May 2014
H Safety Training in the Northwest H 5 Reasons You Should Focus on Social Media H OABA Seeking Writers
Contents The Official Publication of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association
May 2014
Features
ASSOCIATION 4 FROM THE OABA CHAIR
17 PHOTO GALLERY
Safety Training in the Northwest
Spring Into the Season!
The OABA catches members in action.
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5 MEET YOUR NEW DIRECTOR Rick Reithoffer
5 Reasons You Should Focus on Social Media, Not Mainstream Media
13 14
OABA Seeking Writers
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS 22 REGULATORY UPDATE
6 ASSOCIATION BUZZ America’s Best Bargain
State and Federal Legislation and Regulations
7 UPDATE FROM THE OABA’S DC LOBBYIST
24 DOT REGULATORY NEWS
The Washington Report
26 CIRCUS MEMBERS Rodney Huey follows circuses around the country.
8 ON THE EARIE May 2014
Tom Powell reports on the industry’s shows, fairs, colorful show folks and amusing events.
28 CAPITOL UPDATE Joan Galvin, Circus Unit Consultant
16, 20 SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS Jammin’ Jamborees and Contribution Fund
H Safety Training in the Northwest H 5 Reasons You Should Focus on Social Media H OABA Seeking Writers
Facebook www.facebook.com/oabainfo
Twitter @oabainfo
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COVER PHOTO: LAURA STONE / SHUTTERSTOCK .COM
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
Spring Into the Season! Chris Lopez
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ow that we are in May, I hope all of you are experelationships among us in the future. riencing great weather, and that spring came in Thank you to Guy and Charlene Leavitt for hosting the as a lamb and not the lion as our members in the board and guests at their new home with some wonderful food Midwest and Northeast have experienced with the winter that and fellowship. won’t quit. A week later, the RCS family had the pleasure of hosting a I want to thank our board for a great spring board meetreception welcoming the IAFE Spring Management in Tucson, ing in my hometown of Phoenix. It’s always encouraging to along with the Pima County Fair, for a beautiful venue. The see the networking and camaraderie among board members, fun didn’t stop there as the Pima County Fair was chosen even though some are competitors in our industry. Again, I by Western Fairs as their “Featured Fair” and hosted many am confident that all key committees and their chairs will be members of the Western Fairs Association, including current working hard to achieve their new President Pat Kress and Executive Action Plans with the self-imposed Director Stephen Chambers. The RCS deadlines. family once again had the pleasure We started the board meeting of hosting a luncheon and welIt’s always encouraging to see by starting with an ice breaker, comed their members, along with the networking and camaraderie going around the room in what many members of the Arizona Fair among board members, even I called “Ask the Experts” to find Association (AFA). Thanks again to out what’s new in their busiJon Baker, CEO Pima County Fair for though some are competitors in nesses for this season and to providing the perfect venue! our industry. reach out to others on the board Lastly, I want to thank the OABA for advice on business issues. We staff for making sure our spring sometimes forget or just don’t board meeting was flawless. The reach out to others in our industry when faced with decision board knows how professional and responsive this managemaking or changes that others have experienced. Whether ment team is, and I know their professionalism transcends to buying a new ride, attraction or concession trailer, many all the OABA members. questions arise with the purchase or answering an RFP from a Wishing all of you the very best getting your 2014 season fair. Whether safety-related issues or compliance with ASTM started. Let’s make sure we keep the safety of our guests and standards, we sometimes forget that other professionals in employees top of mind. our industry may have dealt with these same issues. This “ice See you down the road! H breaker” helped to kick start all of us and perhaps solidify
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.
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
Meet Your New OABA Director –
Rick Reithoffer
R
ick Reithoffer has been in show business all his life, starting in his early childhood running kiddie rides at age eight, then becoming foreman of the Merry-Go-Round and other kiddie rides in his early teen years. At age 15, in 1964, Rick was made Skydiver foreman of Reithoffer Shows, owned by his father Pat, an OABA founder, Trustee and Hall of Fame recipient. He is a fourth generation in a fifth generation carnival show, since 1896. His father continued to teach him the carnival business during high school and college. After graduating from the University of Tampa with a degree in Engineering and Industrial Arts, he went into the family business helping his father and brother, Patty, who runs the Orange Unit, from 1971 to 2005. Shortly after his father passed away, Rick took over as CEO of Reithoffer Shows, Inc. and operates the Blue Unit, a recipient of the OABA’s Circle of Excellence, as is the Orange Unit, operated by his brother. Rick says that his 40-plus years of experience and knowledge in our industry can help other OABA members and believes the OABA is the only organization that strives to keep our industry viable for the next generation of owners. He and wife, Marianne, love to spend their time off the road traveling with close friends they have developed over the years. They have two sons who love to go hunting, diving and traveling throughout the world with their father. Rick’s mother and father taught him that “his word is his bond” and he, like them, is very passionate about their show and wants to ensure its success for the fifth and future generations of ownership. Rick is a Master Mason, Member of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Shrine member of the Hejaz Temple, the OABA, IISA, Miami Showmen’s (Gold Lifetime Member) and the Greater Tampa Showmen’s Association (Gold Lifetime Member). H
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ASSOCIATION H ASSOCIATION BUZZ
America’s Best Bargain Bob Johnson, OABA President
O
