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Phillipe Fugere steps down from ARC board PDF Print E-mail
News - Recycling
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:46

By Raisha Karnani

London, Ontario -- May 16, 2012 -- Philippe Fugere of LKQ Lecavalier has stepped down from the Automotive Recyclers of Canada board. Fugere made many contributions on the national level during his tenure with ARC, serving as the representative of Quebec's recycling organization, ARPAC. "Philippe has been with ARC since the very beginning in 1995, and held the position of Vice Chair for many years,” says Steve Fletcher of ARC. “He not only helped form the national association, but he held the group together in the lean start up years, and in our transition years to a become a fully engaged national and even international looking group. His enthusiasm and professionalism will be missed on the Board, but we are very pleased that he will remain an active Member of the association." Ed MacDonald, founding board member of ARC and owner of Maritime Auto Parts, “I’ve known Phillippe and his family for twenty-five years, and in the time that I’ve known him, he’s always at the forefront of opportunities for the industry. I’ve worked with him on many projects, including ARC and he, and his family are an amazing, helpful and interactive group of people.” “He’s a very helpful, insightful and valuable board member,” agrees Chairman of the ARC board of directors, Wally Dingman. “Phillippe has been a strong asset and supporter of ARC for many years. I’m very sorry to see him go, but I wish him well in the future and hope that we get to work with him again.” The ARPAC board has nominated Steve Lemm, President of Pieces D’Autos MS. in Ste-Anne-des-Lacs, Québec as Fugere’s replacement. For more information on ARC, please visit autorecyclers.ca.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 20:52
 
2500 repairers join Car-Part.com’s new recycled parts market in first 50 days PDF Print E-mail
News - Recycling
Wednesday, 16 May 2012 08:54

Fort Wright, Kentucky -- May 16, 2012 -- CarPartPro.com is a new marketplace designed to serve the needs of the collision and mechanical repair industries by simplifying the process of finding quality recycled parts. Shops and appraisers choose their desired delivery time, warranty, recycler certification, and part quality, along with other service levels, and see only those parts that fit cycle time and other requirements. The results show parts with all-inclusive prices including the requested service levels.

 
“The 2500 professional repairers who joined CarPartPro.com in our first 50 days are validating our vision that shops’ and appraisers’ online parts store needs to be simple and show buyers only parts that meet all of their needs, while providing instant access to sellers’ staff,” said Jeff Schroder, Co-Founder and CEO of Car-Part.com
 
Recyclers’ local delivery times are fastest when parts come from the warehouse, but when parts are still on a vehicle the delivery times can vary based on the dismantling process. Some recyclers have robust overnight shipping networks and often can deliver a part next-day from their distribution networks. The buyer simply chooses when the part is needed, and all parts meeting that delivery selection will show in the results.
 
If you see parts from an unfamiliar recycler, Car-Part has three certification levels: gold, silver and bronze. These certifications deal with services recyclers offer to professional buyers. Car-Part Gold certified recyclers offer a one year warranty option, have a 30 day refund policy, deliver parts to professional shops, grade parts using ARA international part grading standards, and disclose whether their body part pricing system uses actual or undamaged pricing. Car-Part Pro offers a summary of a recycler’s certifications, affiliations, and business practices.
 
By integrating real-time communication into the workflow, Live Service allows buyer and seller to communicate their needs quickly and efficiently while maintaining a written record of the transaction. Car-Part Pro can be integrated into third party applications such as workflow, estimating, and shop management.
 
Car-Part Pro is available at no charge to professional collision and mechanical shops, as well as recyclers subscribing to the Car-Part Gold service. Insurers receive a 90-day free trial. For more information about Car-Part Pro or to sign up, please visit CarPartPro.com or call 859-344-1925.
 
