All the News for May 2021
(...and just under the wire!)

Regarding the Texas EV Fees bills that have been in play the past few weeks:

SB 1728 and HB 3531 were both derailed by legislative technicalities. Both bills would have implemented at least a $200 EV Road Tax -- twice what a comparable gas-powered car would pay.

Observations: It’s good that we’re not stuck with an unfair tax for the next two years. BUT, we also didn’t lock in a fair tax for EVs, and we didn’t get the State to invest in EV infrastructure. Bottom line: We get to fight it all again in eighteen months.

HB 4739 (Auto Manufacturer Direct Sales), which would have allowed Tesla and other OEMs to sell directly to consumers without a Texas Franchised Automotive Dealer serving as intermediary, had a public hearing, but did not leave the House Transportation Committee. Although some had hope that direct sales issues would be resolved this legislative session, due to Tesla's Austin factory, it appears the legislative route remains closed.

On the Road Again!

Our first club road trip event in well over a year is now in the books! Despite numerous ICE cars getting in the way, we safely made the drive from Lancaster to Seven Points for a visit to Cedar Creek Brewery to enjoy the beer, food, Tesla talk, and even destination charging!! Thanks to event attendees for sharing these great pictures from the event!

We look forward to coming back!! Note: Events like this are open to contributing members only, as we purchase liability insurance to cover and protect both members and the venue. Consider becoming a contributing (paid) member today - scroll down near the end of the newsletter to learn how!

Everyone is cordially invited to our own NTTOG version of Cars and Coffee! This event is open to ALL NTTOG members (free and contributing), and will be a great opportunity to have a cup-o-joe, talk Tesla, get acquainted with both long-time members, as well as all of the NKOTB (new kids on the block)!

Date: Saturday June 19th
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Dallas Supercharger
The Hill Shopping Center
9740 North Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75231-4302

If this is your first visit to the The Hill Supercharger and you need to charge when you arrive, please use the SOUTH entrance (the one closest to the Preston Hollow ER). If there is a wait, please do not park in the spaces to the south of the Supercharger stalls. This is for Houndstooth customers only (and we want to stay on their good side!).

Park in the lot above & keep an eye out for an opening. There is a stair/walkway from the Supercharger (lower level) to the parking lot and entrance to Houndstooth Coffee on the upper level. That is where you will find the rest of your NTTOG club members!

If you do not need to charge when you arrive, we suggest entering the parking lot using The Hill Shopping Center's Walnut Hill entrance (at the light). We will be parking and gathering to the SE of Houndstooth Coffee. Behold:

Again, this is open to all club members, both free and contributing. Contributing members, please make sure to wear your name badges. If you are a contributing member but are joining us for the first time, make sure to see one of the officers & pick up your badge - then wear it proudly!

New Supercharger in Grapevine:
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

The newest Tesla Supercharger station is finally here & operational! It's also North Texas' first v3 Supercharger, meaning that:

It charges up to 250 kW (for the newer cars that support faster charging rates)
Unlike the v2 Superchargers (not to be confused with Urban Superchargers), v3 chargers do not share a circuit or are wired in pairs.

This event will also be free & open to all club members - both free and contributing! The details are still a work in progress (possibly July), but we wanted to get this on your radar now. We'll have more information as the time gets closer via our Facebook and Instagram social media channels.

Annual Member Questionnaire

This week, Tesla begins taking feedback via an updated Annual Member Questionnaire for Tesla Owners Club members around the world. Over the last few days, Tesla has received over 2,500 responses from owners club members. This is truly outstanding, and Tesla looks forward to diving into this data with various teams @ Tesla HQ over the coming weeks. Please note, this form will remain open throughout the year, and Tesla Owners Club leaders will be checking results every few weeks.

Here is the anonymous link:
https://feedback.tesla.com/jfe/form/SV_brxzhnLsAmQrfkF

Contributing Members Corner: NTTOG On the Hunt!

Road Rally Scavenger Hunt, that is! Believe it or not, it's been 5 years since NTTOG last sponsored a scavenger hunt!

It's a great way to explore some new sights in your hometown and feel like a kid again. So, what is a Road Rally Scavenger Hunt? Well, it's a little bit like the reality TV show "Amazing Race". Each car is a "team" that drives around in their Teslas following clues, complete tasks and challenges, and trying to be the team with the best overall time..

The event time/date and of course, the treasure map are still being finalized, but tentatively will be held in July. If you're not a contributing member but would like to participate, this gives you PLENTY of time to head over to the NTTOG Web page, and click the MEMBERSHIP tab to join!

Contributing Members Corner: Tesla Discount Codes!

After months of waiting Tesla gave us the green light to announce the 20% discount codes for our contributing members. Note these are a one-time use code which can be used for eligible accessory and apparel items in the Tesla shop on their website.

NTTOG contributing members will receive an email with a registration link. All information must be completed for the form to be valid. This is a one time discount, to be used by you alone, no exceptions.