perating a midway is a very expensive proposition a high volume of riders (capacity). Today, they are also focusing for most carnival owners as they present rides, on midway efficiency, i.e. hours of operation to maximize ride attractions, food and games that provide huge capacity, some are closing on traditional, slow weekdays, and economic benefits for fairs and expositions. Spectacular LED-lit most are operating fewer hours to be in compliance with state midways are huge marketing tools for fairs and provide economic and federal wage/hour regulations. Successful midway operators benefits for others exhibiting or know that keeping a well-trained, alert running independent food operaemployee providing a good customer tions. When the carnival sets up experience comes first. I challenge you to think and the lights go on, you know the As you begin your 2014 amuseabout your most important asset fair is going on and hopefully is ment season, I challenge you to think high on the decision-making list about your most important asset — — your employees — and ask for locals. And we all know how your employees — and ask yourself, yourself, ‘Am I doing everything in important showcasing agriculture “Am I doing everything in my power my power to provide a good work and animals are for the county or to provide a good work environment?” state fair, or the exposition, not to Wishing all safe travels and have environment?’ mention the educational benefits fun! H for the 4-H’ers from the fair’s premium programs and auctions. As midway providers focus on the placement of rides, attractions and concessions on the midway, it never ceases to amaze me how a location can influence spending by guests. Or how pricing and ticket offerings, combining both the gate and midway rides, can influence guest attendance trends. I sometimes stop and think about how confused guests visiting Orlando theme parks can be, unless they are computer and “package” savvy to get the best deal for their families. I believe that fairs and carnivals must communicate and simplify their offerings for their customers to understand. After all, fairs are still America’s best bargain when it comes to 4-8 hour visits for families. Midway providers and ride owners who are successful focus on rides and attractions that are — first and foremost — well maintained, appealing to the customer and rides that can handle
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
Update From The OABA’s DC Lobbyist The Washington Report by John Meredith There is finally good news to report on the H-2B legislative front. Since the last update, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) introduced H.R. 4238, a bill that contains industry negotiated itinerant provisions. The bill would reinstate the H-2B returning worker exemption that allows for the entry of certain program workers without being counted against the cap. It would eliminate current issues with prevailing wages by clarifying the methodology used to set the wages and allow for ready changes to routes as dictated by weather or unexpected business opportunities impacting your season.
need and the most efficient manner in which to secure a rider providing the relief users need to remain competitive. Industry grassroots has also been highly active since the last update. OABA Director Mick Brajevich and his wife, Kris, opened their lovely home to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and industry supporters for “A Special Gathering of Friends” event that included ample time to talk leisurely with the Congresswoman and a sit-down dinner. The Congresswoman, who traveled not with an aide but her husband, was noticeably impressed by both the number and geographic diversity of the attendees and also the amount raised by the Brajevichs from other industry stakeholders, including the OABA’s PAC fund, to benefit her reelection campaign. The event was such a success that another OABA member has begun the process of arranging a similar event for their Member of Congress.
OABA Director Mick Brajevich and his wife, Kris, opened their lovely home to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and industry supporters for “A Special Gathering of Friends” event. The Harris bill would also settle the debate over staggered entry in addition to streamlining the recruitment process. Unfortunately, the aforementioned benefits come at the price of a mandate to reimburse program workers not only transportation costs – a burden some in the industry already bear – but their subsistence costs as well from the consulates in their country to your event/work location. In addition to the Harris bill, the H-2B advocacy effort is pursuing a new appropriations strategy to replace the rider lost in this current funding allocation. Talks have already begun with appropriators and their staffers on what stakeholders
OABA Director Mick Brajevich and his wife, Kris, hosted a political fundraiser and dinner event at their home in California for Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who is a big supporter of the mobile amusement industry H-2B visa program. Lofgren, center, is pictured with, from left, Tony Guadagno, Jim Judkins, Mick Brajevich, Michael Wood and John Meredith. The other grassroots activity playing out since the last update was the circulation of a sign-on letter in support of the newly introduced Harris bill. Thanks to all those in the industry who took the time to lend their name(s) to the letter. H
CALENDAR July 26–29 IAVM 89th Annual Conference Portland Convention Center Portland, OR www.iavm.org
October 15–18 ASTM F24 Meeting – Amusement Rides and Devices Valley Ho Hotel Scottsdale, AZ www.astm.org MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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ASSOCIATION H ON THE EARIE
On The Earie Tom Powell, OABA News Ambassador
R
