As thanks for helping with this cause, CAA Members will receive 10 CAA Dollars® for dropping off their old automotive battery.

Starting Monday, May 27 and continuing until Friday, June 7, pick-up service and drop-off locations will be provided for old and unused batteries in several municipalities throughout North and East Ontario.

Automotive batteries, also known as lead/acid batteries, contain 10 kilograms of lead, three litres of sulfuric acid, and a plastic case. More than 98% of these materials can be recycled and used to create new batteries. CAA North & East Ontario will ship all collected batteries to an appropriate recycling facility for processing.

"Storing unused vehicle batteries can pose a serious health and safety risk to people, animals and the environment, which is why CAA North & East Ontario encourages individuals to dispose of their unused batteries in an environmentally responsible manner," said Korey Kennedy, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for CAANEO.

The Great Battery Roundup is free to all CAA Members, the general public and businesses. In Ottawa and Thunder Bay, simply call 613-820-1400 or 1-800-CAA-HELP to have your old automotive batteries picked up at no charge. In Coniston, Sudbury, Dryden, Timmins, Parry Sound, North Bay, Pembroke, Renfrew, Kemptville and Cornwall, find a location to drop-off your unwanted automotive batteries by visiting caaneo.ca/gbr.

Prior to the campaign's kick-off, CAANEO will be hosting a special Great Battery Roundup event on May 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals are invited to stop by the CAA Member Experience Centre in Orleans (2026 Tenth Line Road) to drop off their old automotive and marine batteries, as well as have their vehicle's battery tested for free and any automotive questions addressed by a CAA Automotive Expert.

For every battery collected through the Great Battery Roundup, CAANEO will donate funds towards a community tree planting event with Trees Ontario (www.treesontario.ca), who are aiming to plant 10 million trees a year by 2015.

CAANEO reminds individuals of the dangers that can stem from handling an automotive battery. Take care to protect yourself by wearing gloves, long sleeves and safety glasses, and ensure batteries remain upright and in a plastic, leak-proof container during transport. Keep sparks and flames, including cigarettes, away from batteries at all times as this could cause them to explode.

CAA North & East Ontario provides emergency roadside assistance to Members, along with an extensive array of travel and insurance services designed to suit the individual needs, wants and expectations of our Members. Detailed information on the wide range of services and offerings available with CAA North & East Ontario can be found at caaneo.ca.

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Most recently the Club's vice-president of operations, Ms. Hlusko commenced her new position at CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) on April 30, 2013, following an extensive role as acting President and CEO during the recruitment process.

"With the appointment of Ms. Hlusko to the position of President and CEO, the Board of Directors for CAA North & East Ontario is delighted to be able to boast having an individual with an unparalleled commitment to innovation and integrity at the helm of our Club," said Jack Campbell, Chair of CAA North & East Ontario's Board of Directors. "Ms. Hlusko brings a wealth of experience to the role from her tenure thus far at CAANEO, and I am confident she will help position the Club to achieve growth and success amongst all of our business areas, while also upholding our organization's long-standing commitment to providing our membership with best-in-class service."

Ms. Hlusko joined CAA North & East Ontario 11 years ago and during that time has been a valuable member of the organization's senior management team, having overseen the Club's Corporate Services, Travel and Automotive Services departments. Under her leadership as vice-president of operations, CAANEO achieved a significant milestone when its Automotive Services department ranked first for satisfaction amongst all 56 CAA and AAA clubs for the longest consecutive stretch in the association's history.

"I am extremely proud to be a part of the phenomenal team we have at CAA North & East Ontario, who take pride in everything they do to serve our Members," said Ms. Hlusko. "I look forward to working with our internal and external partners as we seek to enhance what a CAA membership provides to our Members, be it through new CAA Rewards™ partners, Member-exclusive travel products or new ways to interact with us. I am committed to reaffirming to our membership why it has never been a more exciting and rewarding time to be a CAA Member."

CAA North & East Ontario provides emergency roadside assistance to Members, along with an extensive array of travel and insurance services designed to suit the individual needs, wants and expectations of our Members. Detailed information on the wide range of services and offerings available with CAA North & East Ontario can be found at caaneo.ca.

