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IN THIS ISSUE |
Member Alert
In The News
Top Story
Partners
Recycled Content
Washington Watch
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Member Alert |
Looking To Add Or "Lose" A Partner?
Better World Club and/or "Bernie The Fixer" Can Help
Well, we can't find you a soul mate or "rub out" your existing spouse (though we do know some people who can help with the latter). We can, however, help you add or remove an associate driver from your Better
World Club membership. Associates can be a spouse, partner, children living at home who are under 21, or children away at school who are under 25. If you would like to make changes to your membership that would affect the cost of the
membership, you will need to call us to make those changes as you will not be able to do that online.
Complete Story. |
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In The News |
Union of Concerned Scientists Launches Earth Day '07 Challenge & Contest
Better World Club Supplying Contest Prizes
By: Union of Concerned Scientists
Published: Apr 21, 2007
Hybrid technology should be giving U.S. consumers fuel-efficient, low-pollution options in all vehicle classes. However, more and more hybrid models are being introduced that focus on increased muscle rather than mileage. In Japan, by
contrast, families have a choice completely unavailable in America-a hybrid minivan with fuel economy on par with a compact car. We estimate that the Toyota Estima Hybrid could reach around 35 miles per gallon in the United States.
Complete Story
BWC Mentioned In Natural Habitat Adventures' Earth Day Planet-Friendly Travel Tips
Inconvenient maybe, but the truth is that travel-related activities contribute an estimated third of worldwide greenhouse emissions. Anxious to make summer travel plans without turning your back on Earth
Day's April 22 planet-consciousness?
Complete Story
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TravelCool Website of the Month |
GreenMap.org
The mission of the
Green Map System (GMS) is to promote sustainability and community participation in the local environments, both natural and built. GMS offers adaptable tools and a global iconography for making environmental and cultural maps,
empowering local project leaders to give familiar places a fresh perspective. Green Maps function as practical guides to greener living while helping spread model initiatives to new locations.
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Top Story |
80% Of You Love Us! You Really Love Us!
Better World Club's Renewal Rate Hit 80% In February
Apparently, Our "Renew In February And Win A Dream Date With Dick Cheney" Promotion Was A Winner
Better World Club reached an 80% renewal rate in February. This rate compares favorably with other auto clubs--and almost matches that of AAA.
According to the most recent figures available to us, AAA renews 70% of its first year members and 85% thereafter. Given that AAA has been around for over a century, that's a lot of thereafter.
By contrast, Better World Club has less than 4 years of renewals available to us, yet we are within 5% of AAA. We want to thank our members for helping us accomplish this goal.
We can also use the help of those of you who have given us testimonials (or who have been too shy to do so). There are now sites like
www.sustainlane.com, that aggregate consumer ratings of various businesses. We would appreciate if you would go to this and/or similar sites and submit your evaluation of BWC. At last look,
Better World Club had a perfect 5 star SustainLane rating--and each review mentioned Kicking Asphalt.
With your help, we can keep on boosting our renewal rates in addition to making sure that we have more new members to renew. Thanks.
Read Last Issue's Top Story:
- Are Hybrid Owners the Most Spoiled BWC Members? 10% Discount On Auto Insurance Premiums Joins Discount On Member Fees |
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Partners |
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum...
Better World Club is proud to partner with FixingThePlanet.com, by
hosting a BWC forum on their site. FixingThePlanet.com is a forum-based community offering the first of its kind, topic-specific forums centered on environmental issues. "Our goal is to provide the central hub for ecologically
concerned citizens to find an easy to use resource where they can learn about and share information on various eco-subjects" says Tim Matteson, co-founder of FixingThePlanet.com. "We are focused on doing one thing right; providing a
community for like-minded, eco-concerned citizens, to congregate within specific topics that range from Hybrids vehicles to Composting to Eco-Chic events."
Check out
FixingThePlanet.com to learn more.
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Member Specials |
 Finally, Video Games For Kids
That Don't Bite
BWC Members Receive $5 Off Games From MonkeyByte.com
The NoteNiks Respect Our Earth CD-ROM provides an exciting collection of games teaching children (ages 5-10) the importance of protecting our earth, and being ecologically mindful of limited natural resources.
The first Healthy Eating & Exercise CD allows parents, nutritionists and educators to teach young children, ages 3 - 8, about the benefits of eating and living more healthfully.
Click here to take advantage of the Better World Club member discount!
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Travel Deals |
Need To Get Out Of Town In A Hurry?
Try Our Spiffy New Booking Engine
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KA - AutoErotic Edition? |
Do you recall seeing more data on automobiles in Kicking Asphalt, but can't find it below? That's because we are now publishing a second edition of Kicking Asphalt. This edition, which features a variety
of distinctive, consumer-oriented features on cars--and has been dubbed 'KA AutoErotic' by one of our members, includes:
- Recall Information
- Lemon Information
- The BWC High-Mileage Review: 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid. |
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Washington Watch |
Gov. Schwarzenegger To EPA: "Ah'll Be Back" If CA Greenhouse Gas Regs Not Approved
EPA Better Watch Out, We've Seen This Movie
Better World Club Has Been Following This Story Since 2002
In 2002, then-Governor Gray Davis signed off on a bill that would reduce 25% of greenhouse gas emissions by cars sold in California by 2009. Under this plan, carbon dioxide emissions would be cut by 30%
by 2016. So far, so good, right? Unfortunately, the EPA has refused to grant the necessary waiver that the state first requested in December 2005.
Better World Club first reported on this story in the
very first issue of Kicking Asphalt ever. The inaugural
"AAA Watch" article cites AAA's concerns about the environmentally progressive legislation, and reaffirms BWC's support for it, the only auto club to do so at the time.
Now, fast-forward four and a half years. Gray Davis' successor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has taken up this cause, and finally, after all this time, momentum is starting to build in the Governator's favor. The Supreme Court recently ruled
that the EPA must determine whether vehicle emissions are harmful to humans, and, if so, the agency would then be required to regulate emissions under the federal Clean Air Act.
This ruling led to EPA Chief Stephen L. Johnson's testimony before a congressional committee last week. Senators hammered Johnson, repeatedly asking when the EPA would move on the Supreme Court ruling and California's waiver request.
With apparently no other foot-dragging options left to him, Johnson is actually going to comply with the will of California residents and US law and hold a public hearing on the waiver on May 22 (presumably 2007, but based on past
experience, who knows?).
Complete Story.
More Washington Watch in Kicking Asphalt and Driving Change:
- Will Last Week's Positive Supreme Court Decision Ultimately Lead To an Ironic Result?
- EPA Chief: Bush Climate Policy Is Working... Gee, Like the Katrina Rebuilding Effort Is Working, Like Alec Baldwin's Anger Management Therapy Is Working, Like Al Gore's Diet Is Working... |
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