ick Reithoffer, who heads up the Blue Unit of Reithoffer Shows, while his brother Patrick Edward Reithoffer III, is in charge of the Orange Unit, has plenty of reasons to believe this will be one of the biggest seasons in the 118– year history of the carnival. Think about how few businesses make it for 118 years. I remember a slogan which stated “We’re not good because we’re old. We’re old because we’re good.” After 118 years, it’s hard to argue when Reithoffer calls itself The Aristocrat of Shows. The Reithoffer Units have signed many of their fairs to new five-year contracts, added new equipment, completed a lot of refurbishing, installed LED lights from Denny Bartosik’s Denny’s Electronics, and picked up several awards. One of the things Rick is proudest of, however, is that he is a new OABA director. He joins Michael Lauther, one of the key men on his show, in that position. Reithoffer’s dad, the legendary Patrick Edward Reithoffer, Jr., was OABA chair in 1976. One of the joys of having worked 34 years for Amusement Business and eight more with OABA is having met some of the most fascinating people in the world. For any newcomers in this exciting and unpredictable carnival business, I defy them to find another industry or profession that has produced such a wide array of colorful characters. When I first started, some of them were very intimidating. I was somewhat prepared for dealing with huge egos after having been a sports writer for 15 years. You can’t interview people like Paul (Bear) Bryant, Woody Hayes, Adolph Rupp, Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali, Richard Petty, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Buddy Lee, Tommy Lasorda, Bill France Sr. and Jr. and not realize those are special individuals. Sitting down with a Pat Reithoffer, Al Kunz, Carl Sedlmayr, Hub Luehrs, Bernie Thomas, Ray Cammack, Johnny Vivona, Milt Kaufman, Jimmy (Georgia Boy) Drew,
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
John Campi, Danny Dell, Red Wood, Duke Smith, Johnny Portemont, Arthur Lamkin, Rod Link, Larry Davis, Pete Sutton, Butch Butler, and a host of others including Danny Royal, Andy Kasin, Irving (The Ghost) Zaitshik, Jack Kaplan, Ray Barber, Col. Blake Coleman, Stash Gray, Diamond Bobby Pinson, Buzz (the Ice Man) Barton, Fred (Loose Change) Cantrell, Walk Away Frank, Ben Braunstein, Andy Osak, Col. Tom Parker, Johnny Cash, Danny (Popcorn) Craig and Joe Lane were very special moments. Reithoffer closed at the Collier County Fair in Naples, FL on March 23 and headed toward the Richmond, VA area for a month and a half, and then into New York, where it has several fairs. Rick received the New York State Fair Association’s highest honor this year when he was named Showman of the Year. Jeff Alberts, one of many members of the Alberts family who have been with the Reithoffers for most of their lives, became the first member of a traveling carnival to be named Safety Person of the Year by NAARSO. Alberts is a qualified Level III inspector. The winter route was strong, giving Rick more optimism for what lies ahead. “From what I’ve seen, everything points to a good year. People want to be entertained and who can provide it more affordably? As long as we continue to send them away happy they’ll return. We have a quality product and the only factor we can’t control is the weather, which really knocked us for a loop a couple years ago.” That was when floods caused cancellation of the Bloomsburg, PA Fair, and the show was completely under water at the Fonda, NY Fair over Labor Day weekend. Jake Sammons, a renowned speaker on the subject of how to handle floods, who was manager for 52 years at Fonda, has been retired the last two, but is still on the board. He typifies the feelings I always get about the show. “They are the nicest people to do business with. It’s like working
with your family. I can’t say enough good things about the Reithoffers.” Sammons added, “Bobby Pugh makes sure all the concessions are clean. Everyone in front of a ride and at the games and food are required to clean up in front of where they work at the end of each night. They play two other fairs the same time as us and with so many spectacular rides, they bring at least 30 to our fair. They have a lot of niceties, tents, benches, tables, extra lighting, lots of comfort items for the public. It’s not like doing business with a stranger. “During our fair, Patty goes to Essex Junction, Vermont (the Champlain Valley Exposition), and they’re also playing Schagticoke, NY (Rensselaer County Fair).” This will be the 173rd annual Fonda Fair and 195th for Schagticoke. “We went through two World Wars and the Depression and none of that affected us as much as a flood we had in 2006, and the one in either 2011 or 2012 that was called the 100-year flood. “We were supposed to open on Tuesday and if not for the Reithoffers, who brought in people from all over, we wouldn’t have opened at all. But we did on the weekend and probably shouldn’t have because the public was dealing with its own problems. I recall the show buying every hair dryer from Wal-Mart.” New five-year contracts were also signed with the Delaware County Fair, Walton, NY; Allegany County Fair, Cumberland, MD, and Coastal Empire Fair, Savannah, GA. “We signed a new six-year deal with Manager Don Frenkel at the Pensacola, FL Interstate Fair last November, and we’re in the process of signing a new five-year deal with the New Jersey State Fair in Branchville,” said Rick. While in Florida, the show also fielded a large number of rides at the Florida State Fair, and played the Highlands County Fair, Sebring, which took place right after the trade show in Gibsonton.
From left, at the park show, with Sonshine Amusements are Emma Jones, 11; Elizabeth Jones, 14; Ashley Noerper; Tyler Noerper, two, who is being held by Tamara Jones, and Olivia Noerper, four.
From left are Russ Harrison, Rudy’s Pizzeria & Slush Factory; Jeanette Gilmore, Smokey’s Greater Shows, and Christine Powell.
From left, at the park show in Orlando, are Dave Brewer, Andee Kaylee and Tony Brown, Retro Refurbishing, Gibsonton, FL, and Santa’s Village, Dundee, IL.
Industry attorney Wayne Pierce, is flanked by Thomas Lauther, left, Reithoffer Shows, and independent ride operator Kyle Brady.
Jeremy Floyd, left, formerly with Cumberland Valley Shows, is now booking the Space Roller. With him are independent ride operators Carol and Mike Demas.
Scott MacNeill, Roller Coaster supervisor for Deggeller Attractions, visits with Maile Hedemark, games supervisor for Candy Anderson.
Dick Knoebel, center, and his son, Brian, right, Knoebel’s Amusement Resort, chat with Walter Bowser, VP of Amusement Parks Millenium Elastomers.
Old friends Duck Smith, left, who has food at a flea market in Tennessee, and Harold Case, who books games and food, renew acquaintances during the Gibtown show.
