July 2014 by Spotlight Graphics

July 2014

Summer Highlights

H Feld Settlement H OABA’s New Lobbyists H Firestone Financial Expands H Your OABA Dues: Money Well Spent H Big “E”-conomic Impact H Renew or Apply Online for OABA Membership

Contents The Official Publication of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association

Features

Feld Settlement Announcement OABA Hires New Lobbyists for H-2B Program

July 2014

ASSOCIATION 4 FROM THE OABA CHAIR

16, 20 SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS

It’s Summer Time... It’s Dues Time!

Jammin’ Jamborees and Contribution Fund Drawing Winners

5 MEET YOUR NEW DIRECTOR Tony Cassata

Firestone Financial Expansion

12 13

OABA Mission

Your Money’s Put to Good Use by Payment of Your OABA Dues

State and Federal Legislation and Regulations

8 ON THE EARIE

27 DOT REGULATORY NEWS

Economic Impact of Eastern States Exposition

How to Renew or Apply for OABA Membership Online

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS 25 REGULATORY UPDATE

6 ASSOCIATION BUZZ

Tom Powell reports on the industry’s shows, fairs, colorful show folks and amusing events.

CIRCUS MEMBERS 30 FROM THE CENTER RING Rodney Huey follows circuses around the country.

10 AS THE WHEEL TURNS Who, what and where are people making news? Here’s the scoop.

33 CAPITOL UPDATE Joan Galvin, Circus Unit Consultant

16, 18 PHOTO GALLERY The OABA catches members in action.

Facebook www.facebook.com/oabainfo

33 INTERNATIONAL ELEPHANT FOUNDATION

Twitter @oabainfo

Read with Smartphone Bar Code Scanner

All advertisements appearing in this ShowTime publication are paid by the advertiser and the OABA reserves the right to refuse any advertising. The ads are provided on an “as is” basis and do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the OABA. In addition, the OABA does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the information, products, or services of any corporation, organization, or person contributing to this publication.

ShowTime

OABA OFFICERS

OABA TRUSTEES

EDITOR Dee Dee Alford 407.681.9444 H deedeea@oaba.org

CHAIR Chris Lopez 1ST VICE CHAIR Michael Wood 2ND VICE CHAIR Thomas J. Gaylin, III 3RD VICE CHAIR E. J. Dean TRUSTEE 2013 Mike Featherston TRUSTEE 2012 Jeanne McDonagh TRUSTEE 2011 Bill Johnson TREASURER Larry Yaffe PRESIDENT Bob Johnson

GRAPHIC DESIGN Avic-Versi Creative Jen Burge H 817.602.7254 H avicversi@att.net

OABA DIRECTORS

PUBLISHER|MANAGING EDITOR Robert Johnson 407.681.9444 H bobj@oaba.org

ADVERTISING SALES Kim Weeks 612.501.4600 H kimw@oaba.org ASSOCIATION OFFICE Outdoor Amusement Business Assn., Inc. 1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045A Winter Park, FL 32792 407.681.9444 H fax 407.681.9445 © Outdoor Amusement Business Assn. 2014

Michael Brajevich Joe Burum Tony Cassata Brad Dallman Andy Deggeller Michael Doolan Bob Hauser Blake Huston

Stacey Jamieson Mitchell Kaliff Melissa Kibby Michael Lauther Ron Morris Ben Pickett Debbie Powers Rick Reithoffer

Lorelei Schoendienst Joseph Skerbeck Mary Chris Smith Greg Stewart Jay Strates Holly Swartz Amber Swedgan Rob Vivona

Dominic Vivona, Jr.-2010 Wayne McCary-2009 Andy Schoendienst-2008 John Hanschen-2007 Guy Leavitt-2006 Ron Burback-2005 Don Deggeller-2004 James E. Strates-2003 * Jackie Swika-2002 Danny Huston-2001 Jeff Blomsness-2000 Sam Johnston-1999 Buddy Merten-1998 * Richard Janas-1997 Jean Clair-1996 James Murphy-1995 Dominic Vivona-1994 * Bill Dillard, Sr.-1993 Tom Atkins-1992 * Red Wood-1991 Billy Burr-1990 * Deceased

Bob Coleman, Sr.-1989 * Milt F. Kaufman-1988 * Andy Andersen-1987 * John Vivona-1986 * Mike Farino-1985 James H. Drew, III-1984 Gerald L. Murphy-1983 * John A. Campi-1982 * Buster L. Brown-1981 * Hub Luehrs-1980 * Lloyd J. Hilligoss-1979 * Hal F. Eifort-1978 * Alfred H. Kunz-1977 * P.E. Reithoffer, Jr.-1976 * Bernard P. Thomas-1975 E. James Strates-1974 * Rod Link-1973 * C.J. Sedlmayr-1972 * John Portemont-1971 * William T. Collins-1966-70 * W.G. Wade-1965

ASSOCIATION H MESSAGE FROM THE OABA CHAIR

It’s Summer Time... It’s Dues Time! Chris Lopez

y now many of you are in full swing of summer, starting up your county and state fair routes, but it’s also time to think about renewing your OABA dues. This issue of ShowTime magazine is focused on what the OABA gives you in return for your dues payment. We call them membership services, which helps us drive memberships in your industry trade publication. Like all great associations we depend on our members, not only for their financial support with their annual dues Re g ul

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payment, but for their participation in the OABA Contribution Fund, their financial support with OABA Jammin’ Jamborees, and with their personal time helping us with advocacy issues; our grass roots initiatives.

bers Mem

ei Rec ve

Benefits of Membership!

Your 2015 Dues

Having said this, I also know it’s up to our staff and board to provide the very best in communications, education and member services. I appointed Amber Swedgan, one of our 24 directors, to head this year’s Membership Committee to bring a youthful, new look to how our members perceive this great organization and appeal to a broader group of potential members in the mobile amusement industry. She and her committee have worked hard to produce some great Action Plans for this year’s dues payments, including a special 50th Anniversary “Golden Jubilee” promotion that carnivals and manufacturers/suppliers have already heard about and are taking advantage of, including the new Instagram Photo Contest advertised in this issue. Check out our special membership services and discounts, including our continued, free $10,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance coverage for all members. This association is tasked with leading the charge for all “amusement related “issues. Whether it be ride inspection fees in your state, lobbying for H-2B labor or performing animal rights, the OABA is here for you.

Even after 70 years, we still get a rush from helping our customers through the ups and downs of the amusement business. Haas & Wilkerson offers the most comprehensive and cost-effective specialty programs available to operations like yours. Perhaps that’s why so many clients want us by their side year after year. To find out more, call us today. 800.821.7703 • www.hwins.com Independent agent representing ACE Westchester Specialty Group Programs Division. Most insurance products are underwritten by insurers within the ACE Group of Insurance Companies.

