Volume 11, Issue No. 24, Monday, December 4, 2006

CONGRESS RETURNS, SELECTS NEW LEADERS
Members of Congress returned to Capitol Hill following the November elections for some unfinished legislative business and orientation of its new members. While departing members focused on packing up offices, lawmakers who will return in January and newly-elected members of the House and Senate participated in leadership elections.

House Democrats elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to be the next Speaker of the House, while Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will become the new Majority Leader. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) was elected to be the Minority Whip for the 110th Congress and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) was selected as chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Senate Democrats elected current Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to become the new Majority Leader. Other leadership positions include Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) to Assistant Majority Leader; Charles Schumer (D-NY) to vice chair of the conference and chairman of the Campaign Committee; Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to conference secretary; and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to chairman of the Policy Committee. Senate Democrats also announced the anticipated committee assignments for the new Congress.

Senate Republicans’ new leaders include Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who will become the Minority Leader, and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to become the new Minority Whip, returning to a leadership position for the first time since 2002.

House Republicans elected to stay the course by selecting Reps. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) as the two top leaders for the next Congress. Republicans overwhelmingly voted for Boehner, who has been Majority Leader since February, to be the Minority Leader. Blunt, who has been Majority Whip, also won by a lopsided margin over conservative Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) to become the next Minority Whip.

GET TO KNOW YOUR LAWMAKERS
With the election completed, it is now time to get to know federal legislators, says IFA’s Government Relations Department. One shouldn’t let the current lack of major legislative activity in Washington, DC quell the momentum that IFA members have been building since the Senate’s vote on small-business health plans and Franchise Appreciation Day.

A month after the elections, the composition of the 2007-2008 Congress includes 63 freshman members of the House of Representatives and nine in the Senate. With nearly 14 percent of Congress new to their elected offices, the franchising community has a unique opportunity to introduce–and in some cases, reintroduce–itself to Congress.

As freshman lawmakers prepare to head to Washington, DC for the start of the 110th Congress in January, many will be spending time locally and establishing their district or state offices. IFA urges association members to take full advantage of this opportunity to educate lawmakers about business-format franchising. While the franchising community may know that it is responsible for one-in-seven of all private sector jobs in the US economy, lawmakers may be unaware of that crucial fact, yet they will make decisions that affect franchising companies.

Invite them to tour your business. Let them see how franchising contributes to the community, local economy and affects the livelihoods of those who are employed by a franchise. Write your lawmaker or lawmaker-elect a welcome letter. If your franchise is in the food business, consider offering to bring lunch to the lawmaker’s new local office. Contact IFA Government Relations staff for franchise facts and data on the economic impact of franchising in your congressional district.

For more ways to get involved, visit Franchise.org or contact IFA Manager of Government Relations and Political Education Jessica Bonanno at 202-662-0775 or jbonanno@franchise.org.

FAIRFIELD, CONN. REJECTS BAN ON CHAIN STORES, FRANCHISES
On Nov. 15, the Fairfield, Conn. Town Plan and Zoning Commission rejected a proposal to ban chain stores in the town’s business districts. The decision came after IFA Pres. Matthew Shay wrote the commission urging it’s consideration of the treatment of franchises under this proposal. The commission decided that the proposed regulation’s wording needed to be reworked because the definition of a chain store in the proposal was unclear.

The proposal would have banned chains that sell certain goods, but allowed chains that sold other goods. While the justification for this distinction was unclear, so was the treatment of chains that sold goods on both lists. Further complicating the proposal was the treatment of a franchisee under the proposal. Specifically, it was unclear if a town zoning board had the right to determine whether a franchisee, despite being a local small-business owner, could occupy retail space in the town’s business district if this proposal were to pass. Proponents of the proposal intend to rework it and submit it for consideration in the future. IFA continues to monitor this and other such proposals harmful to franchising around the country.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE AIR TRAVEL RULES ANNOUNCED
The US Departments of Homeland Security and State have announced the official requirement for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere beginning Jan. 23.

The requirements comprise the departments’ Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The initiative requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.

Limiting the types of documents presented is expected to result in a more efficient border. There are more than 8,000 different state and local entities in the United States issuing birth certificates and driver’s licenses. Currently, a US Customs and Border Protection officer needs to assess the authenticity of each birth certificate and license, regardless of when or where it was issued. The challenge at the borders is how to assess individual travelers, based on the documents they present, without significantly slowing the processing time for admission into the United States.

CBP officers intercepted more than 75,000 fraudulent documents in fiscal year 2005 and apprehended more than 84,000 individuals at the ports of entry trying to cross US borders with fraudulent claims of citizenship or documents.

