November 2017
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Contents The Official Publication of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association
November 2017
Features
ASSOCIATION 4 FROM THE OABA CHAIR
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS 26 DOT REGULATORY NEWS
Signs of Life for Circus Industry at the State Fair
Winds of Change
State and Federal Legislation and Regulations
Striking it Rich in Las Vegas IAFE/OABA/SLA Key Events in Las Vegas
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6 ASSOCIATION BUZZ Your Fall Finale and Happy Thanksgiving!
ELD and Audit Updates
8 ON THE EARIE
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28 ARNOLD SAFETY CONSULTING
Tom Powell reports on the industry’s shows, fairs, colorful show folks and amusing events.
11 AS THE WHEEL TURNS Who, what and where are people making news? Here’s the scoop.
16, 21 PHOTO GALLERY
GOVERNMENT Features 29 INSIDE THE BELTWAY: INSIGHTS FROM THE HILL — IT’S TIME! By John Ariale, Cloakroom Advisors – OABA’s Government Relations Team
CIRCUS MEMBERS 30 FROM THE CENTER RING
The OABA catches members in action.
Rodney Huey follows circuses around the country.
16, 22 SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
33 CAPITOL UPDATE
Jammin’ Jamborees and Contribution Fund Drawing Winners
Facebook facebook.com/oabainfo
Twitter @oabainfo
Joan Galvin, Government Relations Consultant
Instagram @oaba51
Read with Smartphone Bar Code Scanner
Our Mission: To promote the preservation and growth of the
outdoor amusement industry through leadership, advocacy and education.
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 PUBLISHER|MANAGING EDITOR Robert Johnson 407.681.9444 H bobj@oaba.org EDITOR Dee Dee Alford 407.681.9444 H deedeea@oaba.org GRAPHIC DESIGN Avic-Versi Creative Jen Burge H 817.602.7254 H avicversi@att.net ADVERTISING SALES Dee Dee Alford 407.681.9444 H deedeea@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. 2017
OABA OFFICERS
OABA TRUSTEES
CHAIR E. J. Dean 1ST VICE CHAIR Jay Strates 2ND VICE CHAIR Larry Yaffe 3RD VICE CHAIR Debbie Powers TRUSTEE 2016 Thomas J. Gaylin, III TRUSTEE 2015 Michael Wood TRUSTEE 2014 Chris Lopez TREASURER Mitchell Kaliff PRESIDENT Bob Johnson
OABA DIRECTORS Michael Brajevich Steven Broetsky Doug Burtch Tony Cassata Brad Dallman Andy Deggeller Michael Doolan Blake Huston Stacey Jamieson
Marc Janas Mary Johnson Michael Lauther Charlene Leavitt Ron Morris Lance Moyer Ben Pickett Rick Reithoffer Lorelei Schoendienst
Patrick Sheridan Scott Siefker Mary Chris Smith Greg Stewart Holly Swartz Rob Vivona
Mike Featherston-2013 Jeanne McDonagh-2012 Bill Johnson-2011 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 * Deceased
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* Billy Burr-1990 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
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ASSOCIATION H MESSAGE FROM THE OABA CHAIR
Winds of Change E. J. Dean, OABA Chair 2017
S
easons (and hurricanes) are coming to a close, equipment is being put away or scheduled for enhancements, and the industry is gearing up for our two biggest conventions that are at opposite ends of our operation, IAAPA and IAFE. Whether you are heading to Orlando to make new equipment acquisitions or to get ideas to improve what you already have, IAAPA is the world’s biggest candy store. Equally as important to our industry is the IAFE “Strike it Rich” convention, being held in Las Vegas for the last time in the near future, and sure to be full of new ideas and trends that will help to shape the direction of our industry. It’s at the IAFE in Las Vegas that amusement providers, vendors and fair representatives can get together and discuss the issues that all sides face together. For we are a partnership that must work hand in hand to ensure that the product we are presenting is not only at its best, but remains affordable for the tens of millions who go to enjoy it. Fairs and mobile operators share many of the same goals, and those who work in true synergy with each other see the greatest results. The sharing of ideas across all aisles: operator to operator; fair to fair; and fair to operator, is what is needed to meet today’s requirements. As part of that continued partnership between the OABA and the IAFE, the OABA is happy to once again sponsor this year’s closing ceremony speaker, Amberley Snyder. After Amberley was left paralyzed from a car accident, her determination to enjoy her passions did not fade. Only 18 months after her accident, Amberley was back on a horse and riding in national competitions. Hers is an inspirational story that you don’t want to miss. The industry has a lot of topics that warrant discussion, both inside and outside the convention halls, but none greater
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than labor. Whether it is wage rates, hours of operation or H-2B, it all falls under labor. True partnerships are able to have this discussion in meaningful and productive ways. The winds of change are coming, and we need to use these opportunities of getting together to better prepare ourselves. H
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | NOVEMBER 2017
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2018
Memberships Sold Tracy Creason Ray Cammack Shows . . . . . . 319 Suzi Corl Powers Great American Midways . . . 129 Madison Kissel Kissel Entertainment . . . . . . . 126 Andrew Schoendienst Luehrs Ideal Rides . . . 44 Niki Skerbeck Skerbeck Entertainment Group . 33 Julie Broetsky Frazier Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Show Ambassadors who sign up 25+ memberships receive complimentary OABA membership for appropriate category for the following dues year!
