Lobby For Your Hobby - Politics and Cars

[AZhitman]

As a member of SEMA, and The SEMA Action Network (SAN), I'm concerned about the protection and preservation of our rights as automotive enthusiasts.

The SEMA Action Network:

* Rallies the support of 3,000-plus car clubs, thousands of individual contacts, and 100-plus publications, with an estimated reach of 36 million enthusiasts nationwide, amplifying SEMA’s political voice on issues affecting the specialty equipment auto parts industry.

* Sends out action alerts to generate an abundance of responses to state and/or federal legislative actions and regulatory proposals.

* Issues timely updates of legislative and regulatory developments.

United groups of automotive hobbyists are a proven political force. To date, SAN efforts nationwide have resulted in positive outcomes on a wide range of issues, including vehicle scrappage ("clunker") laws, equipment standards, registration classifications, emissions-test exemptions, and hobbyist rights. You can be certain that these issues will continue to pop up at the state and federal level in the future.

You can make a difference by joining SAN now! http://www.semasan.com/san/join.aspx

10 Tips to Effectively Lobby Your Lawmakers

Getting involved in the political process and staying vigilant are the best ways you can help keep the automotive hobby thriving and protect it from unfair laws and restrictions. The following are some tips that will allow you to most effectively lobby your elected officials:

1. Develop and Maintain Relationships With Your Legislators and Their Staff: Make contact and develop productive relationships with individual legislators.

2. Educate Legislators About Your Hobby and Your Issues: Educate your legislator about what your business does, who it employs and who buys your products and services.

3. Maintain a Positive Attitude: Try to develop a positive relationship with your legislator. The next time a hobby-related issue comes up that could affect you, that same legislator may be needed to support your cause.

4. Be Informed: Stay up-to-date with SAN legislative alerts, newspaper articles and hearing notices.

5. Get Involved With the Community: Support local charities and fundraisers as it will demonstrate to local residents and politicians that your car club or organization is a positive force in the community.

6. Invite Officials to Participate in Your Events: Give legislators a platform to reach an audience of constituents.

7. Team Up With Other Clubs: To add strength in numbers and ensure that your interests are represented, partner with other clubs or car club councils in your area.

8. Rally Support Behind Pro-Hobby Legislators: Encourage hobby-friendly lawmakers to join the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.

9. Spread the Word: Print this page and take it to your next club meeting or cruise night or post a link to it on another online forum.

10. Register to Vote: Exercise your right to support pro-hobby candidates. Constituents are an elected official’s number one priority. Without you and your vote of support, these officials would not be in office; so make sure you are registered, and get out and vote.

[x240xdrifter]

That is some awesome info!!!

OBD-III is coming out soon. How big of an ordeal is this going to be for car enthusiats (sp?) eh?

[AZhitman]

OBD-III is coming out soon. How big of an ordeal is this going to be for car enthusiats (sp?) eh?

Could be a real PITA.

Could be fantastic.

It all depends on how the busybodies in Washington (the ones who hate cars) vote on the issues.

http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/may/obd_iii_new.cfm

[x240xdrifter]

my biggest concern in OBD-III is how far the gov't gets involved too, I mean they could potentially, especially with all this carbon pollution buzz, could using the power of hi tech......tech, to control your car or allow zero, ZERO modification to cars period. They could use OBD-III and new ecu programs to automatically shut down your car at the first sign off evironmental trouble. However I believe that, with all electronics; and this is the foundation of ecu tuning and so forth, you can always fool computers.....but the real question is, will the Gov't make it a crime to do so!? very interesting to think about. THis is why you need to be apart of this, lobby for your hobby!!! dont let them take this away from us!!!

[C-Kwik]

Been a memeber for 7-8 years already. Good info for everyone else though.