Alabama Tire Dealers Association

6096 County Road 434 Trinity, AL 35673 (256) 616-3587

(256) 974-1480 Fax AlaTireDealers@cs.com www.alatiredealers.com

Spare Tire January 2012

In This Edition…

Alabama Tire Dealers Association

6096 County Road 434

Trinity, AL 35673

50th Anniversary ATDA Annual

Convention Pages 9-12

Scrap Tire Report Pages 6 & 7

Performance Appraisal

No-Nos Page 14

Relationships, Not Salesmanship,

Make the Sale Page 16

To Share or

Not to Share? Page 18

New Member Benefit: 50 Below updates ATDA website Page 3

Letter from the President: Fellow Tire Dealers,

As I write this letter it is

two days after the

Alabama Crimson Tide has won the BCS National

Championship. Especially

here in Tuscaloosa, the win totally consumes

most of the conversations among Tide fans.

Each fan wants to share something about the game that is significant to them.

At least one benefit to the Alabama Tire Dealers Association is this same experience.

When I gather with other dealers the

conversations will always include something shared about the tire business significant to

the one speaking. This is an excellent source

for what I refer to as “golden nuggets”. A golden nugget is an idea, service, price,

solution, or strategy mentioned by another

dealer that I take back to my store and implement for profit.

I urge you to make plans now to join your fellow dealers at our annual convention in

Orange Beach. You can receive free

registration by renewing your ATDA regular membership today. More importantly, if you

attend, you may find a “golden nugget”.

Hope to see you there! GOD Bless.

Dolan Davis, Jr.

President

ATDA

Executive Committee

President

Dolan Davis, Jr.

Southside Davis Tire

First Vice President

Scott Roberson

Royal Tire Service

Second Vice President

Bob Gipson

Gipson Auto Tire, Inc.

Secretary / Treasurer

Steve Westmoreland

Westmoreland Tire Co.

Board of Directors

Shane Adams (3rd

Year)

Trax Tires, Inc.

Robert Bell (3rd

Year)

Birmingham Auto Clean

Dewane Haynes (3rd

Year)

Sweat Tire Co.

Michael Johnston (2nd

Year)

Tire Engineers

Supplier Representatives

Mark Barrett (2nd

Year)

S & S Tire

Frank Harcrow (2nd

Year)

Tire Supplies of Alabama

Parrish Sellers (1st Year)

NAPA Genuine Auto Parts

TIA Representative

Jim Short

Radial Tire & Bandag

Past Presidents’ Council

Barry McGirt

American Tire Distributors

Rhett Marques

Goodson Tire & Auto

Steve Breland

Top Line Tires

Mike Griffin

S & S Tire

Co-Executive Directors

Cheryl Lentz

Sabrina Lentz Knop

Interim Chaplain

Jay Seale

Westmoreland Tire Co.

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IRS Extends Tax-Filing Deadline to April 17 WASHINGTON, D.C. (JANUARY 4, 2012) BY MICHAEL COHN, ACCOUNTING TODAY

The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2012 tax season on Wednesday by extending the tax-filing deadline until April 17.

Taxpayers will have until Tuesday, April 17 to file their 2011 tax returns and pay any tax due because April 15 falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Monday, April 16. According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays affect tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do, giving all taxpayers two extra days to file this year. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 15 to file their 2011 tax returns. The IRS will begin accepting e-file and Free File returns on Jan. 17, 2012.

The IRS also announced a number of improvements to help make this tax season easier for taxpayers. This includes new navigation features and helpful information on IRS.gov and a new pilot program to allow taxpayers to use interactive video to get help with tax issues.

The IRS is conducting a limited rollout of its new videoconferencing technology at 10 IRS offices and two other sites, and may expand to further sites in the future. A list of locations is available on IRS.gov. Perhaps not coincidentally, H&R Block also introduced a videoconferencing service this tax season.

