PC&D MAGAZINE
The mouse that roared
From Volume 26, Issue 11 - November 2002
by: Kevin Hart, Executive Editor

It was only a handful of years ago that the Mid-Atlantic Carwash Association (MCA) was founded and, like a lot of smaller, regional, start-up associations, it dealt with issues of attracting a dedicated membership, getting resources in order, launching a trade event, etc.

Because it is surrounded by larger, better funded regional associations, like the Southeastern Car Wash Association and various, active state associations to the north, it would be easy to look past this small group of plucky operators whose main territory is Virginia and Maryland.

However, the inescapable reality is that, over the past four years, it’s hard to find a carwash association anywhere that has been more vital to its membership than the folks at MCA.

From a journalist’s perspective, Maryland and Virginia have been the front line for many of the important battles being fought in the carwashing industry — battles that will eventually be fought in many states.

During each of the past four years, MCA has successfully overturned or prevented carwash closures in its constituency. Maryland and Virginia have been disproportionately affected by the drought that has gripped much of the US over the past three years, and this association has been a savior to numerous carwashes that have been the targets of adverse legislation.

In 1999, the association struck a deal with Maryland state legislators to reopen dozens of washes that had been closed for not reclaiming 80 percent of their water.

In 2000, the association won the Maryland governor’s support for a rule that treated carwashes like other commercial water users during drought, instead of singling washes out. The deal keeps washes open except in the most extreme stages of drought.

In 2001, the association defeated a proposed sales tax on carwash services.

This year, intervention by the association got two gas-station washes reopened in the drought-stricken small town of Thurmont, MD, and kept carwashes and detailers functioning in Frederick, MD.

Recently, the association was unable to stop carwash closings in water-deprived Charlottesville, VA, but members made a big and high-powered showing at the city council meeting and carwashes were not the only businesses affected by the restrictions.

Without question, this association has an impressive batting average in a region of the country that has been a virtual minefield of tricky carwash legislation, and MCA didn’t even have an executive director until spring 2001.

Where would the carwashers of this region be without the many operators who give so much time to this association? We could reflect on that at length, but this column is simple fan mail to an association that probably doesn’t get enough of it.

PC&D COMMUNITY

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