Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers Inc.

1. Opening Comments – Bill Ziebart – Once again Bill took this opportunity to thank everyone for their presence today at the meeting and to introduce the opening speaker.

2. Presidents Message – Issac Sneath –Issac says he feels the key item that SAAR has had some success with this year is knowledge building. The estimating schools are helping the membership to know what to ask for and helping to standardize the operating procedures within the province. With SGI’s help SAAR would like to organize frame schools. Knowledge is missing on both sides of the equation with regard to frame estimates. He made a call to the general membership for member participation in the committees for 2010. Overall this year we had a good year with substantial financial gains and knowledge gains but we must work together to keep that trend going.

3. Motion to Adopt Agenda – Motion by Tom Bissonette, seconded by Greg Segal, carried.

4. Motion to Adopt Minutes of Prior Meeting – Motion by Harv Britton, seconded by Lorne Horvath, carried.

5. Old Business Arising from Minutes – None

6. Reports –

                Executive Directors ‘ Report – Bill Ziebart– This year we had some estimating schools around the province to help educate members as to what they are entitled to and how to interact with SGI. These estimating schools are not designed to teach anyone from scratch but more how to refine the knowledge that the membership already has. With the introduction of these schools it has been found that SGI does not have standard operating procedures throughout the province. Nor do they operate the same with various shops within each city. It is hoped that improvements in knowledge will help ensure shops get paid fairly for work performed. SGI is partnering with SAAR to put on frame schools as well. There is knowledge missing in the area of framework on both sides.
                SAAR would like to thank the membership for their great support and remind the members that we need your time on committees in 2010. 2009 was overall a pretty good year for the industry in this province. We made some considerable financial gains and businesses in the province participated in courses, which helped increase their knowledge.   But we must work together to keep this forward momentum going. We are still far behind mechanical rates, plumbing rates, and electrical rates and so it is time that the insurance company recognize that they have artificially depressed the industry with their monopoly status.
There were many great discussions, which arose as a result of the estimating school classroom situations. The good classes are where they come from different areas. That is when it is more apparent that SGI is treating the various areas differently. During the frame study it became apparent that Ian Aldworth’s extensive industry experience was the most valuable to the frame study.
The executive is asking members to offer their services to the association once again. We need some new blood and more young people to come on board so that we can grow the association.

Treasurer’s Report – Tom Bissonette – We are a little ahead of last year. For the first time we have paid for some travel expenses for persons on the committees. Some additional expenses due to memory sticks for the courses. Otherwise I will let the financials stand for themselves. Motion to accept financial statements – Mike Coute Seconded by Lorne Hebert.

Technical Committee – Isaac Sneath. The technical committee is currently focusing on three main issues. Jobber parts with poor fit. This is a key bone of contention and therefore we are continuing to request shops to report problem parts. The second issue was the frame study. Len Nargang worked with Bill to set up appropriate frame classes. It is becoming apparent that there is not enough knowledge for appraisers at SGI or at the various shops.   SGI will provide the instructor for the frame school. Training will occur in both Saskatoon and Regina for the province. And they have committed to train their own staff better regarding frame estimates. The third issue is materials with a special focus on paint materials. It is common knowledge that costs went up for everyone when they switched to waterborne. The key issue is when the discussion of paint materials. It is felt that when paint materials increase each year we should get an automatic increase. Currently it is being treated as a gentleman’s agreement and that seems a little one sided. The question has been raised that with the switch to waterborne paints there should be consideration from SGI for additional costs and expenses for shops to gear up with the changeover.

Negotiations Committee – Joe Schmidt – Due to the bi-election the president of SGI couldn’t come to meet with the committee. The rest of this discussion occurred privately at the private member only potion of the meeting.

MSA (prior known as C6 Safety Association) - Andy Nagy - Andy is retiring this year. The association has hired another advisor. She was concerned with doing shop inspections. They are working on this issue. They have a new Safety Management Leadership Program in place, which can certify employers for health and safety. Possibly this program needs to go one step higher, however the certification program is beginning to work. Not everyone was operating at a higher standard. There is no cost to be certified. So please take advantage of the program as it is the best way to reduce or eliminate worker’s compensation claims. The program works for all sizes of companies. They also perform ergonomics studies. The safety association also helps clients with workers comp claims. If a claim occurs we can help you to manage them better. Plus the association also assists with appeals to workers comp claims.
Bill Ziebart took a moment to thank Andy Nagy for all his hard work with the safety association and for helping so many shops over the years and encouraged members to offer up their own thanks and well wishes.

SIAST – Currently SIAST is running a full group of pre-employment. The level two classes have some vacant seats. Level 4 in Wascana campus is full. This year they will be putting out in total 12 groups of apprentices across the province. There are three new scholarships for students. Contact Bill Z for more information about the scholarships. Dale Hawkins has taken over as new program co-ordinator. The Apprenticeship Commission is now finally spending more money in this industry. There has been a general decline in interest in the auto body industry over the past ten years. This is a concern for the industry in general. We need to be able to promote ourselves so that we can increase interest in this trade.
Mike Coote brought up a great way to attract attention to the industry and to your own shop in particular through setting up booths at job fairs. Mike requested that Bill Ziebart consider making it his business to find out about the various job fairs going on in the province and set up a booth at these job fairs to try to attract new apprentices into the industry.

7. New Business:
CCIF – Saskatoon will be hosting the CCIF in Saskatoon On Oct. 17th at the Besbourough Hotel. There will be 10,000 young people there. It will be a great meeting to attend and it is important that as many shops as possible come out to the event. Greenbelt Training will be one of the messages at the CCIF meeting. It is a whole new training concept. Joe Schmidt says that the CCIF looks at Saskatchewan as leaders in ICAR.
At this point Katherine Huber took a moment to mention that we need to thank Sid Petrisor for making it his life’s work to teach the ICAR courses.

8. Motion to Adjourn – Harv Britton seconded by Tom Bissonette.