The IRS has updated the front page of the IRS Web site to make it easier for taxpayers to get key forms, information and file tax returns. The front page also has links to taxpayer-friendly videos on the IRS YouTube channel. More improvements are planned for IRS.gov in the months ahead.

“At the IRS, we’re working hard to make the process of filing your taxes as quick and easy as possible,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a statement. “Providing quality service is one of our top priorities. It not only reduces the burden on taxpayers, but also helps in filing an accurate return right from the start.” The IRS said it expects to receive more than 144 million individual tax returns this year, with most of

those being filed by the April 17 deadline.

IRS e-File System Open to Business Tax Filers WASHINGTON, D.C. (JANUARY 9, 2012) BY MICHAEL COHN, ACCOUNTING TODAY

The Internal Revenue Service said Monday that its electronic filing system is now open for business tax returns.

In an email to tax professionals, the IRS said it has successfully completed the annual cutover activities for its Modernized e-File, or MeF, system, and can now accept tax year 2011, 2010 and 2009 business-related tax returns.

The MeF system opened for production at 9:00 am, Eastern Time on Jan. 9, 2012. However, due to end-of-year maintenance, the production system is not available until 9:00 am,

Eastern Time on Jan. 17, 2012 for e-filing of individual tax returns.

NLRB Delays Posting Deadline - Again The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has agreed to postpone the effective date of its employee

rights notice-posting rule at the request of the federal court in Washington, D. C. hearing a legal challenge to the

rule. The posting requirement was originally set for mid- November 2011 and was later delayed until January

31, 2012. Now the deadline for posting the notice is April 30, 2012. The Board's ruling states it has

determined that postponing the effective date of the rule will facilitate the resolution of the legal challenges that

have been filed with respect to the rule. Business groups including the U. S. Chamber of Commerce and the

National Federation of Independent Business have filed lawsuits seeking to block implementation of the poster

requirement. They contend the NLRB has overstepped its authority by mandating what the groups say is a

blatantly pro-union message.

This second postponement is to avoid an injunction preventing the rule from going into effect during

litigation. We will keep you posted on any additional developments related to this issue.

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SCRAP TIRE FUND REMEDIATION

Large Scrap Tire Site Remediation Program (by regulation greater than 25,000 PTE):

SITE NAME/LOCATION PROJECT DURATION SCRAP TIRES REMOVED TOTAL FUNDS

Attalla, Etowah County August 2006-November 2008 ~4,173,300 $3,703,863.19

Prichard, Mobile County August 2009-March 2010 ~1,352,600 $798,039.90

Robertsdale, Baldwin County May2011-July 2011 ~68,130 $85,949.37

Samson, Geneva County October 2010-December 2011 ~1,570,500 $1,177,990.16

TOTAL STF OBLIGATED BY LSTSRP $5,765,842.62

4 Potential LSTSRP (currently under enforcement) ~650,000 to 1,000,000 PTE ~$1M to $4M

Small Scrap Tire Site Remediation Program (less than 25,000 PTE):

FISCAL YEAR NO. OF SITES FUND AMOUNT PTE REMOVED

2007 3 $79,220.00 19,118

2008 7 $133,897.00 48,263

2009 14 $103,802.10 65,554

2010 27 $382,727.71 57,115

2011 14 $226,143.75 39,819

2012 (to date)

9 projects with $

3 projects w/bids to be opened

6 projects ranked

$170,336.08

~$50,000.00

~$150,000

no data available

TOTAL STF OBLIGATED BY SSTSRP $1,296,126.64 229,869

Interagency Cooperative Agreements $100,000 Discarded Tire Clean-Up Program:

With annual renewals (each fiscal year $6.7M)

Number of counties currently participating is 29 (obligating $2.9M)

Enforcement FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012*

Administrative Orders for Scrap Tire Facilities (Total Penalties Assessed) 0 7 ($53,755) 1 ($3,600) 0

Administrative Orders for Scrap Tire Dumps (Total Penalties Assessed) 0 7 ($53,755) 8 ($36,255) 1 ($7,000)

