Picking Up the Pieces in New Orleans

Craig and Chris looking like Bourbon Street veterans!

As I have told in previous posts, my first Final Four was in New Orleans in 1982. Neither my Dad, Chris, Craig not I had been to the Crescent City before. We soon learned that Bourbon Street was not for the faint of heart.

Our first night there, we found a place on each end of Bourbon Street to buy a beer. Soon we had established a routine of buying a beer at one end of Bourbon and stumbling walking to the other end for a refill. It would take 45 minutes to an hour to walk from one end to the other because the street was very crowded and there was so much going on.

Fans from each of the participating Final Four schools would break into a spontaneous cheers whenever they would meet another group from their school. This would encourage fans in the area from other schools to start their own cheers and soon there were four spontaneous pep rallies going on.

Everything was done with great spirits (pun intended) and made for much fun. The cheers got louder as the evening wore on and we got caught up in the excitement.

If you've been to the French Quarter, you know not everything is good CLEAN fun. There are "Gentleman's Clubs" on Bourbon and on some of the side streets in the Quarter.

There was then (and still was the last time I was there) a "club" that had a fake pair of scantily clad legs swinging in and out of the front window of the storefront to garner the attention of "gentlemen". There was a barker hawking people to come in to the establishment.

After several "laps" on Bourbon Street, we found ourselves walking down the sidewalk in front of this enterprise with the doorman trying to separate us from our $10 (or whatever the cover charge was back then). I would like to point out that drink prices were NOT advertised outside this establishment!!

With one of their new friends!

As we were talking and observing people's antics, my Dad walked over by the front of this joint and sneeked a peek in when the door opened as someone was exiting. The "dentally impaired" marketeer who seconds earlier was inviting us to go in, bellowed at him for sneaking a peak (as if one could actually see anything in the two seconds it took for the door to open and then close).

That disrespect toward my Dad was unacceptable to Craig and he had indulged in enough "liquid courage" to tell "Mr. Doorman" just what he thought of his attitude toward Dad. Craig called him a couple of names that I've only heard in the cowboy bars of western South Dakota (usually punctuated with a stream of snus!).

Several guys associated with this fine establishment seemed to appear out of no where to let Craig know that they were going to "assert their authority". They surrounded him and tried to intimidate him.

Chris, always the peacemaker and hoping to help prevent a physical confrontation (Craig's reputation as one who sported a stellar record in college bar fights had preceded him), informed them that Craig "had a piece" (meaning that he had a gun).

Chris posing with police after the incident.

Within seconds (literally), two New Orleans cops had Craig up against the wall and were frisking him and looking for his gun. Craig was trying to explain he had no gun while Chris was telling anyone who would listen that he (Chris) was just bluffing. The immediate problem was that no one of any importance in the matter was listening.

The entire sequence of events happened so quickly that it is hard to explain. It happened as fast as or faster than it took you to read this. Meanwhile, Dad was still trying to sneak a peek and I was trying to figure out how we are going to get Craig out of jail.

Fortunately, when the police did not find a "piece" on Craig, things calmed down in a hurry. Craig received a stern warning. Chris should have received a warning but he had moved on to the next "thing" - whatever that turned out to be. (Looking at the above photo, it must have been getting the cops to pose in a photograph!) Dad never really knew anything about it until after it was over. I barely had time to get scared. I had made enough "laps" on Bourbon Street that it was funny pretty quickly!

What could have been a rather disastrous incident on first Final Four trip turns out to be one of those "must tell" stories that we re-live over and over!

Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

One of my favorite Final Four memories happened in 1985 in Lexington, Kentucky. That year, my wife, Judy, attended the event with me. This was BC (Before we had Children).

The tournament was on Easter weekend that year. On Easter Sunday we spent a good part of the morning searching for a Catholic church. We finally were able to find one. It seemed as though Judy and I, Chris (my long-time Final Four partner), Tim (a friend who attended with us that year) the Catholic coaches from around the country (Ray Meyer, Digger Phelps, etc.) and their wives were the only Catholics in the state of Kentucky (or at least in Lexington that weekend).

