It Was a Cold Winter Night...
By Joyce Fohl
AAA Central Penn

My AAA membership card has always given me a sense of security - even before I became part of the AAA Central Penn staff. All the members of my family belong to our organization longer than I have been employed. For instance, my son has had AAA come to his rescue several times while commuting from Shippensburg University to home.

The value of AAA membership was reaffirmed recently when my 82-year-old sister’s car refused to start on a bitterly cold night in a restaurant parking lot. Her response to her dilemma was simple, "I’ll call AAA."

My husband and I met my sister for dinner at a local restaurant that mid-January night. After enjoying a pleasant evening, we tried to start her car, but to no avail. The wind was blowing briskly and the temperature continued to drop to single digits.

My sister called the 1-800-AAA-Help number. Her call was promptly answered by a courteous call taker. After she described her problem, the call taker’s first question was, “Are you in a safe place?” She answered she was (she had my car to stay warm in until help arrived). After providing the necessary information, she was informed that help would be to her in approximately 45 minutes. In 20 minutes, the AAA truck and driver arrived. After careful investigation, the courteous, competent driver informed my sister that the battery in her car was dead. Luckily, AAA now offers a battery program, and the driver was able to install a new battery, complete with an in-depth explanation of the warranty on the spot. All this while the temperatures plummeted. A happy ending to what could have been a disaster.

I carry my AAA membership card in my wallet. I put it there and hope I never have to use it for emergency road service. But when a roadside emergency happens, I know the protection it promises its members is there. That’s comforting. That’s important. Now I am ever more assured that one of the best things I can give to those I care about is that same feeling of protection I don’t worry about when carrying my AAA membership card. I know my sister agrees.