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

Participating in creative fundraisers such as cutting your hair to raise money for the OABA and splitting the proceeds with “Locks of Love” are events that are very much appreciated. I want to thank all of the OABA Show Representatives for their continued energy to sign up members. Many of you probably already do this, but if not, draw an illustration for those potential members or renewing members. Start at the bottom of the page with a $50 dollar membership, branch out from there and write in things like H-2B litigation and lobbying, state amusement ride regulations, CalPRO, circus performing animal rights, ShowTime, etc. This is an eye opening, easy way to explain how your contributions go to work! When you have great membership service ideas, please don’t hesitate to call or email the OABA staff and share them. Again a HUGE THANK YOU to our members for all of your continued support and to our new members, let me be the first to welcome you to the greatest, most hard working trade association you will ever be a part of, we look forward to serving you all. H

CALENDAR September 17–21 CFA 2014 National Convention Dubuque, IA

October 15–18 F24 Meeting - Amusement Rides and Devices Valley Ho Hotel, Scottsdale, AZ

Meet Your New OABA Director –

Tony Cassata

any of you know Tony, who had served on the OABA board as director for ten years, from 2000 to 2010, then had to exit the board as per the By-Laws having ten years of consecutive board service. Tony has been with Bob’s Space Racers for 35 years as an operations manager and game concessionaire. During that time he has contracted with Deggeller Attractions for 22 years and North American Midway Entertainment’s International Unit for the past five years. After graduating from Daytona Beach Community College he immediately joined his brother, Bob, in the family’s game manufacturing business, Bob’s Space Racers. Tony is a member of the OABA, SLA, IISA and IAAPA, as well as the Miami and Tampa Showmen’s Clubs. Tony has advised the Nominating Committee that he has more to give the OABA in rejoining the board and “up his game” with his committee and fundraising participation. While his expertise is clearly in the amusement games area, he has proficiency in sales, promotions and marketing. H

Gull Wing Industries Working with the Carnival Industry since 1989 Contact us at:

www.gull-wing.com

October 17–19 IAFE Institute of Fair Management Summit

Pack-Man 175 kw or 250 kw Quiet Power Tractor or Trailer Mounted

Sheraton Dallas, Dallas, TX

October 23–25 Washington State Fairs Association Annual Convention Red Lion Hotel, Pasco, WA

GFlex 400 Amp

309 N.E. 1st Street P.O. Box 128 Alta, IA 51002 Toll Free: 800-838-1482 Fax: 712-200-1936 JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

ASSOCIATION H ASSOCIATION BUZZ

OABA Mission Bob Johnson, OABA President

To promote the preserv Our Mission: a amusement industry th tion and growth of the outdoor rough lead ership, advocacy and education

his month marks the beginning of your OABA’s made up of 2,000-plus business member voices that are 2015 dues year. Many of you have already heard at the state and federal government making sure your received your dues rights are respectfully heard and costs statements online or in the mail to do business are reasonable. Our aland have signed up for another lies with the IAFE, IFEA and NICA help Later this year and jammed-packed year of exciteus when we need them and vice versa. ment and thrills! Circus fans and tents, along with othinto 2015, the OABA will be Later this year and into 2015, ers, make a difference to this excitcelebrating its 50th Anniversary, the OABA will be celebrating its ing, entertaining, family amusement having been chartered as the 50th Anniversary, having been industry when called upon to help. We chartered as the trade associaappreciate their support. trade association for the mobile tion for the mobile amusement We were founded on the strength of amusement business in 1965. business in 1965. To some, espea collective voice and one that states cially E. James Strates, a founding and the federal government have come member of the OABA, it’s a lifetime of accomplishments; and to know and be reckoned with, when we talk to legislators to others it’s a milestone and a new beginning. We’ll have and government officials or take on litigation to protect our plenty of time to reflect later this year and into next year members. what exactly the OABA has done for this industry and our Your dues help support our Mission as stated above. We familiar partners, the fairs. Special membership promotions cannot do what we do without your support… so please, into next year have already been announced. please, PLEASE pay your dues promptly in July. The OABA The OABA continues to be your collective industry voice, board and staff sincerely appreciate your support! H

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

ASSOCIATION H ON THE EARIE

On The Earie Tom Powell, OABA News Ambassador

verybody in the business is aware that Deggeller Attractions is an excellent carnival, especially Laura Theus, who booked the show for the first time this year at the Bradford County Fair in Starke, FL. Most know the show’s veteran concession manager, Dale Negus, but they may not know the rest of the story. Negus, you might say, comes from good stock. His parents were Ralph and Earldine Irene Negus, and his uncle and aunt were Bob and Bea Negus. Ralph and Bob, both deceased, along with Earldine, were twins. They both worked for Jones Bingo, which was operated by the late Al Deggeller, his wife, Toby, Al’s brother, Irv, and his wife, Evelyn, who is still driving her own motor home, according to Andy Deggeller. Andy, an OABA director, is the son of Don and Cathy Deggeller. Bea worked for North American Midway Entertainment, as did Bob, and is now semi-retired. A very nice letter from Dale’s wife, Sharon Negus, triggered most of what appears in this column. They own Fairplay Games, Inc., besides the fact he has been concession manager for 12 years. Sharon began by saying, “It is always great to read personal stories about people in our industry that do great things to help people. Along with his other duties, Dale takes it upon himself to help others with addiction. Every week, at every location that we work, he attends AA/NA meetings locally. He does not hide his sobriety. He just doesn’t flaunt it, as it should be.” “He takes his knowledge and personal story and shares it with not only the locals there, but he invites them to our fair for an evening of fun. Afterwards, he has an arranged area for another meeting, this time with those from the local group to join the group which Dale has started with AA. It consists of carnival workers who Dale has opened his heart to, to helped them to stay sober. “Every week he puts out flyers in town

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

and in the office window with information about his meetings. Dale went as far as registering the very first AA group within a traveling carnival. He never asks for anything in return. He just gets the satisfaction of seeing the people return every meeting and telling him that he’s glad they’re here. “Some stumble and come to Dale outside the meetings and he’s always there to listen, give them a ride to the meetings and take them to lunch so that they can talk. It is not my intention to gloat about my husband. It is my intention to tell people that carnival people are good people. We are stereotyped and that has always bothered me. But it makes me proud to know all Dale does, and what he does to help others when the lights go out on the Big Wheel.” Wow! I called Dale, who was with the show in Fort Bragg, NC. Aware that I had received the letter from Sharon, Dale said, “I don’t really talk too much about some problems I had years ago with drinking and drugs, but I have been sober for over 13 years. We do have our own recovery group on the road and we meet at different places. Out here, I’ve learned that alcohol is so easy to obtain. How this works is kind of hit and miss. I have learned that people can’t be helped unless they want to help themselves. I don’t preach, but try to lead by example. Often, I’m minding my business and people come up to me. The Deggellers love what we do. If they get a key employee, I’ll listen all day long.” Negus said his first job in the business was picking up balls at the Jones Bingo’s I Got It game. He and Sharon have a son, Dale, who turned 20 on May 19. He is a student at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC and helps his parents in the summer

Getting back to Theus, the Starke fair manager was looking to book a different carnival when she met Deggeller’s James Ingram at last year’s Florida Federation of Fairs and Livestock Shows convention in Naples, FL. She found out about a scholarship program by the International Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, won one, and made the trip to the convention in Las Vegas for the first time. “We had belonged to these organizations but had never attended their conventions,” she said. The fair had been spending its money on local bands, so she took $6,000 of that and booked the No Joe’s Clown Circus of Dallas, GA with its Tribute to Hollywood. “It wasn’t Ringling, but they did a great job for us. Some people will always complain. I saw them at the Greater Jacksonville Fair, FL. Having Deggeller on our midway was like the difference in night and day. Theus said she got online to obtain the IAFE scholarship, and that Pete Sutton, manager of the Clay County Fair in Green Cove Springs, which is only 17 miles from Starke, had advised her she would benefit so much from attending. He was right, and Laura said she came away with all kinds of ideas to improve her fair. OABA Trustee Jimmy Drew of the James H. Drew Exposition, Augusta, GA said he compares his show to a football team, and his idols include such famous coaches as Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, Joe Paterno of Penn State, and Paul (Bear) Bryant, Alabama. “People on our show play their positions. I may be gone for three or four weeks at a time, but they know I’m doing my job and I know they’re doing theirs. Those coaches all had a great business technique. We all go after money, but the great coaches de-

months. After a successful run for the show in Florida, Negus said they didn’t open one Saturday because of rain and mud at a shopping center in Dunn, NC. But then it was only 30 miles to Fort Bragg. The move before that, he guessed, was probably the longest the show makes all year, 450 miles from Green Cove Springs, FL to Dunn.

velop superb defenses, while also making sure they have bullet-proof offenses. The offense makes sure the dollars come in, and the defense ensures that nobody else takes it away. That makes for a winning team.” Please send news to tomp@oaba.org, or call 615-319-1258. Have all great days, and God Bless! H

Set up for a spring booking at the Global Mall at The Crossings in Nashville were Jeff Blomsness, left, president of North American Midway Entertainment, and Gary Magyoran, concession manager. Blomsness was OABA chairman in 2000.