After church, we decided to see if we could tour of one of many Thoroughbred horse farms in the area. We got on the main road heading out of Lexington. As we drove west out of town, we noticed a bus pulling in to a driveway of what was obviously a horse farm. We decided to follow the bus.

As we entered the driveway, there was a sign that said "Gainesway Farm". The driveway was lined with picket fence and bluegrass. We pulled up to the guard station at the head of the driveway. As we approached, I rolled down the window and the security guard—armed, no less—asked our name.

I replied,'"Knust, K-N-U-S-T," spelling it for him as if he was going to find it on his list.

Gainsway Farm from the highway

"I don't see that on my list, sir. Could I see you invitation?" he responded.

Seeing that we were in over our heads, I told him that we had forgotten it back at the motel and offered to go get it. Just then, from the back seat, Chris bellowed (as only Chris can bellow), "We're with the press!" Tim, Judy and I all rolled our eyes at Chris, who had judged this as a perfect opportunity to try a bullshit line.

The security guard looked in the backseat at Chris (who was dressed just like a sportswriter!) and told us we could enter, but asked us to cover for him and not to let anyone know that we didn't show our-invitation.

I replied, "No problem," and we were on our way up the 1/2 to 3/4 mile driveway.

The driveway at Gainsway Farm

At the end of the driveway, another armed security guard asked to see our invitation. I didn't even have an opportunity to speak before Chris chimed in. He obviously was not going to let this "schmuck" stop us after his success at the front gate.

Once again he explained that we were "with the press and that we had forgotten our invitation back at the motel. The security guard waved us by and we proceeded to the parking area where we parked between a pair of Mercedes and behind a BMW. (We were in my 1983 Chevrolet Malibu company car).

My 1983 Company Car Malibu

Chris absolutely took over from this point. We were there about two minutes before we learned that this was a press function. Gainsway Farm was holding an open house to promote Thoroughbred horse racing to the many sportwriters who were in the area for the Final Four. There were quite a few other people (sports writers) there who, like Chris, were wearing a T-shirt from one of their previous Final Four trips.

We were guided on an extremely interesting tour of the facility and learned all about Thoroughbred horses and the breeding process. Chris was asking questions at every opportunity. I think most of those in our tour thought that he was preparing a feature article for his publication.

Judy was nervous to start with, but became more and more nervous with each question Chris asked. We had lied to get in and she was certain that we would leave in handcuffs.

After the hour-long tour, we were led into a large open-air barn—about the size of a basketball court. In the middle of this facility were some tables with mountains of finger sandwiches, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and desserts. There was a bar at each end of the "walking barn". As we.went.through the line of food, Judy had a look of absolute terror on her face while Chris, Tim and I were thinking we might just spend the rest of the day here!

This barn was full of food and drinks!

We proceeded to the bar where we were given a betting form and card for a horse race. The Jim Beam Stakes, a Breeder's Cup race, was being held in Florence, KY (near Cincinnati) that afternoon. There were several large screen TV's scattered throughout the gazebo. They would be showing the race on closed-circuit. We were encouraged to bet on the race. One of the forms with the correct pick would be and the winner would receive a case of Jim Beam.

When Tim's form, with the Wichita Sunflower (Wichita State University newspaper) as his affiliated newspaper, was a winner—and entered into the drawing after the race, I thought Judy was going to pass out. We waited for the drawing (Tim didn't win), and left soon after for the health of my wife.

Pretty sure this is the only time Judy smiled that afternoon!

As I reflect on the events of that afternoon, I regret not administering a bit of "Kentucky tonic" to Judy. I think she might have enjoyed both the medicine and the tour! That afternoon we redefined "March Madness" in her eyes!

There is just as much horse sense as ever, but the horses have most of it.  ~Author Unknown

Kindness, Like a Boomerang, Always Returns.

Our local paper, the Chamberlain-Oacoma Sun, recently did a feature story on volunteering and local volunteers. I was flattered to be interviewed for the story along with my friend, Susie Geiseler, who is a wonderful servant of our community.

