20-21 of the July issue of On the Road. We’ve got a ton of important information in this issue, so please take the time to sit down and check it out while you’re having your coffee in the morning. You don’t want to miss our critical updates!
 
Last order of business: the 80th anniversary celebration. Invitation letters have been sent to the two candidates for Governor – Ambassador Phil Murphy and Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, who spoke to our members at the November 30, 2016 Gas Station and C-Store Summit. Both campaigns received the invitation personally and we have already received a call here at HQ from the Guagagno staff to discuss the details of the event. No, this doesn’t mean she has confirmed, but it's a good sign that she may accept our invitation. Anyone who saw LG Guadagno at our Summit in November or who listens to her talk about her vision for New Jersey, knows that she cares about small businesses. Her immediate response to our invitation further demonstrates her commitment and interest in making sure that small business owners have the tools that they need to succeed in New Jersey. We hope that her schedule will allow her to be at our event, and we hope that Ambassador Phil Murphy’s schedule allows him to attend as well, so that you are able to hear from both candidates and make your own informed decision in November.

Most of all, we hope that YOUR schedule allows YOU to attend, since this evening is a celebration of the strong and loyal membership that has led NJGCA to much success over the past 80 years.  There will be a cocktail hour and dinner buffet that will be sure to impress and a short program of speakers and awards. If you have any questions about the event, or you need another invitation and RSVP card, please call the office at 732-256-9646. Since I will be gone for the next two weeks, anything of importance will be sent to you from Jacy and I look forward to seeing you all in September at the Gala.


Thanks for reading -- See you next week!

Sal Risalvato
Executive Director

                                                                                                                                                         

TRAINING CLASSES!!

All classes held at NJGCA HQ -- 4900 Route 33 West, Wall Township, NJ 07753

Emissions Inspector Training Class - One Day Only!
Want one of your technicians to become a NJ Emissions Inspector? We can help! Our one-day class will provide all the information for becoming a NJ Emissions Inspector, and the State will administer the written test the very same day at our offices!  We are offering the class: Thursday, August 29th from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Cost $250.
Click HERE for the registration form.

FUTURE CLASSES WILL BE ADDED UPON REQUEST AND ACCORDING TO DEMAND. CONTACT DEBBIE at 732-256-9646 or DEBBIE@NJGCA.ORG TO LET HER KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING A SPECIFIC CLASS.  THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GAUGE YOUR NEEDS AND KEEP TRACK OF THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE!!

                                                                                                                                                               

 CLASSIFIEDS! -- FOR SALE & HELP WANTED ADS

FOR SALE:
Commercial Building in Asbury Park, Possible Sale of Business, Too!  For listing information, please click HERE.
FOR SALE:
Shell Gas Station with 6-Bay Repair Shop for Sale in Bergen County!

Business established in 1980. Fully equipped repair shop with 5 lifts including an alignment rack with a 2-year-old Hunter Hawkeye alignment machine. New Hunter tire machine & wheel balancer. AAA aproved and very busy.
Towing business also available which includes 3 Freightliner/JerrDan flatbeds (2015, 2016 & 2017), a 2012 Dodge crew cab wrecker with a Jerrdan Quick Pick & dual cable winch & 2 service trucks (a 2012 GMC 2500 utility truck with a plow & a 2014 Ford transit battery/service vehicle).

Pumping over 1,000,000 gallons per year. 100x300 lot with plenty of parking. Excellent location!!! Call Jim @ 201-851-3084.

         

                                                                                                                                                                         

NEWS AROUND THE STATE: THE NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW


08/02/2017:
Will the Tobacco Industry Win Its E-Cigarette Fight?
The e-cigarette and cigar industries have enlisted high-profile lobbyists and influential congressional allies in an attempt to stop the US Food and Drug Administration from retroactively examining their products for public health risks or banning them from the market. The campaign targets a broad new rule that extends F.D.A. jurisdiction to include cigars, e-cigarettes and pipe and hookah tobacco. The bipartisan effort has featured a former senator who did not register as a lobbyist before going to work for the cigar companies and a former Obama administration official, now a private consultant, who is trying to undo his earlier work reviewing the rule. In addition, one member of Congress introduced industry-written legislation without changing a word of it. The battle shows how, nearly two decades after the $200 billion settlement between tobacco companies and state attorneys general to compensate the public for health consequences of smoking, the industry still wields extraordinary clout in Washington. With its army of more than 75 lobbyists, tobacco-aligned companies have argued that the F.D.A.’s so-called Deeming Rule could hurt public health by forcing a large share of e-cigarette companies out of business.
 