Notices of Violations for Scrap Tire Facilities 82 65 44 5

Notices of Deficiency for Scrap Tire Dumps 183 197 138 42

Warning Letters for Scrap Tire Facilities 127 201 98 21

* Data through December 2011

Inspection/Permitting Activities

Registrations Issued through December 2011

Registered receivers To Date 3113

Facility Inspections Activity through December 2011

To Date 6242

Permits Issued through December 2011

Includes fuel users, processors, and transporters To Date 289

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ADEM Announces Awards up to $2,500 per Family

to Promote the Use of Recycled Scrap Tires

MONTGOMERY − The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has announced that it will provide grant funds to support the use of recycled scrap tires as part of residential septic tank systems in Alabama. The Department is making $100,000 available to increase awareness, and use, of scrap tire materials in septic tank drain fields.

Alabama residents produce more than five million scrap tires each year and another four million are imported into Alabama annually for disposal. Almost seven million of these scrap tires are beneficially reused each year. However, through this grant program the Department will work to improve this recycling rate by reimbursing homeowners up to $2,500 per home for the utilization of scrap tire materials as part of their septic system.

Scrap tires can be cut into small pieces that are known as tire-derived aggregate (TDA). This tire-derived aggregate can then be used in lieu of sand or gravel as part of a septic tank infiltration system. Studies have shown that TDA performs as well as sand and gravel while being much easier to handle.

In order to participate in this reimbursement program, the septic system must be installed at a residence and TDA must be utilized as the drainage media. The design and installation of the septic system must meet, or exceed, the requirements that have been established by the Alabama Department of Public Health. In addition, the septic system must be installed by an installer that is licensed through the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board.

The reimbursement does require pre-approval from ADEM through the submittal of a Septic Field Media Reimbursement Application. Application information can be found on the ADEM website at www.adem.alabama.gov or by contacting the Scrap Tire Marketing Program at (334) 271-7700. Preference will be given to installations that utilize TDA from scrap tires that are generated in Alabama.

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ATDA Scholarship Foundation Application Deadline: March 31, 2012

Applications available on-line at: www.alatiredealers.com

or contact the ATDA office at 256-616-3587

Again this year, the Alabama Tire Dealers Association will be giving away

scholarships to deserving youths from our membership. All applications

must be received in the ATDA office no later than March 31, 2012. Winners

will be honored at the Annual Convention on June 16, 2012, at the

Hampton Inn & Suites in Orange Beach, Alabama.

ATDA Hall of Fame Nomination Deadline: March 31, 2009

Nomination Forms available on-line at: www.alatiredealers.com

or contact the ATDA office at 256-616-3587

The ATDA Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding leadership and

contribution to the tire industry and the Alabama Tire Dealers

Association. Know a deserving candidate for the ATDA Hall of

Fame? Send in a nomination form no later than March 31, 2012

to the ATDA office for consideration.

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Mark Your Calendar For Our:

2012 Annual Convention

June 15th & 16th Hampton Suites

Orange Beach, Alabama

Reservations & Registration Deadline: May 15, 2012

Room Rates: **Deluxe Continental Breakfast included in rate**

Standard King or Queens (Inland View) $196.95

2-Queens (Sideview) $206.95 Standard Beach Front King or Queens $229.95

For Reservations Call Hampton Suites by May 15, 2012, at 800-426-7866. Use Group Code: ATA

Or visit the dedicated ATDA Reservation Site at: http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/M/MOBOBHX-ATD-20120615/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Retail Tire Dealers who renew their membership with or join the ATDA by February 28, 2012, will receive

Two (2) Free Registrations to the 2012 Annual Convention.