Because volunteering is something that I am passionate about, I thought I would share that interview and the article from the paper. Because my space here is not limited, I have added some additional commentary that was not part of the interview. Those comments are italicized below.

Sun: What are some of the ways you volunteer?

HDK: I coach, teach religious education, serve as advisor for Explorers (junior high boys service club), serve on several local, state and national boards and various other things around our community and in church.

Sun: How or where can people volunteer in Chamberlain?

HDK: There are many organizations that are always looking for volunteers. Schools, churches, hospitals and retirement homes are good places to start. It depends somewhat on what you would like to do. Find someone who is volunteering in an area that you are interested in and ask them how you can get involved.

Sun: How did you get started or find information about how to volunteer?

HDK: My parents were both good examples to me. Both volunteered in the Chamberlain area and on statewide boards and projects.

My father was civic minded. He started the Chamberlain Chamber of Commerce in 1963. Dad realized the importance of a small community working together. He served on the city commission for nine years (anyone who has done that in a small community will recognize was a service that is!). He organized the school's athletic banquet for many years and taught religious education at St. James Catholic Church. 

My mother belonged to a local ladies service club, taught religious education at St. James and served on the South Dakota Easter Seal Board of Directors. She volunteered in many other ways at our church. 

Both of them showed me, by example, how to serve others long before the Jesuits ever got a hold of me.

In high school, they encouraged me to volunteer and to look for ways to serve others. I carried that interest in serving on to college. I went to school at Creighton University where volunteering was encouraged by the Jesuits. I had many opportunities at college to volunteer - through the school, the church and my fraternity.

After college, I really felt a need to serve others. I remember I started coaching a tee ball team in Omaha. I have some priceless stories from that time. That tested my patience but I really enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed serving as a Big Brother in Des Moines as well. I have some great experiences and stories from that period as well.

I naively thought that I would be teaching baseball when I coached tee ball. No, not so much. But I learned so much from those kids. Just because I showed them what to do or how to dot did not mean that they learned. That was a valuable lesson for me as I have continued to coach young people.

My Big Brother experience in Des Moines was great. I am reminded of the first hockey game I ever went to. That will be material for a later post!

Sun: Do you think volunteering is important?

HDK: Yes, I think it is very important.

Sun: Why?

HDK: There is an element of "giving back" that I think is very important. At some point, everyone has been on the receiving end of volunteerism - especially if you live in a smaller community like ours.

Additionally, I think anyone who volunteers can tell you that there is some self satisfaction that goes with serving others.

Sun: You seem to volunteer quite often, what drives you to do this?

HDK: Much of my volunteer work is with young people. I really enjoy coaching and teaching young people for what I would guess are the same reasons our professional teachers do. It is rewarding to watch them learn and grow as a person.

I think any volunteer is at least partially motivated to do so by a desire to "give back" to either a community, a cause, an industry, etc.

I believe that giving one's time is perhaps the most valuable thing anyone can give. We all have just 24 hours in every day and so that time becomes a very precious commodity.

Sun: How does it make you feel?

HDK: I guess it makes me feel pretty good. I can tell you that I have received far more than I could ever give in almost every situation in which I volunteered. So I feel a certain gratitude for the opportunities as well.

I feel fortunate to have all the wonderful relationships that I have made by volunteering.

Sun: Any tips? Should people tie volunteering to things they already like to do? For instance, say you are a talented cook, singer, or something like that, could volunteering be more fun if it plays on strengths? Or is trying something new equally fun?

HDK: Volunteering is a very personal thing. I encourage people to find something they enjoy and stick with it. Don't limit yourself though. If you have the time, volunteer more.

Sun: Anything else you'd like to add?

HDK: A community like Chamberlain-Oacoma thrives on volunteers. There are so many programs that exists only because of volunteers. Sometimes we forget that people are volunteering for things that we take for granted. Tell them thanks and that you appreciate what they do. If they didn't volunteer, we probably wouldn't have that program.

