The American Financial Services Association (AFSA)'s tenth Vehicle Finance Conference and Exposition, sponsored by AFSA's Vehicle Finance Division and the AFSA Education Foundation, is scheduled for February 8-10, 2006 at Walt Disney's Yacht Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The meeting will take place prior to the National Automobile Dealers Association's (NADA) Annual Convention, to be held February 11-14 at the Orlando Convention Center. The expanded program and exposition reflects the continuing growth and importance of this segment of the association's membership as well as AFSA's increasing participation and joint efforts with NADA.

The '05 vehicle finance conference in New Orleans attracted almost 300 executives. Attendance is expected to be even higher for the '06 meeting, said Donald S. Gottwald, Chairman of the AFSA Vehicle Finance Division Advisory Board and Managing Director of Nuvell Financial Services' Private Label Group, which includes Saab Financial Services and American Suzuki Financial Services. Gottwald added, "Feedback from all constituents — exhibitors, members and guests — confirms this conference is a world-class event. More and more people look forward to attending every year."

The conference is sponsored jointly by the AFSA Vehicle Finance Division and AFSA Education Foundation. In 2006, The Foundation is planning a Golf Tournament Fundraiser on Friday, February 10th from 8:00 a.m. - Noon. Proceeds from the Golf Tournament will help fund the Foundation's MoneySkill^® Program, a highly interactive, reality-based personal finance curriculum on the Internet.

The 2006 conference theme will focus on the importance of Aligning Industry Goals and the key roles that AFSA, its members (vehicle finance companies and industry suppliers) along with other industry partners are playing to meet the challenges ahead. Educational sessions will focus on how the industry is Aligning with Dealers in the popular "Straight Talk with Auto Dealers" Session featuring leadership from NADA and facilitated by Dennis McCuistion, Host and Producer, McCuistion Program, PBS Television.

Another session will focus on Aligning with Consumers during a presentation on the newly-released, Yankelovich Financial Services Industry Report, presented by J. Walker Smith, Ph.D., President, Yankelovich, Inc.

Aligning with the Public featuring a panel of executives from captive finance companies and dealer groups to discuss the importance and goals of the AWARE Coalition AWARE (Americans Well-informed on Automobile Retailing Economics), a new organization of automotive industry leaders who have joined together to educate consumers about vehicle financing. For more information go to www.autofinancing101.org.

Aligning the Captive with the OEM — executive from both the finance and manufacturing sides of the business will share their insights during a general session on Successful Ways for Vehicle Finance Companies to Partner with Their OEM.

Additional sessions will focus on Aligning with Strategic Partners; Aligning with New Technology and Aligning with the legislative and regulatory bodies.

More information will be included on the AFSA Web site and mailed to past attendees in late October. For more information go to: www.afsaonline.org or call Tom Morano, Vice President, Meetings and Conferences at (202) 466-8601 or e-mail tmorano@afsamail.org.