Doing the homework

When Penny O’Sullivan, chairperson for the Canadian Rental Association (CRA) Ontario division, contacted me with details about the association’s educational and social program at the Canadian Rental Mart show on March 4 and 5, she said “We have done our homework.” She wasn’t kidding. Months in advance of the show, the Ontario chapter of the CRA has finalized the particulars for an event that promises to be as much fun as it will be informative.

The homework comment was in fact literal. Instead of deciding what they think members would want to see in the seminar sessions, the organizers went directly to their members to ask them. The survey results helped shape the
topics and content of the seminar program which will feature an ‘Economic Forecast of the Rental Industry’ presented by Global Insight, a professional forecasting company hired by the American Rental Association (ARA) to do a comprehensive survey of the rental industry in North America. This survey includes data collected from ARA members, industry and governments. The seminar being held will be a synopsis of this survey.

Every rental business needs to understand the economic status of its own industry to make decisions about the company’s future and its growth potential. This seminar will shed some light on the overall health of this industry and where your rental company fits in.

The other seminar will be conducted by the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO), where MTO officers will be on hand to review the Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR) system to explain compliance, pre-trip inspections and load safety. Just about every rental company delivers construction equipment and this seminar is directly applicable to them. This informative session will be followed by a ‘question and answer period’ where rental operators will have the opportunity to ask direct questions to ensure their service vehicles are in compliance. Both of these seminars will be of tremendous value to rental companies.

Food and fun
After it’s time to learn, it’s time to play and the CRA Ontario division will host its Annual Awards Banquet on the first evening which will be held at the show hotel headquarters. This is where the association will honour its members by presenting the Image Award, the Supplier of the Year Award and the Rental Professional of the Year Award.
For entertainment, the association has gone to the best by hiring comedians from Yuk Yuk’s to provide the humour. I have seen the dinner menu and it’s Five Star all the way. At only $50 per person, it’s a combination of good food and good fun at a value you just can’t beat.

To keep prices down, the association is counting on sponsorships, but with a twist. To add to the recognition of
supporters there will be three levels of sponsorship. A donation for $500 and up will designate companies as a Platinum Level sponsor to receive four banquet tickets for free; $300 and up will be Gold Level and sponsors will receive two banquet tickets; and below $300 will be Silver Level. All sponsors will receive plenty of recognition and will be listed on all the signs and programs.

When deciding whether you can afford the time away from the store to attend the Canadian Rental Mart, take a look at the value being offered on the program and ask yourself, can you afford not to? -end-
Chris Skalkos, editor