The only acceptable alternative documents to a passport for air travel will be the Merchant Mariner Document and the NEXUS Air card. The MMD or “z-card” is issued by the US Coast Guard to US merchant mariners and the NEXUS Air card is issued to citizens of Canada and the United States, lawful US permanent residents and permanent residents of Canada who meet certain eligibility requirements. The NEXUS card may only be accepted when used in conjunction with the NEXUS program. The MMD card may only be accepted when used on official business by US Citizen Merchant Mariners. Members of the US military, when traveling on official orders, may continue to present their military ID and orders for entry.

A separate proposed rule addressing land and sea travel will be published at a later date proposing specific requirements for travelers entering the United States through land and sea border crossings. As early as Jan. 1, 2008, US citizens traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda by land or sea will be required to present a valid US passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain acceptable documents for land and sea entries.

Those wishing to view the final rule may visit www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov. The rule was published in the Federal Register Nov. 24, where it can be viewed at www.regulations.gov.   

NEED TALENT? CHECK OUT THE IFA CAREER CENTER
Those looking for quality franchise talent need look no further. All that is needed is to post a job on the IFA Career Center to have access to more than 400 resumes of highly-qualified franchise executives.

More than 1,000 IFA members visit the Career Center each month for an average visit time of nearly four minutes per visit. Among the current job openings are positions including: manager of franchise operations, director of franchise sales, director of sales operations, training and development coordinator, in house legal counsel, vice president, operations and more.

IFA members seeking that special talented person can post job openings for a low fee of $200 per month. And, members can post confidential resumes for free.

For more information, contact IFA Director of Development and Members Services Paul Rocchio, procchio@franchise.org or call 202-662-0790. Visit the Career Center today by going to the Web site, Franchise.org.

IFA SEEKING PROPOSALS FOR MERCHANT SERVICES PROVIDER
IFA is seeking a vendor to provide a comprehensive, integrated payment processing program, including gift cards, loyalty cards, private-label programs, automated royalty transactions, ATM services, ACH transactions, payroll cards and the traditional merchant processing services. The program will be branded by IFA and marketed to all association members.

The vendor must have these capabilities: a national scope of services, a track record of national marketing programs, dedicated tele-sales and customer service, the ability to provide national key-accounts program, e-commerce solutions, wireless capabilities, fully-scaled technology for security and redundancy to handle all merchant processing applications.

The vendor should have a proven track record of providing the services noted above with both large and small franchise organizations, with special member pricing and association revenue-sharing programs.

Those interested should contact IFA Educational Foundation Pres. John Reynolds at jreynolds@franchise.org by Dec. 11.

FRANCHISE EXPO TO PRESENT MORE THAN 30 FREE SEMINARS
Those planning to attend the Jan. 19-21 Franchise Expo South will have the opportunity to participate in more than 30 free seminars. The trade show is sponsored by IFA and will be conducted at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Participants can select from such topics as franchising your business, awarding the first franchise, structuring the franchise, three-party franchising, evaluating a US franchise from a Latin American perspective, multi-unit franchising and US Small Business Administration resources. Specialty seminars, also free of charge, will address franchising for veterans and opportunities for women and minorities.

Fee-based symposia will offer in-depth information on such topics as acquiring a franchise, franchising a business, creating an operations manual and effectively using technology.

Visit www.franchiseexposouth.com for details.

IN LESS THAN 90 DAYS…THE FUN BEGINS
Connect with today's leading franchise experts during IFA's Annual Convention, Feb. 24-27, in Las Vegas to jump-start the growth and development of your franchise system. This yearly event is the primary venue for top business executives, franchise development teams, financial officers, operations specialists and other professionals engaged in franchising to discover the recipes to achieve system success.

Suppliers may exhibit products or services before a captive audience. The first step is to make plans now to be among the exhibits on display during the Las Vegas event. This is your best opportunity of 2007 to reach those who need your help to maximize their franchise operations.

For program and registration information, visit Franchise.org.

FRANCHISE BUSINESS NETWORK MEETINGS SET FOR JANUARY
Mark your calendar now for the upcoming Franchise Business Network meeting taking place Jan. 9, the first meeting of 2007. These popular sessions will occur in more than 30 cities across the nation. The suggested topic for the Jan. 9 meeting is how best to qualify leads.

The meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each quarter. While networking with others in the franchising community, meeting potential customers and making new business contacts, participants take advantage of educational programs and legislative information made available to them at no charge, except for the cost of meals.

IFA suggests topics and issues of current importance for the hosts to discuss. This enables each host to conduct the meeting under his or her auspices, while at the same time, encouraging a universal theme for that particular meeting.

Current sites includes Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Louisiana, Mid-Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Orange County, Calif., Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, South Florida, Tampa, Washington, DC and Wilmington, NC.

Other 2007 dates and suggested topics will include the best use of technology to grow a system–April 10, Web portals or brokers, what works best–July 10 and the keys to successful franchise relations–Oct. 9.

For more information, contact IFA Director of Development and Member Services Paul Rocchio at 202-662-0790 or procchio@franchise.org.

