Rent-to-own News - Texas named most improved state association

Dave Edwards (left) presenting TARA President William Mcrae and several TARA board members APRO's "most improved state association award".

The Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA) earned APRO's most improved state association award at a special president's reception Monday eventing hosted by outgoing APRO President "Tiger" John Cleek. The event was the first formal gathering of APRO's 2010 Convention and Trade Show July 19-22 in Louisville.

"This year's most improved state association award goes to an already existing state association that has shown a dramatic increase in activity," said Dave Edwards, chairman of APRO's State Association Coordination Committee. "Texas is an example of an association that has been a dynamic player for years and has taken it to the next level."

TARA's state-of-the-art communication system and new regulatory affairs program are two initiatives cited as examples of the associations progressive strides over the past year, Edwards said.

The Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers (PARD), earned APRO's top legislative award for a state association, earning the "Legislative Achievement Award" for PARD's proactive response to potentially negative legislation.

Through the grassroots efforts of PARD President Sandi Fry and the PARD membership, legislators were educated about the rent to own transaction and pursuaded to take another look and the detrimental effects the bill would have on the industry and small business.

By keeping an open line of communication between the membership and legislators, the association put a human face on rent to own, representing it as a professional, intelligent and progressive industry.

"Again, being on a list to receive this award is not a list any state wants to be on," Edwards said, "but the action taken by the Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers is an example to follow if you find yourself in that situation. Job well done."
Other awards include:

Continued Excellence:
(Awarded to associations who have demonstrated a continuous high level of activity over a period of years)

Northeast RDA (representing Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island), Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Delaware-New Jersey, New York, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee and Oklahoma

Six new state association presidents were honored with the State Association New Presidents Gavel Presentation. Recipients included:

Shannon Strunk – Alabama- Mississippi

Kevin Milliron – Illinois

Tysen Johnson – Kansas

Mel Bennett- Northwest
(Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)

William McCrae – Texas

Bob Moomey – Wyoming

Robbie Lewis - Oklahoma

See full APRO President's Reception photo gallery here.

See golf photo gallery here.
 
The President's Reception was sponsored by Serta.