Etienne Rieder is an electrician, and his wife, Kristina, was in charge of the food with NAME at a mall date in Nashville. Kristina is the daughter of Jeff and Patti Blomsness.

Jim Hall, right, of Butler Amusements, traveled from the west coast to see the late Earl (Butch) Butler enshrined into the OABA Hall of Fame. With him is David Starkey, president of the IISA in 1995, who is now with Arnold’s Amusements.

Robbie Pardee, who works for Jack Libbertt Food Concessions which was booked in Nashville with NAME, watches as Tom Powell’s greatgrandson, Hayden Stanley, enjoys an ice cream cone.

Bill and Felicia Wilson of Hamburg, NY, were booked with their pizza stand and three games at Hillbilly Days. They book with Big Rock Amusements in the summer and Robert Briggs’s Modern Midways in the winter, and with Michael Reisinger and Strates Shows.

From left, at the hotel bar during the trade show in Gibsonton, are food concessionaire Lou Pacifico, Gale Singer and Rick Pielland of the Miami-Dade County Fair; Vicky Pacifico, and Patty Dee, director of concessions, and Henry Gohlke of the Miami-Dade County Fair.

Pam and Pat Guthrie are seen at Hillbilly Days, Pikeville, KY. They still own a unit of Gold Medal Shows with John Young in charge, and previously owned Jules and Beck Combined Shows.

Together again with Matt McDonagh’s Big Rock Amusements are, from left, Hillman and Janey Snyder, who book food with Big Rock, their daughter Jill McCormack, who handles food on the show, and her husband, Mike McCormack, who is an all-around man.

Kevin Dalton, left, owner of Dalton Kid Rides, was celebrating his birthday at the Gibtown Club during the trade show, when he visited with Tommy Murray of Tommy’s Midway, Bronx, NY.

E. James Strates, center, chairman of OABA in 1974, is flanked by Pal Fontana, left, of Strates Shows, and Tom Powell, OABA news ambassador. JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

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Phil Slaggert Receives ASTM & SES Robert J. Painter Award OABA member Phil Slaggert was recently recognized for the Robert J. Painter Award by ASTM & SES. He grew up in the amusement industry and, after operating amusement rides for some years, began a career as a loss control professional. He works for industry insurance carriers and private clients ensuring that both insureds and private clients are operating according to insurability standards and prevailing industry practices. Mr. Slaggert was the first to recognize that trampoline parks, a brand-new industry that was expanding exponentially, needed a consensus standard to refine industry practice and immediately promote public safety. Mr. Slaggert’s leadership with the trampoline industry resulted in approximately 120 brand-new F24 members, and the task group itself grew over time to more than 80 well-balanced individuals. His intense leadership pace resulted in a substantive, 22-page standard in nine months (other F24 standards typically take five years). Mr. Slaggert drives more than 80,000 miles each year, physically inspecting trampoline courts in North America and counseling owners on the benefits of participating in the task group and tips for complying with the standard. He reinforces those efforts by teaching the standard at industry safety schools, and developed and implemented on behalf of the new International Association of Trampoline Parks trade group a certification training program based upon the new standard. In his capacity as advisor to the IATP Board of Directors, he continues to leverage the impact of the new standards. Mr. Slaggert has now begun championing a re-alignment within F24 so that more than 300 recently-added members representing various other participatory amusement rides (zip lines, climbing walls, challenge courses, etc.) can better serve their unique needs.

IN MEMORIAM

Bluff City Shows Owner Delmar Giles Passes According to industry sources close to the Giles family, Bluff City Shows founder and owner Delmar Giles passed away May 18. Delmar founded Bluff City Shows in 1963 and primarily played the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, two sons and a daughter. H

SUBMISSION H AS THE WHEEL TURNS Announcements or suggestions can be emailed to oaba@oaba.org

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

FEATURES H

Humane Society Of The United States and Co-Defendants Pay $15.75 Million Settlement to Feld Entertainment, Ending 14 Years Of Litigation Groups Settle with Circus After Federal Court Determined Case Was “Groundless and Unreasonable” Unprecedented Settlement Brings Total Paid to Parent Company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus to More Than $25 Million

he Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), along with their co-defendants, have paid Feld

Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus, $15.75 million to settle cases stemming from a lawsuit they brought against Ringling Bros.® over the care of its Asian elephants. This historic settlement payment to Feld Entertainment ends nearly 14 years of litigation between the parties. “We hope this settlement payment, and the various court decisions that found against these animal rights activists and their attorneys, will deter individuals and organizations from bringing frivolous litigation like this in the future,” said Kenneth Feld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Feld Entertainment. “This settlement is a significant milestone for our family-owned business and all the dedicated men and women who care for the Ringling Bros. herd of 42 Asian elephants. We look forward to continuing to set the standard for providing world-class care for all our animals and producing high quality, family entertainment.” HSUS and animal rights groups the Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Born Free USA (formerly the Animal Protection Institute), the Wildlife Advocacy Project, the law firm of Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal, and several current and former attorneys of that firm, paid the settlement for their involvement in the case brought under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that the U.S. District Court ruled was “frivolous,” “vexatious,” and “groundless and unreasonable from its inception.”

Today’s settlement also covers the re-

employee, Tom Rider, to be a “paid

lated Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt

plaintiff.” The Court also found that the

Organizations Act (RICO) case that Feld

animal rights groups and their attorneys

Entertainment filed against the groups

“sought to conceal the nature, extent

after discovering they had paid a plain-

and purpose of the payments” during

tiff for his participation in the original

the litigation. Their abuse of the judicial

lawsuit and then attempted to conceal

system included the issuance of a false

those payments.

statement under oath by Rider, assisted

In December 2012, the American

by his counsel, who the Court found was

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

“the same attorney who was paying him”

Animals (ASPCA), a former co-defendant

to participate in the litigation. The Court

in the case, settled its share of the law-

found in addition to Rider being a “paid

suits by paying Feld Entertainment $9.3

plaintiff,” that the lawsuit was “frivolous

million. Today’s settlement brings the total recovered by Feld Entertainment to more than $25 million in legal fees and expenses, which the company actually spent in defending the ESA case. “After winning 14 years of litigation, Feld Entertainment has been vindicated. This case was a colossal abuse of the justice system in which the animal rights groups and their lawyers apparently believed the ends justified the means. It also marks the first time in U.S. history where a defendant in an Endangered Species Act case was found entitled to recover attorneys’ fees against the plaintiffs due to the Court’s finding of frivolous, vexatious and unreasonable litigation,” said Feld Entertainment’s legal counsel in this matter, John Simpson, a partner with Norton Rose Fulbright’s Washington, D.C., office. “The total settlement amounts represent recovery of 100 percent of the legal fees Feld Entertainment incurred in defending against the ESA lawsuit.” In the original ESA lawsuit, Feld

and vexatious.” Additional information on this settlement and the underlying litigation can be found at www.ringlingbrostrialinfo.com. About Feld Entertainment Feld Entertainment, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live family entertainment that lifts the human spirit and creates indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 75 countries and on six continents to date and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe Live! and Feld Motor Sports. More information can be found at www.feldentertainment.com. Ringling Bros. is a world leader in the care and conservation of the endangered Asian elephant. In 1995, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation®, a state-ofthe-art facility dedicated to the reproduction, research and retirement of Asian elephants,

Entertainment discovered the animal

was created on a 200 acre site in Florida.

rights groups and their lawyers had

Information on the Center is available online at

paid over $190,000 to a former circus

www.elephantcenter.com.

JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

H FEATURES

Hires New Lobbyists for H-2B Program

Joan Galvin

e are pleased to announce that the OABA board has recently retained two seasoned lobbyists in Washington, D.C. to assist the HR & Foreign Labor Committee and the board with advocacy initiatives to improve the H-2B program for the mobile amusement industry. Joan Galvin is a senior advisor with Kelley Drye & Warren in the firm’s Washington, D.C. Government Relations and Public Policy practice group. For over 20 years she has represented client interests before Congress and numerous federal agencies. Ms. Galvin concentrates in the areas of animal, wildlife and environmental law, agriculture, appropriations, and marine science. Ms. Galvin advocates on behalf of client interests before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Marine Fisheries Service. She has worked with the OABA for the past ten years and was instrumental in establishing the World Circus Federation. Prior to entering the private sector, Ms. Galvin served as vice president for Government Relations at Feld Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice. On Capitol Hill, Ms. Galvin worked as legislative assistant to former Members of Congress Rep. Andy Ireland (R-FL) and Rep. Larry Hopkins (R-KY), where she served as designated staff to the House Armed Services Committee. A graduate of George Washington University, Ms. Galvin holds a BA in Business, Economics and Public Policy and earned her JD in 1993 at GWU’s National Law Center. Gregg Hartley was the senior staffer and advisor for eighteen years to U.S. House of Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO), the former Republican Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. As Chief of Staff to the Whip, he was part of the leadership staff

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

Gregg Hartley who worked for the then-Speaker, Majority Leader, Conference Chair, and seven other leadership offices. From the Republican Whip Office, he directed coalition efforts, working with outside groups in “grow the vote” activities. Mr. Hartley worked in then-Governor John Ashcroft’s Administration, as Blunt’s senior political aide in the Missouri Office of the Secretary of State, and in the first term of the Reagan Administration for a quasi-public agency, the Legal Services Corporation, as Director of Field Services. He also has worked in the banking, mortgage and securities sectors for local and national institutions. Early in his career, he led programs for Legal Aid of Southwest Missouri, Southwest Missouri Office on Aging and the Springfield Missouri Police Department. Recently, Mr. Hartley served for over a decade as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Cassidy & Associates, one of the oldest and largest federal lobbying firms in the United States, directing the efforts of thirty-five government affairs professionals and overseeing the professional services rendered to the firm’s many clients. He led teams serving commerce, transportation and financial services clients, including organizations such as The Walt Disney Company, AT&T, Verizon, Bell South, Eagle Picher, Expedia, Cerner, Emerson Electric/Liebert Power, American Airlines, One Laptop per Child and The Doe Run Company. He was highly involved in representing the firm’s international and foreign affairs clients including the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea, and a range of clients in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Russia. He remains of counsel to Cassidy & Associates. Mr. Hartley holds a degree in Economics and Urban/Regional Planning. He has also studied public administration, planning and business at the graduate level. H

FEATURES H

E xpansion Moves to New Location and Closes New Multi-Year Credit Facility

You Must Be THIS Big to Ride

irestone Financial Corp. a leader in equipment financing announced today two of its growth initiatives, a move to a new office location and an increased credit facility. Firestone Financial has 49 employees and $188M of assets under management. The company recently relocated its headquarters to 117 Kendrick Street in Needham, Massachusetts. The new office space will allow Firestone Financial to double its size to accommodate the growth of the company. Firestone Financial also signed a $225 Million, multi-year revolving credit facility at the end of last year; this is an increase from the prior facility of $125 Million. The bank group is led by RBS Citizens, N.A. and the lenders include Wells Fargo Bank National Association, Bank of America, N.A., People’s United Bank, Rockland Trust Company, TD Bank, N.A., Brookline Bank, Berkshire Bank and Webster Bank. Jerry Sargent, President of Citizens Bank, Massachusetts applauded Firestone’s management team. “We’re proud of our partnership with Firestone and excited for the firm as it continues to grow. Like us, Firestone has an unwavering commitment

to its clients. Its unique ability to assist its customers stems from its deep knowledge of the industries it serves. We look forward to the firm’s future growth and our continued partnership.” Firestone Financial, President and CEO David Cohen said, “Over the past few years we have grown very rapidly and our new office and credit facility will provide us with the tools we need to accommodate our continued growth. We are extremely optimistic about the future of our business and the industries we serve.”

You You Must Mus Firestone Be About Financial Corporation Be THIS THI Big Big to to Ride Rid Since 1965, Firestone Financial has helped businesses by provided equipment financing nationwide. Our focus is on cultivating long term relationships in the industries that we serve. Today we provide competitive financing solutions for the video gaming, amusement, vending, carnival, fitness, and commercial laundry industries. To learn more, call 1.800.851.1001 or visit www.firestonefinancial.com.

JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

FEATURES H

Economic Impact of Eastern States Exposition is

$479,000,000 E

astern States Exposition attracts more than 2.5 million people to its 120 year-round events including

1.4 million visitors to The Big E, the fifth largest fair in North America. Eastern States Exposition not only provides a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience for its visitors, it also promotes the agriculture and culture of New England and pumps almost a half billion dollars into the economy of the region. In a study, conducted by Regional Economic Models, Inc., (REMI) of Amherst, MA, the overall economic impact of ESE is $479,000,000 with a

Among the other findings in the re-

including $354,971 in real estate taxes

port, the Exposition:

and $200,431, or 1 percent of the Eastern

HA ccounts for 3,000 jobs in Hampden

States Exposition’s 2012 gross revenues

County

HG enerates $91.9 million in personal income

HA dds $1.4 million to the Massachusetts sales tax revenues

HG enerates $427,000 in hotel tax revenue

HG enerates $3 million in income tax revenue

HR epresents $3.3 million in food and beverage tax revenue

HR epresents 4.9% of all Hampden

to The Big E/West Springfield Trust Fund, established in 1994 to benefit the town’s education, youth and elderly programs as well as community projects. To date, contributions including the 2014 donation of $211,704, bring the fund total to $3,094,069. The Exposition receives no state or federal tax revenue to support its operations. REMI constructs models which reveal the economic effects that policy

Gross Regional Product (analogous to the

County performing arts and spectator

initiatives or external events may cause

national Gross Domestic Product) of over

sports spending

in the local economy. REMI’s models

$299 million annually. The announcement was made at a press conference May 15 at Storrowton’s

HG enerates 11.5% of the annual sales in

have been used throughout the United

the accommodations & food services &

States by state governments, plan-

drinking places sector.

ning agencies, universities, utilities

Carriage House, prior to the annual meet-

and private consulting firms. The com-

ing of the Exposition’s 258 trustees.