INDIA: A THRIVING FRANCHISE MARKET
The India Franchise Expo 2007 is one way to gain entrance to the thriving Indian market. The March 10-12 show, set for the Ashok Hotel in New Delhi, paves the way to enter a market characterized by a growing middle class, a younger generation with disposable income, economic liberalization, a large pool of entrepreneurs and employees and a thriving retail sector. The trade show will include an exhibition, awards program and franchising summit.

IFA Vice Pres. of International Development Marcel Portmann, Sign-A-Rama Vice Pres. of International Development Tony Foley and Church’s Chicken CEO Harsha Agadi will serve as speakers during the international summit.

The event is sponsored by the Franchising Association of India and endorsed by IFA. For program details and registration information, visit the FAI Web site at www.fai.co.in.

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
With more than 110 attendees from 20 countries, the two-day European Franchise Federation-IFA International Symposium recently conducted in Brussels gathered some of the most prominent names in global franchising. IXINA International board member and EFF Chairman Pierre Jeanmart, along with IFA Chairman Lawrence “Doc” Cohen CFE, Doc & Associates, a franchisee of the Great American Cookie Co., welcomed attendees representing countries that dot the globe.

Keynote speakers were McDonald’s Europe Dir. of Franchising and EFF Treasurer James Sernett, 5a Sec CEO Olivier Bédat and Staybridge Suites Vice Pres. of Development John Wagner. The trio discussed global franchise expansion, value in franchising and EU expansion in the hospitality brand, respectively.

The IFA trade mission in Brussels that followed the symposium generated 25 meetings. Six IFA-member companies participated in the association-organized trade mission in Brussels. The US Commercial Service in Brussels worked with IFA to secure more than 25 meetings during the one-day program. The companies that participated were American Leak Detection, Aussie Pet Mobile, Dwyer Group, Home Instead, My Gym and Two Men And A Truck. Each system participated in one-on-one, pre-screened appointments as part of the services received.

The IFA Trade Mission program has had a consistent satisfaction rate of 85 percent since 2002. Only two programs a year are organized, with limited attendance. The next trade mission will be in Paris in March during the Paris Franchise Expo, the largest and one of the most important franchising events in Europe.

Contact IFA Vice Pres. of International Development Marcel Portmann to get program and registration details about the Franchise Trade Mission to France at 202-662-0760 or mportmann@franchise.org or visit the IFA Web site, www.franchise.org.

FIND IT AT FRANCHISE.ORG
Join peers from the franchising sector and those interested in learning more about franchising by visiting the IFA Web site, www.franchise.org.  Visitors will find discussion forums, publications, news and events and updates on issues affecting the sector.

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Miami Expo debuts in January
Prospective franchise small-business owners will have access to franchise system representatives and a variety of brands when Franchise Expo South pulls into the Miami Beach Convention Center Jan. 19-21.  Other opportunities to experience franchising include the International Franchise Expo, Washington, DC Convention Center, March 30-April 1. 

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IFA Convention is no gamble
Connect with today’s leading franchise experts during IFA’s Annual Convention, Feb. 24-27 in Las Vegas, and build a better business. This yearly event is the primary venue for top business executives, franchise development teams, financial officers, operations specialists and other leaders in franchising to discover the recipes to achieve system success.

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IFA Career Center essential for talent searches
Visit the IFA Career Center to enhance your HR department’s search for experienced and talented candidates.

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Franchising World magazine is a click away
For those interested in subscribing to Franchising World magazine, visit the IFA Web site at www.franchise.org.

HAVE YOU RECERTIFIED?
All Certified Franchise Executives who received CFE designation between 1995 and 2004 should submit an application for recertification by Jan.1. A total of 1,200 credits divided among experience (300), participation (500) and course requirements (400) is needed. For more information or application, contact ICFE Operations Coordinator Rose DuPont at rdupont@franchise.org or 202-662-0771.

Important dates in franchising
FEBRUARY 24-27: *47th Annual Convention, Las Vegas.
MAY 6-8: *40th Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC
SEPTEMBER 9-12: Franchise Appreciation Day and Fall Leadership & Board of Directors’ Meeting, Washington, DC…
*=Institute of Certified Franchise Executives credits given. CFE=Certified Franchise Executives

The IFA Insider is written, edited and produced by Laura Fenwick, Terry Hill, Jodi McCray, Hilary Strahota

IFA Insider newsletter is published bi-weekly (24 times a year).  Correspondence:  International Franchise Association, 1501 K Street, N/W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20005, (202) 628-8000.  © Copyright 2006 International Franchise Association.  Contents of this publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission of the publisher. The International Franchise Association sends out email and fax updates  and opt-in email newsletters to its membership.  If you would no longer like to receive one or all of these communications follow the "Unsubscribe" instructions found at the bottom of each email, fax or newsletter. For further questions, please call our Membership Service Department at 202-662-0765 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday-Friday or e-mail ifa@franchise.org.