SEMA News—July 2013

FROM THE HILL
By Christian Robinson

SEMA PAC Launches 10th-Anniversary Celebration

Year-Long Celebration to Focus on Increased Member Involvement

This year marks the 10th anniversary of SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC). To commemorate 10 years of protecting the industry in Washington, D.C., SEMA PAC will be unveiling exciting new initiatives. To take full advantage of what SEMA PAC has planned, you must first become “SEMA PAC Approved.” To get started, simply complete the form on the next page. It takes less than a minute to fill out and allows the PAC to share information on how SEMA is working for you in the nation’s capital. You can easily become “PAC Approved” online as well at www.SEMAPAC.com. Remember, completing the form does not obligate you to contribute to SEMA PAC.

First up in the celebration, SEMA PAC is excited to announce the introduction of the “$10 for 10” grassroots fundraising campaign. Tradition holds that a 10-year anniversary is marked by the giving of aluminum or tin—a display of the strength, resilience and durability that is required for a decade-long undertaking. To celebrate, the PAC will be asking its PAC-Approved members to fill its tin cup with $10 contributions. To show appreciation, the PAC will send each contributor a limited-edition anniversary insignia lapel pin to commemorate the occasion. As seen with recent presidential elections, a large number of people giving small amounts can have a huge impact. Of course, SEMA PAC welcomes contributions of any amount between $10 and $1,000.

“It is the PAC’s duty to educate and support the legislators whose decisions will affect our industry and your business for years to come. All of us have a stake in what happens in Washington, D.C.”

Secondly, the SEMA PAC website has undergone a complete revision. The new design is not only more user-friendly, but also features a variety of new pages for members to explore, with photos of recent SEMA PAC events, the latest insights from Capitol Hill and voter-registration information. The new website has a lot to offer, but only those who are PAC Approved have full access.

Finally, SEMA PAC is pleased to exclusively offer a new electronic newsletter to all PAC-Approved members. The monthly newsletter will provide members with a glimpse of the inner workings of Congress on the issues that are important to them. If you’ve previously completed a SEMA PAC Approval form, you will automatically receive the new newsletter.

The 2012 elections may have come and gone, but the PAC’s work is far from over. In fact, it is just beginning. The elections resulted in a large number of new lawmakers—14 in the Senate and 84 in the House of Representatives. These fresh faces provide SEMA members with an opportunity to make new friends in Congress and create winning coalitions. Issues that affect the industry—blocking the sale of E15 ethanol, protecting off-road vehicle access to Johnson Valley, California, and creating a common-sense approach for regulating low-volume vehicle manufacturers—will be decided by Congress. It is the PAC’s duty to educate and support the legislators whose decisions will affect the industry and your business for years to come. All of us have a stake in what happens in Washington, D.C.

Through SEMA PAC, you have the opportunity to add your voice and strengthen the membership’s common interests in Washington, D.C. So join the cause, and become SEMA PAC Approved today!

President’s Club Spotlight: Matt Agosta and Debbie Lail

	From left: Matt Agosta of Steele Rubber Products, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), John Iannotte of NA Williams and Debbie Lail of Steele Rubber Products. Agosta and Lail have been members of the SEMA PAC President’s Club since its inception.

Matt Agosta, president and CEO, and Debbie Lail, CFO, are executives at Steele Rubber Products, headquartered in Denver, North Carolina. Both have been members of the SEMA PAC President’s Club since 2004, and Agosta was named the Automotive Restoration Market Organization’s Person of the Year for 2012.

“Since we joined SEMA 20 years ago, some of our biggest challenges have been legislation that can harm our hobby and industry,” Agosta said. “Electing representatives that have our industry at heart is one of the best ways to protect our interests. Supporting SEMA PAC is an effective way to do that. That’s why Debbie and I have been SEMA PAC President’s Club members since its inception.”

For more information on SEMA PAC, please contact SEMA PAC Manager Christian Robinson at 202-783-6007 x20 christianr@SEMA.org.

Federal election law requires SEMA to obtain the prior approval of its member companies in order to solicit contributions to SEMA PAC. I understand that signing this form does not obligate me or other executive and administrative personnel to contribute. It only helps SEMA PAC conform to the law.

YES! I am a SEMA member and I support SEMA PAC (Become SEMA PAC Approved)