Unless you live in a small community, you don't realize how many great events and activities depend on volunteers. Volunteers are important in every community but they are the life blood of small communities!

We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.         —Winston Churchill

January 2015 SDADA Column

It goes without saying that the NADA Director's Column is intended to be about NADA issues. While I have discussed South Dakota issues in this space before, they have not usually been the primary focus. But he South Dakota Automobile Dealers Association has a very important bill in front of the legislature this year and I feel compelled to address it.

The bill will repeal the South Dakota damage disclosure. We have been down this road before but the hail storms last summer seem to have raised awareness of what a bad law that our current damage disclosure law is. In fact, several legislators have learned firsthand about "diminution of value".

The used car dealers, insurance companies, body shops and salvage dealers have also expressed support of this bill. Through the years, we have struggled to get all these parties on the same page. As the saying goes, "the stars have aligned".

Two years ago, I added a body shop in my Ford store. Since then, I've seen the lengths to which people will go to avoid having to disclose damage on their vehicle. They have learned how a damage disclosure can crush the value of a late model vehicle. If you give people a reason to lie, cheat or steal, don't be surprised when they do so. Our current damage disclosure law causes people to do just that.

I have never talked to a member of SDADA that thinks the damage disclosure law is a good one. We have discussed raising the damage limit or excluding certain equipment. That is simply spraying perfume on the pig.

This is our best opportunity to kill this law. We need your help. Please talk to your legislators about this bill. Make certain that they understand it and why we want to do it. Point out to them that all of this information is now public (Carfax, Auto Check, etc.) and that many of us are providing this information to your customers at no cost before they buy your vehicle.

Get involved. Make a phone call. Let's put a stake in the heart of the damage disclosure law once and for all!

Dealers Much More than "Middleman" for Consumers

Tesla's sales model had stirred much discussion about the role of the traditional automobile dealer. We have been cast as everything from oligopolists, who just want to preserve an antiquated system, to middlemen, who add no value to the process.

NADA's arsenal of resources intended to get the dealers' story out continues to grow. The videos and other materials found here make a great short presentation for your Kiwanis or Rotary meeting. Please consider spreading the word.

NADA’s “Get the Facts” initiative is designed to inform policymakers, opinion leaders and the media about the numerous benefits of the dealer franchise network through a variety of multimedia resources and videos available at nada.org/getthefacts.

The current franchised new-car dealer model has benefited consumers, manufacturers and local communities for nearly a century. It is supported by both dealers and factories as the best and most efficient way to buy, sell, service and finance cars in the marketplace. NADA’s Get the Facts page sets the record straight about the benefits of the franchise system for consumers and local communities all over America.

This campaign emphasizes that local franchised auto dealers: fiercely compete for business and drive consumer prices down; take the side of consumers in warranty and safety recalls; create good-paying local jobs and significant tax revenue for local communities; and simplify an otherwise complex car-buying experience.

Dealers and local dealer associations are encouraged to link to the videos on their websites, and with permission can co-brand the videos with their own logos. For more information about co-branding content from NADA’s “Get the Facts” initiative, contact publicaffairs@nada.org.

A Hunting Story

As I have mentioned in another post, hunting is a tradition in South Dakota. Like any tradition, it
needs to be carefully passed from generation to generation. I enjoy taking new prospective hunters (especially young hunters) hunting as much as any aspect of the hunting culture.

Pheasant hunting is an important part of the South Dakota economy, culture and tradition. I believe that every young person, male or female, should take part in some way. If they don't want to carry a gun, they should still walk the fields to see Mother Nature in Her glory.

Several years ago, one of my son's friends expressed interest in hunting. Joe had never hunted before and I jumped at the chance to take him afield for the first time. He and my son, Alex, were both about 16 or 17 at the time.

So on the morning of Opening Day 2006, we loaded the truck down with guns, ammunition, dog supplies, snacks, lunch, drinks and other miscellaneous items. It took longer to load the truck than we would be hunting but we wouldn't want to forget anything we needed! We had enough food and drink to be in isolation for a month. But every hunter knows sandwiches always taste better when you're hunting. That's why hunters can walk 5-6 miles in a day and still end up with positive calories for the day!

