SEMA Action Network Expands Into Canada
Grassroots Alliance Designed to Influence Legislative Initiatives Affecting Automotive Hobby

Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2007) – The SEMA Action Network (SAN) announced that it has broadened its legislative advocacy activities to include the Parliament of Canada and the provincial governments. Canadian automotive hobbyists, car clubs and related businesses can now join this influential grassroots lobbying effort by registering online at SEMA SAN - SEMA ACTION NETWORK.
“Cooperative efforts of the automotive hobbyists and the aftermarket industry who participate in the SEMA Action Network have resulted in numerous legislative successes across the United States,” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. “The SAN’s pursuit of proactive, pro-hobby legislation has led to the overhaul of existing statutes and created brand new programs to safeguard and expand the specialty equipment aftermarket. Determined efforts by the SAN have also resulted in the defeat of several poorly formulated measures. Canadian enthusiast groups face identical challenges. We are confident that by working with our Canadian-based members and hobbyist groups, we can add industry’s voice to the debate and help legislators identify reasonable and responsible solutions to the array of issues affecting the automotive hobby.”
The SAN is a nationwide partnership between vehicle clubs, enthusiasts and members of the specialty auto parts industry who want to protect their hobby. SAN was designed to help stamp out unfair legislative threats to the automotive hobby and pass favorable laws. In the U.S., the SAN regularly rallies the support of 3,500-plus car clubs, thousands of individual contacts, and 100-plus consumer automotive publications, with an estimated reach of 36 million enthusiasts nationwide; sends out action alerts to generate an abundance of responses to state and/or federal legislative actions and regulatory proposals; and issues timely updates of legislative and regulatory developments.

“There are no costs, fees or hassles to participate in the SAN,” said SEMA Action Network Director Jason Tolleson. “The concept is simple: SEMA provides detailed, regularly updated information on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the hobby. The more hands that touch this information, the more eyes that read this information and the more people that stand up and do something, the more effectively we protect our hobby. When action is required, we will urge SAN members to contact legislators and regulators to express support or opposition to a particular bill or proposal that directly affects the automotive hobby.”
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is a non-profit trade association composed of more than 6,800 member companies including manufacturers and distributors, representing the specialty equipment automotive industry. All combined, the markets add up to over $34 billion in retail business annually.

Canadian residents, click here to register.