Many attendees may be wondering about the red “doohickey” they found attached to their badge lanyard in the black and yellow bag they received from registration at The Rental Show. It is part of Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power’s New Vanguard™ single-cylinder engine pull-tab prize giveaway. Attendees can stop by the Briggs & Stratton booth , No.2720, during the show and received a complimentary pull-tab with a chance to win one of:

• Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power Vanguard Hat
• Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power Vanguard T-Shirt
• $10.00 gas card

Attendees can also register to win $2,500 in Vanguard Powered Equipment. No purchase necessary. See promotion card in Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power’s booth for complete details.

The red tab is a replica of the the TransportGuard™ switch that was featured in the February issue of RENTAL MANAGEMENT magazine on page 79, or read online here.

A social hour was held from 5 to 6 p.m. on the trade show floor. Attendees enjoyed drinks, popcorn and spending time visiting exhibitors and each other.

Doosan Portable Power, Statesville, N.C., has posted a video on The Rental Show Facebook page showing their "ARA Racing Challenge," from the driving simulator in their booth, No. 3728. Check out the video, as well as news and photos from The Rental Show, at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rental-Show/100892182713. Many booth visitors also have commented on the new garb company representatives are wearing at the booth this year, which match the car racing themes. "This is a recent change for us and we've had a lot of compliments," says Amy Meadows, Doosan Portable Power's marketing communications specialist.

Two rental industry veterans have "coined" a way to get you to join in donating to the ARA Foundation. Charlie Neffle, CERP, ARA Foundation chairman and owner of All Occasions Event Rental, Cincinnati, and Gary Helfmann, ARA Region 5 director, and president of A-1 Lansing Rent-All, Lansing, Mich., are trading your dollars for $1 gold coins, recently released by the U.S. Mint. Neffle and Helfmann plan to donate the money to the ARA Foundation. Helfmann uses the dollars for change at his rental store. "I make a friend and it cost me nothing." Helfmann says donating to the Foundation is a way for rental stores to give back to the industry. "I've always felt that I can't afford to miss The Rental Show. I always take something back with me."   

Alan Wismer, owner of George's Tool Rental in Hatfield, Pa., and the incoming American Rental Association (ARA) Region Two director, arrived in Orlando, Fla., early for board meetings and missed the storm that wreaked havoc in the East. Three of his employees registered for The Rental Show, however, had their flight cancelled and then decided to drive. "Now that's dedication," Wismer says. "I told them, 'Either your very committed or should be committed.'"