
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 31

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Robert J. Callander
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature
<PAGE>
<PAGE> 32

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Alan K. Campbell
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 33

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Ronald R. Davenport
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 34

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Davre J. Davidson
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 35

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Philip L. Defliese
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 36

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Lee F. Driscoll, Jr.
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 37

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                    Mitchell S. Fromstein
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 38

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Thomas H. Kean
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 39

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Edward G. Jordan
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 40

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Reynold C. MacDonald
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 41

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   Joseph Neubauer
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature

<PAGE>
<PAGE> 42

                                                       EXHIBIT 24

                     POWER OF ATTORNEY
                     -----------------

The undersigned director of The ARA Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company") hereby appoints Joseph Neubauer, James E. Ksansnak, Martin W.
Spector and Donald S. Morton, as his Attorney-in-Fact and hereby grants to
each of them acting alone without the others, for him and in his name as such
director, full power to:

          (a)  sign a registration statement for up to $200
               million principal amount of debt securities of
               the Company and/or its subsidiaries, and
               amendments thereto which the Company may file
               with the Securities and Exchange Commission
               pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933; and

          (b)  perform every other action which any such
               Attorney-in-Fact may deem necessary or proper in
               connection with any of such registration
               statement or amendments


(all as approved by the Company's principal executive, financial and
accounting officers whose signatures to such registration statement or
amendment thereto shall be conclusive evidence of such approval).


                                   James E. Preston
Dated: February 8, 1994            -----------------------------------
                                   Signature


<PAGE>
