Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August, 13, 2003

AAFD Announces Franchisee Leadership Summit

Signaling that the time is ripe to gather the leaders of all known franchisee associations to join in common cause, the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers has scheduled an historic Franchisee Leadership Summit meeting for October 3, 2003 in New York City.

The AAFD sponsored gathering will be an opportunity for leaders of franchisee associations and independent Franchisee Advisory Councils to share experiences, identify common goals and issues, and to help the AAFD pursue its important work of defining and promoting Total Quality Franchising throughout the World.

AAFD Chairman, Robert Purvin, released a statement announcing the underlying purpose for the gathering, ?The AAFD has set a solid course to support strong franchisee associations and negotiated franchise relationships, and the time has come to bring the leadership of franchisee associations together to build a better franchising community and to join our quest to achieve Total Quality Franchising!?

The meeting has been scheduled as part of the AAFD?s annual Fall Meetings, which includes a public session of the AAFD Fair Franchising Standards Committee. Association leaders invited to attend the Leadership Summit are also encouraged to participate in ?the ongoing collective effort of defining quality standards for the franchising community that satisfy the legitimate business needs of both franchisees and franchisors.? The meeting is being sponsored by Accor North America, Inc., the parent company of three brands that have earned the AAFD?s Fair Franchising Seal: Red Roof Inns, Motel 6 and Studio 6.

The AAFD is undertaking an effort to identify as many franchisee associations as possible, including independently elected Franchisee Advisory Councils, to participate in the one-day conference. Said Purvin, ?We want to include all interested association leaders, and get the word out as best as we can. But because there is no authoritative database of franchisee associations, the AAFD is also depending on word of mouth to spread the word.?

Purvin indicated that this first meeting would be just the beginning. ?We hope to build the foundation for an annual summit of association leaders who will join the AAFD?s Franchisee Association Council, and begin to build a long overdue coalition to improve franchising from the franchise owner?s perspective,? said Purvin. All interested parties and associations are encouraged to contact the AAFD and make sure their organizations are included at this historic gathering.

The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers is the oldest and largest direct member non-profit trade association representing the interests of franchisees and independent dealer networks throughout the United States. Stressing market solutions and franchisee empowerment through independent franchisee associations, the AAFD has grown to represent more than 12,000 franchised businesses nationwide.

For more information, contact the AAFD at 800-733-9858, or visit our website.