More than 2,200 people choose to

Eastern States Exposition (ESE)

live in Hampden County because of the

Angeles World Airports, New York City

President, Eugene J. Cassidy, said, “The

Exposition’s presence and the attractive

Economic Development Corporation,

mix of a variety of events year-round and

employment opportunities. The REMI

Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

the entertainment, agriculture, and cul-

analysis includes the Exposition’s impact

Boston Redevelopment Authority and the

ture of New England at The Big E, make

on the rest of New England and New

University of Connecticut. For more infor-

our venue an attractive destination that,

York. Regional employment totaled 2,000

mation, visit www.remi.com.

in turn, translates to important economic

jobs generating $134 million in personal

dollars for our region.”

income. Another 1,400 people live in the

features top name entertainment, inter-

rest of New England and New York for the

national exhibits, agricultural contests

same reason.

and exciting daily events, including

The study focuses on Eastern States Exposition, its 120 year-round shows and events, Storrowton Village Museum programs and the September Big E.

In 2013, the Exposition paid $1.3 million to the town of West Springfield,

pany’s client list includes the AARP, Los

The Big E takes place Sept. 12–28 and

Mardi Gras Parades. For more information, visit www.TheBigE.com. H JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS

Jammin’ Jamborees PROGRAM

Photo Gallery Jeff Blomsness and Trey Goudy

2014 OABA Jammin’ Jamboree OABA Jamborees are fun, exciting and entertaining. They provide an opportunity for everyone on the show to get together and have a great time while doing some good for the OABA.

2014 OABA Jammin’ Jamboree Schedule Twentieth Century Rides Brownsville, TX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 5 PBJ Happee Days Shows Marion, AR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 6 Skerbeck Bros. Flushing, MI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 17 Butler Amusements – Lance’s Unit Sacramento, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 14 A Fantasy Amusement Co. St. Charles, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 15 West Coast Amusements Red Deer, AB, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . July 15 Butler Amusements – Mick’s Unit Turlock, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 17 West Coast Amusements Vermilion, AB, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . July 23 Rosedale Attractions Upper Marlboro, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sept. 3

OABA Trustee Jeff Blomsness is pictured with Trey Gowdy, U.S. Representative of South Carolina, during a Navy Seal event. Trey is head of the Benghazi investigation.

RACC Spring Convention – Austin, TX

2014 Jammin’ Jamboree Totals

Twentieth Century Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,139 PBJ Happee Days Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,000 TOTAL $12,139

Get in on the

FUN !

Support your trade association. Participate in the Jammin’ Jamboree Program! Please call Al DeRusha at 952.736.0896.

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

Attending the Republican Agriculture Commissioners Committee spring convention in Austin, TX hosted by Texas Commissioner Todd Staples, left, were IAFE President Jim Tucker; OABA President Bob Johnson, and RACC Chairman Adam Putnam, Florida’s Commissioner.

PBJ Happee Days Shows – Marion, AR

Thanks to these pretty ladies for their help, from left, Jeannie Ward, mom Pam Casper and granddaughter Haley.

Joe Gray sold the tip boards.

Sam Tozer, left, was the highest bidder for this beautiful carousel shawl. Sam is pictured with Stephen Ward, who helped with the live auction.

Jared Caston loves his new OABA hat.

Lots of crazy games — corn dog on a string, with hands tied behind their backs. The first to eat the corn dog was the winner!

Jessica and husband Jimmy von Ruden with raffle tickets. Jessica is the niece of Chuck Waterman, Calkins Midways. Chuck called and donated $100 to the OABA.

One of Sue Nichols’ beautiful paintings is being auctioned off.

Funnel cake eating contest – the first to eat the cake without using their hands was the winner! Fun, but a little messy.

Kim and Kenny Fox prepared the Jamboree fish dinner. The menu featured deep-fried catfish, frog legs and all the trimmings. Delicious! JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

Follow @OA BA50 Become Insta”FAMOUS” in our monthly ShowTime Magazine with your outdoor amusement industry Instagram photos! Every month we will be selecting the best outdoor amusement industry related photos and sharing them in our ShowTime Magazine.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

Follow @OABA50 on Instagram

Tag your photos with @OABA50

Use the hashtag #OABA50

ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS

Contribution Fund 2014 OABA Contribution Fund Program Participants

PROGRAM

BRONZE • Get Your Contribution Fund Tickets Now • This is deductible as a business expense

OABA Contribution Fund Program

THE OABA’S CONTRIBUTION FUND offers three different plans to meet your show’s contribution to the OABA and in turn rewards the show and concessionaires for these donations.

WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE? You will be given the opportunity to receive cash prizes for your contributions to this program and help the OABA protect the carnival industry.

WHAT IS IT? Fund-raising for the OABA has always been based on the generosity of its members and depends on members to pay their fair share, the theory being that the organization belongs to the members who raise relevant issues and in the belief that they will also underwrite activities. Support and participation of enough members will provide the revenue necessary to continue and improve on membership services.

HOW IS IT HANDLED? This OABA program advises member carnivals to collect funds from all office-owned and independent concessions and rides, side shows and arcades. When the show owner collects the money, they need to give or complete a receipt. The show or concessionaires then send the receipts to the OABA office, which will be eligible for monthly and annual incentive prizes. Please note that it is important to include your phone number on your receipt, as we want to be able to contact you when you win!

WHAT IS THE MONEY USED FOR? The funds collected for this program are earmarked for legal, legislative and lobbying issues. Also, funds are used to continually upgrade member services. CAN’T I JUST CONTRIBUTE? Sure, but then you lose out on the opportunity to participate in winning cash incentives.

SEND IT ALL IN! Funds are solicited and contributed in the name of the OABA. Once money is collected, please send it monthly to the OABA office in form of a check or money order. You may check ShowTime magazine where the contributions and monthly winners in each plan will be published monthly. H

Bronze Plan

Contribution from Concessions & Rides $5.00 per event Monthly drawings April-October Final drawing in February First Prize $300 First Prize $3,000 Second Prize $200 Second Prize $2,000 Third Prize $100 Third Prize $1,000

Calkins Midways Ava Holtz Julia Holtz Kathy Holtz Crabtree Amusements Marina Carraza Karen Gibson Melissa Kibby Pat Martinez Amber Nemeth Barrett Nemeth Brittany Nemeth Jackie Nemeth Jennifer Nemeth Madison Nemeth

2014 OABA Contribution Fund Ray Cammack Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,895 Powers Great American Midways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,090 Deggeller Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,040 Frazier Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,240 Reithoffer Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,880 Strates Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,665 S&S Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,060 Showmen’s League of America – St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 NAME/Mid America Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 620 NAME/All Star Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 545 Calkins Midways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 Rosedale Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375 Doolan Amusement Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325 A Fantasy Amusement Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Crabtree Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 TOTAL $40,795

May Drawing Winners

Silver Plan

BRONZE

Bronze and Silver Plans: If the carnival contributions exceed $5,000, 2015 OABA dues are waived for carnival.

Tina Doolan Doolan Amusement Co. $200

Contribution from Concessions & Rides $10.00 per week Monthly drawings April-October Final drawing in February First Prize $400 First Prize $4,000 Second Prize $300 Second Prize $2,000 Third Prize $200 Third Prize $1,000

Gold Plan

Contribution from Concessions & Rides $5.00 per day Monthly drawings April-October Final drawing in February First Prize $500 First Prize $5,000 Second Prize $400 Second Prize $2,000 Third Prize $300 Third Prize $1,000 Gold Plan: If the carnival contributions exceed $10,000, 2015 OABA dues are waived for carnival.