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Alabama Tire Dealers Association

Welcomes Featured Speaker

Norm Gaither Presenting…

“Improving Bottom Line Profits”

at the ATDA Convention Saturday, June 16, 2012

Financial Workshop for Retail Tire Dealers who want

10% Net Profit • Labor Rates: How much under market value are

your labor rates? • Payroll: Do you know what % of gross profit

your payroll should be? • Auto Parts: How much profit are you leaving on

the table? • Shrinkage: How much is “honesty” costing you

on the bottom line? • Gross Profit/Mark Up: Do you know the

difference? • Shop Supply Fees: Are you charging enough to cover your

costs? • Showroom: Are you attracting or repelling your customers? • Can you make 10% bottom line profit? YES, YOU CAN!!!

Norm Gaither, a well‐recognized financial expert can answer these questions and show tire dealers how to improve profits with just a few minor

changes to your business model! This fast‐paced, 4 hour program will help you get 10% net profit from your retail tire and service business. See what dealers

“After working with Norm, I can add $500,000 in profit to my

bottom line for my 5 stores!” ….Virginia Dealer “Using a courtesy check sheet has boosted every area of sales. We are thrilled with the outcome and this was a direct

result of Norm’s workshop!” ...Missouri Dealer

See what dealers

are saying about

Norm’s Program

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2012 Annual Convention Golf Tournament

June 15, 2012 Craft Farms Golf Club Cypress Bend Course

Gulf Shores, Alabama 10:00 am Tee Time

Craft Farms Golf Club

Relax and enjoy the beauty of our farm! The

Craft Farms golf resort features 36 holes designed by the golf icon, Arnold Palmer. These two public golf courses are the only

courses in Alabama designed by Palmer. Located just north of the beautiful white sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, we at Craft

Farms invite you experience some of the best public golf in the South. The Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend golf courses challenge golfers at every level while providing a peaceful, serene environment of the natural

Baldwin County Alabama landscape. The courses have a distinctively coastal feel, with dwarf Bermuda grasses and numerous lakes that meander

throughout the property. Style of play is friendly. Collared shirts and soft spikes are required and golfers are welcome to wear shorts. Relax in the beautiful southern landscape of south Alabama among

massive live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, towering pine forests, numerous lakes, creeks and native wildlife. After enjoying your golf game, visit the plantation-

style Clubhouse with a casual bar and grill or the Arnold Palmer Dining Room with gorgeous views. For a quick bite on the go, try Arnie’s Snack Shack near Cotton Creek #1.

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2012 Advertising Rates

2012 Convention Sponsorship Levels (Deadline: May 15, 2012 – March 31, 2012 for free convention registrations.)

Platinum $2,000 – up 4 Free Convention Registrations

Full Page Ad in Convention Program (5 ½ x 8 ½)

Full Page Ad in Pre- or Post-Convention Newsletter (8 ½ x 11)

Signage at Convention

Listing in Program

Listing on Website

Recognized at Convention Events

Gold - $1,000 – $1,999 3 Free Convention Registrations

One-Half Page Ad in Convention Program (5 ½ x 4 ¼)

One-Half Page Ad in Pre- or Post-Convention Newsletter (8 ½ x 5 ½)

Signage at Convention

Listing in Program

Listing on Website

Silver - $500 – $999 2 Free Convention Registrations

One-Quarter Page Ad in Pre- or Post-Convention Newsletter (4 ¼ x 5 ½)

Signage at Convention

Listing in Program

Listing on Website

Bronze $250 – $499 1 Free Convention Registration

Signage at Convention

Listing in Program

Listing on Website

2012 Newsletter Advertising Rates (Printed Bi-monthly – Deadline: One week prior to printing)

(One issue will be a Special Edition following the convention and will have convention sponsorship ads only.)

Full Page Ad (Ad print size 7 ½ x 10) - $125 for 1 issue or $425 for 5 consecutive issues.

Half Page Ad (Ad print size 7 ½ x 5) - $75 for 1 issue or $250 for 5 consecutive issues.

Quarter Page Ad (Ad print size 3 ¾ x 5) - $50 for 1 issue or $175 for 5 consecutive issues.

