Another Great Board Meeting

I read both Susan and Lee’s articles about the Board meeting and didn’t really want to repeat anything that they had already reported on. Yet, I do want to congratulate all our board members and guests who made the Summer Board Meeting in Sacramento a success. So much work goes into planning these meetings as we strive to bring you the latest issues and educational content that concerns our industry, and I believe we accomplished this mission again.

 

A big thank you and congratulations also to Dan Bertrand, our endorsed Insurance affiliate who has recently split with his Armstrong & Associates connections and has created a new company named CoreMark Insurance Inc. (Sacramento). Dan brought and introduced his entire staff that deals with CCTA. He also gave away Starbucks gift cards to our members in a fun drawing. The really big news is that CoreMark will now be a Progressive Insurance agent with access to its special rock, sand and gravel insurance program. I always had Progressive because they had the best rates for RS&G policies. Dan gives a tremendous amount back to the association, so once again I will say, “Support the Affiliates Who Support You.”

After a delicious lunch, just when “full belly syndrome” kicked in, it was time for our guest speakers. First up, was Jay McKeeman, from CIOMA (California Independent Oil Marketers Association). I met Jay years ago when the CARB fiasco started. Jay is the Vice President of Governmental Relations and Communications and represents the independent marketers who bring the fuel to us. Currently, CIOMA is extremely concerned about another new tax that will hit every motorist in the state (gasoline and diesel) beginning in January.

This “new tax” will start by adding at least 12 cents a gallon to our fuel costs and it will likely go much higher. I encourage all of you to check out the “Fed Up at the Pump” website and Facebook page. I do not know how this state can possibly impose another new tax when we are already hurting. Educate yourselves, especially if you are bidding a job that will start after January 1, 2015. This could be a real killer if you do not have an “AB32 fuel surcharge” in your bid.

Next on the agenda, Fred Kelly Grant all the way from Idaho. Fred explained the “EPA Coordination” process now taking place with the City of Redding, Ca. Fred has been speaking to contractors and trucking companies from Northern California and has recorded these interviews and they are now on the Stand and Fight Club website. I realize I am encouraging lots of reading and web viewing, but it is well worth your time. The Stand and Fight Club is asking for donations to help with this battle, I just made mine. They have numerous battles going on throughout the country, but you can donate specifically to the California Coordination issue.

Last on the agenda was the woman I have nicknamed “The Energizer Bunny,” Ms. Therese Cannata, a San Francisco-based attorney who has filed a lawsuit against CARB on behalf of the Alliance for California Business (ACB) for the DPF issues which continue to wreak havoc on our businesses. There is hardly a day goes by that I don’t hear about a fire or increased downtime and repair bills trying to keep equipment running with a retrofitted DPF. I’m honored to be a part of the ACB, who are mainly made-up of a group of truckers who are in fact CARB compliant (in an attainment area to boot), but feel this entire process is inequitable and flawed and are willing to spending their hard earned money fighting this injustice.

So in closing, I will share with you that I’m going on a two week vacation with my granddaughter and will join my cousins for a long overdue reunion near Baton Rouge, Louisiana and then planned visits to the east coast (including Gettysburg). There’s lots of family history to look for there.

Each day I become more aware of time slipping by too quickly, as this article goes to print, I have become aware of two very recent losses, Larry Jenkins Sr., 85 (Placerville) and Fred L. Weber, 61 (Fairfield). Both will be greatly missed.