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 May 2012 08:56
 
AARDA focuses on recognition, training and building relationships at 2012 AGM PDF Print E-mail
News - Recycling
Monday, 07 May 2012 11:14

By Ian Hope, Executive Director of AARDA

Edmonton, Alberta -- May 7, 2012 -- Employee recognition and training was the theme of this year’s Alberta Automotive Recyclers & Dismantlers Association Conference. The AARDA Conference was held at the Chateau Louis Hotel and Conference Center on Kingsway Avenue in Edmonton. Consistent with the theme, there was an excellent turnout this year of not only owners, but also many staff members from the yards as well as from the businesses of AARDA’s Associate members. The conference allowed plenty of time for delegates to network and exchange new ideas.
 
Tom Bradshaw of York University was one of the featured speakers. His presentation focused on how to engage employees and customers in meaningful conversations that help to build solid business and working relationships.
 
Dave Schandor is a member of AARDA’s Board and the General Manager of Marshall’s Auto Wreckers in Lethbridge. He gave a presentation on customer service skills, based on his insights from over 30 years in the business. 
 
 
 
Two officials of the Government of Alberta were present at Saturday’s gala dinner to bring greetings from the Ministry of the Environment and Work Safe Alberta respectively.  The representatives spoke about the important work that AARDA was doing towards the goals of protecting our shared environment while also stressing the importance of maintaining safe workplaces.  The automotive industries were cited in Dan Kennedy’s remarks—he is an Assistant Deputy Minister from the department administering Work Safe Alberta—as being one of the most dangerous in the Province in terms of workplace injuries and fatalities.  Auto-recycling workplaces which make up an important part of the general automotive industry warrant special attention towards the safety aspects, and this was acknowledged by AARDA officials as one of the association’s key goals.  
 
While there was a great deal of training and learning at the conference, there was also a lot of fun to be had.  
 
Observing how well the delegates got along and openly exchanged their ideas and recommended best practices, it was pretty clear that the yards do not see each other as competitors, but as collaborators. The lively and constructive discussions leaned far more towards “how to make a bigger pie” for everyone in the industry to benefit from as opposed to “sharing in the business” that is of a fixed and limited size, and there is a huge difference between these two philosophies. AARDA’s expressed goals are to create a bigger and more vibrant marketplace where all members can actually thrive and sell more parts. The Association’s view that the real competition we have as an industry is with new parts, and this is a view clearly shared by the delegates. 
 
After Saturday’s dinner, attendees participated in an activity facilitated by Robert Manolson of Powerful Play Experiences. In the activity we were shown how to do better in our work and in team-building by learning to lighten up and find ways to make our workplaces more human.
 
Conference sponsors who gave valuable support to the event included Hollander a Solera Company, Car-Parts.Com, Impact Auto Auctions, Allied Information Canada, Keystone Cross Canada Parts, Wholesale Auto Parts Warehouses, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), BANN Powertrain, Rebuilders Auto Parts, Salvage Salvage Parts Magazine, Burlington Business Forms and Marshall’s Auto Wrecking.
 
Next year AARDA celebrates its 25th anniversary. The date has been set for June 7-8th, 2013.  This date, which is about 6 weeks later than usual for our AGM, will assure us better weather so that some fun outdoor activities can be included.  The location of the conference will be in beautiful Sylvan Lake, roughly mid-way between Edmonton and Calgary.  
 
For more information on AARDA, please visit aarda.com. 
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Last Updated on Monday, 07 May 2012 11:29
 
Recyclers let the sunshine in with DreamLift PDF Print E-mail
News - Recycling
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 14:44

By Lucy Mazzucco

Ottawa, Ontario -- May 2, 2012 -- There’s very little that's as rewarding as making children smile. Its even more rewarding when the kids in question are chronically ill or disabled. Ed Macdonald of Maritime Auto Salvage was one of the volunteers for the Sunshine Foundation’s recent DreamLift sponsored by the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association and the Automotive Recyclers of Canada. After the event, he found himself asking, “Who had the reward, us or them?”