2012 Membership Directory Advertising Rates (Deadline: March 31, 2012)

Cover Ads (3 available – Ad print size 4 ½ x 7 ½) - $400 each

Full Page Ad (Ad print size 4 ½ x 7 ½) - $300 each

Half Page Ad (Ad print size 4 ½ x 3 ¾) - $150 each

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IRS Announces 2012 Standard Mileage Rates

IR-2011-116, Dec. 9, 2011

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2012 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2012, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven

23 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes

14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

The rate for business miles driven is unchanged from the mid-year adjustment that became effective on July 1, 2011. The medical and moving rate has been reduced by 0.5 cents per mile.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Independent contractor Runzheimer International conducted the study.

Taxpayers always have the option of calculating the actual costs of using their vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS) or after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle. In addition, the business standard mileage rate cannot be used for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

These and other requirements for a taxpayer to use a standard mileage rate to calculate the amount of a deductible business, moving, medical or charitable expense are in Rev. Proc. 2010-51.

Notice 2012-01 contains the standard mileage rates, the amount a taxpayer must use in calculating reductions to basis for depreciation taken under the business standard mileage rate, and the maximum standard automobile cost that a taxpayer may use in computing the allowance under a fixed and variable rate plan.

Welcome New Members! Please add these companies to your membership directory.

We thank the following businesses for their commitment to the Alabama Tire Industry by their investment in the Alabama Tire Dealers Association. We look forward to serving you!

AMERICAN TIRE DISTRIBUTORS 3000 – 35th Ave. N Phone: 800-783-6936 Birmingham, AL 35207 www.atd-us.com Key Contacts: Terry Hadder – Thadder@atd-us.com

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Management In Training: Performance Appraisal No-No’s

Performance appraisals are one of the most misused, and goofed-up management tools in existence. Starting from misunderstanding the whole point of appraisals, right on through to use of poor communication with employees, managers make a fairly consistent set of mistakes about employee reviews, and performance appraisals.

Here's five big mistakes manager should avoid when it come to performance appraisals:

Focusing on the Form: Most managers are given specific forms to fill out to record the results of performance appraisals and reviews. Apart from the fact that most forms aren't really effective in creating better performance, it's easy for managers to believe that performance appraisal is about, and only about, getting the forms filled out and in on time. Performance appraisal isn't about the form. It's about the process.

Focusing on The Appraisal, Not the Planning: Appraisals are typically done, once a year, covering the period preceding. The problem is that it's looking backward, and you can't change what's happened in the past. The focus (and time invested) should be on the upfront planning for performance, since we can influence the present and future. Clear shared understanding of performance expectations is both critical and powerful.

Doing To the Employee, Not Working With: There's a sense, on the part of many, that the performance appraisal involves doing something TO the employee (i.e. telling them how they have done). While communicating the manager's perceptions is not a completely bad thing, when it is the ONLY thing, it loses power. Performance discussions should be ongoing dialogues. One of the most important reasons to create performance dialogues is to foster the ability to self-evaluate on the part of employees. That makes for better performance, and less work for the manager.

Surprises: If there's one fundamental rule for employee reviews, it's this: There should never be any surprises for the employee. Managers sometimes forget. If there is anything the manager brings out in the employee review that is new to the employee, the manager has not been doing his or her job communicating with the employee.

Procrastinating: Let's face it. Managers don't particular like to do employee reviews, often because they don't realize the benefits of doing them properly, or because they haven't been exposed to the process that will make them painless, and productive. Regardless of reasons, it's common for employee reviews to be scheduled, then postponed, or otherwise delayed. This sends an important message to employees: "Performance appraisals aren't important around here". If we want employees to take them seriously, managers need to take them seriously, and demonstrate their importance through action.

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Relationships, Not Salesmanship, Make the Sale Dec 28 2011 08:25 PM | Written By: Joe Marconi in Customer Service

A customer arrives at your service counter asking for an oil change service and a tire rotation. Your service advisor carefully writes the repair order, informs the customer that a technician will be performing a multipoint inspection along with the service, insures that he has all the necessary vehicle and customer information, and nicely asks the customer to have a seat in the customer lounge.

