By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

	Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) with SEMA Chairman of the Board Nate Shelton (left) during the 2012 Washington Rally.

Pursuing a pro-growth manufacturing and job-creation agenda, creating access to small business loans and credit, finding affordable health insurance options for employees, countering burdensome vehicle equipment regulations, preventing higher ethanol content in gasoline and combating counterfeit products. These are just a few of the political issues facing SEMA members during this critical election year.

Join your fellow SEMA members in Washington, D.C., May 14, 2014, to show lawmakers the importance and strength of the $31 billion specialty-equipment industry. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect face-to-face with your legislators on Capitol Hill and inform them of the issues that matter most to you and your business. The SEMA Washington Rally is exclusively for SEMA members.

Scheduled events include:

• A legislative briefing session with SEMA staff
• One-on-one meetings with your legislators and their staff
• An exclusive Capitol Hill luncheon with special invited guests
• A private reception and dinner with a high-profile keynote speaker
• Opportunities to visit attractions in the nation’s capital

To register or for more information, visit www.sema.org/dcrally or contact Dan Sadowski at 202-783-6007, ext. 19 or dans@sema.org.

Registration deadline is May 1, 2014.

SEMA Board Chair-elect Doug Evans (right) thanked Motorsports Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) for his participation in last year's Rally.	SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (left) and Past-Chairman Scooter Brothers (right) welcomed Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) (center) as he arrives in his classic Ford Thunderbird to be keynote speaker at the Rally dinner.

By Amanda Gubbins

	The purpose of the SEMA Garage is to assist members with product development by providing a resource containing tools and hosting events designed to reduce the time needed to go from prototype to final product.

ETTN will host an industry discussion and networking event Monday, January 20, at the SEMA Garage, focused on trends impacting the specialty-equipment market. Attendees will tour the Garage in Diamond Bar, California, and watch live demonstrations to learn about the many ways this new member benefit will help manufacturers test, measure and develop new products. All SEMA members are invited to participate.

Register today to save your spot. For more information about ETTN or the meeting, contact Senior Manager of Networks Bryan Harrison.

MPMC General Membership Meeting (January 20, 2:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.)

MPMC will also host a general membership meeting Monday, January 20, in Santa Ana, California. One hundred MPMC members will already be on-site for the Media Trade Conference, giving members the perfect opportunity to spend a couple of hours discussing the future of the council and brainstorming during an interactive goal-setting session. All employees of MPMC-member companies are invited to attend, even if they are not exhibiting at the Media Trade Conference.

For more information about the event, contact Council Director Jim Skelly. RSVP to reserve your spot.

WTC Industry Discussion (February 5, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)

Members of the wheel and tire industry will gather at the SEMA Garage Industry Innovations Center Wednesday, February 5. The day will include a tour of the updated SEMA Garage, an address by SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting, discussions of the latest developments from WTC's partnership with Clemson University’s International Center for Automotive Research, updates on the progress of the SAE J3010 certification and discussions and resources related to the protection of intellectual property.

All employees of WTC-member companies are invited to attend and help direct the council’s future focus. Register today to save your seat.

For more information about this event, contact Senior Manager of Councils Clayton Drescher.

Council and network memberships help companies and individuals connect with peers and build a community at events like these, while also offering educational and professional development opportunities throughout the year. No matter what niche a SEMA member belongs to, there is a group for them. Learn more at www.sema.org/councils-networks.

Manufacturing companies and members of the media participating in the upcoming SEMA Media Trade Conference have been e-mailed the preliminary meeting schedules for the upcoming event, taking place Tuesday–Thursday, January 21–23, at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North in Santa Ana, California.

The schedules were sent to all media representatives and manufacturers who registered for the event prior to December 16. Manufacturing members who did not receive a schedule should contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org. Members of the press who did not receive a schedule, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org.

Please Note: Due to cancellations or scheduling conflicts, minor changes may occur to your schedule. All media and manufacturers are required to check-in on-site and pick up a final schedule.

The MPMC Media Trade Conference is a unique event that brings together editorial staff from all over the world with racing and high-performance parts manufacturers for three days of face-to-face, 30-minute meetings. The manufacturers that annually participate in the event are members of SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), which is dedicated to provide meaningful solutions to industry-specific issues and challenges to perpetuate the prosperity of motorsports parts manufacturers.

Additional information on the SEMA MPMC Media Trade Conference is available online.

Manufacturing companies and members of the media participating in the upcoming SEMA Media Trade Conference have been e-mailed the preliminary meeting schedules for the upcoming event, taking place Tuesday–Thursday, January 21–23, at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North in Santa Ana, California.

