JONESBORO, Ark.-The Arkansas Independent Tire Dealers Association launched a year-long membership drive at its convention in Hot Springs, March 4-5. The association, which currently has more than 200 dealer and supplier members, is hoping to increase the roster 50 percent under the slogan ``100 or more in '94.'' Executive Director Fred Simmons said the names of dealers who sign up new members during the year will be put into a drawing at the 1995 convention for a free trip to Orlando, Fla., or Las Vegas.
Also during the convention, the AITDA elected: Silas Turner of Mid-Arkansas Tire Co. Inc., Hot Springs, president; Steve Baskins of Baskins Tire Center, West Memphis, first vice president; and Charles Edens of Sherwood Tire Service, Sherwood, second vice president. The AITDA's 1995 convention is scheduled for March 16-18 in Hot Springs.
Kelly CEO to address OTDRA
BARBERTON, Ohio-Kelly-Springfield Tire Co. CEO Lee Fiedler will deliver the keynote address during the Ohio Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association's annual convention, June 24-26, at the Salt Fork Resort and Conference Center in Cambridge, Ohio.
The convention will feature seminars on motivating through positive reinforcement, conducting effective sales meetings and developing risk management and work place safety programs.
The OTDRA also will host an awards ceremony, golf outing and a ``murder mystery'' banquet. The convention is held separately from the association's trade show, which is slated next year for Feb. 10-11 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.
For more information, contact the OTDRA, 1020 Northview Ave., Barberton, Ohio 44203; (216) 825-9125.
'Reifen' o=to spotlight truck tires
ESSEN, Germany-Truck tires and truck tire marketing will be given special treatment at the biennial ``Reifen'' tire and retreading industry trade fair, scheduled for May 10-13 at the Essen Fair Grounds.
``Reifen '94'' will play host to more than 280 exhibitors from 23 countries-including several from the U.S.-and also will be the venue for a seminar May 11 on truck tire marketing organized by the international federation of tire dealer associations, BIPAVER, and Germany's dealer organization, BRV.
The Reifen trade fair has grown into Europe's largest tire and retreading industry exhibition; the organizers are expecting more than 20,000 visitors, despite the bleak economic climate in Europe the past 18 months.
Exhibitors include new-tire manufacturers, retreaders, retread and repair materials and machinery suppliers, workshop materials and machinery suppliers, automotive parts distributors and related businesses.
For more information, contact Messe Essen GmbH, Messehaus Norbertstrasse, Postfach 100165, D-45001 Essen, Germany. Fax: 49-201-7244-249.
ITDA to contract OSHA study
DES MOINES, Iowa-The Iowa Tire Dealers Association is funding a study through an independent firm to analyze the typical tire dealer's risk under Occupational Safety and Health Administration laws.
The report will outline the areas of concern, how to solve them and how a dealer can respond when an OSHA inspector comes calling, according to the association. The ITDA was prompted to contract the study due to the expense of workplace injuries and the increase in maximum OSHA fines. The ITDA said the Iowa Department of Labor has been the most efficient in the nation in applying the new maximum fines.
During the ITDA's annual meeting, Feb. 5-6, in Waterloo, members re-elected their officers and installed Lew Smith of Budget Tire Plus, Ottumwa, and Bruce McDowell of Mahaska County Tire, Oskaloosa, as new directors.
In brief...
The Maryland Tire Dealers Association has relocated its office to: 9420 Annapolis Road, Suite 208, Lanham, Md. 20706; (301) 577-4944. Fax: (301) 577-0527.
The Kansas Tire Dealers Association tapped Dick Cooper of Cooper Tire Service, Hutchinson, Dick Courter of Royal Tire, Salina and Jerry Glasgow of Performance Tire & Wheel, Topeka, as new members of its board, effective July 1.