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The competition takes place on Thursday, May 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Algonquin College's Transportation Technology Centre (Building S), 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa. Approximately 60 students from local high schools will be attending the event, which combines skill, knowledge evaluation and a dose of friendly competition.

"CAA North & East Ontario is proud to once again sponsor this fun and educational event," said Korey Kennedy, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for CAANEO. "As many high schools have had to eliminate automotive programs due to budget constraints, this friendly competition provides an opportune - and unique - learning experience for students who are considering careers in the automotive field."

Youth from six Ottawa-area schools - Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School; Notre Dame High School; St. Peter High School; St. Matthew High School; St. Paul High School; and St. Patrick?s High School - will be participating in this annual challenge. In the morning, students will be tested on their theoretical knowledge of current automotive systems with a written exam. Following that, their practical skills will be put to the test in a "Pit Stop Challenge," where in teams of two the students will be timed as they change tires and conduct other auto repairs. These friendly competitions conclude with an awards presentation at the end of the day.

CAA was the only Canadian non-governmental group invited to attend the signing ceremony in Tallahassee, the state capital, a recognition of our efforts on this issue. Auto Club South Inc., representing the interests of CAA, was the only witness at hearings at the Florida legislature on the repeal bill, and spoke strongly in favour of jettisoning the IDP law. CAA's actions on this file included representations to the Governor and other top state lawmakers urging that the law be amended to exempt all Canadians.

Local media are invited to attend this event in order to get a first-hand look at the impressive automotive skills of these talented young people.

CAA North & East Ontario is a non-profit membership organization, providing travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit caaneo.ca.

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Now in its tenth year, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) is proud to again be part of the campaign, which launches May 1, 2013 with the theme "Help Pave the Way to Safer Roads."

"This campaign provides an opportunity for the public to inform their elected officials that they are concerned about the substandard infrastructure that plagues their respective communities," said Korey Kennedy, Manager of Public & Government Affairs for CAANEO. "We are encouraging motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike to cast their ballot and have a say in order to help raise awareness regarding Ontario's deteriorating roads."

Coming out of a winter season that resulted in the development of an unprecedented amount of potholes, there is no shortage of roadways across the province that are eligible to make this year's Worst Roads Top 10 list. But the Worst Roads campaign is not just about potholes; road users who have experienced incidents related to pedestrian and cycling safety, congestion, improper signage, and poor visibility are also encouraged to provide feedback.

The campaign is again seeking to have senior levels of government provide Ontario municipalities with long-term sustainable funding to repair damaged and aging infrastructure, which ultimately has a negative impact on the environment, road safety and costs to road users. While the Ontario government has charged a gas tax since 1925, a dedicated fund to assist with repairing municipal roadways and bridges is still lacking.

Road users can have their say by casting a ballot online at www.worstroads.ca, where individuals can view in real-time the roads that are receiving the most votes across the province. The website will be live following the launch of the campaign on May 1, 2013.

Over the course of the next four weeks, the campaign - which is sponsored by CAA North & East Ontario, CAA South Central Ontario, CAA Niagara and the Ontario Road Builders' Association - will travel to communities throughout the province to reiterate the importance of making concerns about decaying infrastructure known. Voting closes May 31, 2013.

CAA North & East Ontario is a non-profit membership organization, providing travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit caaneo.ca.

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The repeal comes after interventions from CAA, other stakeholders and thousands of Canadian drivers caught unaware by the IDP law, which came into effect with no notice. CAA applauds the government of Florida for repealing the law, a process that ended today when Gov. Rick Scott signed the repeal bill.

"Effective immediately, Canadians in Florida can go back to doing what they have always been able to do - drive with peace of mind in the Sunshine State using their provincial driver's license," said Jeff Walker, CAA Vice President of Public Affairs. "CAA is pleased that the voices of its members and others were listened to by state officials, and that the state of Florida has removed any uncertainty."

