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WHAT'S NEW!
 Please click on "Legal/Legislative News" to read an important message about
CARB Regulations from CRA's General Counsel Les Chayo.

CALENDAR:   NEW MEMBERS:
CRA NEWS      INDUSTRY NEWS     LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE NEWS     AVAILABLE on our SITE

JULY 2008 UPDATE

CRA NEWS...

The “CRA Rental Rally Roadshow” -- Coming This Month to a Town Near You!
This summer CRA is bringing its show to you! With locations in both southern and northern California, the two-week traveling "roadshow" gives members a chance to see the latest in rental inventory, meet our vendors, and "kick the tires." Each show takes place in the evening after working hours, so bring your employees, enjoy a barbecue and raffle, networking opportunities, and the chance to visit a local member rental center.

Map your route and join us at CRA’s Rental Rally Roadshow! Register now! Download Registration Form here.

CRA WEEK 1 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Tues., July 22 -- BJ's Rentals, 13044 Poway Rd., Poway, (619) 299-4704
Wed., July 23 -- American Rentals, 9130 E. Rosecrans Ave., Bellflower, (562) 630-5896
Thur., July 24 -- A V Equipment Rental, Inc., 24933 Railroad Ave., Newhall, (661) 259-2155

WEEK 2 - NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Mon., July 28 -- BSE Rents, 1924 E. Main, Visalia, (559) 732-5621
Tues., July 29 -- Aba Daba Rents, Inc., 4351 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 484-6423
Wed., July 30 -- All Star Rents, 1667 Marine World Pkwy., Vallejo, (707) 643-1755
Thur., July 31 -- All American Rentals, 8136 Enterprise Dr., Newark, (510) 792-4676

The tentative schedule for all seven shows is 5:00pm - 9:00pm, with dinners being served from 6pm - 8:00pm.
Call or email CRA for more information: 800.272.7400, info@craonthenet.org.


Plan also to attend the RV Rally starting Friday, July 25 through Monday, July 28.
Bring your RV and campout with the CRA Group near Visalia, CA at Kaweah Park Resort Campground. The campground is about 35 minutes frrom Visalia and about an hour from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. The park has a pool, volley ball court, fishing, horseback riding, golfing, and more. Check out the campground's website at www.kaweahparkresort.com. Make your reservations directly with the campground, (559) 561-4424. Sign up now, the RV Rally is a chance to get to know fellow CRA members and “talk shop”!


CRA Officer and Board Member Election Results
CRA held its annual election for seats on the Executive Committee and to fill expired terms on the Board of Directors last month.

CRA’s officers for the 2008-2009 term are:
President: Ken de Vries, All Star Rents, Fairfield, CA.
Vice-President: Glenn Phares, B.S.& E. Company, Inc., Bakersfield, CA.t
Treasurer: Alex DuBose, Guy Rents, Chico, CA.
Secretary: Dennis Wells, Quality Equipment Rentals, Inglewood, CA.
Chairman of the Board: Robert Pedersen, A Tool Shed, Inc., Campbell, CA.

Elected Board Members: Bill Miholich, El Camino Rental, Carlsbad, CA, is newly elected to the board. Bill came to the rental industry from the construction industry, has been in rental for over 30 years, and has built one of the largest rental centers in California. Serving as president of San Diego Territory, he has organized their annual golf tournament for the past 15 years. Glen Phares and Dennis Wells have been re-elected to the board. These members will serve three-year terms beginning in July.
     Laird Burns, Rusty Parr and Patricia Sarris will be stepping down from the board. CRA extends a sincere thank you to these members who have donated much time and effort to guide the association in its continuing goal of serving our members and the rental industry.


In Memoriam - Carol Mitchell
Carol Mitchell passed away June 6, 2008, the result of a tragic car accident. She was 66 years old.
     Carol and Bob Mitchell opened their first rental store in October 1974 in Simi Valley. It started as Taylor Rental Center and later expanded to multiple stores in Ventura County. The stores were later named Tri-Valley Rentals and Sales, Inc. Carol founded Rainbow Rents in Agoura, CA, in the early 1980s. Outgrowing her location, she moved the business to Westlake, CA . Carol was honored as “Rental Woman of the Year” at the Ladies Luncheon during CRA’s 1985 Convention. Carol was forced to retire in 1989 after two rear-end car accidents. Her daughter Terri downsized the business to one location in 1997 when Bob died. The original store remains.
     Carol is survived by her daughter, Terri Mitchell (Rick Twombly); son, Robert S. Mitchell; grandchildren, Lisa Elmore, Robert S. Mitchell, Jr.; her great-grandson, Dylan Elmore; and brother, Richard Bates (Lydia).