The schedules were sent to all media representatives and manufacturers who registered for the event prior to December 16. Manufacturing members who did not receive a schedule should contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org. Members of the press who did not receive a schedule, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org.

Please Note: Due to cancellations or scheduling conflicts, minor changes may occur to your schedule. All media and manufacturers are required to check-in on-site and pick up a final schedule.

The MPMC Media Trade Conference is a unique event that brings together editorial staff from all over the world with racing and high-performance parts manufacturers for three days of face-to-face, 30-minute meetings. The manufacturers that annually participate in the event are members of SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), which is dedicated to provide meaningful solutions to industry-specific issues and challenges to perpetuate the prosperity of motorsports parts manufacturers.

Additional information on the SEMA MPMC Media Trade Conference is available online.

Manufacturing companies and members of the media participating in the upcoming SEMA Media Trade Conference have been e-mailed the preliminary meeting schedules for the upcoming event, taking place Tuesday–Thursday, January 21–23, at the Embassy Suites Orange County Airport North in Santa Ana, California.

The schedules were sent to all media representatives and manufacturers who registered for the event prior to December 16. Manufacturing members who did not receive a schedule should contact Jim Skelly at jimsk@sema.org. Members of the press who did not receive a schedule, contact Della Domingo at dellad@sema.org.

Please Note: Due to cancellations or scheduling conflicts, minor changes may occur to your schedule. All media and manufacturers are required to check-in on-site and pick up a final schedule.

The MPMC Media Trade Conference is a unique event that brings together editorial staff from all over the world with racing and high-performance parts manufacturers for three days of face-to-face, 30-minute meetings. The manufacturers that annually participate in the event are members of SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC), which is dedicated to provide meaningful solutions to industry-specific issues and challenges to perpetuate the prosperity of motorsports parts manufacturers.

Additional information on the SEMA MPMC Media Trade Conference is available online.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a technical report evaluating the effectiveness of pretensioners and load limiters for seat belts in the front seats of light-duty vehicles (LTVs). Pretensioners retract the belt to remove excess slack when sensing a crash and load limiters allow the belt to slacken when forces on the belt rise above a predetermined level. The NHTSA has encouraged but not required installation of the technology. The equipment was voluntarily installed on all new LTVs by MY ’08. In comparing data for MY ’86–’11 vehicles, the NHTSA concluded that there was nearly a 13% lower fatality risk for front-seat occupants in passenger cars, cross-over vehicles and minivans equipped with the technology. However, there appeared to be little significant benefit for occupants in pickups, SUVs and fullsize vans. Comments on the report are due by April 22, 2014. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a technical report evaluating the effectiveness of pretensioners and load limiters for seat belts in the front seats of light-duty vehicles (LTVs). Pretensioners retract the belt to remove excess slack when sensing a crash and load limiters allow the belt to slacken when forces on the belt rise above a predetermined level. The NHTSA has encouraged but not required installation of the technology. The equipment was voluntarily installed on all new LTVs by MY ’08. In comparing data for MY ’86–’11 vehicles, the NHTSA concluded that there was nearly a 13% lower fatality risk for front-seat occupants in passenger cars, cross-over vehicles and minivans equipped with the technology. However, there appeared to be little significant benefit for occupants in pickups, SUVs and fullsize vans. Comments on the report are due by April 22, 2014. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a technical report evaluating the effectiveness of pretensioners and load limiters for seat belts in the front seats of light-duty vehicles (LTVs). Pretensioners retract the belt to remove excess slack when sensing a crash and load limiters allow the belt to slacken when forces on the belt rise above a predetermined level. The NHTSA has encouraged but not required installation of the technology. The equipment was voluntarily installed on all new LTVs by MY ’08. In comparing data for MY ’86–’11 vehicles, the NHTSA concluded that there was nearly a 13% lower fatality risk for front-seat occupants in passenger cars, cross-over vehicles and minivans equipped with the technology. However, there appeared to be little significant benefit for occupants in pickups, SUVs and fullsize vans. Comments on the report are due by April 22, 2014. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule instructing employers to display an 11x17-in. poster informing workers of their right to unionize and bargain collectively has been overturned. Originally scheduled to take effect in 2011, the rule was widely opposed by business groups, including SEMA, over concerns that it unfairly promotes unionization. Two federal courts struck down the rule and the time period for seeking a U.S. Supreme Court review has now passed. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule instructing employers to display an 11x17-in. poster informing workers of their right to unionize and bargain collectively has been overturned. Originally scheduled to take effect in 2011, the rule was widely opposed by business groups, including SEMA, over concerns that it unfairly promotes unionization. Two federal courts struck down the rule and the time period for seeking a U.S. Supreme Court review has now passed. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.