TOTAL 745
CALENDAR November 14–17
IAAPA Attractions Expo
Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL www.iaapa.org
November 26–29
IAFE Annual Convention
Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV www.fairsandexpos.com
January 7–12, 2018 AIMS Safety Seminar
Hilton Galveston & San Luis Resort, Galveston, TX www.aimsintl.org
February 6-9, 2018
50th IISA Gibtown Extravaganza Gibsonton, FL
www.gibtownshowmensclub.com
February 9, 2018
OABA Annual Meeting & Chair’s Reception Sheraton Tampa East Hotel, Tampa, FL
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ASSOCIATION H ASSOCIATION BUZZ
Your Fall Finale and Happy Thanksgiving! Bob Johnson, OABA President
A
s you finish up your 2017 entertainment season at county and state fairs and gear up for community events and other fall festivals, we know you are looking forward to seeing what’s new at the IAAPA Attractions EXPO in Orlando this month. In addition, many of you are making plans to attend the IAFE’s “Striking it Rich” convention and trade show in Las Vegas, November 26–29, at the Paris Hotel. In 2018, the IAFE convention moves to San Antonio, Texas for a few years. An event not to miss is SLA’s Exhibitor’s trade show and Annual Meeting, with President Debbie Powers presiding. Debbie plans to have a fabulous SLA Gala on Tuesday evening. This ShowTime issue features the many OABA, SLA and IAFE events taking place in Las Vegas at the Paris and Bally’s Hotels, along with photos of last month’s OABA Jammin’ Jamborees and visits made by Al DeRusha and myself. Once again this year, the OABA is sponsoring the IAFE’s Keynote Speaker on Wednesday morning, Amberley Snyder, a young lady with
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an inspirational presentation you won’t want to miss! See her brief bio in this ShowTime’s IAFE convention highlights. The OABA is sponsoring two informative educational programs involving both fairs and carnival executives you don’t want to miss. They are highlighted in the schedule of “Key Events” in this issue. I look forward to seeing many of you either in Orlando for IAAPA or in Las Vegas for IAFE/SLA as well as NICA’s events. Last year it was Hurricane Matthew bearing down on the East Coast, and this year we experienced Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria causing destruction through Texas, Louisiana, and other southern states. There was much devastation in these states and Puerto Rico, as well as many Caribbean islands. Hopefully any
late season hurricanes will miss our fall events and all of you will be safe. With the most deadly massacre in U.S. history recently taking place in Las Vegas, we were glad to hear some members of the Bishop Rides family, who had booked a ride at this festival as well as food concessions members, were unscathed. This surreal tragedy still leaves many of us in shock and stunned by this senseless act of a lone madman. We wish you a strong finish to your 2017 season, and hope all of you have safety “top of mind” as you drive to your next location or back home to your winter quarters. A Happy Thanksgiving for all as your families give thanks, as our OABA staff families do, for the many blessings in our lives. H
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | NOVEMBER 2017
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Scott MacNeill of Deggeller Attractions sent this photo from the Maryland State Fair. From left, are Andy Deggeller, Mary Christine Smith, Jim Ingram, Lisa Luehrs Cummings, Jamie Deggeller, Scott MacNeill, Heidi Deggeller and Beau Pugh.
Enjoying the trade show in Gibsonton, from left, are Ruth Bohlander and Brandon Nieukirk with Poor Jack’s Amusements; and Brent, Nikki and Anna Bair with Bair’s Concessions, Lancaster, OH.
Seen at the La Vergne, TN Oldtimers Festival, from left, are Hayden Stanley, Christine Powell; Patty Sweet, Paradise Amusements, Ocala, FL, and her sons, Levi and Trey.