Eric Bates, right, Bates Brothers Amusement Co., is seen with his son-in-law Brad Dallman and Holly Swartz, Hitch-Hiker Mfg. Dallman and Swartz are OABA directors.
New York-based food concessionaire Bobby Lawrence visits with Harold Fera, Rockwell Amusements, during the Gibtown trade show.
New purchases include a Clyde Mulligan Wheel and Wacky Worm from Bobby and Gloria Myers of Myers International Midways, which went out of business; a Ross Owen Monkey Maze, and Battech Zero Gravity. A Zamperla Air Race ride that was on display in Orlando at IAAPA will be delivered August 1. “We put the Denny’s LED lights on our KMG Fireball this winter and the Magic Maze and Zero Gravity already have them. We rebuilt our Tilt from top to bottom and did the same with our Tidal Wave. All 60 horses on our Grand Carousel were sand-blasted and painted.” It’s beginning to look as though Rick and Pat Reithoffer are becoming early members of a new wave of legends. Please send news to tomp@oaba.org, or call 615-319-1258. Have all great days, and God Bless! H
MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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H FEATURES
Safety Training NORTHWEST
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
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he Northwest Showmen’s Club (NWSC) Safety Seminar concluded its 34th continuous year of teaching outdoor amusement safety to the seasonal amusement industry operators, supervisors and ride owners and management. Some 175 students were in attendance for the 33 different classes that were taught by industry professionals and ride manufacturers. The following volunteer speakers and program curriculum teachers gave freely of their time and paid for their own expenses to be part of this educational program. NWSC is proud of these folks and wishes to thank the following for helping to make this Safety Seminar a success:
Your Show Deserves The BEST!
Patty Sullivan, Eli Bridge Company Ray Reiger, Loss Control Services C.W. Craven, Proper Rigging Martin Vine, Fallen Protection Abert Friedan, Dartron Rides Phil Slaggert, Midway Training John Hinde, J.P. Hinde Enterprise, Inc. John Lamereaux, Funtastic, Forklift Training Dayren Simms, Ride Inspectors John Dotson, NAARSO
Concession Trailers • Funhouses • Glass Houses • Ticket Boxes
Portland Police Department, Face of Meth and substance detection
Show Me Fabrication, inc.
Portland Department of Transportation – DOT Regulations Vic Wisdom, Wisdom Manufacturing Maurice Haworth, Prime Pacific
29723 Highway 50 East, Sedalia, MO 65301 (660)827-3240 showme@showmefab.com | www.showmefab.com MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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NWSC President Jim Parks hosted the four-day training seminar. Classes and hands-on training took place at Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, OR and at Funtastic Shows’ campus in Portland. Culminating this year’s training program, the traditional, exciting banquet and auction took place on Thursday evening. President Jim Parks requested prime rib to be served and the kitchen crew served up a tasty dinner with all the trimmings. The auction turned into a fun battle of the dollars, and at the end of the evening the seminar was the real winner!
Allied Insurance; Pat & Geraldine Davis, Davis Shows Northwest; Outdoor Amusement Business Association: Show Folks of America; John Hinde, seminar organizer; and Maurice Haworth for setting up rides that students could inspect and study accident prevention. H
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
FEATURES H
By Tony Silber, General Manager Media/PR Group at Access Intelligence
O
ver the weekend, I repeatedly came across examples of the realities of the new media ecosystem. On Saturday, I saw on Facebook a hot conversation about an apparently serious car accident in my town. People were reporting what they saw. They were sharing second-hand accounts and, of course, opinions. I toggled over to the local daily newspaper’s website. Nothing. I went to the weekly paper’s site. Nothing. The local Patch sites have been decimated, so I didn’t even bother checking them. The next day I spent part of the morning reading about the crisis in the Crimean Peninsula online (in old-school newspaper brands) and engaged in conversations on social media around that situation. I subscribe to the paper New York Times, but only opened that later, after I had read the most recent headlines on the paper’s home page, or on links shared through Facebook and Twitter. Later on Sunday I read about how “social buzz” can be a very accurate predictor of key pop culture events, including, of course, the Academy Awards. The article relies on an Adobe initiative, called the Adobe Digital Index, which is based on an analysis of data from more than 5,000 companies worldwide that use the Adobe Marketing Cloud solutions. The ADI, this story reported, has already demonstrated pretty convincingly the ability of social buzz to predict a movie’s financial prospects. ADI correctly predicted that “Ender’s Game” and “Delivery Man” would do poorly, while “Thor: The Dark World,” “Anchorman 2,” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” would make money. So how did it do with the Oscars? Hmmm. It predicted that Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence would win, and we all now know that Matthew McConaughey and Lupita Nyong’o won. Beyond that, the ADI was close. It predicted that Cate
Blanchett would win, and she did. It predicted that the race for best picture was too close to call between “Gravity” and “12 Years a Slave.” The latter won. It did, however, say that “12 Years a Slave” director Steve McQueen had run away with the social buzz and would win best director. He did not. But put aside the accuracy of those particular indices and you realize that something really important is going on in media. Social is where the action is. It’s where people get their news. It’s where they engage with communities. It’s where marketers measure pop-culture resonance. One of the things I was thinking about as I read about the Ukraine crisis was how old the headlines in the print newspaper really were. They were published on the Saturday, probably late afternoon. They were based on reporting from earlier that day and the day prior. So what I was reading in the print version of the Sunday New York Times was anywhere from 24 to 48 hours old, while what I was reading on the New York Times website was very close to real time. At best, it was a few hours old. Where would you gravitate? All of which leaves PR pros with five important takeaways. Don’t obsess over traditional media relations and media placements. Instead, make your brand and your clients part of the social-media news and information ecosystem. Old-style media coverage, while still important, has absolutely been eclipsed by social communities, and sometimes those communities don’t even need the established media brands. News travels fast. Don’t find yourself responding to what was relevant 48 hours ago. Make social-media monitoring and measurement a top priority for your team. It’s a more productive source of cultural understanding than older media. Old media brands offer first-rate journalism. Social buzz tells you how your own brand (and other relevant entities) are faring among stakeholders and the culture at large. H
MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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H FEATURES
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ere’s your chance and a great opportunity to showcase your writing skills in our monthly ShowTime magazine. Articles from our OABA members help provide others in the mobile amusement industry with a new and different perspective on doing business. You’re out there every day, discovering the latest trends, overcoming the day-to-day issues. Help us in creating the latest industry news OABA members look for in our ShowTime magazine. What better way is there to be a valuable reference and to share your knowledge than with your peers?