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

Paul Anthony Nemeth Paul Nemeth Paul’s Concessions Cas Sheridan Patrick Sheridan Philip Sheridan Deggeller Attractions Candy Anderson Any Name Jewelry Barrett’s East Coast Foods – Dennis Rowland California Boys Brandon Concessions – Alex Brandon CF Variety Beverly Chapman

Gone Country Deggeller Attractions $300

Barrett Copper Nemeth Crabtree Amusements $100

SILVER

Steve Ianni Powers Great American Midways $400 Jeff Lapin A Fantasy Amusement Company $300 Gary & Lori Crabtree NAME – Mid America Shows $200

GOLD

Jim Bradshaw Ray Cammack Shows $500 Dominic & Kim Palmieri Ray Cammack Shows $400 Mary Ousey Ray Cammack Shows $300

ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS

2015

Membership Application

Outdoor Amusement Business Association, Inc.

1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045A H Winter Park, FL 32792-5512 (800) 517-OABA H Fax (407) 681-9445

FOR OABA USE

Date _______________________

Company_______________________________________________ Full Name_________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________ City_________________________________________ State_________ Zip Code_______________________ Telephone____________________________________ Fax__________________________________ Email __________________________________________________ Website____________________________________________________ THE OABA SPONSORED $10,000 ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE IS AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL ACTIVE DUES PAYING MEMBERS. YOUR COVERAGE IS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2014 WITH 2015 DUES. THE POLICY WILL TERMINATE JUNE 30, 2015. Member Date of Birth ____________________ Beneficiary ___________________________ Relationship ______________________________

OABA BY-LAWS STATE: Article VIII - Annual fees are due July 1st for the year following and are delinquent ninety days thereafter.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES

(Check box)

CARNIVAL (rides owned and booked) q 40 rides or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q 25-39 rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q 16-24 rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q 1-15 rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

q INDEPENDENT RIDE OWNER . . . . . . . . . . . . q MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . q CONCESSION OWNER (concessions owned) q 4 concessions or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q 1–3 concessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q CARNIVAL EXECUTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q ATTRACTION / ACTS OWNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . q ASSOCIATE MEMBER (all others) * . . . . . . . . .

$ 2,000 $ 1,500 $ 1,000 $ 500 $ 500

_______________________________________________ (Applicant’s Signature) In signing this membership application, if accepted I agree to support the program and activities of the OABA and to abide by its Code of Ethics.

$ 200 $ 250 $ 150 $ 125 $ 125

$ 100 * Indicate Business: __________________________________

q FAIRS / FESTIVALS 50th Anniversary Special! $ 50

RECOMMENDED FOR MEMBERSHIP BY: _______________________________________________ To be signed be an OABA member when proposing someone for membership. It is not necessary, however, for an applicant to be recommended by an OABA member.

PAY BY CREDIT CARD: (Check one)

q VISA q MC

Card #: ____________________________________________________ NOTE: Dues are tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense – not as charitable contributions. 28% of your 2015 dues are lobbying expenses and, as such, are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Exp. Date:_________________________________________________ Signature:_________________________________________________

(Detach receipt)

WELCOME TO THE OABA! RECEIVED FROM __________________________________________________________________________________

$ ____________________________ for OABA dues

_________________________________________________________________ (Signature of person accepting application)

THE OABA SPONSORED $10,000 ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE IS AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL ACTIVE DUES PAYING MEMBERS. YOUR COVERAGE IS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2014 WITH 2015 DUES. THE POLICY WILL TERMINATE JUNE 30, 2015. NOTE: Dues are tax deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense – not as charitable contributions. 28% of your 2015 dues are lobbying expenses and, as such, are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Our Mission:

TO PROMOTE THE PRESERVATION AND GROWTH OF THE OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY THROUGH LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

2015

Circus Membership Application Outdoor Amusement Business Association, Inc.

1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045A H Winter Park, FL 32792-5512 (800) 517-OABA H Fax (407) 681-9445

# $

FOR OABA USE

Date _______________________

OABA BY-LAWS STATE: Article VIII - Annual fees are due July 1st for the year following and are delinquent ninety days thereafter.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES (Check box) q CIRCUS PRODUCER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 500

(15 or more seasonal events)

q CIRCUS PRODUCER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 300

(14 or less seasonal events)

q EXOTIC ANIMAL ATTRACTION . . . . . . . . . . . q DOMESTIC ANIMAL ATTRACTION . . . . . . . . . q OTHER ACT / ATTRACTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q CIRCUS PROFESSIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q CIRCUS ASSOCIATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . q CIRCUS FAN (CFA, CHS, CMB, etc.) . . . . . . . . q CIRCUS EMPLOYEE / AGENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$ 200

RECOMMENDED FOR MEMBERSHIP BY:

$ 100

_______________________________________________

$ 100 $ 100 $ 100

To be signed be an OABA member when proposing someone for membership. It is not necessary, however, for an applicant to be recommended by an OABA member.

$ 50 $ 40

NOTE: $40 dues does not include ShowTime subscription.

PAY BY CREDIT CARD: (Check one)

q VISA q MC

Exp. Date:_________________________________________________ Signature:_________________________________________________

(Detach receipt)

WELCOME TO THE OABA! RECEIVED FROM __________________________________________________________________________________

$ ____________________________ for OABA dues

_________________________________________________________________ (Signature of person accepting application)

Our Mission:

TO PROMOTE THE PRESERVATION AND GROWTH OF THE OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY THROUGH LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

H FEATURES

How to Renew or Apply for OABA Membership Online Follow the steps below to renew or signup for your OABA membership:

Visit the OABA website at www.oaba.org.

Click on the “Member Signup or Renewal” box located on the right-hand side of the home page. You will be directed to a new page which will allow you to select your membership category.

You will be connected to the “Membership Application” page which is a secured section of our site. Complete the membership form, with all required information (i.e., name, phone, address, email, etc.).

AD&D Insurance Beneficiary information – Include your date of birth, the full name of your beneficiary and their relationship to you. (For more information on the AD&D insurance policy, please contact the OABA office at 800.517.6222.) Create and make a note of your desired username and password for future access to the “Members only” section of the site. Complete the credit or debit card information requested in its entirety (using a Visa or Master Card) and click on “Renew Now.”

All areas marked with an (*) asterisk must be completed in order to submit your application. Thank you for your membership to OABA! Your OABA membership has been processed and your card has been successfully charged. You now have access to all member benefits including the “Members only” section of our website. Please check your email for your membership payment receipt. 24

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H REGULATORY UPDATE

State and Federal Legislative Issues NEW YORK The carnival industry continues to seek an exemption from the state’s overtime regulations for seasonal carnival employees to mirror surrounding states and conform to the federal government’s FLSA exemption for seasonal, amusement and recreation businesses. A new bill filed by Senator Maziarz and Representative Magee has had more progress this year than in the past. These bills would give an exemption from overtime after 40 hours to carnivals that come into the state for short durations.

OHIO House Bill 483, the Governor’s mid-biennium review (MBR) bill, an omnibus appropriations bill passed by the House of

$950 to $1,200; for inflatable attractions the inspection fee and re-inspection fee is $105 for either kiddie or adult attraction. Permit fees remain at $150 per

The South Dakota approval to a measure that would further regulate amusement rides with SD 1168. This new law is expected to take effect this year.

says the bill would impose regulations similar to those in other states and is sup-

America’s #1 Outdoor Amusement Business Printers!