Please do not distribute or forward the form to any other parties. We are being told the codes will likely be distributed in July, directly from Tesla. But, please have patience, as they will be processing and managing emails that will be coming from all clubs worldwide and "Elon" time is a real thing.

Please do not email social media admins or officers on the status of your request - this new program is being managed by Tesla, and discount codes are being sent directly to you from them. We have no visibility into your request status. Thanks for understanding!

Consider Becoming a Regular/Contributing Member!

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF TESLA OWNERS CLUB OF NORTH TEXAS? Our main FB group is designed as a place to chat and share ideas and questions about Tesla ownership. But, being a participant on Facebook does not include you in the actual membership of our Club.

We refer to official Club members as "contributing" or "regular" members. And while we certainly try to have a few events every year that are open to everyone, the majority are for contributing members only. There are many factors that play into this, but one major factor is that Tesla Owners Club of North Texas purchases & secures liability insurance for our events - many other clubs do not.

Join us today as a contributing member and insure that you get invited to all of our Club events. Hit our website and select the MEMBERSHIP tab to join. https://ntxteslaowners.com/

Frequently Asked Questions:

Asked Too Frequently!

As our NTTOG ranks continue to grow (both contributing and free members), our main Facebook page has been flooded with people asking the same questions virtually every week:

Who's got a recommendation for wrap & what's the approximate cost?
I need to get my windows tinted - any recommendations?
Who would you recommend to install my Tesla wall charger in my garage?
I hit the curb while parking & now I've got road rash on my wheels - who can repair this?
I was just in a fender-bender...are there any good body shops that know how to work on Teslas?

These are just a few of the questions that get asked over & over every few days! Sadly this is also having a negative result on club membership and engagement, as many people are getting tired of seeing the same questions posted over & over, and end up leaving the group.

Prior to the pandemic, we created a very informative Google Docs spreadsheet that has lots of recommendations for pretty much every topic you can think of (just check the tabs across the bottom of the workbook to see each of the categories of goods/services):

Need a recommendation? Check out the spreadsheet!
Have a good experience with a vendor or service provider? Add it to the spreadsheet for the benefit of others!

You can also find the link to the Google Docs spreadsheet in the Announcements section at the top of our homepage (it's the 2nd bullet item):

Consider bookmarking it in your favorite browser for quick reference & to share!

....but wait! There's more!

Did you know that our Facebook page has a SEARCH feature? Yup! Just check out the top of the NTTOG Facebook Homepage:

PRO TIP: Please try doing a simple text search for the keywords relating to your inquiry! Some keywords that will return lots of results without any waiting include:
tint, wrap, repair, wheel repair, body shop, electrician, install, PPF, paint protection, car wash, ceramic, etc.

Please... "Search before you ask!"
Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation!

In case you missed it….Tesla in the News!

Please - stay safe. Wash your hands frequently! Cover your cough or sneeze! Practice "personal distancing" (we are still "social beings" and want/need to stay connected socially). Clean and disinfect surfaces daily! Vaccinate!

Important Information:

If you are a current owner of a Tesla (new or CPO) or are simply waiting for delivery of your new vehicle, NTTOG wants you to know you are welcomed and encouraged to attend our events and meetings. Come early to events and help us find and arrange the perfect group photo opportunity. We are ALWAYS looking for that perfect Tesla group photograph!
If you plan on coming to an event, please register through the Eventbrite link so we know who to expect. Some events may require additional registration for your guests. This allows us to gather an accurate headcount for meals, tickets, tables, valet parking, and other items in the planned event. If you are unable to attend an event please cancel your RSVP so we can provide an accurate headcount to the vendors hosting us and allow those who can attend to be moved from waitlisted to registration. We cannot plan and execute events without know how many will be in attendance and if you must cancel, we need to know. Providing an inaccurate headcount of attendees to our partner venues makes us look unorganized, and they won't be so likely to welcome us back in the future.
Unfortunately, Eventbrite only allows cancellations from a desktop computer and not a mobile device, and you can only cancel a free order for an upcoming event.
Membership renewals are now being processed through the Memberful system, so expect to see an email from Memberful, advising in advance when renewals are due. Email info@nttog.com if you are having any trouble with your renewal or updates to your membership info, and please let us know so we can help make it a smoother process.
If you are emailing us at INFO@NTTOG.COM, please sign your name to your email. We do not maintain a club contact list within our email client, and the person who replies to your message may not recognize you from your email address alone.
If you are a Contributing Member and have a badge, please always wear it to events. Our membership has more than doubled and wearing a badge helps you to be identified as an NTTOG member and it will help everyone to put faces with names.
Pro Tip! It is a good idea to keep your badges in your glove box to have them handy when attending club functions or when you are representing the club.

North Texas Tesla Owners Group d/b/a Tesla Owners Club of North Texas is an independent enthusiast organization and is not affiliated with Tesla, Inc. or its subsidiaries. TESLA, MODEL S, MODEL X, MODEL 3, MODEL Y, CYBERTRUCK, SEMI, POWER WALL, and the a "TESLA," "T" and " TESLA and T Flag" designs, and certain other trademarks of Tesla Motors, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

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