We had 8-9 hunters that day. As was our tradition, we lined up in a ("flying") wedge formation (hunters on ends slightly ahead of those hunters in the middle) and set off across the field. The idea of the wedge formation is that if birds are flushed in the middle of the formation, those hunters on the end will have a better opportunity to shoot them as they fly to the right or left. Any birds on the sides of the field will hopefully be pushed toward the middle of the field where the other hunters are.

It's fun to put young or first-time hunters on the ends because since they can see them coming, they have a bit more time to prepare for the shot as the bird approaches and hopefully they have a closer shot. Pheasants can surprise a novice hunter when they get up and make it more difficult to get a good shot.

We had placed Joe on the right end of the wedge formation on that day. The field we walked was a half mile long and birds were getting up periodically as we covered that distance. Some flew straight away and other flew right or left.

Joe (right) with Alex and the infamous ringneck

We were about two thirds of the way through the field when a bird got up on the left side of the formation and flew to the right, passing in front of each hunter. As each of us flung lead at the ring-necked bird passing in front of us, the pheasant continued to gain altitude. By the time he got to the right side of the formation, he was at the top side of the troposphere! No veteran hunter would consider wasting a shot at the out-of-range bird.

But Joe was not a veteran hunter. Figuring everyone else in the wedge had taken a shot at this indestructible bird, Joe cut loose with a shot of his own. Like a strike of lightning, one of the 6 shot lead pellets in Joe's shell broke the wing of that rooster pheasant and it helicoptered to the ground just in front of Joe. The shock of the bird hitting the ground stunned it and it did not run, though its legs were thrashing as it came to the ground.

Joe chased the bird down and stashed it in his hunting vest while the rest of us whooped it up for the the rookie hunter. I think we were more excited than Joe was. He was distracted by the ground pursuit of the bird.

We finished our drive and then gathered in a huddle at the end of the field to discuss the highlights and the low lights of the previous 25-30 minutes of warfare. Joe walked up with a huge grin on his face and everyone congratulated him on bagging his first ringneck.

I told him to pull to bird out so we could get the obligatory photo. He handed his gun to someone and reached back into his vest. As he did, the pheasant jumped out of the opposite side of his vest and took off running. Joe looked as if someone had shot his dog.

Meanwhile, our Springer Spaniel, Repo, took off in pursuit of the runaway ringneck. The pheasant (with a broken wing) was running for a tree line about 75 yards from where we were standing. As the hunters scrambled, Joe was speechless (and motionless).

Everyone recognized that this wasn't just ANY bird, this was Joe's FIRST bird so losing it was not an option. Though he wasn't aware of that significance, Repo chased the bird like it was the ONLY bird left on earth.

The ringneck beat Repo to the tree line but was still no match for his nose. He sniffed the bird out of its first hiding spot into another before securing it between his soft jaws and bringing him back to the group.

Repo with our bag; one of those birds is Joe's

The whole affair only caused some serious ribbing for Joe. "Joe did not shoot the bird, he just scared it," was one comment. Another commented that Joe had not shot the bird but that it was the sheer weight of all the lead taken on as the bird flew in front of each of us that brought it down. Despite all of that, there was another round celebration for retrieving the $100 bird (it seemed as though at least $100 of ammo was spent on the bird as he passed down the gauntlet!).

Joe took the harassment gracefully as he got his bird back and posed for photos. Before he got it back though, he learned how to give the pheasant's neck a swift jerk to be certain that there would not be another race to the tree line!

We have had a lotta fun telling this story over the years. Whenever Joe is around as we tell the story, the same smile crosses his face. He offers no details and no opinions regardless of how the story is embellished. He knows that everyone else missed that bird and he got it. His first pheasant was a memorable one!

South Dakota: Great Faces. Great Places. Great Sunsets.

Each rotation of the earth brings us a dawn and sunset. In South Dakota, our view of the horizon is, for the most part, unimpeded. That simple fact provides us with some stunning vistas.