Themes you should focus on include but are not limited to: OABA Membership/Member Benefits Employee Training/Safety Food and Game Concessions Ride Operations/Guest Safety Article length should be approximately 500 words and emailed in “Word” format for editing purposes. We reserve the right to edit, and would welcome any photos to help get your message across to OABA members. Please contact our office at 800-517-6222 or via email at oaba@oaba.org. H
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
Jammin’ Jamborees PROGRAM
Twentieth Century Rides – Brownsville, TX
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 Chris Atkins and Steve Pegg ran the live auction.
2014 Jammin’ Jamboree Totals
Twentieth Century Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,139 TOTAL $8,139
This beautiful cake says it all! The jamboree theme: “The Luck of the Irish.”
Al DeRusha, right, is pictured with long-time showmen Wayne and Susan McDaniel.
Thanks to Christine and Joe Sutton for donating and bidding on many auction items.
Todd and Robbie Merriam were the highest bidders for the mystery box.
Pretty Jessica Hall ran the silent auction.
Trudy and Bob West were the highest bidders for this SLA 100th anniversary yearbook.
John Hanschen is seen with Carrie Martin Gilley and dad Leonard Martin. Carrie loves her new OABA jacket. Dennis Voss and Mack Mead kept the tip boards going.
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H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
Thanks to the happy newlyweds, Chrissy and Philip Dorman, for all of their help.
ASSOCIATION H PHOTO GALLERY
Photo Gallery Doolan Family at Heritage Park
A Motley Crew
The Doolan family at Heritage Park in North Palm Beach: John, Tina, Heidi and OABA Director Michael Doolan.
OABA Trustee Jeff Blomsness, NAME; Jim Caskey who is operating the Sky Ride at the Miami fair, and Rene Wegkamp, Away to Xplore, South Africa.
SLA St. Patrick’s Day Parade
SLA St. Patrick’s Day parade where “Everyone is Irish!”
SLA members passed out St. Patty’s Day Derby’s green beads along the parade route.
Having a great time at the parade were 2014 SLA President Dale Merriam and his pretty wife, Alicia.
Alicia Merriam is having fun posing with Elvis.
Pictured in the SLA headquarters, from left, SLA Executive Director Joe Burum, Alicia Merriam, Al DeRusha, Dale Merriam and Glenn DeRusha, Al’s son. MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
17
ASSOCIATION H PHOTO GALLERY
Photo Gallery continued OABA Visits Reed Exposition On the Reed Exposition midway, a view of the front entrance of the Rio Grande Livestock Show front gate. Jerry Murphy’s four abreast, 60 horse Chance Grand Carousel, on the Reed Midway. This was a beautiful ride.
Smokey Benham and Jimmy Reed, right, in front of the Chance Grand Carousel.
Linda Reed is pictured with two of her grandsons, Ryan and Larry Rost.
The grandkids were kept busy at the fish pond game while the show was getting ready to open.
NAME/Astro Amusements at the Borderfest – Hidalgo, TX
Getting ready for the big parade is “Mr. Stinga-lot” Armando Rieves, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees hockey mascot, pictured with Ludi Lopez.
Cole Morrissey and Angela Moore in their bowling derby game.
18
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
The pretty office crew, from left, Charne Van Buren, Bridget Sparks and Nikita Dasilva. Catching up on the latest ShowTime news are the NAME guys, from left, Wes Sparks, Tom Thebault and Pat Repp.
OABA Sr. VP Al DeRusha is pictured with Joe Vera. Joe is the City Manager of Hildago, TX and President of the Borderfest Association.
The Striowski family; Greg, Sr. (far right), his granddaughter Kayla, daughter Angela and brother Darryl.
ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
Contribution Fund PROGRAM
• Get Your Contribution Fund Tickets Now
2014 OABA Contribution Fund Ray Cammack Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,895 Powers Great American Midways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,380 Strates Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,665 Showmen’s League of America-St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Frazier Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520 A Fantasy Amusement Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 TOTAL $26,760
i D M Way WEBINAR
“Webinar on the Midway” For Sale “Slaying the Wage and Hour Dragon: Lessons We Have Learned from Audits and Class Action Lawsuits”
As part of our continuing “Webinar on the Midway” series, this OABA educational series was presented by industry attorney R. Wayne Pierce, Adventure Lawyer with the Pierce Law Firm, LLC on March 20. This webinar explored what we have learned from numerous wage and hour audits and the challenges you’ve faced to protect your family business. It also developed an action plan for a successful preventive law program that will minimize your exposure! If you have missed this series, you can purchase the full webinar package for $100. Please contact our OABA office at 800-517-6222 for details.