APHICS SPOTLIGHT GR 0 941.929.150 s.com

raphic barb@sponttlerigAvhe.tg, Sarasota, FL 34238 6054 Clark Ce

ported by industry trade groups. Novstrup is president of Thunder Road, a chain of family fun parks in the Dakotas. Mobile amusement rides, from state to state, already must have insurance. The

May, contains ride inspec-

bill would require those

tion fee changes as well as

rides to have yearly certi-

definition changes. This

fied inspections and daily

includes amusement rides

inspections by operators.

and inflatable air supported

Rides fixed in one place also

attractions.

would have to be inspected daily.

die ride” means an amuse-

The measure was pro-

ment ride designed for use

posed by Rep. Steve Hickey

by children under 13 years

of Sioux Falls after a 2013

of age who are accompanied

carnival accident that left

by another person. This

two teenage girls suspended

definition includes a roller

upside down on a ride.

Annual inspection and re-

cmyk

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Al Novstrup of Aberdeen,

Senate Finance Committee in

at any point on the ride.

We appreciate your support and ! confidence

Legislature has given final

April, under review by the

than forty feet in elevation

cmyk

SOUTH DAKOTA

such as those that travel

coaster that is not more

FOR YOUR S U C IR C S E K BARN CARSON & STOM COLORING BOO ER! RECENT CU A REAL SHOW STOPP ORDER. IT ’S

ride.

Representatives in mid-

The definition of a “kid-

THANKYOU

TENNESSEE Tennessee has created new rules for zip lines

inspection of a roller coaster

amid concerns of attrac-

is proposed to increase from

tions opening in different JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H REGULATORY UPDATE

State and Federal Legislative Issues continued

counties. “Before we even

government agency or

effect on April 1, 2015,

look at the equipment,

insurance company, and

includes a phase-in of the

we want to make sure

you can guarantee it’s been

wage increase over several

they have the appropri-

looked at, at least twice.”

years with a slower pro-

ate insurance coverage. We want to make sure they have any daily, weekly or

WASHINGTON Seattle’s City Council

cess for small businesses. The plan gives businesses with more than 500 em-

monthly maintenance that

on June 2 unanimously

ployees nationally at least

they do on it and then a

approved the adoption of

three years to phase in the

FEDERAL & STATE Minimum Wage

H 3 8 states have considered minimum wage bills during the 2014 session; 34 states are considering increases to the state minimum wage.

H C onnecticut, Delaware,

daily inspection sheet,”

a $15 per hour minimum

increase. Those providing

said Amusement Device

wage, the highest wage

health insurance will have

Hawaii, Maryland,

Inspector Neal Vojtkofsky.

floor of any city in the U.S.

four years to complete the

Michigan, Minnesota, West

“The state requires that

and more than twice the

move. Smaller organiza-

Virginia and D.C. have

there’s a third-party inspec-

federal level. The mea-

tions will be given seven

enacted increases so far

tion whether it be another

sure, which would take

years.

in 2014.

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H DOT REGULATORY NEWS

H A s of May 28, the legis-

H 1 9 states, Guam, and the

lature in Vermont passed an increase but the bill is awaiting action by the Vermont governor. H A s of June 1, 22 states and D.C. have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage.

Virgin Islands have minimum wages the same as the federal minimum wage of $7.25. H 4 states, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico have minimum wages below the federal minimum wage (the federal minimum thus applies).

H 1 state, New Hampshire, repealed their state minimum wage in 2011, but left the reference to the federal minimum wage. Five states have not established a state minimum wage. It appears more prevalent that the states in the higher

cost of living areas in the U.S. have taken matters in their own hands and have increased their stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minimum wage. Be sure to check with your accountant on this as some states have already increased this wage this year and in the future. H

DOT Regulatory News FMCSA Moves Forward With Medical Examiner Certification Despite requests for delays from the OwnerOperator Independent Drivers Association and the American Trucking Associations, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. As of May 21, all driver medical exams must be conducted by an examiner who is certified and listed

on the National Registry, an online database accessible through the FMCSA website. In addition, the FMCSA has published a notice that its Privacy Impact Assessment of the NRCME rulemaking is available for review and comment. 79 Fed. Reg. 30062 (May 27, 2014). The PIA provides an analysis of how the agency plans to protect the privacy rights of individuals in implementing the NRCME procedures.

Senate Committee Passes Highway Spending Bill Senator Barbara Boxer (DCA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced S. 2322, a bill to reauthorize the federal-aid highway program for six years. On May 15, the bill was reported out of committee, and now heads to the Senate floor for approval. The bill provides for spending at current funding levels, plus inflation, through fiscal year 2020. According to

a committee synopsis, the bill focuses on a formula-based freight program, which will provide funds to all states to improve goods movement on key corridors. The committee also noted that the bill would expand flexibility for both rural and urban areas to designate key freight corridors that match regional goods movement on roads beyond the Primary Freight Highway Network. The bill does not include any mechanism for paying

Through the smiles, the seasons & the miles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Financing everything for the outdoor amusement industry since 2000.

Prairie Financial The outdoor amusement Division of Boulevard Bank

Paul Muller

pnmuller@blvdbank.net

Wade Muller

816-554-3863

Mark Walker

blvdbank.com/outdoor-amusement

wmuller@blvdbank.net

A division of

mwalker@blvdbank.net JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

ASSOCIATION H CIRCUS MEMBERS

From The Center Ring Connecting & Protecting the Circus Industry! Rodney Huey, RAH PR Strategies OABA Circus Media Consultant

s America celebrates its birthday on the Fourth of July, the homegrown American circus celebrates its own illustrious heritage by offering non-stop family fun for countless circus goers. Perhaps the best circus news of the year came in the form of a check made out to Feld Entertainment, Inc. and signed by an unholy group of animal rights organizations.

The $15.75 million check represents a legal settlement that stemmed from a lawsuit brought against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey more than a decade ago. After winning a judgment in that case, Feld Entertainment counter-sued under the provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) after discovering that the animal rights group “had paid a plaintiff for his participation in the original lawsuit and then attempted to conceal those payments.” The United States Humane Society, Fund for Animals, Animal Welfare Institute, Born Free USA (formerly the Animal Protection Institute), the Wildlife Advocacy Project, and attorneys from the Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal law firm collectively ponied up the funds to settle with Feld Entertainment. Two years ago, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) settled a similar countersuit for $9.3 million, bringing the total paid to Feld to approximately $25 million — just enough to cover the Feld’s legal fees in the 14-year court case. CEO Kenneth Feld was “right on the money” (pun intended) when he said that the settlement should “deter individuals and organizations from bringing frivolous litigation like this in the future.” None of the 11 Ringling hair-hanging artists and crew members injured in a horrific accident during a Providence, RI performance is reported to have had life-threatening injuries, although some may require follow-up treatment. But bets are on that most of the daring hair-hangers will be back in the air by the end of the year. In other Feld Entertainment news, its newest family arena adventure show — Marvel Universe Live that opens in Tampa on July 10 — provided the first opportunity to test out the massive new Feld Studios facilities in Ellenton, Florida. The 500,000-square-foot rehearsal space allowed the Feld folks to build its largest show ever. The next production slated for Feld Studios is an on-ice version of Disney’s megahit Frozen in August. On the road, Ringling’s three units are drawing crowds in California, Texas and Mississippi this month. Universoul plays Indianapolis, IN while Cole Bros. Circus, Carson &