From left, after a night at the IISA clubrooms in Gibsonton, are Dominic and Helena Vivona, Amusements of America, and Billy Clark, Smokey Mountain Amusements.
Dave Cavallaro, owner of the Mouth Trap, which sells cheese curds at the Minnesota State Fair, takes a break with Shirley Walz, who has managed his concession for the last five years.
From left, at Brad Ribar’s roasted corn stand in St. Paul are Kyle Hoppe, Joe Huddle, who is married to Ribar’s daughter, Libby, and Brad Ribar, who said this was the best in his 33 years at the fair.
Rob Miller, left, Miller Concessions, Foley, MN, ponders a question from Tom Powell, Jr. at the Minnesota State Fair on a record opening Monday when attendance was more than 144,000.
Taking a well-deserved rest at the Minnesota State Fair is Mike Sandefur, who helps Deputy General Manager Jim Sinclair supervise the independent midway operation.
Working hard in the popper for Netterfield Concessions at the Minnesota State Fair, from left, are Pedro (Peter) Jarillo, Janice Lane, and her grandson, Christopher Lane.
From left, are OABA Directors Holly Swartz, Hitch-Hiker Mfg.; Lance Moyer, Butler Amusements, and Rick Reithoffer, Reithoffer Shows.
Steve Vander Vorste had the top grossing ride with his Crazy Mouse Roller Coaster, and the 10th highest grosser with his Flipper Coaster. Kyle Wisdom’s Laser Fair was second with its Starship 3000, followed by Rick Reithoffer of Reithoffer Equipment Company’s Sky Flyer; the New York New York Funhouse of Gloria and Bobby Myers; Puppy Express owned by Maurice and Doug Haworth’s Prime Pacific; Reithoffer’s Galaxy Roller Coaster; Joey Weaver’s Wave Swinger; the Air Max owned by Maria and Chad Duchow’s Mr. Ed’s Magical Midways; and Tilt, Thomas and Michael Lauther’s Lauther Amusements. Rounding out the top 15 were Wisdom’s Equinox; Arabian Daze Fun House, Wayne and Guy McDaniel; Magic Maze Glass House, Michael Wood; Dragon Wagon Coaster, the Haworths, and Monkey Maze Glass House, Patrick Sheridan’s Alamo Amusements.
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ASSOCIATION H ON THE EARIE
On The Earie continued Candy Anderson, whose slogan is “Keep it Small, You Keep It All,” came in first, second and third in games with a bottle up and two goblets. Gary Oren Concessions was fourth and fifth with long range basketballs, and 11th with a mini-basketball. Casey Trejo was sixth with a Ring A Bottle. Jack D. Cook and Tony Cassata of Cassata Concessions were seventh with a whopper water race, and 14th with a rising water race. Dennis Bossman of Midwest Concessions was eighth with a Shoot Out the Star. Dave and Monica Potopas were ninth with a Roll Down and 13th with milk cans. Michael Winchester and Tommy LaMotta of Diversified Amusements came in 10th with a Star Dart, and William Thornberry came in 15th with a Balloon Pop Water Race.
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Dave Cavallaro of Cavallaro Concessions, Mendota Heights, MN, who sells lemonade stands during the Gibtown trade show, has an inside stand at the Minnesota State Fair that is called the Mouth Trap. It sells cheese curds and the lines are long for all 12 days of the fair. “We had another bumper year at the fair. We grossed $1.3 million, which is up 17 percent over last year’s gross sales. It is an amazing product, and when prepared properly is a huge hit. We purchase all the cheese, 80,000 pounds, from Ellsworth Creameries in Wisconsin, although much of the milk used for making all that cheese is contributed by many Minnesota dairy farms. This was my 15th year at my home state fair.” Cavallaro complimented the fair. “The staff at the Minnesota State Fair is
truly one of a kind, and is very accommodating to work with. When you get 11 out of the 12 days with perfect weather, it doesn’t hurt. We had rain one day, but we are located inside the food building, so when it rains we get slammed.” I talked to Brad Ribar, who sells roasted corn, and he came close to grossing a million dollars. He charges three dollars an ear, the same as the last 10 years. He said this was his best year ever in the 33 that he has worked the fair. Ribar said the corn crop came in later than usual this year, “and it was iffy whether we were going to get what we usually do, on time, but we wound up with wonderful corn.” Please send news to tomp@oaba.org, or call 615-319-1258. Have all great days, Happy Thanksgiving, and God Bless! H
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H FEATURES
Signs of Life for Circus Industry at the State Fair Circus economics work better under the structure of a state fair because there are no touring costs
By Charles Passy
W
