A Weekend Journey
Tim Hoegler, the Gene
ral Manager at Manheim New England, approached me late last week and asked if I would be available to attend the Maine Automobile Dealers Association’s 2011 convention from June 23rd to the 26th in Bar Harbor, Maine. After some calendar juggling with our kids schedules, my wife and I were able to commit to the trip, and we are both glad we did.
I have not visited Maine in over 25 years, not since I was a child and my parents took us camping in Acadia National Park. I was probably 11 yrs old at the time and my recollection of the trip is vague at best. My wife was born in Maine and visited almost every year as a child, so she jumped at the chance to visit once again.
We departed Thursday after our normal work day and arrived in Bar Harbor just before midnight. It is quite a long ride, but worth every mile. The Harborside Hotel and Marina hosted the convention. It is a beautiful hotel located in the heart of Bar Harbor, just down the road from Stewman’s where President Obama once ate.
The weekend’s events were a mixture of business and pleasure, with plenty of families attending. Governor Paul LePage spoke on current Maine affairs and legislation before introducing “The Tribute to Maine’s 100-Year Dealer Family”. The Hight family has been a fixture as a Maine auto dealer for 100 years. That is quite an accomplishment and even more impressive considering the Maine environment and population.
Secretary of State Charlie Summers also spoke on Maine’s current affairs and the current state of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, a subject near and dear to the MADA membership. The weekend also included a number of informative workshops including Health Care Reform, Daily Operations, and Legal & Regulatory Updates.
The weekend proved to be a great opportunity for me to re-connect with dealers, make some new friends, and gain valuable insight into being an auto dealer in Maine. Congratulations to the MADA for coordinating such a wonderful event. Everyone involved made this Massachusetts resident feel right at home in Maine.
Kris McElroy
Manheim New England
