Attention SEMA manufacturing members: SEMA will host a Ford Measuring Session for the all-new 2011 Ford Explorer and 2012 Ford Focus on Tuesday, November 30, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The deadline to sign up is Friday, November 19. RSVP here.

SEMA joined nearly 1,300 trade associations, companies and other organizations in signing a letter to members of the House and Senate urging them to pass dozens of expired tax cuts during the November/December lame-duck session of Congress. The “extenders” legislation (S. 3793) includes more than $17 billion in business tax relief, including a renewal of the research and development (R&D) credit along with an extension of the state and local sales tax deduction. SEMA has pursued passage of the tax extensions as a top legislative priority throughout 2010.

The R&D tax credit lapsed on December 31, 2009, marking the 14th time it had expired since being enacted into law in 1981. For the past year, SEMA has joined more than 100 associations and companies within the R&D Credit Coalition urging Congress to make the credit permanent (or for as long as possible given current budget constraints). The credit offsets costs for companies investing time and money in new technologies and is applicable to both in-house and outside research within the United States.

The letter to Congress notes that extending the provisions by the end of the year and through at least 2011 “is of the utmost importance to all of us and to the health of the U.S. economy. Expiration of many of these provisions has already caused job losses, and the uncertainty around their extension will lead to further dislocations just as the fragile economic recovery is beginning.”

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA joined nearly 1,300 trade associations, companies and other organizations in signing a letter to members of the House and Senate urging them to pass dozens of expired tax cuts during the November/December lame-duck session of Congress. The “extenders” legislation (S. 3793) includes more than $17 billion in business tax relief, including a renewal of the research and development (R&D) credit along with an extension of the state and local sales tax deduction. SEMA has pursued passage of the tax extensions as a top legislative priority throughout 2010.

The R&D tax credit lapsed on December 31, 2009, marking the 14th time it had expired since being enacted into law in 1981. For the past year, SEMA has joined more than 100 associations and companies within the R&D Credit Coalition urging Congress to make the credit permanent (or for as long as possible given current budget constraints). The credit offsets costs for companies investing time and money in new technologies and is applicable to both in-house and outside research within the United States.

The letter to Congress notes that extending the provisions by the end of the year and through at least 2011 “is of the utmost importance to all of us and to the health of the U.S. economy. Expiration of many of these provisions has already caused job losses, and the uncertainty around their extension will lead to further dislocations just as the fragile economic recovery is beginning.”

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein.

SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) entered election day with high hopes for candidates supportive of small business and our industry. When the votes were counted, each candidate that SEMA PAC contributed to during the general election had won their contests. These electoral successes are the result of SEMA’s relationship-building efforts on Capitol Hill and identifying lawmakers who share your enthusiasm for small-business development and the automotive hobby.

Election Day fell on the first day of the SEMA Show this year, allowing SEMA PAC President’s Club members to gather at a special Election Night watch party held at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. SEMA PAC Chairman Doug Evans said, “It was great to spend the evening with the President’s Club members at their special reception while watching the returns come in. The members were able to enjoy a festive atmosphere, track our candidates and celebrate their victories.”

SEMA PAC allows the industry to work together towards a common political purpose. The PAC website makes it easy for industry members to quickly become “PAC-Approved”—an authorization form required by federal law that allows SEMA to share information about the PAC—and to make online, secure contributions. SEMA PAC values personal contributions at all levels, from $25 to $1,000 (President’s Club) and everything in between. We encourage all members to visit the new site, become PAC-Approved and learn how SEMA PAC is building relationships with industry-supporting legislators today.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski.

SEMA PAC—Your Industry. Your Voice. Your Future.

SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) entered election day with high hopes for candidates supportive of small business and our industry. When the votes were counted, each candidate that SEMA PAC contributed to during the general election had won their contests. These electoral successes are the result of SEMA’s relationship-building efforts on Capitol Hill and identifying lawmakers who share your enthusiasm for small-business development and the automotive hobby.

Election Day fell on the first day of the SEMA Show this year, allowing SEMA PAC President’s Club members to gather at a special Election Night watch party held at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. SEMA PAC Chairman Doug Evans said, “It was great to spend the evening with the President’s Club members at their special reception while watching the returns come in. The members were able to enjoy a festive atmosphere, track our candidates and celebrate their victories.”

