NEWSLETTERS - Rent-to-own state associations need their hero

Rent-to-own state associations need their hero

APRO's State Association Coordination Committee has spent the past ten years facilitating the grassroots organization of rent-to-own dealers throughout the country under the leadership of "Tiger" John Cleek from Cleek's Rent-to-own in Columbia, MO.

Rent-to-own state associations have helped protect the rent-to-own industry in state and federal legislative initiatives as well as improve rent-to-own's image with charitable efforts. Recently New York and Iowa had legislative threats that could have undermined the rent-to-own industry in those states, but were addressed with professional organization and advocacy through their state associations and APRO.

APRO State Association Coordination Committee Chair "Tiger" John Cleek,

The New York and Missouri state associations also took the lead in promoting a positive image of the rent-to-own industry donating computers to local school districts that generated local media attention and furthered congressional goodwill as well.

In both instances, the state associations coordinated the charitable efforts through the offices of Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) and Rep. Ed Townes (D-NY). Another "Computers for Kidz" effort is underway in Louisiana spearheaded by state association president, Jeff White, working with Sen. Mary Landrieu's office and APRO.

Recently, Bob Freitag from T.G.I. Freitag's in Owatonna, MN, contacted APRO to volunteer as Minnesota's rent-to-own state association president. Minnesota has been virtually absent of rent-to-own dealers and a state association for more than a decade ever since the Supreme Court ruling rent-to-own as a credit sale.

Freitag's involvement will mark the first organizational step toward addressing the negative legislative climate in Minnesota. Freitag recently helped encourage and convince Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to co-sponsor the industry supported federal legislation that defines rent-to-own as a lease. The fact that a Minnesota legislator supports rent-to-own defined as a lease shows that at least one Minnesota lawmaker understands the current rent-to-own legal climate in Minnesota does not make sense for either small business or consumers.

"It's all about finding the right hero," said Cleek on a recent APRO State Association Coordination Committee conference call.

"Once you find a leader and a reason, the rest is easy," he continued. "We have successful blueprints for state association achievements and success through Missouri, Texas, Florida, Illinois, the Northwest, New York and throughout the country to create a mentoring program to help activate  and guide all state associations to successful efforts. We're looking for APRO members to be our heroes. Our leaders out there need to contact Jeannie Hutchison at the APRO offices to find out how they can either help re-activate their state association or help their existing state association."