Florida lawmakers have admitted they never intended to include Canadian drivers under the law, which made it illegal to drive in Florida without a license issued by a U.S. state. The repeal process took several weeks and multiple votes in the Florida legislature. Governor Scott's signature marks the official repeal.

CAA was the only Canadian non-governmental group invited to attend the signing ceremony in Tallahassee, the state capital, a recognition of our efforts on this issue. Auto Club South Inc., representing the interests of CAA, was the only witness at hearings at the Florida legislature on the repeal bill, and spoke strongly in favour of jettisoning the IDP law. CAA's actions on this file included representations to the Governor and other top state lawmakers urging that the law be amended to exempt all Canadians.

When the law came to light in mid-February, Florida officials reacted to pressure from CAA and others within hours and said the state highway patrol would not enforce it pending a review. But it was unclear if all local law enforcement would follow suit, some Canadians were refused car rentals, especially in the first few days, and insurance companies would have been within their rights to refuse to honour policies in the event of an accident.

CAA is a federation of nine clubs providing more than 5.8 million Members with exceptional emergency roadside service, complete automotive and travel services, member savings and comprehensive insurance services. CAA also advocates on issues of concern to its members, including road safety, the environment, mobility, infrastructure and consumer protection.

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Taking place March 21 - 24 at the Ottawa Convention Centre, this year's auto show promises to be the best yet, with more than 25 manufacturers set to attend and displays of over 250 vehicles from Honda and Chrysler to Lamborghini and Lotus.

To make sure all those interested in attending this automobile extravaganza have access to purchasing a ticket, CAANEO will be selling tickets to the auto show at Ottawa-area CAA Member Experience Centres. Tickets are available at $15 (plus tax) or $10 (plus tax) for CAA Members at the four CAA Member Experience Centres in Ottawa.

With a prominent location in the auto show's "Gasoline Alley," CAANEO will have a booth on site for the duration of the event, providing a variety of information to attendees through interactive stations featuring CAA's Driving Costs Calculator and the Drive Right resource for new drivers, along with various contests and giveaways. The Club will also have CAA's Mitsubishi MiEV on site for the duration of the four-day show, giving those at the event the chance to get an up-close look at a fully-electric car.

In addition, CAA North & East Ontario will be sponsoring the Auto Show TV hosted by Street Sport Television's Rick Walker, which will provide attendees with interesting interviews, news and automotive tips.

More information about the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show can be found at caaneo.ca/autoshow.

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For individuals travelling by car:

• No one likes to have vacation plans interrupted. Before you hit the road, have your vehicle serviced at a CAA Approved Auto Repair Service (AARS) facility to make certain it is in working order to get you to your destination.
• For safety, plan your route in advance and make sure to travel with a fully charged cellphone and emergency road safety kit. Keep in mind, however, that under Ontario's distracted driving law it is illegal to talk, text, dial or type using a hand-held communications device while driving. If a phone call must be made, have a passenger make the call, or wait until you are able to safely pull off the road.
• Take your time; many highways will be congested with vehicles as people anxiously make their way to their vacation destination. Allow plenty of time for your travels and adjust your driving habits to reflect the weather conditions. When travelling for longer distances, notify someone of your intended destination and anticipated arrival time.
• Excited children can be a challenge in the car. Regular stops and seat switching will turn their attention to something new until the next stop, while also preventing driver fatigue and distraction.
• Though your travels on the road are family time, remember that you will be in tight quarters for the duration of your trip. To help keep arguments at bay, pack a range of games and activities that will cater to everyone's interests.

For individuals travelling by air:

• Long lines are commonplace at airports during this popular travel season, so be sure to arrive early for your flight. Eliminate unnecessary hassle by checking in online with your airline and receiving your boarding pass in advance of departing for the airport. Remember to confirm your flight's status before leaving as well.
• Avoid being surprised by extra fees by verifying your airline's policy for baggage and help save time at the airport by weighing your luggage before you leave
• Though no one likes to think about it, preparing for the unexpected is an important part of travelling. Leave copies of your passport identification page, itinerary and insurance policy with a friend or family member who can be reached during your travels if necessary.

CAA North & East Ontario is a non-profit membership organization, providing travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit caaneo.ca.