Rent-to-own News - NW Rental Dealers get political at first annual membership meeting

By Murlin Evans

Not many rental dealer associations can boast of doubling their representation area in less than a year.

But most aren't like the Northwest Rental Dealers Association.

Between 25 and 30 rent-to-own dealers, employees and vendors representing four states are expected to turn out for the first annual Northwest Rental Dealers Association membership meeting February 7 in Kennewick, Washington.

Joe Recla, NW Rental Dealers Association President, and James MacAlpine of RentDirect Nationwide,  join an expected 30 attendees at the association's first annual membership meeting February 7.

Formed originally as a merger between the Oregon Rental Dealers Association and the Washington Rental Dealers Association last summer, Idaho joined shortly thereafter with Montana requesting membership as the fourth state in October 2007.

Political activism will be the primary focus of the meeting, according to association president, Joe Recla, who is also co-owner of five Your Rental-Purchase Stores, one corporate rental and one Rent-n-Roll store.

"We will begin talking about hiring a lobbyist from each of the states to keep an eye on the legislature in those states," Recla said. "We're going finish up our re-organization, decide on bylaws and dues and just keep moving and keep talking."

Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., attendees will hear an update on the APRO Dave Egan Legislative conference scheduled February 11-13, presentations on lobbying cost options and a customer service training titled "Running With Scissors" lead by Dr. Larry Helms.

James MacAlpine of RentDirect Nationwide will also speak on the benefits of membership in the RentDirect buying group. RentDirect Nationwide was a generous sponsor of this year's membership meeting.

For more information on the Northwest Rental Dealers Association, call Recla at 208/739/3410.