hen the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus shut down earlier this year, ending a nearly century-and-a-half tradition, many wondered if it would mark the death of the circus industry itself. But at the Big E, the show must go on. Since adding its own circus almost 50 years ago, a New England fair officially called the Eastern States Exposition has seen attendance double to some 1.4 million visitors a year. “The circus has universal appeal,” said ‘America’s G. Wayne McCary, the fair’s former chief Largest Living Carousel’ executive who had the “vision,” as he was part of describes it, to bring the big top to the a Sept. 27 performance of Big E. the Big E Super Under the structure of a fair, circus Circus at the Eastern States entertainment is more manageable from Exposition. a financial perspective, said Mr. McCary— PHOTO: JOHN ELDER ROBISON that is, there are no touring costs. “You don’t have the expense of the train,” he said. The Big E show, with just one ring, is also physically smaller and therefore less expensive to produce. Other events, including state fairs in Utah and North Carolina, are picking up on the Big E’s idea and presenting their own circuses – in certain cases partnering with Mr. McCary and the production company he is associated with, Billy Martin Presents. Now Circus artist Wesley that Ringling is no longer visiting cities Williams throughout the country, some in the fair pedals around the big top on world expect the trend to grow. a 25-foot-high “I think it’s an open door,” said Rick unicycle at the Big E Super Vymlatil, chief executive of the South Circus. Florida Fair and first vice chair of the PHOTO: JOHN ELDER ROBISON International Association of Fairs & Expositions. In the post-Ringling age, there is still no denying the drawing power of a high-wire artist or a clown – or even one of those animal acts that are frowned upon by animal-rights activists. This year, the Big E show featured a display of 18 horses; in the past, it has featured elephants. The circus, said Eugene Cassidy, the Big E’s current chief executive, is just “a great big piece of American history.”
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Statue Duo Design was one of the performing acts in the Big E Super Circus. PHOTO: JOHN ELDER ROBISON
Mr. McCary, who retired from the Big E but keeps an eye on its big-top extravaganza, acknowledges he wasn’t the first to bring a circus to the fair world, noting the natural link between the two family-friendly attractions. But he took things to a new level by hand-picking acts and assembling his own show rather than booking a touring circus. The show clocks in at about an hour and incorporates a host of novelty acts. This year, they ran the gamut from the “Amazing Sadrak,” a contortionist who manages to worm his way into a small fish tank, to Tulga, the “Mongolian muscle man” who hoists a hefty wooden beam as if it were a matchstick. To round things out, two clowns, Steve and Ryan, work in a bit that involves no shortage of buckets of water. And a stentorian-voiced, sequin-jacketed ringmaster, John Kennedy Kane, formerly of New York’s Big Apple Circus, keeps the crowd “oohing” and “aahing” at all the right times. He also calls for a moment of silence during the show’s ultimate nail-biter, when circus artist Wesley Williams pedals his way precariously around the ring atop a 25-foot-high unicycle. H
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FEATURES H On Tuesday, the IAFE welcomes Greg Peterson of the social media sensations, the Peterson Farm Bros. The Bros. produce entertaining and educational videos on YouTube (www.youtube.com/ThePetersonFarmBros) and post continuous farming and video updates to their social media pages, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Peterson Farm Bros.’ parody video titled “I’m Farming and I Grow It” was a viral hit and received more than five million views in more than 200 countries in two weeks.
in Las Vegas 2017 IAFE ANNUAL CONVENTION
T
he 2017 IAFE Annual Convention & Trade Show will be “Striking It Rich” Nov. 26-29 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is the final IAFE Convention to be held in Las Vegas before the event heads down to San Antonio, Texas in 2018. But rest assured, the IAFE is going to close out Las Vegas in style. Here are a few of the highlights to look forward to at the 2017 event:
Captivating Keynote Speakers These speakers will have everyone talking. Kicking things off at the general session on Monday is Entrepreneur, Speaker, Television Personality, and Creator of the “5 Second Rule” Mel Robbins. An award-winning on-air analyst for a network news channel and, as one of their most prolific opinion writers, drives millions of page views online, she’s been named “America’s Outstanding Talk Show Host” by The Gracie Awards and has hosted original shows for A&E, Fox and Cox Media.