The DreamLift was a one-day, whirlwind adventure to the Magic Kingdom. The event was organized by the Sunshine Foundation of Canada and sponsored by ARC and OARA through vehicle retirement programs such as Car Heaven and Retire Your Ride.
 
     
 
DreamLift enables volunteers to contribute to the lives of disabled children by filling their day with smiles. This is one reason why the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) and Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) were excited and eager to participate.
 
 “I thought it was a great idea from the start. I personally love to help out as much as possible,” said Macdonald, who got the chance to spend the day with three kids. “One of the kids I spent the day with was named Tyler, who had lost both legs due to meningitis. The kids were always positive, it was their day and they honoured it.” 
 
     
With such optimism from the volunteers that participated, it allowed for the children to gain as much as possible from the experience, allowing them to spend quality time together since parents were not invited to join. This gave the children an opportunity to have some independence for the day. “This was an ideal opportunity for people who had never had the chance to visit Disney World or had never been away from their parents. It was exciting for everyone, but it was not our day, it was their day,” said Macdonald.
 
Steve Fletcher, Managing Direct of ARC, was happy to participate and contribute to the event. “It was great to represent the auto recycling industry on the DreamLift. I was so proud that both OARA and ARC stepped up and agreed to sponsor this wonderful event. The impact on these kids and their families will last a lifetime,” said Fletcher. “There was also a huge impact on the auto recyclers who were involved.”
 
This is a statement that Mary Poirier of Valley Automotive would probably agree with. Poirier is the Treasurer of OARA and Secretary of ARC and had an emotional experience during her participation in the event. 
 
     
“I was afraid I would spend most of the day in tears. It is a very touching moment for a mom of three,” said Poirier. “I’ve never participated in any of these events before and I’m hoping it will help me appreciate all the blessings I have in life.”
 
Poirier got to spend the day with a girl named Amanda, who had an iron deficiency and blood disorder who really enjoyed going on the “scary rides.” 
 
“These kids have a rough road,” says Tom Huehn, from 400 Auto Wreckers. “I am a fortunate man. My kids and my family are healthy. This event teaches that it is important to see beyond the disability and the capability of these children, not what they are incapable of.” 
 
During his participation in the event, Huehn got the chance to meet and spend time with a child named Jacob. For more on Huehn’s experience with Jacob, please click here. Although he had a very positive experience, Huehn mentioned he would not do it again. 
 
"I wouldn’t want to take that opportunity away from somebody else,” he says. “The more people who experience this, the better off we will be.”
 
     
Carl-Antoine Gaudreault is the son of Brigitte Pesant, Director of Business Development for OARA. He has been anticipating the event since he signed up for it in March. 
 
“I was thrilled to be a part of the April 2012 Sunshine DreamLift,” says Gaudreault, who got the chance to meet Wilson, a child whom he presented with his Sunshine Dream and would spend time with at Disney. “I applied for a volunteer position with the Sunshine Foundation because I wanted to help kids."
 
During the trip to Disney, Gaudreault got to spend the day with Christopher, a boy with muscular dystrophy. The two had a great time going on the rides together, Space Mountain in particular. 
 
“He really liked rides,” says Gaudreault. “We went on Space Mountain twice, he really enjoyed it. It was fun to spend the day with him and he was really good around people.” Carl’s open-mind and excitement allowed for an extremely positive experience for both himself and the two boys, Wellington and Christopher, who he spent the day with at Disney.
 
“It was a great experience and great opportunity,” says Cathy Ferrell, from Modern Auto Parts. “Everyone enjoyed it and shared laughs together, especially on Splash Mountain. I had never been there before so it was overwhelming, but it was great being able to spend the day with the kids. It really was something special.”  
 