Don’t delay and purchase your “Webinar on the Midway” TODAY! 20
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
• 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
Silver Plan
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 Bronze and Silver Plans: If the carnival contributions exceed $5,000, 2015 OABA dues are waived for carnival.
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.
regulations similar to those in
girls suspended upside down
address the changing nature
such as food, or if they were
other states and is supported
on a ride.
of the workplace; and sim-
not serving the public. There
plify the regulations to make
could also be an issue if they
them easier for both workers
are just doing maintenance,
by industry trade groups. Novstrup is president of
FEDERAL
Thunder Road, a chain of fam-
White House Seeks
and businesses to understand
setup, or tear down, rather
ily fun parks in the Dakotas.
Expansion of Overtime
and apply.
than providing the amuse-
Mobile amusement rides, such as those that travel
Regulations President Obama has
The current overtime
ment experience to the public.
exemption for executive,
The real discriminator
from state to state, already
sent a memorandum to the
administrative and profes-
could be whether they are
must have insurance. The bill
Secretary of Labor directing
sional employees may include
working at an “establishment”
would require those rides to
the Department to “propose
those employees who are
that provides the amusement
have yearly certified inspec-
revisions to modernize and
not “seasonal” in terms of
experience to the public. This
tions and daily inspections by
streamline the existing over-
their job classification. Any
refers to specific, geographic
operators. Rides fixed in one
time regulations.” In doing
management working to
locations. For example, man-
place also would have to be
so, the memorandum says
provide amusement experi-
agers working at a central
inspected daily.
DOL must consider how the
ence to the public should be
office or at winter quarters
regulations could be revised
exempt by virtue of § 213 (a)
quite probably would not be
by Rep. Steve Hickey of Sioux
to update existing protections
(3). However, there could be
exempt under § 213 (a) (3),
Falls after a 2013 carnival
consistent with the intent of
issues if they are working in
so the white-collar exemption
accident that left two teenage
the Fair Labor Standards Act;
non-amusement capacities,
could become relevant. H
The measure was proposed
MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
23
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H DOT REGULATORY NEWS
DOT Regulatory News FMCSA Publishes ELD Proposal The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published in the Federal Register its long-awaited supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to mandate the use of Electronic Logging Devices for driver hours of service compliance. 79 Fed. Reg. 17656 (March 28, 2014). Comments are due May 27, 2014. The mandate would become effective two years after the effective date of a final rule. But the FMCSA would allow continued use of Automatic On-Board Recording Devices, installed under 49 CFR § 395.15 before the compliance date, for an additional two years beyond the compliance date of a final rule. As expected, the proposed rule would mandate that interstate motor carriers install ELDs in all CMVs operated by drivers who are now required to prepare paper Records of Duty Status, subject to a limited exception for drivers who are rarely required to keep RODS. If a driver is required to use an ELD, the motor carrier must not require or allow the driver to operate a CMV in interstate
commerce without using the device. Drivers in operations not requiring RODS may use ELDs to document their compliance with the HOS rules, but are not required to do so. Furthermore, under the proposal, drivers currently allowed to use timecards to document HOS compliance could continue that practice. Drivers who need to use RODS infrequently or intermittently would be allowed to continue using paper RODS, provided they are not required to use RODS more than eight days in any 30-day period. For example, a driver who is exempt from completing a paper log because he does not operate beyond the 100 air-mile limit and returns to the normal work reporting location within 12 hours would still be exempt from the ELD requirement and would complete a paper log for each day that he goes beyond the 100 airmile limit or is on duty for more than 12 hours, as long as he did not exceed the exemption limits more than eight days in any rolling 30-day period. The proposed rule would prohibit carriers from using the information provided in ELDs to harass drivers, including driv-
ers being pressured to exceed HOS limitations and inappropriate communications that affect drivers’ rest periods. But the FMCSA said that carriers may use the devices “to improve productivity or for other appropriate business practices.” Manufacturers of ELDs would have to certify that their devices meet FMCSA technical requirements, and register certified devices with the agency. The FMCSA would publish a list of certified devices on its website, and carriers would only be able to use certified ELDs listed on the FMCSA website. In addition, the proposal would limit the supporting documents that a motor carrier must maintain by specifying the number, category, and required elements for a supporting document and, subject to a limited exception, would not require supporting documents that reflect driving time. Carriers would still need to retain documents to certify a driver’s on-duty, not driving periods, however. For every 24-hour period a driver is on duty, the motor carrier would be required to maintain not more than 10
