37th Annual AIADA Meeting and Luncheon

Special to The Auto Channel
By Marty Bernstein
AIADA Contributing Editor

A variety of stats could detail how big this year’s NADA Convention in Las Vegas was, but numbers – no matter how big – cannot convey how important this meeting was to the future of America’s retail automotive industry and the future of international brand dealers.

It is not the size, scope or even the substance of the official “NADA Main Event Convention and Expo” as it was themed, that really matters. It was the unofficial, literally off-the-books meetings, conversations, and discussions at manufacturer parties, on the floor of the exhibition, events, dinners, Super Bowl galas, Make Meetings, and, of course, this year’s Annual Meeting and Luncheon of the newly energized American International Automobile Dealers Association, that will leave the biggest imprints.

Dealers are not known to be shy, retiring or reticent when it comes to expressing their feelings. But the annual dealer bash is for friendship, grip and grinning, conviviality, cocktails, when in Vegas… slots, a turn of a card, shows and good food, right? This year was different, especially for the Detroit brands. The word I heard most often about these meetings was… ugly.

International dealers discussed their share of issues but the discussions centered around things like the new co-op ad programs, ever slimming profit margins, national advertising, and the like. But essentially, with some important exceptions, not much portent or urgency was the word from very, very reliable sources.

What happened?

Top management, CEO’s, COO’s and VP’s of several international brands spoke about the possibility, indeed the probability, of new federal legislation emanating from the newly inaugurated members of the House of Representatives and Senate. It is this new majority who will generate and create laws, rules, and regulations that will impact the international brand dealers’ business, attacking businesses where it counts most to the consumer: price and choice.

International dealers were urged by several parties to ‘Get involved in national politics and get involved now!’

There was at least one OEM executive who urged his brands’ dealers to:

•Attend the AIADA’s annual luncheon meeting;
•Get active in grassroots activities of the AIADA; and,
•If not already and active member “become one damn quick!”

The message of AIADA’s 37th Annual Meeting and Luncheon proved a memorable one indeed: Talk to your representatives when they’re at home, not in D.C.; Tell them how important your business is for your employees, local communities, consumers and the economy; Defend the essentials of free trade; and, This is the year to react, not delay, and make your voice heard.

In a little over an hour-and-a-half (which included lunch and a few very well-executed video productions) AIADA’s new president, Cody Lusk, an experienced D.C. insider, joined by outgoing Chairman and former Lt. Governor of Virginia Don Beyer, and AIADA’s new chairman, John Hawkins, described a dealer group which has evolved from troubled times following a dedicated and concerted program of revitalization, invigoration and reemergence led by the Board of Directors.

Newly reigned Chairman Hawkins, a sincere and extremely dedicated dealer, generated a spontaneous standing ovation during his remarks as he spoke to those in attendance about the purpose, focus and need of AIADA, an organization whose goals remain quite simple – “to ensure the refs stay off the field and allow the market to work,” he said.

Lusk noted and the others reaffirmed the lack of attention, interest or appeal local business owners, especially international car dealers, generate in the Halls of Congress, often to hearty applause. “The way to achieve our goals,” commented Lusk, “Is to meet with your representatives at the local level, not in Washington where you have no clout, impact or influence. In their hometown’s you will get their attention.”

Beyer and Hawkins spoke of their experience in dealing with those in power and the urgent need for grassroots, and local activities and initiatives. “Let it be known I’m one of you, working with and for you to get the job done in our nation’s Capitol,” said Hawkins. “I may not be your average ‘gear head’ but I’d like to call myself a nuts and bolts kind of guy. I’m a do’er who never misses an opportunity to engage in discussions with my lawmakers.”

These important speeches were followed by a moving video tribute and retrospective of the life of a former AIADA chairman, Dave Mungenast. A stirring video which began with clips of Mungenast in hair-raising, all out action movies and television shows performing as a Hollywood stuntman alongside stars like Bert Reynolds and Paul Newman, and transitioned to interspersed facts about his success as a Honda dealer and the road which led him there. These were augmented with moving tributes from fellow dealers, AIADA board members and friends about his business integrity, love of family and the automobile business.

We saw life and loves of an obviously amazing man in glowing, heartfelt, emotional terms. In tribute to the man and his accomplishments the Board of AIADA renamed the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in his honor, this honor was accepted with great grace by his widow, Barbara, and three sons: Ray, Kurt and Dave Jr.

Many, if not most of those in the audience who knew Dave Mungenast had tears of loss and remembrance in their eyes; those of us who did not know him, wished we had known him. We too shared in his loss to his family, friends and an industry he truly cherished.

The annual meeting ended on an upbeat theme as Cody Lusk said it’s time for America’s international auto dealers to come-out fighting, “We must take our message to our government on our own terms and on our turf. Time is short. We can not wait to start spreading our message. Let’s get started Today!”