2009 Auto Show Wraps on Another Great Year
 The 2009 Saint Louis Auto Show wrapped on Sunday, February 1st. Many thousands of attendees came by and took part in the exciting features this year had to offer, including several exciting giveaways. The Saint Louis Auto Dealers Association would like to congratulate Lyle Winter from Greenville, IL on winning the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 giveaway. His name was randomly selected from thousands of entries, and the truck was presented to him by the Missouri and Illinois Dodge Dealer Advertising Association on February 17th.
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First Annual Charity Gala Raised $50,000
 More than 200 attendees came out for the inaugural Cheers for Children! Charity Gala. Everyone enjoyed an evening on the town, complete with valet parking, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, live music courtesy of Dr. Zhivegas and an exclusive after-hours tour of the area's biggest auto show. The Saint Louis Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation raised $50,000 for area children. Click here to see photos from the event.
Thank you to everyone who supported this event. We look forward to raising even more money for St. Louis children's charities next year.
President Obama Signs Economic Stimulus Package
with Auto Tax Deductions
 On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Since re-stimulating to automobile industry is critical to re-stimulating the entire economy, the law includes provisions designed to encourage Americans to purchase new vehicles. Under the new law, new vehicle buyers who make purchases between February 17, 2009, and December 31, 2009, will be able to deduct their state and local vehicle sales and excise tax. Click here for a fact sheet on the new auto consumer tax deductions.
The State of Our Economy
 Written by Tony Hallada, LarsonAllen Financial, LLC, member FINRA & SIPC (published originally in LarsonAllen EFFECT magazine/Spring 2009). Small recessions are good for the long-term health of our economy, and the good news is that we have already progressed one year in the deflationary period. Click here for the entire article.
St. Louis Auto Outlook
 The St. Louis Auto Outlook is filled with valuable, objective information on the metro area's new retail automotive market that can't be found anywhere else. The St. Louis Auto Outlook tracks monthly vehicle registrations in the greater St. Louis metro area. Click here to see the latest monthly report.
SLADA Hosts Fixed Ops Growth Strategies Seminar
 On February 13, fixed operations expert Don Tipton of DTC Consulting joined dealers, service managers and parts managers to discuss strategies for growing service and parts business. The key message was to understand that traditional thinking will not bring new customers to the service and parts departments; old perceptions must be broken and performance measures must be changed. To learn how to change your traditional thinking, view both of the full presentations: New Realities Presentation and Traditional Thinking Presentation.
In Memory of Donald J. Suntrup
Donald J. Suntrup, one of two brothers who started separate car businesses more than 40 years ago and whose family members now operate businesses here, died Sunday, February 15, 2009, at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. To read the full article honoring Mr. Suntrup, click here.
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