Louisiana Rental Dealers Association Annual Membership Conference
After being elected in 2007, White told the 20 rental dealers in attendance the same thing every other new association president says when elected. He committed to doubling membership by 2008. What made this speech different is that it actually happened - and then some.
Jeff White was elected president of the long dormant Louisiana Rental Dealers Association (LRDA) in 2007. After being elected, White told the 20 rental dealers in attendance the same thing every other new association president says when elected - "I look forward to serving as president of LRDA and I want everyone here to commit to doubling membership by 2008." (see story). What made this speech different is that it actually happened - and then some.
LRDA has tripled its membership in the last 12 months.
White said 60 members registered to attend the conference that kicked off Tuesday with a golf outing at the Tamahka Trails Golf Club in Marksville, Louisiana. The conference, including hotel rooms, golf outing and scheduled receptions and meals are being sponsored by Nationwide Southwest.
Most members credit the membership boom to Association president Jeff White and the other officers elected last year. White says the key is having active, energetic dealers and vendors with feet-on-the-street recruiting new members.
"Jean Guy Poulin (Treasurer) and Dave Boggan (Vice President) have really done the job," said White. Our vendors have been great and we have the entire state covered with active recruiters." Boggan is Vice President of Mississippi Valley Operations for Aaron's. Jean Poulin owns Express Rental Purchase in Hammond, Louisiana.
White said there are over 200 dealers in Louisiana. "We have a lot of new owners in the state," he said. "These are people that have left other companies to start their own RTO business. It's important that we get them actively involved early."
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Photo RTO Online |
| Jean Guy Poulin (right) and James Stephens took first place in Tuesday's outing with a 1 over par. |
The boost in membership is bringing new political strength to LRDA. The group will elect a PAC chairman Wednesday and, for the first time, start a PAC fund. While there are no immediate legislative issues facing Louisiana rental dealers, White said he wants to be proactive. "A lot of times people don't come together until there's a problem. Then it's too late."
The twosome of Jean Guy Poulin and James Stephens took first place in Tuesday's golf outing with a 1 over par. Stephens is one of the newest rental dealers in the state after opening his first ColorTyme franchise in Shreveport in October, 2007. See photo photo gallery of Tuesday's LRDA Golf Outing here.
Stephens, who was with Rent-A-Center prior to becoming a ColorTyme franchisee, said he joined LRDA for the networking. "Just being here with others in the industry is an opportunity to learn."
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LRDA members will meet with Jeff Everson Wednesday, a representative from Senator Mary Landrieu's office, to discuss a joint venture with LRDA to benefit Computers for Kids. White says LRDA will work to help children outside of New Orleans in areas that have still not recovered from Katrina. "When we think of Katrina we tend to think of New Orleans," said White. "It's important to remember that children all over southern Louisiana were affected."
Also on tap for Wednesday is guest speaker Roger Whitiacre of Whitacre & Hardy Associates, certified identity theft risk management specialist. Whitiacre will present a plan for all rental dealers to manage their risk of liability due to changing identity theft legislation.
RTO Online will post additional photo galleries, interviews and podcasts. Check www.rtoonline.com for updates.