08/02/2017:
Venezuelan oil supply to Phillips 66 falls amid quality issues
Venezuela's supply of heavy crude to U.S. independent refiner Phillips 66 has dropped by more than two-thirds this year in part due to quality problems, and the company has cancelled at least one cargo in recent months, according to sources from state-run oil company PDVSA. Phillips 66 (PSX.N) has also asked for price discounts for other shipments of Venezuelan crude, according to the sources. Venezuela's heavy crude supply to Phillips 66's refinery in Texas fell to 33,500 barrels per day (bpd) in June from 105,000 bpd in January, according to Thomson Reuters Trade Flows data. The contract between Phillips and Venezuela's PDVSA allows a maximum supply of some 170,000 bpd. The Merey crude Phillips 66 typically receives from Venezuela has to be processed before shipping to remove high levels of salt and metals. But operational problems at Venezuela's Orinoco Belt have changed the quality of some grades for exports, one of the sources said. Phillips 66 declined to comment on "matters that are commercially sensitive."  The declining quality of Venezuelan crude comes as output has been falling and a growing number of Venezuela's barrels have been used to pay for loans from Russia and China. That has reduced supplies to PDVSA's commercial customers, mainly in the United States, which in May imported 767,000 barrels of crude and fuels from Venezuela daily.
 
08/02/2017:
FDA Calls for Lower Nicotine Levels
In what appears to be the most revealing look thus far into how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will handle tobacco issues under the Trump administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, newly appointed commissioner to head the FDA, issued an extended document focused on breaking nicotine addiction as a central strategy. In addition, Gottlieb said alternatives to combustible cigarettes, such as e-cigarettes, are in need of further public discussion and research, extending deadlines for manufacturers to submit their new-product applications to several years down the road. “Envisioning a world where cigarettes would no longer create or sustain addiction, and where adults who still need or want nicotine could get it from alternative and less-harmful sources, needs to be the cornerstone of our efforts,” Gottlieb said. “And we believe it’s vital that we pursue this common ground.” Click the link above to read more of the major elements and strategies toward breaking nicotine addiction which are contained within Gottlieb’s document.
 
08/01/2017:
7-Eleven Signs with New ATM Partner to End ATM Surcharge Fees
Over 8,000 ATMs in 7-Eleven stores will offer surcharge-free access to customers. The upgrades are courtesy of a multiyear deal between MoneyPass and FCTI Inc., owned by Seven & I Holdings Co., 7-Eleven Inc.'s parent company. Beginning in August 2017, MoneyPass access will be rolled out across ATMs in 7-Eleven stores, the companies announced. The ATM rollout is expected to continue through early 2018. At the completion of the rollout, Minneapolis-based MoneyPass will have an estimated 33,000 surcharge-free ATMs in the US. “The addition of the 7-Eleven stores to the MoneyPass Network brings value to both organizations,” said Douglas Miraglia, president of the MoneyPass Network. “MoneyPass card issuers promote the expansion of convenient surcharge-free ATM access to their cardholders. And 7-Eleven looks to increase foot traffic to their location from the 87 million cards of the MoneyPass Network.”
 
07/31/2017:
Why an election 2,400 miles away could drive up N.J. gas prices
Price-minded drivers might want to keep an eye on the fallout from the election in Venezuela because it could affect gas prices here, experts said. New Jersey drivers might ask how events 2,400 miles away could affect gas prices on Route 1. The Venezuelan election is one of three factors that could trigger a bullish crude oil market and a summer gas price creep, said Tom Kloza, Oil Price Information Service global petroleum analyst. The first was a seven million barrel drawdown of crude oil in storage last week, which was double the usual amount, he said. The second was Saudi Arabia's regular summer reduction of crude oil exports by 600,000 barrels of oil a day, Kloza said. "The biggest pivot point, and why we've seen prices move-up, is because Venezuela [had] an election Sunday," he said.  Eight million voters participated in an election to name 364 members to a panel to redraft the Venezuelan constitution, which was ordered by President Nicholas Maduro. Opposition forces, which control the legislature, threatened to boycott the vote and call for a general strike, which could affect oil industry workers, Kloza said.

