FOR NEW-CAR DEALERS

Membership in the CATA, at just $800 a year, benefits a dealer in many facets of day-to-day operations. The Odometer Statements and Used-car Buyers Guides, paperwork required to sell used vehicles, are offered by nearly all state and metro dealer associations for a fee. The CATA supplies those necessary forms and others free.

Also free to CATA dealer members:

• Presence on the CATA Web portal, www.drivechicago.com, to list new- and used-vehicle inventories. Important, nonmembers do not appear on DriveChicago.com.
• Advisement from the association's general legal counsel.
• Service from the association's labor relations counsel, including negotiation of collective bargaining contracts and defense against unionization efforts.
• Tickets to the Chicago Auto Show's employee appreciation days, and discounted tickets to attend the show on other days.
• Lobbyists who interact with elected officials on state, county and local levels to enact legislation that benefits dealers.
• Longstanding relationships with government and watchdog groups. The CATA is a sitting member on advisory boards of the Illinois secretary of state, the Illinois attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
• Goodwill promotion of the Chicago area's dealerships through many CATA public relations vehicles, including "Drive Chicago," the nation's only automotive radio program owned by a dealer association. The show is broadcast Saturdays on WLS-AM, 890.
• Meeting space at the association headquarters, for groups up to 130.
• Informative monthly CATA seminars on the operations of every department of a dealership.
• Timely industry news via the twice-monthly CATA Bulletin.

The CATA responds to its members' needs. When dealers said qualified salespeople were becoming harder to find, the association launched CATA Learning University. Curriculum initially focused on instruction for those with little or no automotive sales experience. The coursework continues to expand, and now it includes training for service advisors and receptionists and, beginning this quarter, management. We also offer AFIP certification for F&I personnel that, with tuition reimbursement, costs less than half of what other entities charge.

The above list is not exhaustive, but you get the point. Membership in the CATA is more than worth the $800 annual dues.

FOR ALLIED MEMBERS

The benefits of CATA membership far exceed the $800 annual dues, and they are realized in many ways.

Benefits of CATA membership to Allied Members include:

• Listing in the CATA annual directory, a dealer source to identify allied member services. The directory prints each July.
• Timely industry news via the biweekly CATA Bulletin.
• Longstanding relationships with government and watchdog groups. The CATA is a sitting member on advisory boards of the Illinois secretary of state, the Illinois attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
• Free meeting space at the association headquarters, for groups up to 130. Meetings must be tuition-free.
• Informative monthly CATA seminars on the operations of every department at a dealership.
• Tickets to the Chicago Auto Show's employee appreciation days, and discounted tickets to attend the show on other days.
• An opportunity to sponsor the association’s annual member golf outing each June.

Please note that Allied Members must tender on the application the names of two CATA dealer members who would recommend you for membership, based on a favorable working relationship with you. If you have any questions when completing the application, call the CATA at (630) 495-2282.