About AAA

History — Where it all started

AAA (triple A), formerly the American Automobile Association, is a federation of motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization; with 55 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA provides services to its members, including roadside assistance, travel, and license work to name a few.

The American Automobile Association was founded in 1901, in Chicago, Ill when, in response to a lack of roads and highways suitable for automobiles, nine motor clubs banded together to form AAA. In 1902, only 23,000 cars were in operation in this country compared with 17 million horses. Yet, some 50 small auto clubs had been formed by motoring enthusiasts across the country.

In 1905 the first AAA road maps were published; hotel guides followed in 1917. AAA created a School Safety Patrol Program in 1920, the first of the association's driver safety programs, providing local schools with materials to train and organize students into a patrol force. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which conducts studies on motorist safety, was established as a separate entity in 1947.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety was established as a separate entity in 1947, and continues to conduct research related to traffic and pedestrian safety.

History of AAA North Penn

The Twentieth Century was just a teenager when the Motor Club of Lackawanna County & the Lycoming County Automobile Club were organized.

The Motor Club of Lackawanna County was incorporated in May, 1918 and first occupied offices in downtown Scranton at the Jermyn Motor Inn. Subsequent moves located the office in the 500 block of Wyoming Avenue and then 429 Wyoming.

In 1949, club headquarters was moved to 1035 N. Washington Avenue. Several additions were made to the building, then in 1992, to make more space for Member Services, the administrative offices were moved into the renovated Burne Cadillac Building at 1125 N. Washington Avenue.

In 1960, the name of the club was changed to AAA Motor Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania when it merged the Pocono Mountain Motor Club, then in 1992 the name was changed to AAA Northeast Penn.

The Lycoming County Automobile Club was organized on May 5, 1916 with a total of 85 members. Initially the Club was staffed by three employees. Former Club headquarters included the Updegraff Hotel (now the Ross Club), the Lycoming Hotel (now the Genetti Hotel), and several other locations along West Fourth Street. In 1963, the Lycoming Club merged with the Tioga County Motor Club to become North Central Motor Club of Pennsylvania.

Then in April of 1983, the Potter county Motor Club was merged into the North Central Motor Club of Pennsylvania which in July 1992 changed its name to AAA North Central Pa.

Sound legislation to protect the rights of car owners, good roads on which to travel, and erecting directional signs along the roads were of prime importance to the auto clubs in the early days. Forward looking businessmen, volunteered their time to serve on boards of directors to lead these clubs into bright futures. In the early years there were only a few members, but the automobile was here to stay and those who owned them were determined to enjoy their new found freedom and adventure.

In August 1998, AAA Northeast Penn and AAA North Central Pa merged their resources to provide members the best in quality member services. Persistence and services have paid off, today AAA NORTH PENN has more than 190,000 members in Lackawanna, Lycoming, Bradford, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Potter, Wayne, & Wyoming Counties.

The Club is staffed by more than 140 employees in 7 strategically located offices to serve our members and provides a full range of motor club, travel, and other related services.

Travel and tourism have flourished in the area over the years and the Clubs have kept pace by serving the general public with some of the largest full service travel agencies in their respective areas. Club Headquarters is in Scranton and full service offices are located in South Williamsport, Honesdale, Stroudsburg, Towanda, Tunkhannock, and Wellsboro.

AAA NORTH PENN is a not-for-profit corporation, obligated to pay taxes. Our corporation is owned by our membership. We are not however a stock corporation, as no dividends are paid out to the owners. Earnings of AAA NORTH PENN, its departments and subsidiaries are retained for the benefit of our members.

The governing body of the Club is the Board of Directors. The Club policies and control of Club affairs and property is the responsibility of the Board of Directors who are elected by the membership at the Club’s annual meeting in March. The Board of Directors employs a staff (each of us) to carry out policies and to provide service for the members they represent. Because of this unique corporation situation, each of us works directly for our members and for the traveling public. Every member or client we serve is an owner of our business.

The Board of Directors relies heavily on each AAA Employee to perform his or her job to the best of their ability. Your individual efforts are crucial to the overall success of AAA NORTH PENN. Like the proverbial chain, we are only as strong as our individual links. It is our desire to keep this chain as strong as it can be