Fifteen minutes later the tech completes the multipoint inspection and brings the results to the service advisor. The technician is recommending a serpentine belt, cabin filter, and air filter. Your service advisors presents the recommended services to the customer, and the customer politely declines, saying that she will give it some thought and possibly bring it back for the work. The result; a lost sale. Does this scenario sound familiar?

So, how does a talented service advisor, who understands the importance of customer service, struggle with sales? It could be because the service advisor does not totally understand the concept of building relationships with his customers. Possibly, his previous training focused too much on, “making the sale”, rather than connecting with the customer as a person. What he may lack, as many service advisors do, is the concept that selling automotive service has a lot to do with building relationships.

Obviously you need to understand the products you sell, the features and benefits of the service, and being honest. But if you really want to go the top, you need to build relationships with your clientele.

Customers must be greeted and treated as close friends or a family member. If a close friend or a family member came to you with a car related problem, would they doubt your diagnosis or recommendations? Of course they wouldn’t. Friends and family members trust and believe in you. They know that you have their best interest at heart; it’s the reason why they come to you in the first place. The sale is not made due to salesmanship, but rather the relationship.

Building relationships begins the very first time a customer calls your shop or steps up to your counter. Effective advertising will bring new customers to your service counter. However, a

company needs to insure that a first-time customer doesn’t become a one-time customer. Repeat customers guarantee long-term success. Increasing the odds of getting consumers to return is heavily dependent upon the ability to anchor customers by building solid relationships. Each first-time customer must be greeted with enthusiasm and a smile. It is crucial that the service advisor engage in small talk much like a conversation you would have meeting someone for the first time at a non-business event, such as a wedding or meeting a new neighbor.

Engaging in small talk is not limited to first-time customers. An essential part of delivering world-class customer service is how well you connect with the customer in a conversation. Small talk, combined with quality customer service, builds trust. When people trust you as a friend, sales are not sales, they are simply part of the conversation.

An important thing to note is that a sale is often made long before the service advisor walks into the customer service area and informs the customer that she needs front brakes. The ability to sell is directly related to the relationship the service advisor has with the customer.

Building relationships must be part of your marketing policy and must be a consistent theme, practiced by every staff member. How well you connect with the customer at each point of contact will make the difference later on.

Every business owner should ask themselves; “Can I positively say that, the attitude and behavior of my employees creates an atmosphere that encourages consumers to return?” We need to remember that we may be in the auto repair or tire business, but we are retailers, and the strength of our companies is reliant upon how we deliver world-class customer service. Customer service drives sales and the level of customer satisfaction directly impacts those sales. A positive customer experience, reinforced by the relationship, will keep customers returning.

If you want to increase sales; know your products and services, convey the benefits of the service or repair you are recommending, always base decisions on what is in the best interest of the customer and above all, view every customer contact as an opportunity to either begin a relationship or preserve the relationship.

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To Share or not to Share?

Social media rules to follow or peril!

"Last night I really got too drunk to drive, should have called a cab... " That revelation may be a huge relief to the rest of the motoring public. Hopefully you will not make that

same mistake at the expense of someone's life. I am sure that any law enforcement officer would also be glad to read that tweet and follow it up with a discussion as well. There are thousands of tweets each day that make you wonder if people are using any common sense before they go ahead and post something that, in reality, should be kept very private. A good rule of thumb in every situation is to take 10 seconds to evaluate your next post--do I really want the whole world to know this about me? Because in the haste to become social media savvy, I've seen many smart people post a lot of things they may come to regret!

