CAUCUS CONNECTION

SEMA Show 2014 - State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus Dinner

Current and former members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus gathered again this past November to meet with SAN staff and enjoy the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The Caucus, comprised of approximately 655 legislators in all 50 states, is serving to further raise the automotive hobby’s profile in the state capitols. In attendance were (standing left to right) U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (California); Senator Ted Gaines (California); Representative George Lavender (Texas); Senator Jim Patrick (Idaho); Delegate Eric Householder (West Virginia); Representative Denny Altes (Arkansas); Representative Bruce Hanna (Oregon); Representative Howard Mosby (Georgia); Representative Tim Freeman (Oregon); Senator David Parks (Nevada); (seated left to right) Senator Mark Manendo (Nevada); Representative Nikki Randall (Georgia); Caucus Chairman Delegate Gary Howell (West Virginia); and Assemblyman James Oscarson (Nevada).

Legislative Front Lines

View complete list of Legislative Action Alerts

SEMA SAN Strike Force

Alan Hay, patron of the Australian Confederation of Motor Clubs (ACMC), shares an important message with car enthusiasts at Queensland Raceway. At the time, he was selected by the National Party as a candidate for the Senate.

Recently, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) was contacted by Tony O’Donnell, founder of the Australian Confederation of Motor Clubs (ACMC). This volunteer group of enthusiast organizations was created nearly 3 years ago in New South Wales, Australia. “We have formed a reasonably productive working relationship with our state government and regulatory authorities,” explained O'Donnell. “But there is still a long road to travel and I expect that it’s a job that will never be finished.” As such, the ACMC was looking for ways of making legislative inroads with lawmakers Down Under. Thankfully, he found us!

Based on the SAN’s humble beginnings in 1997, we know that organizing a grassroots movement is an essential task in order for car hobbyists to help influence new legislation. Many of the issues our nations face are similar. Legislatures often borrow ideas from others, domestically and abroad. To get started, we shared the SAN’s online tools and resources with Tony. We had him subscribe to this Driving Force newsletter for timely updates. We also invited the organization to participate in the celebration of Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) in July 2015 and suggested that they invite their legislators to attend. As many U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions do each year, they could request official recognition of our hobby’s “holiday” also.

As Tony and his allies gear up for the coming year, please join us in wishing the ACMC great legislative successes!

◄ Driving Force Online Archives