To celebrate the 50^th anniversary of The Rental Show in February, the American Rental Association is pulling out the stops with activities like “Dancing Through the Decades,” the kickoff celebration on Monday, Feb. 6. Attendees are encouraged to dress in clothes appropriate for a specific decade to dance the night away to songs old and new. The official 50^th anniversary celebration on Wednesday, “Rock, Roll and Rent,” will feature dinner, music and even a pyrotechnics show.

But amid all of the anniversary celebrations, the necessary Rental Show staples will still abound at this year's trade show, held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Keynote speaker, former first lady Barbara Bush, will discuss “Faith, Family and Friends: My Life After the White House.” The Rental Hall of Fame induction will also be a part of the keynote session. The late Howard Burnett, a former rental company owner from Utah; Daniel Kaplan, former Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. CEO and current CEO of Daniel Kaplan & Associates, Morristown, N.J.; and Edco CEO Leo Swan of Frederick, Md., will be inducted this year.

The ARA and the National Equipment Register will be offering heavy-equipment identification training for law enforcement officers during The Rental Show. The second annual ARA Insurance Services/NER Award will also be presented at the show, honoring the hard work of law enforcement personnel to prevent theft and recover equipment.

RER will also be presenting the 2005 Innovative Product Award at a cocktail reception held at LuLu's Bait Shack on Tuesday evening.

Seminar topics run the gamut from taxes to leadership, hiring practices to customer service. And with 750 exhibitors, new products and show specials will be in abundant supply. Use the following calendar to plan your week and maximize your time at The Rental Show.

The Rental Show Convention Schedule

Unless otherwise noted, events are held at the Orange County Convention Center.

Saturday, Feb. 4

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-in

2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Certified Event Rental
Professional workshop

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Optional activity-industry tour: Backstage at Walt Disney World Resort

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Events & Tents

• Industry tour
• Tabletop competition

Sunday, Feb. 5

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Registration

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Events & Tents

8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
21^st Annual golf tournament
Metrowest Golf Club

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Construction U

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-in

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
First-time attendee orientation

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Events & Tents
End Zone Extravaganza

Monday, Feb. 6

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Welcome breakfast

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-in

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Educational seminars

10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Rental Association of Canada
Annual general meeting and luncheon

11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Regional lunches

12:40 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dessert with ARA

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“Dancing through the Decades”
ARA 50^th Anniversary Kick-off
Celebration
Rosen Centre Hotel

Tuesday, Feb. 7

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Keynote session and Rental Hall of Fame induction
Faith, Family and Friends:
My Life After the White House
Presented by Barbara Bush

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibits open

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
International reception

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
RER Innovative Product Award reception
LuLu's Bait Shack

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Next generation reception
Hard Rock Live at Universal CityWalk

Wednesday, Feb. 8

7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Educational seminars

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibits open

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Rental store tour for international members

7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Rock, Roll and Rent”
ARA 50^th Anniversary Celebration at Epcot

Thursday, Feb. 9

7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Registration

8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Employee seminars

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Exhibits open — Employee Day

12 p.m.
Ford F-250 pickup truck giveaway

2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Exhibitor move-out

Friday, Feb. 10

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibitor move-out