As you plan your schedule for The Rental Show, be sure to include the Reception With a Purpose on Tuesday, Feb. 7, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

A total of 34 items donated by 31 exhibitors will be up for bid during the ARA Foundation charity auction during the reception. And no matter your business inventory or personal interests, there will be something up for bid just for you during the live auction sponsored by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.

If you’re a professional golf fan, a trip to the PGA’s John Deere Classic will be up for bid. Maybe you like the latest tech gadgets. A touchscreen Dell computer, an iPad 2 or a NOOK Color all will be part of the auction lineup. Or perhaps you want to buy new equipment for your business — there are options for construction, general tool and party/special event inventories. All auction purchases are for a great cause, since all proceeds support the programs the ARA Foundation supplies for the equipment rental industry.

Interested in the auction but unable to attend The Rental Show? You can still bid in the charity auction by submitting a proxy bid on the items of your choosing. You determine the maximum amount you are willing to spend for a particular auction item, then your bid will be placed for you during the live auction in New Orleans. If you are the top bidder, you will be contacted once The Rental Show is over to complete the purchase transaction. To participate via proxy bid, you need to complete a proxy bid form that’s available by calling Jenni Venema, ARA Foundation director of development, at 800-334-2177, ext. 236, or emailing jennifer.venema@ararental.org.

The Reception With a Purpose is sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Little Wonder/Mantis, Div. of Schiller Grounds Care.

Allied Financial Solutions, a financing company that exhibits at The Rental Show, is offering six-months-same-as-cash financing for auction items.

Find photos and complete descriptions of all auction items online here.

Here’s a look at the final four items that will be up for bid.

Sibore Drill
SB-1 Sibore Drill package
The Sibore Drill is a fast and lightweight sideways-boring auger designedl for tool rental companies, landscapers, sprinkler system installers, plumbers, electrical contractors and more. It weighs 49 lbs. with a full tank and is compact enough to fit into a trunk on the way to a job site. Powered by a 43cc, two-stroke motor with a centrifugal clutch, the auger rotates at 250 rpms, so an 8-in.-diameter hole can be drilled under a standard sidewalk in less than five minutes, the company says. It also uses a waterless-boring method. Estimated value: $1,767

Star Industries
Safety Load economy loading deck
The model 1394 Safety Load economy loading deck is designed to provide a safe and easy way to load and unload rental equipment. The company says the attachment allows one person and one forklift to load any type of heavy or awkward rental equipment such as plate compactors, sod cutters, water pumps and more. It features a 48-in.-by-48-in. loading deck to also accommodate most small equipment. A built-in ramp is designed to help roll or slide the equipment on or off the platform, and a drop-in retaining bar secures the load for transportation. The Safety Load slides onto the forks and is secured with the safety chain. Estimated value: $600

Superabrasive
Lavina 21 floor grinding and polishing machine
Lavina 21 is a 21-in. single-speed grinding and polishing machine designed especially for the rental market. At 200 lbs., it is designed to be easy to maneuver and transport. Lavina 21 is available in two versions: 1.5HP and 110V or 3.4HP and 220V. As all other Lavina floor machines, it may be used wet or dry and should be accompanied by Superabrasive’s standard line of recommended tooling (QuickChange pads, Calibra, NATO, V-HARR, etc.). Estimated value: $3,590

The Toro Co.
SGR-13 stump grinder
Toro’s SGR-13 walk-behind stump grinder is designed for grinding small stumps in tight-access areas. The SGR-13's 12-tooth cutting wheel boasts an 11-in. below-grade cutter depth and a 14-in. above-grade cutter height. It has a Honda® GX390 engine and a heavy-duty centrifugal clutch. The company says the exclusive Quadrublade™ tooth design on the SGR handlebar stump grinders cuts like a router without “pulling” the machine into the stump. Rubber gaskets between components are designed to result in less vibration transferred to the operator, reducing fatigue during operation. The SCR-13 has lift handles for easier loading and unloading. The company says the Quadrublade design also allows for easy replacement of the cutting teeth within minutes, keeping downtime to a minimum. Estimated value: $3,950