Idaho Autobody Craftsman Association is new SCRS affiliate

The newly resurrected Idaho Autobody Craftsman Association (IACA) joined as an affiliate of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) during a member meeting in Boise, Idaho the last week of November.

A handful of repairers, including current President Matt Thornton, began discussing the prospects of revitalizing IACA this summer, after the association remained dormant for nearly a decade. After an initial organizational meeting in August, which attracted more than 30 repairers and representatives of businesses that support repairers, a second more formal meeting ensued in November with almost 60 in attendance.

The meeting featured a presentation by Bruce Halcro, chairman of the Montana Collision Repair Specialists (MCRS), who spoke about issues faced by the statewide association in Montana. Following Halcro, SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg covered a number of industry-related topics including an overview of tools, resources and issues being addressed by SCRS today. Topics ranged from the benefit of resources such as the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) and SCRS Guide to Complete Repair Planning, to the emergence of insurance mandated parts procurement programs, and the effort by the industry to embrace the OEM published repair procedures as the standard of collision repair work.

"The turnout was great and showed the interest repairers in our state had regarding getting together and organizing to reinforce and protect the best interests of our industry," said Thornton. "We're in Boise, which is in southern Idaho, and people in the eastern and northern part of the state had to drive hours to get here, but they did. We also got a nice show of support from several members of the Montana Collision Repair Specialists, another SCRS affiliate, whose representatives drove close to nine hours to be there."

The presence of the Montana association was significant in that the group has been effective on the legislative front in their state, an accomplishment IACA wishes to parallel in Idaho and is making its primary focus in the upcoming months. "We have two or three legislative bills on which we want to gain traction, including an anti-steering law with some teeth in it," explained Thornton. "The Montana Collision Repair Specialists have generously offered to share their strategies and expertise in this area, which will save us a ton of time and help us be effective right out of the gate. Next spring we plan to have a multi-day legislative workshop featuring a lobbyist that can give us some additional insight in how to get things done at the state capitol."

Gaining knowledge and expertise is a core reason IACA decided to become an SCRS affiliate. "They have a lot to offer as an informational source because they are so active in so many different areas," said Thornton. "In addition, they will provide us a national presence that is very valuable."

"The re-emergence of IACA is indicative of a wave of collision repair activism rising in the face of mounting economic and market pressures," said Schulenburg. "These challenges are not insurmountable, and associations like IACA are part of the solution because they are highly motivated to represent the interests of their members, and understand the importance of working together; as evidenced by their new-found collaboration with repairers in Montana. We wish them well and look forward to their contributions, now and in the future."

For more information about SCRS visit www.scrs.com.