September 5, 2023
Robert Copley, CERP
Hello, American Rental Association (ARA) Region Five members. I hope your operations have seen plenty of activity this past spring and summer. I know ours has.
Amid all our normal day-to-day activities, we always need to be mindful of forces that want to disrupt our businesses. I am talking about cyber hackers. This month’s newsletter focuses on cybercrime. This is a real threat, whether you are a small or large operation. When it comes to cyberthreats, it is imperative that we educate our staff on what to look for regarding suspicious emails and such. Read the story “Give us $10,000 or your data is gone” in this issue for more insights and check out what happened to one of our Michigan members. If you have ARA Insurance, check out its Cyber Suite™ policy and take the appropriate precautions because we all know the dire consequences that can happen if a breach occurs.
Also, ARA has a follow-up to the inspections of Michigan rental operations and the fines that rental operators have been receiving for illegally dispensing fuel by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Weights and Measures program. The Weights and Measures Act, specifically MCL Sec.290.628c, provides the authority of these inspections and fines. Click here for a notice regarding how your rental business can comply with the law going forward.
ARA members enjoyed a day of fun at the ARA of Ohio’s Family & Staff Appreciation Day at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay.
On a more positive note, the state chapters in our region have been busy offering great member events. Just take a look:
- The ARA of Ohio offered its Family & Staff Appreciation Day at the Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay on July 23.
- The ARA of Indiana offered a day at the Indiana State Fair for Hoosier rental folks and their families on July 29.
- The ARA of Kentucky helped rental owners and managers be aware of and ask questions about employment laws on Aug. 15.
More events are planned on the state and national levels that will benefit you and your business:
ARA members learned about employment laws at the ARA of Kentucky meeting Aug. 15.
- ARA will be hosting its Certified MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) Train-the-Trainer program Oct. 20 at RentalMax in Carol Stream, Ill. Click here for registration details.
- The ARA of Michigan will offer its Winter Conference at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Mich., on Jan. 12-14, 2024. Click here for registration details.
- The ARA Show™ will be in New Orleans during Feb. 18-21. Registration opens Oct. 17, so be on the lookout for how you can take part. If you are in event rental, you won’t want to miss EventsU on Feb. 17, the pre-show education for those on this side of the aisle. Plan to attend the show to receive the education, take advantage of all the buying and the networking opportunities to start your year on the right business footing.
I also would like to offer a big thank you and congratulations on the retirement of Detective Sgt. James Dietz, who has been in law enforcement for 37 years, the past 10 with the Michigan State Police SCAR (Southwest Commercial Auto Recovery) Unit, Kalamazoo, Mich. His last day on the force was Aug. 1.
Dietz, who received the ARA Insurance/National Equipment Register (NER) Award in both 2020 and 2021, played a key role in setting up sting operations, primarily in Michigan and Ohio, that resulted in the recovery of more than $1 million in rental equipment as well as the arrest and conviction of 10 people. Even though he has retired, Dietz looks forward to continuing his assistance to the rental community. As a matter of fact, he will be a featured speaker at the ARA of Michigan’s Winter Conference again this January.
Before I close, I encourage you to offer your vote for the slate of 2024 nominees to the ARA board of directors. Ballots will be available electronically to the primary contact or designated representative of all ARA members Aug. 28 – Sept. 11. Please take part. It really is important that we hear from all eligible voters.
Have a great fall!
Robert Copley, CERP, Region Five director
Event Essentials
Windsor, Wis.
608-223-3146
robert@eventessentials.com