Along with physically volunteering the time for these children, Tom Huehn organized a donation of 150 books from Scholastic Canada, in which each child was able to select up to two books of their choice. Denis Desjardin, from Sonshine Auto Parts, also further contributed to the charity. He organized backpacks for the children, which he ordered and filled with magazines, colouring books, sunglasses and more goodies. Desjardin then personally handed the backpacks out to the children and the remainder of the books that Huehn had ordered were donated to Sonshine Auto Parts to start a local literacy program for any children who visit.
 
 
 
The volunteers that participated in this event brought forth the optimism that these children needed and were able to lift their spirits in order to have a great day at Disney. Overall, the event was a success, and was able to provide the children as well as the volunteers with great memories and an unforgettable experience.
 
Gloria Mann from Canadian Auto Recyclers magazine was along as both a volunteer and a media representative. She says that it’s not enough to say that the event was a success. 
 
“It wasn’t just a success, it was a HUGE success,” says Mann. “When you see what these kids are capable of, it’s simply inspirational. Their ability to keep smiling in the face of adversity makes everyone who meets them want to do better in their own life. Just meeting them makes you realize that even though a road may be long, there is a worthwhile destination at the end.” 
 
For more the DreamLift program, please visit sunshine.ca. 
 

 

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 May 2012 14:59
 
SARA takes it to the next level at first annual meeting PDF Print E-mail
News - Recycling
Wednesday, 02 May 2012 14:23

By Raisha Karnani

Regina, Saskatchewan -- May 2, 2012 -- The Saskatchewan Automotive Recyclers Association (SARA) held their first annual meeting on Friday April 20, 2012, coinciding with the Auto Recyclers of Canada (ARC) annual board members meeting held on Saturday, April 21. The meetings took place at the West Harvest Inn in Regina, Saskatchewan.

“We were really thrilled and grateful to be able to take our association to another level with our first ever annual meeting,” says SARA’s treasurer, Cheryl Hoimyr of SGI Salvage. 
 
“For our first meeting, it went really well,” said Jack Smith of Top Line Salvage. Smith is also the chairman for SARA. He opened the meeting to welcome members of other auto recycling companies to the meeting, followed by a “welcome to the family” speech by the Automotive Recycler’s of Canada chairman, Wally Dingman. 
 
Several presentations were made, including one by Colin McKean of Colin McKean and Associates about environmental audits and what to expect when being audited for the first time. Caroline Sturk of the Summerhill Group updated attendees feedback to SARA about the progress being made with the Switch Out campaign. 
 
The guest speaker for this first meeting was Jim Counts of Counts Consulting, a premier consultant in the world of auto recycling. 
 
“Some of the things he touched on referred to some things we had tried before, and he concluded that they don’t work anymore. Some of the members still used these methods and he clarified that they didn’t work. For example, being open on Saturday doesn’t make you that much more money,” said Bruce Ehman of Red Wing Auto Recyclers and a member of SARA’s board of directors.  
 
Members were given feedback and meeting evaluation forms to explain, at an individual level, what they wanted as a result of the first annual meeting of SARA. Two examples are an increase in vehicle programs and a long-lasting conversation between SARA and SGI Salvage. 
 
“We’d been going to SGI Salvage seminars before,” Smith says. “We already had a good relationship with SGI, so establishing a professional relationship with them through SARA was something we wanted and hope to continue.” SGI provided lunch and other refreshments for this meeting.
 
In general, the membership of SARA appears to have a lot of hope for its future. 
 
“We haven’t had a group like this together in Saskatchewan before. Since the meeting we’ve been talking together and getting other members and associations involved. We’re very lucky to have experienced people involved who have been a part of groups before and know what to avoid.” says Ehman.
 
“It’s a positive relationship,” comments Smith, regarding new members joining SARA and goes on to explain that as a group, there is a standard for the Saskatchewan companies and associations, and that new members means that there are “More members following the standard.”
 
We wish the members of SARA all the best for the future and hope that the next annual meeting proves just as informative and enjoyable.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 May 2012 08:08
 
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