supporting documents from the following five categories: H Bills of lading, itineraries, schedules or equivalent documents that indicate the origin and destination of each trip; H Dispatch records, trip records or equivalent documents; H Expense receipts; H Electronic mobile communication records, reflecting communications transmitted through an FMS for the driver’s 24-hour duty day; and, H Payroll records for the driver’s 24-hour duty day, settlement sheets or equivalent documents that indicate what and how a driver was paid. If the carrier does not create at least 10 supporting documents during a 24-hour period for a driver, the carrier would not be required to create additional supporting documents. In addition, motor carriers whose drivers use paper logs would also need to maintain toll receipts. The proposed rule would also eliminate the former proposals that each motor carrier maintain an HOS Management System and that a motor carrier certify as to the lack of support-
Through the smiles, the seasons & the miles – 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 mwalker@blvdbank.net
24
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
A division of
ASSOCIATION H CIRCUS MEMBERS
From The Center Ring Connecting & Protecting the Circus Industry! Rodney Huey, RAH PR Strategies OABA Circus Media Consultant
U
npredictable March weather yielded to a milder April, making way for traditional May flowers. It is safe to say that the circus, at least metaphorically, is also blooming from coast to coast with all the major shows launching headlong into their respective spring and summer seasons. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Legends opens this month in Providence, then on to Hartford, Trenton and Hershey before closing out in Tulsa as it heads for the West Coast. Built to Amaze plays Albany, Columbus and Louisville venturing South of the Border for three weeks in Mexico City and Monterey. Super Circus Heroes kicks off in Charlottesville on May, then proceeds to Ashville, Indiana (PA), Corbin (KY) and Bowling Green. Big Apple Circus returns to home turf on May 18 for a four-week stint in Queens. Cole Bros. Circus, debuting Human Cannonball Dale Thomsen and starring Vicenta Pages with her white tigers, departs the National Capitol area for points north in May; Kelly Miller Circus, featuring Armando Loyal’s elephants and fire-eater Lamont, opens in Clermont before making nine additional Indiana stops and four Ohio engagements, closing out the month in Maryland; and Carson & Barnes Circus fulfills its Texas and Southwestern dates this month, trekking as far west as Las Cruces (NM). Circus Vargas spends the first two weeks of May at The Irvine (CA) Spectrum. Youth circus activity is gearing up, as well as registration for various summer camps and classes. Sarasota’s Sailor Circus held a VIP reception for its alumni at its final Spring Holiday show on April 5, attracting dozens of former Sailor Circus grads. What goes around comes around, because Circus Juventas founders Dan and Betty Butler (who met as students at Sailor Circus), hosted Juventas’ 20th Anniversary Open House last month, treating visitors to a free 90-minute performance by its young circus artists. Juventas will present its traditional Spring Celebration show during the first two weekends in May for paying audiences. Better hurry and buy your tickets because some of the weekend shows are already Sold Out! Circus groups from more than 30 countries celebrated the Fifth Annual World Circus Day on Saturday, April 19. Staging events from photo ops and parades to open houses and special performances, circus arts and culture were observed by circuses as prominent as the three units of The Greatest Show On Earth; as small as the Salida Youth Circus in Colorado, and as diverse as Rambos Circus in Mumbai, India; the Palestinian Circus School in Ramallah,
26
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
John Pugh, Cole Bros. Circus, seen here with Elvin Bale. Photo by Neil Smith.
Palestine; the Mobile Mini Circus for Children in Kabul, Afghanistan; the Juhudi Urban Arts Community Center in Nairobi, Kenya; and the Circus Kobzov in Kiev, Ukraine. World Circus Day is hosted by the Monte-Carlo-based Fédération Mondiale du Cirque. Circus World Museum kicks off its Summer Performance Season on May 17 and will present two shows daily through the Labor Day weekend. Featuring “acrobats, jaw-dropping contortionists, circus animals and clowns,” this year’s show will be staged under a new Big Top tent, a departure from the arena-based shows of the past. CWM also announced plans for new interactive exhibit titled “Caught in the Act: Legends, Myths and Mysteries of the Circus.” The exhibit will be installed in the Irvin Feld Exhibit Hall, and was funded through a $100,000 donation by circus enthusiast Kent Girard. Additionally, circus model train builder Joe Kaspar donated his 200-piece miniature replica of the 1947 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus train to the museum. The first-ever Boston Regional American Youth Circus Organization (AYCO) Festival will be held on May 3 in Somerville (MA). The one-day festival will offer four workshops in various circus skills. The workshop will be staged by Aircraft Aerial Arts who will also convene the fourth annual Aerial Acrobatics Arts Festival in Denver (CO) from May 28–June 3 as a two-day competition among 60 semi-professional international aerialists. Cirque du Soleil recently announced a new permanent theatre on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Operated by resort developers Grupo Vidanta, the 600-seat theatre will be located about 10 miles south of the Cancun airport, and will offer dinner to complement a yet unnamed Cirque production. Opening night is slated for November. Cirque du Soleil is also involved with a unique circus skills teaching program in Portland (OR). Entitled Circus Project, the program is designed offer “free training to the homeless and at-risk youth in the circus arts.” The April 18 Portland performance of Cirque’s Totem was a benefit for Cirque Project, and its students enjoyed VIP seating. Outstanding graduates are “awarded scholarships to continue their training.” Circus arts and skills have been presented in many different forms and venues, but the recent exhibit at the Delaware
OABA members Renee Storey and John Pugh, Cole Bros. Circus. Photo by Neil Smith.