CRBC Insurance Program Still Seeks to Reimburse Former Policyholders
The California Rental Benefits Corporation continues its efforts to refund companies, individuals, or heirs who own a CRBC certificate of capitalization. If you are a former policyholder due a refund and have not been contacted, please call CRA at 800.272.7400.

CRBC still needs to contact these owners or former owners:

Susan Cathey, #1 Rental, Inc., Berkeley, CA
Saundra Del Villar, A-1 Rentals, San Diego, CA
Dale Peterson, A&D Rental Center, Seal Beach, CA
Michael Beck, Abbett Western Party Rental, San Bernardino, CA
Mike Schiano, ABC Rental, Dublin, CA
Don Carroll,Auburn Equipment Rentals, Auburn, CA
Bill McPeak, B&J Rentals, Elk Grove, CA
Jeanee Conner, Backyard Rentals, Elk Grove, CA
Mark Bara, Bay Area Dollie Rental, San Jose, CA
Ross Davey, Bayshore Equip. Rental, San Mateo, CA
Alex Vollgraff, Bill's Rental Center, Fresno, CA
Dick Gerker, Dick’s Atascadero Rental, Atascadero, CA
Tim Henson, Empire Equipment Rental & Ready, Folsom, CA
William Graham, Graham's Equipment, Los Osos, CA
Gerald Schwartz, Herald Rents/ B&B Rents, Herald, CA
Alan Deven, Mid State Equipment Rentals, Paso Robles, CA
Sandra Kilcrease, Scott's Valley/Owens Rental, Scotts Valley, CA
Wayne Jordan, Taylor Rental Center, Clovis, CA
Dana Pangburn, Taylor Rental Center, Castro Valley, CA
Michael Schwartz, Tool & Equipment Rental, Antioch, CA
James Riordan, Westlake Equipment Rentals, Daly City, CA


INDUSTRY NEWS...

Solutions By Computer Announces Acquisition by Constellation Software
On June 13, Solutions by Computer announced that Constellation Software Inc. had completed the purchase of certain assets of the company.
     Development, sales and service operations will continue under the Solutions by Computer brand with the guidance of existing management in Springfield, Mass. Solutions' rental applications software, Windows-based Enfinity® and UNIX-based CounterPro®, will continue to be the focus of development. Established in 1982, Solutions by Computer has long been a leading provider of business management software to the rental industry, and currently serves more than 2,200 installed locations and 9,000 licensed users in North America, as well as installations in Latin America, Europe and the United Kingdom.

TRA Celebrates 50th Anniversary, 1958 – 2008
2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the Texas Rental Association. A celebration is scheduled for July 26, during the 7th Annual TRA Round-Up in Dallas.
      "After 50 years, our association remains committed to 'promoting the common business interests of the rental industry; encouraging professionalism, customer satisfaction and high quality standards of practice; and providing the opportunity to exchange ideas, methods and views among the Texas rental firms.' That's what we TRA members and rental store owners and operators were doing 50 years ago, and that's what we're still doing, 500 plus members strong, today," states Delores Crum, TRA Immediate Past President.
     Visit the TRA website at www.texasrental.org for more information.




LEGISLATIVE NEWS...

Warning to All Rental Centers!
Les Chayo, CRA General Counsel
Les Chayo photo
California's Regulation for In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicles (self-propelled diesel-fueled vehicles 25 horsepower and up that were not designed to be driven on-road) became effective June 15, 2008. While we have been advised that enforcement of several measures of the regulation will not occur prior to September, 2008 and with minimum fines starting at $300.00 to $500.00 per violation, Rental Centers must assure their immediate compliance with applicable provisions of the Regulation. Of specific importance to Rental Centers are at least two (2) of the requirements (eg: new idling limits and new disclosure requirements for sellers of such equipment).
     The first requirement relates to idling limits for owners, operators, renters or lessees of in-use off-road diesel vehicles and may be found at Regulation Section 2449(d)(3) of the California Code of Regulations providing: “…Idling Limit – No vehicles or engines subject to this regulation may idle for more than five consecutive minutes. Idling of a vehicle that is owned by a rental company is the responsibility of the renter or lessee, and the rental agreement should so indicate.…"
     Rental Centers must therefore assure that their Rental Agreement addresses this provision. Suggested language to add to your Rental Agreement might include:

"Idling Limit – No vehicles or engines subject to regulation for in-use off-road diesel vehicles (Section 2449 California Code of Regulations) may idle for more than five consecutive minutes. Idling of a vehicle under this Agreement is the responsibility of the Customer. The idling limit does not apply to:
  1. idling when queuing,
  2. idling to verify that the vehicle is in safe operating condition,
  3. idling for testing, servicing, repairing or diagnostic purposes,
  4. idling necessary to accomplish work for which the vehicle was designed (such as operating a crane,
  5. idling required to bring the machine system to operating temperature, and
  6. idling necessary to ensure safe operation of the vehicle."
     The second requirement relates to Sellers of In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicles. The regulation requires sellers in California of applicable off-road vehicles to notify the buyer that the off-road diesel vehicle may be subject to retrofit or accelerated replacement / repower requirements. In addition, the seller of the equipment must keep records of the disclosure notice for three years. The regulation provides the following language which must be provided in writing to a buyer on the bill of sale:

"When operated in California, any off-road diesel vehicle may be subject to the California Air Resources Board In-Use Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation. It therefore could be subject to retrofit or accelerated turnover requirements to reduce emissions of air pollutants. For more information, please visit the California Air Resources Board website at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/ordiesel/ordiesel.htm."

     CRA has been advised that the Air Resources Board intends to conduct several "workshops" throughout the State of California during July and August, 2008 in order to assure notification to all "stakeholders" that the regulation became effective on June 15, 2008, as well as, to provide outreach to industry to explain the regulation and assure compliance. Please try to attend one of these ARB workshops!
     Please telephone me should you have any questions. Thank you.




CRA's WEB SITE...

SECURITY ALERT PROGRAM
The CRA Security Alert System aids members in the identification and recovery of stolen or converted equipment. The system notifies members in the area where the theft took place in order to prevent multiple member crimes and help law enforcement apprehend perpetrators. See the Alert Page on our site for more information and to download an Alert Reporting form.

RSIF SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Full or part time students in trade schools, community colleges or universities are eligible to apply for RSIF scholarships. Applicants must be CRA members, their employees or their college-age children. Awarded scholarships are paid upon successful completion of the term with at least a C average. Full-time students must complete at least 12 units.
Contact the CRA office: 800.272.7400, info@craonthenet.org, for an application, or download one from our web site, on the Products and Services page. Please send a photo with your application.

"RESOURCE TOOLS"
The Resource Center page contains business, safety information and articles useful for your party or equipment rental center. Located on this page is a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation by Bill Veneris and Chris Redfern of Alert IMS, "Setting Rental Rates -- It's a Balancing Act." Bill and Chris presented a seminar with this information at CRA's Rental Rally 2004, and now are making it available for CRA members. You can view the presentation by downloading it from our web site; however, you will need the Microsoft PowerPoint program.

POST YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ON CRA's WEB SITE!
Looking for a Hard-to-Find Part? Want to Sell Used Equipment? Need to Fill a Position? CRA's Web Site now has a Classified Ad Page. You can purchase small classified ads to sell used equipment, find parts or list positions available. Ads can be placed for a two-month period; or if you prefer, a one-year contract can be purchased. With the one-year contract, ad information can be updated every two months.
     If you would like to place an ad, call the CRA office, 800.272.7400, for more information.

TO VIEW OUR JOURNAL ONLINE...
Visit CRA's "Members Only" page, and click on "Current CRA Journal."
For those members not familiar with our "Members Only" page, here's how to get there:
Click on the "Members Only" link here or the one located on the left of the CRA home page. On the next page enter your membership information, which can be found on your Journal mailing label, in the form provided. Enter the last name of your membership contact person. This area is case sensitive, so capitalize the first letter only and do not enter spaces. Then enter your 5-digit member ID# in the "Password" box. Select "Submit" and you're there!




NEW MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Arlen & Associates
Arlen Stringfellow
2261 Corine Way, Alpine, CA 91901
(619) 244-8418
www.arlenassociates.com

Putnam International
Tod A. Putnam
11050 Pala Place, Mira Loma, CA 91752
(626) 315-5100



2008 CALENDAR

CRA Rental Rally Roadshow – Week 1
  • Tuesday, July 22, BJ’s Rentals, Poway, CA
  • Wednesday, July 23, American Rentals, Bellflower, CA
  • Thursday, July 24, AV Equipment Rental, Newhall, CA


    • CRA RV Rally, July 25-28, 2008
    Kaweah Park Resort, Three Rivers, CA (near Visalia)



    CRA Rental Rally Roadshow – Week 2
  • Monday, July 28, BS&E Company, Visalia, CA
  • Tuesday, July 29, Aba Daba Rents, Sacramento, CA
  • Wednesday, July 30, All Star Rents - Vallejo, CA
  • Thursday, July 31, All American Rentals, Newark, CA



    August 1, 2008
    15th Annual San Diego Golf Tournament,
    The Crossing Golf Course, Carlsbad, CA