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IN THIS ISSUE |
Member Alert
AAA Watch
Top Story
Partners
Washington Watch
In The News
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Member Alert |
Renewals: Expect Member Package After Effective Date and Not the Date You Renewed
Plus Members: Each Affiliate Does Not Receive a Card in Their Own Name.
You're the Primary Member--We Honor You--Or At Least Our Vendor's Outdated Database Does
Please keep in mind that your materials are mailed out according to your effective date and not your renewal date. They will take about 10 business days from your effective date to arrive.
If you have multiple members on your membership you will not receive a card for all of them. You will receive a card that says "Family Member of…" for the associates. As long as the associate member is listed in the database then they
will be covered. You do not need a card to receive service. All you need is a valid membership, your member number, and the 24 hour dispatch phone number. This information can be obtained in the confirmation email we sent to you at sign
up or renewal |
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AAA Watch |
AAA Plays the Tax Subsidy Game Just Like the Big Boys
It's Nice to Be the Nation's 70th Largest Corporation
One of the structural problems with the American federalist system is that it allows business to pit states against each other for little public benefit. States throw tax dollars at corporations to incent
them to move to a certain state. This might make sense when a Company is adding jobs or when it is moving from overseas (maybe). But otherwise, it is merely taking money and jobs from one American and giving them to another. The net
gain for Americans, other than business executives and owners, is zero.
It is well-known that large corporations play the game. But we at Kicking Asphalt had never heard of a non-profit doing so until we received the following article on how AAA moved jobs from Pennsylvania and Maryland to Delaware. It is a
detailed examination of how the game works. (Don't worry Oregon and the KA staff would like our shoes shined every day...and we wouldn't mind if you threw in a back rub.)
Excerpted from:
Mapping the Route to Dollars:
AAA Mid-Atlantic's Four-State Tour
By Sarah Stecker
Complete Story
Better World Club supports Eco Talk, Saturdays on Air America radio. Contact your local Air America station if it's not broadcast in your region.
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Top Story |
Newly Designed Website Launched
Main Goal: To Provide Greater View of All Services Available to Members
We Need Your Feedback
Better World Club is posting a newly designed website today (at www.betterworldclub.com, of course). The primary purpose of the update is to make the breadth of services on the site much more accessible
to BWC members--and other visitors as well.
Did you know that Better World Club has the only page of links to every state Department of Motor Vehicles in the country? Hopefully, with the new site, you will.
We also wanted to give the site some of the corporate identity that so many of you appreciate in Kicking Asphalt, Driving Change, and TravelCool!, our eNewsletters. Hopefully, the site is more clever than its predecessors. And, of course,
we need more prosaic feedback--like which links don't work.
Our IT staff still resents all of the work this has required, so we hope you appreciate their effort. (They wanted us to mention that if anyone wanted to provide them with, oh let's say, a $20.00 tip, they'd gladly accept.)
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Partners |
BWC Partners with PQL Green
 For Those of You Who Want to See Some "Green" As A Result
PQL Green is an investment website/newsletter that focuses on socially and environmentally responsible stocks. Launched this year as a branch of PQL Research, the Company looks to report on the increasing number of businesses that
recognize the demand for environmental consciousness and responsibility. They are letting their community know about Better World Club, so we thought we'd let you know about them. They offer an eNewsletter and blog for their readers
interested in the socially responsible investment. (Of course, BWC makes no representation regarding the quality of PQL Green's investment advice. But it's good to see financial professionals understanding the financial potential of
green companies.)
Two Kicking Asphalt Subscribers Make News--One with New Best Seller, Other with Advice on Energy Crisis
 During the last month, two Kicking Asphalt subscribers have made news. (We hesitate to call them readers until they see their names here
and respond.) In each case, they are giving consumers information regarding the country's energy issues.
First, investigative reporter and KA subscriber Greg Palast has a new best seller called "Armed Madhouse" which features a contrarian argument: the oil industry wanted control of Iraq's oil not to profit from selling it, but to profit
from not selling it, thereby propping up prices. Greg goes through a detailed history of the Middle East and how Iraqi oil has long been seen as the pool of oil easiest to keep off the market so as not to rededuce oil prices. You
can find the book here: and Greg's website here: www.gregpalast.com.
Meanwhile, KA subscriber Dan Becker has a
thoughtful interview focused more on our automotive alternatives. Dan is a Senior Representative in the Sierra Club's Washington, D.C. legislative office, and one of the nation's leading experts on global warming and clean cars.
Automotive News, Detroit's trade magazine, named Dan to its list of the top 10 people in Washington who most affect the auto industry and Rolling Stone called Dan a "Climate Hero."
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Member Specials |
Remember the Ironweed Film Club
Well, We're Going to Keep Reminding You Until You Do
 Ironweed is a monthly DVD subscription service bringing eclectic collections of independent documentary and narrative films
to members across the US and Canada. Each month, Ironweed sends out a unique, members-only DVD packed with a feature film and several shorts collected from the world's best film festivals. Ironweed also provides action opportunities from
relevant partner organizations, house party guides, and an online forum to encourage discussion and engagement. Monthly and annual subscriptions available.
The idea is simple: sign up for the club and every month you'll get a DVD in the mail that contains an award-winning feature film, a short film, and free extras. Subscribe now and get a special offer for Better World Club members and
subscribers: your FIRST MONTH FREE (just pay $2.95 for shipping), and just $14.95 per month thereafter. To join, visit
Ironweed Films |
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Washington Watch |
Think Gas Prices Are Leading to Higher Fuel Economy? Think Again!
Little Change Since 1980s, EPA Finds
Why Is The Auto Industry Enabling The Oil Industry?
Based on reports by The Washington Post and others.
On June 27th, the Environmental Protection Agency once again announced that automakers have made no progress in improving vehicle fuel economy over the past year. This now extends the industry's record of failure to 24 years.
The industry-wide fuel economy of 2006 model-year vehicles was 21 miles per gallon, the same as the year-ago level. Certainly to no surprise of Kicking Asphalt readers, Detroit automakers trailed their Japanese, Korean and European
counterparts.
Honda Motor Co. continued to rank at the top of the list with the best fuel economy, an EPA-estimated 24.2 miles per gallon. Toyota Motor Corp. was No. 2, with 23.8 miles per gallon. Volkswagen AG and Hyundai Motor Co.'s Kia and Hyundai
brands tied for third at 23.5 miles per gallon.
Complete Story
More Washington Watch in 'Driving Change'
State Greenhouse Gas Regulation Now Dependent on the Supremes
Read More
NYTimes Editorial on Motor Vehicle Emissions Case
Read More
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In The News |
On The Road: Where to Go Green
By Keith Rockmael
Sentinel Correspondent
Most travelers are used to seeing the green flow from their wallets and purses when they hit the road, but Northern California travelers are increasingly seeing the green aspects of eco-traveling. Green,
of course, is the color of environmentally friendly practices, but it also represents the money travelers can save if they travel with the environment in mind.
Santa Cruz, of course, offers many eco-friendly events, restaurants and hotels. Here's a sampling of what's available in the wild green yonder.
Complete Story
Helping Hot Hounds Keep Cool
By Sarah Casey Newman
This summer the California-based Animal Protection Institute, backed by Nissan USA and the Better World Club car club, launched My Dog Is Cool, a national campaign aimed at spreading the word about the
dangers of leaving pets in parked cars. In addition to encouraging auto makers and travel clubs to help get the message across, My Dog Is Cool also provides free resources for the public to use to help join in the effort. Chief among them
are the "Don't leave me in here - it's hot" flyers, which can be placed under windshield wipers.
Complete Story |
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