Motivational Speaker Amberley Snyder, sponsored by OABA, will close out the convention. Amberley grew up with a love for horses and a drive to compete in rodeo. In 2010, on her way to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, Amberley was involved in a brutal car accident that left her paralyzed below her waist. The accident changed her life but not her competitive spirit. Amberley’s top priority was not to walk, but to ride her horses again. Only 18 months after the accident, she was back in the saddle. She was voted the fan exemption contestant at the world’s richest one-day rodeo, The American. She competed with the best in the industry and received a standing ovation from over 40,000 fans in AT&T Stadium. You won’t want to miss Amberley’s amazing story. (cont’d on pg. 14) NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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Strike It Rich Gold Rush IAFE members will be Raisin’ for a Reason at the convention with the Strike It Rich Gold Rush on Sunday, Nov. 26 at Bally’s Skyview. The event will include appetizers and a live auction. Tickets are $100 and all proceeds benefit the IAFE Education Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at www.iafefoundation.com/shop. All tickets purchased in advance will receive a gold coin to be used at the drawing at the Closing Party on Wednesday. Eureka! Auction item donations can be made by filling out the form at www.iafefoundation.com/events.
Industry Leading Educational Opportunities The wide variety of educational workshops at the 2017 IAFE Annual Convention will help any attendee in Striking It Rich. Topics will include: H Transfer of Ownership and Business Continuity White Paper H Variety in Entertainment H 20-Year Project: What Will the Carnival at the Fair Look Like in 20 Years H 20-Year Project: What Will Entertainment at the Fair Look Like in 20 Years? H Creating a Culture That Keeps Employees/Volunteers Coming Back H Future-Proofing Your Event or Business H Are You Prepared When There’s an Amusement Ride Crisis? — What We Learned H What’s Ahead on the H-2B Visas Forefront & Seasonal Staffing H And so much more!
The Last Hurrah Say good-bye to Las Vegas at the Closing Party on Wednesday evening. This is the event everyone has been waiting for. During the Closing Party, coins will be collected and several will be drawn for prizes. The Grand Prize, sponsored by Etix, is a 2018 Convention Package featuring round-trip airfare to San Antonio, one free delegate registration, a pair of custom boots by Rios of Mercedes, up to six nights hotel accommodations, a Riverwalk cruise, and more! That’s not all! Other great prizes will be given away as well. But you have to be there to win, so don’t miss last call in Vegas, the Closing Party. H
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2017 IAFE Annual Convention 2017 IAFE ANNUAL November CONVENTION 26 – November 29 Paris & Bally's29 Hotels, Las Vegas November 26 – November • Paris & Bally’s IAFE/OABA/SLA Key Events in Las Vegas
FEATURES H
Hotels, Las Vegas
IAFE/OABA/SLA
Sunday, November 26
2017 IAFE Annual Convention November 26 – November 29 Raisin’ for a Reason IAFE Foundation Fundraiser Paris &- Bally's Hotels, Las Vegas Tickets are Required - Purchase the IAFE Registration IAFE/OABA/SLA KeyatEvents in Las Vegas Desk
Key Events in Las Vegas
6 PM – 8 PM
Monday, November 27 Sunday, November 26
10:15 AM - 11 AM
What Will Carnivals Look Like in 20 Years?
6 PM – 8 PM
11 AM – 4 PM Monday, November 27
12:45 PM – 2:30 PM
10:15 AM - 11 AM
3 PM – 4 PM
11 AM – 4 PM
Raisin’ for a Reason - IAFE Foundation Fundraiser Tickets are Required - Purchase the IAFE Registration Desk SLA Exhibitors’ Lounge/Trade Show - at Bally’s, Skyview Ballroom
IAFE Opening General Session What Will Carnivals Look Like in 20 Years?