SEMA PAC allows the industry to work together towards a common political purpose. The PAC website makes it easy for industry members to quickly become “PAC-Approved”—an authorization form required by federal law that allows SEMA to share information about the PAC—and to make online, secure contributions. SEMA PAC values personal contributions at all levels, from $25 to $1,000 (President’s Club) and everything in between. We encourage all members to visit the new site, become PAC-Approved and learn how SEMA PAC is building relationships with industry-supporting legislators today.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski.

SEMA PAC—Your Industry. Your Voice. Your Future.

Mike Dingell

SEMA announced that Mike Dingell has joined the Washington team as its government and public affairs manager. His focus will be on developing and enhancing the SEMA Action Network (SAN). Dingell comes to SEMA after spending five years in the state & local affairs division of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. Previously, he served on Capitol Hill as an aide to Senator Joe Lieberman. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C., area, he attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he earned a degree in political science. Dingell is a lifelong auto enthusiast and attributes his affinity for the hobby to his family’s roots in Detroit. He is a passionate aficionado of Ford Mustangs and enjoys spending his time racing and restoring various types of vintage cars.

The SAN is a nationwide partnership of car clubs and individual enthusiasts who work together to impact legislation that affects car and truck hobbyists of all kinds. By joining the SAN, members receive up-to-date alerts on hobby-related legislation in individual states and across the country. Best of all—it’s free.

“In an era of increasing governmental involvement in the hobby, it is imperative that we remain organized and stand together,” Dingell said. “We must continue to ensure that lawmakers, both on Capitol Hill and in state houses across the nation, hear our voices loudly and proudly. We will not stand idly and allow America’s automotive traditions to be legislated out of existence. In addition, we will promote proactive policies that benefit the hobby. As I assume the mantle of this great organization, that is my pledge to you.”

For questions regarding the SEMA Action Network, please contact Mike Dingell.

Mike Dingell

SEMA announced that Mike Dingell has joined the Washington team as its government and public affairs manager. His focus will be on developing and enhancing the SEMA Action Network (SAN). Dingell comes to SEMA after spending five years in the state & local affairs division of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. Previously, he served on Capitol Hill as an aide to Senator Joe Lieberman. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C., area, he attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he earned a degree in political science. Dingell is a lifelong auto enthusiast and attributes his affinity for the hobby to his family’s roots in Detroit. He is a passionate aficionado of Ford Mustangs and enjoys spending his time racing and restoring various types of vintage cars.

The SAN is a nationwide partnership of car clubs and individual enthusiasts who work together to impact legislation that affects car and truck hobbyists of all kinds. By joining the SAN, members receive up-to-date alerts on hobby-related legislation in individual states and across the country. Best of all—it’s free.

“In an era of increasing governmental involvement in the hobby, it is imperative that we remain organized and stand together,” Dingell said. “We must continue to ensure that lawmakers, both on Capitol Hill and in state houses across the nation, hear our voices loudly and proudly. We will not stand idly and allow America’s automotive traditions to be legislated out of existence. In addition, we will promote proactive policies that benefit the hobby. As I assume the mantle of this great organization, that is my pledge to you.”

For questions regarding the SEMA Action Network, please contact Mike Dingell.

The year 1990 seems like a lifetime ago. That year brought our industry the Ford Explorer and the Acura NSX. Chevy started using the song "Like a Rock" in its advertising campaigns. Dale Earnhardt was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time. The highly anticipated racing movie Days of Thunder was released. E-mail wasn't available to the masses in 1990, and there were only 12 million people worldwide who owned cell phones (compared to 4.6 billion today). Compact discs were all the rage and were taking over cassette tapes in cars across the country. Web surfing? There was nowhere to go. There was no AOL, no Google, no YouTube, no Twitter and no Facebook. How did we ever survive? [Read more]

The year 1990 seems like a lifetime ago. That year brought our industry the Ford Explorer and the Acura NSX. Chevy started using the song "Like a Rock" in its advertising campaigns. Dale Earnhardt was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time. The highly anticipated racing movie Days of Thunder was released. E-mail wasn't available to the masses in 1990, and there were only 12 million people worldwide who owned cell phones (compared to 4.6 billion today). Compact discs were all the rage and were taking over cassette tapes in cars across the country. Web surfing? There was nowhere to go. There was no AOL, no Google, no YouTube, no Twitter and no Facebook. How did we ever survive? [Read more]

Joel Ayres is the sales manager of Truck Accessories Group (TAG), a parent company to such well-known brands as Leer, Century Pace Edwards, Raider and State Wide Aluminum. But while building a distinguished 38-year career that started with a family business and eventually brought him to Leer and then TAG, Ayres also devoted himself to volunteer service and charitable causes—especially those that involve children and young adults. [Read more]