"My boss sucks, he keeps blaming me for the cheap parts he buys going bad" Almost everything you post is public and permanent. Some people

(certain celebrities, for example) make no bones about this. They want to exploit the media channel to get every little detail in the pipeline. But when you have a business to run, you are responsible for more than yourself, and what you post can have deeper consequences than just personal embarrassment. If you integrate your accounts, (Twitter and LinkedIn, for example)

you might even inadvertently post content on a platform where it is truly inappropriate:

"Why's the rum always done?! Capt. Jack Sparrow #partyzone" Social media and privacy are subjects for another day, today I want to focus on social media for entrepreneurs and common sense. When planning your social media there are a few important things to keep in mind:

1 . Participate with Purpose: OK, everyone in the automotive industry is telling you that you

have to participate in social media. The problem is, there is such a low barrier of entry for setting up an

account that many are in the social media driver's seat without knowing where the road will lead them.

It is much more advisable to have a plan for how your business will participate in social media,

even to clarify why you are doing it, and how it will benefit your business.

2. Beware of the Pit of Productivity: Social media can kill your productivity plans if you are not

careful. If you start using Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn during the day, you may want to set yourself a

limit so as to not get lost in your social media project. Think of your time spent in your social media like

a flat rate job, you have only 1.2 hours to get it done, but better to get it done in .7 hours.

3. It Isn't All About You: Would you walk into a room full of people and start talking about

ONLY yourself? Actually I think I know a few people who would... In social media, if you spend all your

energy talking about yourself or your company and never engage, respond or thank others, you risk

being as relevant as a Ford Pinto. There is no greater way to fail in your social media efforts than to be

self centered. You don't make friends and influence people by talking about yourself all the time, don't

do it online either.

4. The Grandma Rule Applies: Don't post anything you wouldn't want your Grandmother,

clients or employees to read about you. The ability to reach vast amounts of potential clients also

allows you the power to potentially lose the respect of an entire community. Many companies have met

with disaster by not taking social media seriously or misusing the power it can harness.

Danny Sanchez, Autoshop Solutions. Danny is an AMI Accredited Instructor, National Speaker and Automotive Professional of 24 years. His company, Autoshop Solution does internet marketing exclusively for the automotive industry. www.autoshopsolutions.com Twitter: dannyautoshop Facebook: www.facebook.com/autoshopsolutions LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dannyautoshop

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Calendar of Events Annual Convention June 15-16, 2012 Hampton Inn & Suites, Orange Beach, Alabama Golf Tournament – Friday, June 15th – Craft Farms

Educational Session presented by Norm Gaither – Saturday, June 16th 8:30 General Business Meeting, Awards & Honors, Great Opportunity to Visit with Suppliers & Dealers!

Join us to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ATDA!

Chaplain’s Corner "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck

the lake with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up,

shouting, "Lord save us! We're going to drown!" Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so

little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. The disciples

were amazed."Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!" Matthew 8:23-27

Friend, you and I are the boat and this world is our sea. Yes, we all say we have faith. But SUDDENLY

when our faith is tested like the disciples, we find our faith is not as strong as we thought. An

unexpected phone call with bad news, loss of a job or bad results from a lab test...all reasons to worry

unless you fully trust Him. Here's what Jesus is asking you and I today. If you trust anything more

than Me, love anything more than Me, if anything has a tighter grip on you more than Me, you will

live out your live in fear. But you don't have to. Start 2012 off right! Make a new commitment to Jesus

and stick with it. What do you fear? Whom do you trust? Have a great year!

Jay Seale 334-624-3204 westmorelandjay@bellsouth.net

ATDA Interim Chaplain

Jay Seale is the Manager of Westmoreland Tire’s Retreading Plant in Greensboro, Alabama. He has

been in the tire business for 21 years. He received his call to preach in July of 2004 and has served

as an Interim and Part-time Pastor of different churches in the Greensboro and Hale County areas.

He is currently a Deacon at his home church, Macedonia Baptist in Hale County, and is serving as a

Part-time Pastor for Sardis United Methodist in Greene County. Jay will serve as ATDA Interim

Chaplain for 2011-2012, during Dolan Davis’ presidency.