Art Museum in Wilmington (DE) may be the first to pair circus arts with fashion. The exhibit, entitled Fashion, Circus, Spectacle, displays the photographic work of the late Scott Heiser. Museum curator Heather Campbell Coyle explained that Heiser’s photos tie “fashion shows to circuses, and he sees a lot of parallels because they’re both these highly-produced fantasy worlds.” The exhibit runs through June 1. Universoul received a jolt when city officials from the Bronx unexpectedly barred elephants and tigers from performing. According to Universoul lawyers who filed a lawsuit against the city, “new rules this year requiring the circus to get a permit to use exotic animals” were hastily imposed, and then the city refused to issue a permit to Universoul charging that tiger cages were “deemed too small and the elephants had not passed a tuberculosis test.” Circus officials countered that the tigers enjoyed an enlarged exercise space, and recent TB tests results were negative. Regardless of the legal haggling, neither elephants nor tigers performed with Universoul in the Bronx, and the real losers were the disappointed children “who had hoped to see the majestic creatures in the flesh.” Finally, don’t forget to buy your OABA Circus Fund Camel Pin in support of the American circus! See www.oaba.org under “Circus Fund.” H
2014 Circus Fund Circus Producers Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 Kathleen Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Bill Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500 Alliance of Professional Animal Exhibitors & Owners . . . . . 500 Edward Limbach – in honor of Frank Robie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 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 Wayne Scheiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Robert Faust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Paul Gutheil – in fond memory of Arthur Duchek . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Misc. Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 TOTAL
$6,796
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.
MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
27
ASSOCIATION H CIRCUS MEMBERS
Capitol Update By Joan Galvin, OABA Government Relations Consultant
S
pring is in the air — and the fair season is winding down in Florida and Texas, and gearing up elsewhere! I had the great fortune this year to attend both the Florida State Fair in Tampa and our local Sarasota County Fair. Both were great opportunities to enjoy the food, watch the rides and tour the many exhibits. What is always noticeable to me is that the fair is multi-generational and has appeal no matter what your age! While in Tampa I also had the chance to see and visit with Monica Welde and her family’s wonderful bear show. What a great way to entertain — and educate! Monica’s narrative is compelling and the bears are just beautiful to watch. Of course, the animal exhibits are always a great crowd pleaser and watching the reactions in the audience only helps renew our commitment to ensuring that those of you who have dedicated yourselves to the care, well being and future preservation of these amazing animals enjoy the freedom to engage in your chosen livelihood!
This year is no different in that we continue to face many challenges on that front. From New York City to Los Angeles and everywhere in between, activists continue their barrage against animals in entertainment and keeps us on our toes. But there are more ways in which our industry’s freedom to operate and present quality family entertainment are at risk. Not the least of which is the ongoing challenge in finding a reliable source of quality, seasonal workers under the federal government’s H-2B visa program. I have recently had the opportunity to work more closely with OABA and the industry to assist in efforts to pursue meaningful reform and greater access to this category of seasonal workers. We recognize that there is a natural alliance between the fair industry and agriculture. Fairs are often the primary means by which the local agriculture sector interacts with the community and reminds us all of the importance of agriculture in providing us with food and fiber. And the fair not
Janice Aria, Director of Animal Stewardship and Mike Stuart, VP of Circus Operations with Tom Feld, Feld Entertainment. Mike is holding the OABA Circus award which was presented to Feld Entertainment.
28
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
only provides a showcase for local youth programs like 4H, but also supports muchneeded scholarship programs to inspire and motivate our next generation. Forging an alliance with this vital part of the local and national economy can go a long way in furthering our cause. We are, therefore, excited about the opportunity reach out and build greater cooperation and synergy between the fair, carnival and mobile amusement sector and our natural allies in the agriculture community. In the coming months, we will be talking to state and federal agriculture organizations to explore ways to support one another’s efforts to ensure that there is a reliable and available source of seasonal labor to support our efforts to promote and preserve this outstanding partnership. We plan to take our message to Capitol Hill as well — reminding our lawmakers of the vital role that fairs play in supporting agriculture in their communities. Here’s to a successful spring season! H
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MAY 2014 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
29
ASSOCIATION H MARKET PLACE & ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
MARKET PLACE
Advertisers’ Index MAY 2014 ADVERTISERS
Twister / Maverick Moser . . . . . . . . . . . . $399,000 Disco Zamperla . . . . . . . . . . $399,000 Drop Tower / Trailer Mount ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . $299,000 Kite Flyer Zamperla . . . . . . . . . . . $99,000 Tornado / Trailer Mount Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . $109,000 Scooter 1800 / Trailer Mount Majestic . . . . . . . . . . . $224,000 Drop Tower Moser . . . . . . . . . . . . . $89,000 Americana Carousel 28’ Chance . . . . . . . . . . . $119,000 1989 Orbiter / Trailer Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $205,000 Sea Dragon / Trailer Mount Chance . . . . . . . . . . . $189,000 Nitro / Freak Out Style Ride Zamperla . . . . . . . . . . $379,000 Baja Buggy / Trailer Mount Zamperla . . . . . . . . . . . $59,000 Pharaoh Fury . . . . . . $449,000 Eli #16 Trailer Mounted Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $199,000 RequesT A CoMpleTe lisT Call Len Soled or John Coburn
908-526-8009 VisiT ouR Web siTe http://www.rides4u.com
30
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | MAY 2014
Allied Specialty Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC
JKJ Workforce Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Amusement Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Lifetime Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Berk Paper & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Midway Stainless Fabricators . . . . . . . . . 25
Carnival Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Norton Auctioneers of Michigan . . . . . . . 30
Chestnut Identity Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Owen Trailers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Eli Bridge Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Prairie Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Farrow Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Rides 4-U . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 30
Firestone Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Schantz Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC
Gold Medal Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Show Me Fabrication Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Gull Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sippers by Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Haas & Wilkerson Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Spotlight Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 29
Hitch-Hiker Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . OBC
Victor Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
ShowTime
Outdoor Amusement Business Assn. 1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045A Winter Park, FL 32792