NTPDA Membership - Kick Start

This week NTPDA (National Tractor Parts Dealer Association) president Scott Schelling called together a group of members to reignite the NTPDA Membership Committee. The group is tasked with working on new and innovative ways to improve our membership numbers while offering real value in, not only, our Annual Meeting and Trade Show but also our summer gathering.

The Membership Committee is made up of:

• Scott Schelling - Rock Valley Tractor Parts
• Liz Fawcett - Fawcett Tractor Supply
• Tray Russell - Russells Tractor Parts
• Michael Libbie - Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications
• Steven Haas - DLS Worldwide
• Brandi Erickson - Steiner Tractor
• Shannon Sabo-Weber - Steiner Tractor

The meeting looked at various ways in which to offer increase value to our members, which assists in retention, and the active recruitment of new members.

While we'll detail changes and plans here one of the first things the group decided to accomplish was to re-name the Summer Board Meeting. The reason is that many members figure the meeting is only for the Board of Directors. That's not the case. So, we're rebranding the event as The Summer Smash. Our goal is to invite the Board and our Regular and Associate Members to an event that is packed with information, planning and fun...as the name suggests.  As soon as our plans are more clear we'll be sending out some schedule information.

Please know that this Membership Committee is committed to creating and building a better National Tractor Parts Dealer Association and we look forward to this future.

Thanks for reading and more to come! 

 

 

Right to Repair and NTPDA

Right to Repair Update - By Kenny Roelofsen

First, I want to thank NTPDA and its members for giving me the opportunity to talk with you all at this year’s show in Corpus Christi. Personally I think a lot of good came from all of us discussing the problem at hand. I am especially looking forward to putting a team together with NTPDA and all its members to ‘combat’ this issue and get something done!

With that being said, while we were discussing the issue at hand the WEDA (Western Equipment Dealers Association) sent out a Legislative Update indicating that they had got the Right to Repair bill amended in Washington State to exempt all Ag Equipment from the bill. In other words even if Washington state passes the bill it would do nothing for agricultural equipment. This, in part, was achieved by WEDA lobbying efforts and testimonial.

“Moving forward, we anticipate our advocacy efforts in Washington will set a precedent for other states to follow,” said John Schmeiser, CEO WEDA. This is what we need to be careful of. Groups like WEDA and others will try and sneak in and get the bills changed without us knowing so. Another reason why we need to act fast and get our own team of lobbyist to help combat groups like WEDA.

For more information please contact Kenny at 785-655-9455 Ext 103

Bio

Kenny Roelofsen is the Digital Marketing Associate at Abilene Machine he has been employed since 2013. Before Abilene Machine Kenny attended college at the University of Kansas where he majored in Political Science with a minor in Business Marketing. Kenny also serves on the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Economic Development Corporation of Dickinson County Board of Directors

2018 Scholarship Information

On of the major benefits of being a member of the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association (NTPDA) is the opportunity to take part in our Scholarship Program. Our association will be awarding a total of $1,000 to each scholarship recipient. This truly is a nice way to further the education of a deserving student who is an NTPDA member, employee of a member, or a dependent of a member or employee. This scholarship is for Regular Members, Associate Members and Affiliate Members. The scholarships are open to U.S. and Canadian graduating high school students, or current college students, enrolling full time (12 or more credit hours), toward a diploma or degree at an accredited college or university. 

Completed applications must be accompanied by written verification of affiliation with an NTPDA member company.

Scholarship awards are based on academic achievement, extra-curricular/community activities, evidence of leadership, work experience, short and long-term career goals and the applicant's overall response to each of the questions on the application. Financial need is not considered in the review process and there is no distinction made on race, religion or gender of the applicant.

The selection process is an extremely difficult one because of the many outstanding applicants each year. Therefore, great care is taken to assure that impartial and unprejudiced choices are made. Applications are sent to the NTPDA office where they are logged in and noted with the date received and assigned a student code. The numbered applications are then sent to the Scholarship Committee and the original kept in the NTPDA office. Based on the criteria above, the committee then ‘rank’ the applications, choosing the top ranked as the recipients of the scholarships. Their selections are then forwarded to the NTPDA office for announcement to the Association and in the student's local newspaper.

Here is a link to the scholarship application, which you can download, and further details about the process.

Here is wishing you all the best of luck and remember, applications MUST be into to he NTPDA office by Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

 

It's Like Family...

Being part of the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association is more, much more, than simply doing business. Sure, we trade with each other, sometimes protecting our turf but more often than not we honestly care for each other.  Over the years we've become more like family than an association. New members that join us can tell that right away. There is an honest respect and love for each other.

That's why the passing of our Immediate Past President Doug Swanson is so tough to take. Doug, from Abilene Machine has been with NTPDA for decades. He has served, faithfully, on the Board of Directors and recently took the job of Board President. We knew, when we were in Corpus Christi last month, that Doug was putting up a fight against the cancer that he would often say, "Just sucks". His fellow Board Members and attendees were all hopeful that he would pull through and get back at it.

That was not to be and sadly our friend passed away as the new month began. And, it hurts.

Today we remember his family, friends, co-workers at Abilene Machine and all who were touched by him, his story, his business and his laughter.

We don't know if it's like this with other associations but we know what it's like here.

UPDATE:

A Celebration of Life will be Friday, February 9, 2018, from 4-8 p.m., at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina, KS

In lieu of flowers a card, message, blessing can be sent to Doug's daughter - Taylor Swanson,  1015 N. 9th, Salina, KS 67401

Please keep Doug's family, friends and everyone at Abilene Machine in your thoughts and prayers.

Here is a link to the obituary.

Thank you for being with NTPDA...

The photo (with Doug and Phyllis) is from our time together at a recent Annual Meeting and Trade Show.  We will always remember.