This Month’s Business Quote:

“No power is strong enough to be lasting if it labors under the weight of fear.”— Cicero

This Month’s Business Tip: To Teach, Show and Tell: How many times

have you trained a colleague in a task, only to have that person come knocking on your door every five minutes with a question? People learn by watching others, so instead of telling people how to solve a problem, show them. Take them through each step, explaining the reasons behind each. Then allow them to ask as many questions as needed. This will not only give them the foundation they need to do the task, but will prompt you to master the task more deeply as you provide a justification for each step.

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Please Support Your

Supplier Members:

Alpha & Omega Processing Victoria Gulsby Dan Deyton 866-242-4325

American Tire Distributors Barry McGirt 800-950-3928

American Tire Distributors Terry Hadder 800-783-6936

Ashberry Tire Landfill Ty Ashberry 334-493-1250

Automotive Equipment Service Hardy & Jane Thompson 888-664-5490

B & B Tire Landfill Bud & Barbara Adams 205-647-6736

C.W. Owens Enterprises – Scrap Tire Management Wayne & Phyllis Owens 800-869-1372

CARQUEST – Distribution Center Raymond McGough 334-280-5843

Carroll Tire Cecil Bowden 205-655-2182

Carroll Tire Don Pylant 800-446-0589

Cintas Corp. Craig Casey 256-355-6431

SLK Tire Designs Sabrina Lentz Knop Cheryl Lentz 256-566-5481

TCI Tire Centers, LLC – Distribution Center Danny Rosetta 866-907-9463

TCI Tire Centers, LLC – Distribution Center Todd Sterzoy 850-580-4400

Tech International Leon Hataway 828-320-3021

Telecheck – FirstData Virginia Lovoy 205-527-3407

Tenneco Automotive Ed McArthur 205-589-2781

Tire Industry Association (TIA) Wilson Beach 800-876-8372

Tire Supplies of Alabama Frank Harcrow 205-368-4130

Wheel & Rim, Inc. David Strickland 205-324-4404

Yokohama Tire Consumer Jim Vickers 404-401-8606

Zurich American Insurance Boone Scroggins 800-553-3055

Kauffman Tire Richard Dulaney 404-762-8433

McGriff Industries Barry McGriff / Bert McGriff 256-739-0780

McGriff Treading Company Randy Drake 256-739-7080

Mohawk Rubber Larry McCraney 800-242-1446

Myers Tire Supply Barry Morgan 800-328-5110

NAPA Auto Parts Parrish Sellers 205-510-2902

Parrish Tire Gary Waters 800-877-2431

Professional Tire Collectors Chad W Jackson 205-323-8436

Robison Tire Clay Robison / Mike Windham 800-824-3225

Robison Tire Richard Henderson / Chris Johnston 334-834-6138

S & S Tire Jeff Hodgens / Mark Barrett 877-777- 7411

S & S Tire Doug Burns 251-433-7100

Continental Tire Steven P. Shanks 205-441-7285

David Tire Co., Inc. John David / Bill David 205-251-8473

Federated Insurance Brad Humphries 404-497-8840

50 Below Ben Moore Jon Napoli 888-781-6934

Friend Tire Company Joe Davis 901-794-2777

Harris Tire & Rubber Co. Mickey Taylor 334-566-2691

Harris Tire & Rubber Co. Jason Berry 256-382-0797

Hesselbein Tire Lew Newlin 601-974-5938

Hornsby Tire Distributors Roger Hornsby 334-762-2333

Hunter Engineering Sterling Yearber 256-606-7691

J Scott Enterprises, Inc. DBA Metro Recycler Phillip Tidwell 205-841-1930

Jones Tire & Supply Jimmy Jones / Bill Jones 334-874-2265 The Spare Tire is a publication of Alabama Tire Dealers Association. The Spare Tire is

published 6 times a year as a source of information for ATDA members and supporters. ATDA

directors, staff and members do not necessarily agree with all the contents or opinions

appearing in this publication nor should its readers rely on any of the Spare Tire content for

support of any legal position. On matters involving legal interpretation, the reader is advised

and encouraged to rely solely upon the advice of his or her own hired legal counsel. The Spare

Tire invites and encourages comments from its readers.