My time awake before the sun peeks at us in the morning is usually spent on some piece of exercise equipment or in a hunting stand. I am not typically equipped with photography gear.

Evenings, however are different. I enjoy watching the sunsets from our home. Because we are only 70 miles from the time zone line, the sun rests in summer months as late at 9:30 PM in our area. In winter months, the sun will dip below the horizon as early as 5:00 PM.

We get spectacular sunsets regardless of what time of day they occur. I like the winter sunsets a bit better because our home is situated where the sun sets down river in December and January, so we get both the sunset and the reflection of the sunset on the river.

I've decided to post some of my best sunset photos. I have gone into the archives for these photos. I have posted the dates though I find sunset photos are timeless.

We get 365 sunsets each year. While not all of them are as spectacular as these, God gives us many wonderful shows here in South Dakota. I invite you to take a "front row seat" in South Dakota. Even better, come join us at our house for the best sunsets in South Dakota!

I cannot resist a sunset photo. Now I have a place to share them! Check back for more. 

December 11, 2004

November 25, 2006

November 18, 2007

November 24, 2009

December 5, 2010

December 19, 2011

November 13, 2012

December 7, 2014

December 20, 2014

The Last Christmas With Santa Claus

Most of us have some special memories of Christmas from when we were young kids. I have many fond memories of Christmas but one particular Christmas sticks out in my memory.

I was seven years old and had (kinda) learned how to ride a bicycle the previous summer. I had a little bike with training wheels. When the training wheels came off, it wasn't much of a bike. So I had asked for a "big bike" for Christmas.

Our Christmas tradition was for Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) to come to our house to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. I remember that Santa Claus  (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) had a big bag that he would place under the Christmas tree. Then he would sit down and my sisters and I would take turns sitting on his lap (or sometimes we would all three pile on!).

That Christmas of 1967, I noticed for the first time that Santa Claus's  (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) hands looked just like my Grandpa's hands. I pointed that out to everyone when I got to sit on his lap. No one acknowledged that I had even spoken. In later years, both my Grandma Theresa and my mother would love to tell that story. Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) had forgotten his gloves so I got a good look at his hands.

It was painfully obvious to me that there was no bike in the bag that Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) had placed under the tree that Christmas Eve. After each of us had had our turn on Santa's lap, he got up to go, informing us of the busy night he still had ahead of him.

Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) bid each of us farewell - hugs and kisses for him from everyone. He then left out the front door of our home - the same door he came in.

Though I did not know it at the time, everyone's eyes fell on me to see if there was any disappointment on my face as I realized that there was no bike in the bag. I've been told (many, many, many times) that I was just about in tears.

Just then, the doorbell rang (again)! Why it was Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) and he had forgotten one present. He asked me to come outside and help him. I went out into the cold winter night, where I found a new bike sitting in the reflection of the headlights of a vehicle.

I really don't remember what happened after that. I can only guess there was some serious gratitude expressed to Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank). I know he came back into the house for a photograph with the new bike.

That was the last time I ever saw Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank). My Grandpa Frank died in April, just four months later and we never saw Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) again.

At the time, I thought it was a great Christmas because I got the bike I wanted. I remember so many of the details of that Christmas because of the gift. I don't recall if that bike came with snow tires but I'm certain it didn't matter. I'm sure I put some miles on it that winter.

That bicycle was my first bit of independence. I rode it everywhere - to school, to the swimming pool, to baseball, to my friends' homes, downtown, etc. My world grew that Christmas.

Now, as I look back, it was a special Christmas because it was the last one with Grandpa Frank. Santa Claus (who looked suspiciously like my Grandpa Frank) never came back to our house on Christmas eve. How could he? He had some big shoes to fill!

2014 Knust Kronicle

2014 Knust Kronicle

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Knusts!

Click here to see the 2014 Knust Kronicle

You can find previous Knust Kronicles and Christmas letters here.