                                                                                                                                                                  

MEMBER BENEFIT PARTNER MESSAGE BOARD:



      







TMP Energy Solutions

Another Way to Save on Your Energy Bills

We have had a number of NJGCA members successfully reduce their rate per kWh signing up through our energy saving program. We know it's difficult to collect 12 months worth of previous electric bills to get an "accurate" analysis when comparing a variable rate to a fixed rate, but we now have another option available. 

This new solution is a power purchase option; the other program is still in full force and has saved members thousands of dollars. If you sign up for the power purchase option, you will be grouped with other NJGCA members until the minimum kW demand is acquired. By pooling the member's usage together, you will be able to take advantage, as large energy users do, and receive a lower kWh rate.

Each member will receive their own contract. Each member is responsible to sign and return the agreement the day it is received in order to secure the price for their group.

Please do your due diligence, so when you receive the proposal and the agreement you will be able to make an intelligent decision.

If by chance, you still want us to assess you bills, to give you a price to compare, we will require 12 months of your most recent utility bills.

There are no bills required, but we would still like to have one bill per meter on file to check account #'s, meter #'s  service addresses and other pertinent information incase there is a problem.

The term of the agreement is for 12 months. During this term period, you will have price protection against any energy price increases along with a low fixed kWh rate.

If you are interested in becoming part of this power purchase option, please contact Greg Cannon at the NJGCA.

Remember when you sign up your energy through the NJGCA Energy Program, TMP makes a considerable donation to the NJGCA Scholarship Fund through their proceeds. This has no affect on your rate, and costs you nothing out of pocket.

We hope to help hundreds of NJGCA members reduce their utility costs by participating in this and our other cost reduction programs.  Our purpose, in the endeavor, is to help NJGCA members lower their energy costs while supporting the NJGCA Scholarship Fund. 

Contact GREG CANNON at 732-256-9646 or email Greg at greg@njgca.org. Mention that you are interested in saving money on your energy bills. NJGCA & TMP Energy Solutions will handle all the rest. 

                                                                                                                                                                        

POLITICAL PARTICIPATON: THE NJGCA PAC

DEFENDING OUR MEMBERS.
PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS.
ANSWER THE CALL & CONTRIBUTE TODAY!!

Promoting our agenda in Trenton is of utmost importance to NJGCA and our members.

However, in order to truly affect the debate, we must ensure our friends in the Legislature are re-elected. It is for this reason that your Association has established the NJGCA PAC.

For too long, the weight of funding our Political Action Committee, the arm of the Association responsible for political donations, has rested upon a few. This is not only unfair to those few members who have shouldered this burden, but means we are not utilizing our full strength to affect the debate in Trenton.

To truly understand the importance of supporting our allies, consider our successes in Trenton:

We defeated BELOW COST SELLING
We made history in getting FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL signed into law!
We have built large support for RIGHT TO REPAIR and got it passed out of the Assembly
We defended your small business against the false accusations of Attorney General Anne Milgram
We gained wide support to move New Jersey to an all PIF Inspection System and close the CIF lanes
...and MUCH MORE!!

In each instance, we achieved these goals with the help of our friends in the Legislature!

If every member contributes just $100.00 we will be able to provide the help necessary to ensure victory for our allies. 

PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO:
NJGCA PAC
4900 Route 33 West, Suite 100
Wall Township, NJ 07753
Please make your donation payable to NJGCA PAC

I understand that times are tough for all NJGCA members, but this is just as important as any battle we have fought in the past.

We have made great progress in Trenton. I hope that you will answer the call. 

                                                                                                                                     

*NEW* Energy Information Agency Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices

Each week, the Energy Information Administration publishes a list of average gasoline prices for the previous three weeks. NJGCA will begin including this list with the Weekly Road Warrior.  Remember, these prices are reflective of self-serve everywhere except NJ.