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Barnes, Kelly Miller Circus and Circus Vargas are all following their respective traditional July itineraries. Big Apple Circus is on hiatus until summer rehearsals and preview performances in Dulles Town Center near Washington, DC in September. In its newest circus production that Toronto Star theatre critic Richared Ouzounian praised as “the freshest, funniest and most entertaining touring show that Cirque du Soleil has mounted in many years,” the Montreal-based entertainment company opened Kurios — Cabinet of Curiosities on May 1 in Old Montreal. Written and directed by Michel Laprise, Kurios is set in the “turn of the last century, when a spirit of invention was in the air” and replete with “steam engines, electric lights, moving pictures, [and] flying machines.” Also, according to the Los Angeles Times, Cirque has signed an agreement with Hollywood producer James Cameron to produce a live production of the hit movie Avatar. The new show will open in late 2015 to coincide with the release of the first of three Avatar movie sequels. Circus World Museum, now under the tutelage of Executive Director Scott O’Donnell, is hosting a Big Top Parade through the streets of Baraboo, WI on July 26 to headline Circus Celebration Days weekend activities. Actor Tom Wopat (The Dukes of Hazzard on TV and Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway) will be Grand Marshall of the parade that features 75 units, including historical wood-carved wagons from CWM’s permanent collection. The Circus Historical Society is holding its annual conference in Montreal on July 10–12. This year’s program includes a visit to Cirque du Soleil’s World Headquarters and a tour of the TOHU circus collection. The CHS conference is being held in conjunction with the fifth annual Montreal Cirque Festival that runs from July 2 through 13. The Canadian Les 7 Doigts de la Main troupe, Australia’s Gravity and Other Myths and the US-based Midnight Circus will be giving public performances. Meanwhile, Windjammers Unlimited will hold its Summer Meet in Lincoln, NE on July 22–27. The establishment of the much-touted Circus Conservatory of America in Portland, ME as America’s only degree-granting university is moving forward on schedule. According to CCA president Peter Nielsen, the construction

2014 Circus Fund of a 48,000-square-foot training complex will begin later this year and the school will hold its first classes in September 2015. Comic daredevil Bello Nock appeared atop a highwire on ABC’s Good Morning America on June 3 to announce his “Rube Goldberg-esque” stunt in which he will complete 15 daredevil stunts in 15 minutes in Las Vegas later this summer. His feat will be carried live online at TheUltimate.com. Kari and Gary Johnson of Have Trunk Will Travel, founding members of the International Elephant Foundation, recently teamed up with Wildlife Safari in Winston, OR to co-host the “Stomp Out Extinction” art sale featuring elephant art pieces created by WS’ African elephant George and HTWT’s Asian elephant Tai. Each piece of art includes a footprint from both George and Tai, and proceeds go to support various IEF programs, including ongoing research and conservation projects in Africa, India, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Boutique circus pioneer Ivor David Balding died on May 9 at the age of 75. Co-founder of the single-ring Circus Flora in St. Louis, Balding debuted his one-ring circus at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC in 1986 before making St. Louis its permanent home in 1988. Circus Flora was named after an elephant Balding rescued in Florida. Jack Marsh, son of Circus Flora theatre director and performer Cecil MacKinnon (aka Yo-Yo the Narrator) has been named as Balding’s successor. H

Circus Producers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 John F. Cuneo, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Kathleen Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Zoppe Family Circus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Bill Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 Alliance of Professional Animal Exhibitors & Owners . . . . . 500 Edward Limbach – in honor of Frank Robie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Forepaugh-Lubin Tent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 National Showmens Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Bari L. & John E. Hart, Jr. – with appreciation to Jan & Bill Biggerstaff for Circus Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 OABA Tampa Circus Unit Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 George A. Hamid Tent 109, CFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Welde’s Big Bear Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Felix Adler-Paul Binder Tent No. 12, CFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Paul Gutheil – in fond memory of Jim Hamid, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Fr. Richard Notter – in honor of Ward Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Stephen A. Partyka – in honor of Wayne McCary . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Robert J. Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Wayne Scheiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Robert Faust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Paul Gutheil – in fond memory of Arthur Duchek . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Dan Kroeger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Atlantic Amusements – in fond memory of Sam Simmons . . . . . . 25 Ernest J. Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Norman Keith Voncannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Misc. Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 TOTAL

$9,496

To contribute to the Circus Fund, make your check payable and send to: OABA Circus Fund, 1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Ste. 1045A, Winter Park, FL 32792 It is important that we maintain this fund so we are able to hire professionals to assist with challenges such as legislation that threaten our members’ businesses. Please consider and make your contributions to this very important resource pool. Feel free to be creative such as matching dollars, innovative fundraisers, endowments and memorials, to name a few. Another option is to designate a percentage or daily amount of your ride operation to be set aside for this important fund.

JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

H OABA ShowTime Magazine | JULY 2014

Capitol Update By Joan Galvin, OABA Government Relations Consultant

ummer is here and I know we are all glad to have the cold winter behind us. History was made recently with the unprecedented payment by HSUS and several other animal rights groups of over $15 million to Feld Entertainment to settle claims in a counter suit by the producer of Ringling Bros. over frivolous litigation brought by the animal rights group and its cohorts. Claims leveled at the animal rights groups included payments of over $190,000 to a discredited witness to compel testimony against the circus. The $15+ million was in addition to an initial $9 million paid by the ASPCA to Feld stemming from similar allegations of wrongdoing in the same unsuccessful and discredited legal challenge. What is important, however, is not the amount of money paid (though it is significant and meaningful). What is key is that it very publicly reveals HSUS and other animal rights organizations for what they truly are — not devoted to the welfare of animals, but instead dishonest brokers that dupe their donors and distort the truth to advance their extremist agenda. One has to wonder how many donors now feel betrayed thinking that their money went to help animals, while in reality is was siphoned off to fund frivolous and meritless litigation involving paid witnesses.

osie the elephant, wearing an artist’s beret, paints at a media party. The elephant art was auctioned to raise money for the fair’s Don Diego Scholarship Fund and for the International Elephant Foundation (IEF). Sarah Conley, spokesperson for Have Trunk Will Travel, said the elephants are taken all over as “ambassadors for their species.” “We go out and make sure that people have a personal interaction with the elephants and support conservation to make sure they don’t go extinct.” She said that IEF supports research into Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus (EEHV) that claims one in four baby elephants in the wild and in human care. H

If you want to do something good for animals, support your local shelter or donate to a conservation cause. That way you know your money is going where it is intended. On the immigration front, the one thing we know for certain is that we don’t really know much! As Congress heads to the mid-term elections this fall, immigration reform remains a political hot potato. On any given day you will hear the Washington pundits predicting that there will or won’t be comprehensive immigration reform this year. Regardless, OABA remains active on that front, educating Members of Congress and other policy makers of the industry’s needs and challenges. To that end, Bob Johnson recently attended a meeting of agriculture commissioners from across the country to talk more about the need for reliable access to H-2B seasonal workers for the mobile amusement industry. As fair season kicks into full swing, don’t miss the opportunity to reach out to your Member of Congress and invite them to attend your fair or carnival. If you need help extending the invitation or identifying the members of your Congressional delegation, please let us know and we will work with you to make it happen. Seeing is believing and a first-hand look at your operations will go a long way to help us advance this critical issue. Here’s to a great summer! H

Foundation

PHOTO BY NANCY HARRISON JULY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H

ASSOCIATION H MARKET PLACE & ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

Advertisers’ Index MARKET PLACE

JULY 2014 ADVERTISERS Allied Specialty Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Berk Paper & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chestnut Identity Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Coca-Cola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Eli Bridge Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Firestone Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Gold Medal Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Gull Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Haas & Wilkerson Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hitch-Hiker Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OBC JKJ Workforce Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Lifetime Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Norton Auctioneers of Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Owen Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Prairie Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Rides 4-U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 21 Schantz Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Sippers by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Spotlight Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 25 Victor Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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ShowTime

Outdoor Amusement Business Assn. 1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045A Winter Park, FL 32792