December 2014 SDADA Column

The votes were cast and the results tabulated. The control of the Senate has shifted and the Republicans have grasped tighter control of the House. The easy(!) part, the election, is done for the Republicans. Now for the difficult part - they have to govern.

I believe it would be a mistake for Republicans to assume that the electorate trusts  them more than Democrats. I think it would be fair to say that the voters disliked them less (for now!).

It seems Republicans must offer solutions for the issues of the day. They cannot just poke holes in the Obama policies. Whether healthcare, immigration, the economy or other matters, they must offer alternatives.

They must reel in the federal bureaucracy. A good place to start would be with the CFPB which, today, more than four years after its passage, is still writing rules. This agency is a perfect example of federal bureaucracy run amok.

A new study of more than 8.2 million loan records by Charles River Associates concludes that the method used by the CFPB to measure for discrimination in an auto lender’s portfolio is “conceptually flawed in its application and subject to significant bias and estimation error.”

Meanwhile, banks nationwide are spending millions of dollars trying to comply with the unfair and ever-changing rules that the CFPB continues to write. Those rules are then being forced down to businesses that transact business with the banks, costing even more money with no increased productivity.

Small businesses (not just automobile dealers) in our country need relief from the regulatory stranglehold of the federal government. Hopefully Republicans can give them some of the much-needed respite.

NADA Continues to Defend Franchise System

Last month I referred to NADA's arsenal of resources intended to get the dealers' story out. These resources can be found at nada.org/getthefacts . The videos found here make a great short presentation for your Kiwanis or Rotary meeting. Please consider spreading the word.

Additionally, NADA is asking local officials to sign an open letter supporting dealers and then send this letter to transportation policymakers. This campaign has generated more than 700 signatures, from officials in all 50 states. If you know of local officials who would want to voice their support for local dealers, they can sign the letter online at www.supportlocaldealers.com. Take a look at this site.

Please remember, it is important that dealers are perceived as something other than a "middle man" and that we do add value to the system. If we don't tell our story, who will??!!

Get the most from your investment at the 2015 NADA Convention & Expo

The NADA Convention & Expo is the automotive industry event of the year and the world's largest international gathering place for franchised new-vehicle dealers. The convention offers dealers a rare chance to meet face-to-face with executives of major auto manufacturers and features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest equipment, services and technologies and dozens of workshops with the industry's best trainers. The 2015 NADA Convention & Expo will take place Thursday, Jan. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 in the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.
Take advantage of myNADAplanner, a FREE service that provides smart tools for you to research exhibitors, email exhibitors, schedule meetings with exhibitors, search and schedule workshops, build your personalized planner guide, and syncs with the 2015 NADA mobile app which will be available in December.

Do this all before you travel to NADA 2015!

South Dakota Message Hits Chicago Where It Hurts

Apparently South Dakota has pointed out an ugly wart that Chicago would rather not be discussed. The South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development ran a full-page in Sunday, December 7 edition of the Chicago Tribune pointing out the advantages of doing business in CNBC's 2013 top state for business, South Dakota, over Chicago.

But you have to love the ads South Dakota placed in O'Hare airport in conjunction with the recruiting campaign. "No Government Pat Downs," "Keep Your Change in Your Pockets" and "We're Hands Off When it Comes to Business" were just a bit too close to the truth for both Chicago and the Transportation Security Administration regulations.

Your silence is deafening Mayor Emanuel! In typical fashion, Chicago responds by kicking freedom of speech to the curb. "Chicago officials decided against allowing other states' tourism or economic development agencies to advertise in the airport," South Dakota Economic Development Commissioner Pat Costello said.

That will fix the problem Mr. Mayor! That will fix it!

South Dakota's "newly approved" banners which read "Our Economy is First Class," "Prepare Your Business For Take Off" and "Build Your Business in South Dakota" — will go up at O'Hare next month.

Meanwhile, South Dakota's campaign has received significant free publicity nationwide as various other newspapers and other media have picked this story up.

As we say in South Dakota, "Our Sunsets Will Take Your Breath Away; Our Top-ranked Tax Climate Will Give It Back!"