CalPRO/OABA Meeting Followed SLA by SDCF - DelLounge/Trade Mar, CA Midway Meeting Exhibitors’ Show - Bally’s, Skyview Ballroom
12:45 PM – 2:30 PM SLA Annual IAFE Opening General Sessionof 2018 Officers 4:15 PM – 5 PM Meeting and Installation 3 PM 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM– 4 PM 4:15 PM – 5 PM
Tuesday, November 28
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
9 AM – 11 AM
CalPRO/OABA IAFE Chair’s Reception Meeting
Followed by SDCF - Del Mar, CA Midway Meeting SLA Annual Meeting and Installation of 2018 Officers IAFE Chair’s Reception
SLA Memorial Service followed by Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 28Are You Prepared When There is an Amusement Ride Crisis? 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM What We Learned - Presented by OABA 9 AM – 11 AM
SLA Memorial Service followed by Board Meeting
11 AM – 4 PM
SLA Exhibitors’ Lounge/Trade Show
1 PM – 5:30 PM
IAFE Trade Show
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
11 AM – 4 PM
5:30 PM – 6 PM
1 PM – 5:30 PM
Are You Prepared When There is an Amusement Ride Crisis? What We Learned - Presented by OABA SLA Exhibitors’ Lounge/Trade Show
IAFE Associates Board Selection & Credentialing Meeting (All OABA board members IAFE Trade Show who are IAFE members must attend)
5:30PM PM – 6 PM 6:30 PM – 7:30
IAFEParty Associates Board Selection Credentialing Meeting SLA Cocktail – Sponsored by Allied&Specialty Insurance (All OABA board members who are members must- Bally’s attend) Banquet Tickets are Required - Purchase atIAFE SLA Registration
6:30PM PM – 7:30 PM 7:30 PM –10:30
SLA Cocktail Party – Sponsored by Allied Specialty Insurance SLA President’s Banquet Honoring Debbie Powers - Paris’ Champaign Room
7:30 PM –10:30 PM
Wednesday, November 29
Banquet Tickets are Required - Purchase at SLA Registration - Bally’s
SLA President’s Banquet Honoring Debbie Powers - Paris’ Champaign Room
8:30 AM – 10Wednesday, AM Closing General Session November IAFE’s 29 OABA-Sponsored Keynote Speaker – Amberley Snyder 8:30 AM – 10 AM
2 PM - 2:45 PM 2 PM - 2:45 PM
5:30 PM – 7 PM 5:30 PM – 7 PM
IAFE’s Closing General Session OABA-Sponsored Keynote Speaker – Amberley What’s Ahead for H-2B Seasonal Labor in 2018 Snyder
Sponsored by OABA
What’s Ahead for H-2B Seasonal Labor in 2018 Sponsored by OABA
IAFE Closing Party OABA Circle Excellence IAFEofClosing Party Recognition
OABA Circle of Excellence Recognition
The OABA will have a reception booth in the IAFE registration area in the Paris Hotel. The OABA will have a reception booth in the IAFE registration area in the Paris Hotel.
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ASSOCIATION H PHOTO GALLERY
Photo Gallery
Jammin’ Jamborees
The Big “E”
PROGRAM
2017 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.
2017 OABA Jammin’ Jamboree Schedule
Seen at the SLA/OABA Circus Fundraiser at the Big “E” were, from left, Brad Brown, SLA President Debbie Powers, Elizabeth Negus, NAME CoChair Jeff Blomsness, Bob Johnson, SLA Executive Director Cindy Henning and Ed Dame with NAME.
Chef for the SLA/ OABA Circus Jamboree event was Carl Snoddy with NAME, pictured with Bob Johnson and Jeff Blomsness.
Twentieth Century Rides Brownsville, TX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 1 PBJ Happee Day Shows Marion, AR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 9 A Fantasy Amusement Co. St. Charles, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 18 Butler Amusements – Lance’s Unit Sacramento, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 19 Butler Amusements – Mick’s Unit Turlock, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 20 NAME/All Star Amusement Louisville, KY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 22 Rosedale Attractions & Shows La Plata, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 13 West Coast Amusements Victoria, BC, Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 14 NAME/Mid America Shows Centreville, MI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 20 Thomas Carnival Ft. Smith, AR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 24 NAME/Astro Amusements Tyler, TX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 26 Fiesta Shows/Firestone Financial Topsfield, MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 27 Wright’s Amusements Winnie, TX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 2 Powers Great American Midways Goldsboro, NC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 5 Gold Star Amusements DeRidder, LA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 8 Belle City Amusements Gainesville, FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 25 Reithoffer Shows Pensacola, FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 25 Mitchell Bros. & Sons Baton Rouge, LA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 31 Amusements of America Charleston, SC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 2
2017 Jammin’ Jamboree Totals
The Big E Circus Spectacular producer Billy Martin said the star-spangled attraction – one of many included in gate admission – had numerous turn away crowds under the 1,600-seat Circus Sarasota big top during its run. Blue skies and the economy teamed up to produce record-breaking crowds exceeding 1.5 million.
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West Coast Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17,100 Butler Amusements - Lance’s Unit . . . . . . . . 14,240 NAME/Mid America Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,175 NAME/All Star Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,892 Thomas Carnival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,539 Rosedale Attractions & Shows . . . . . . . . . . . 10,064 A Fantasy Amusement Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,400 Twentieth Century Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,025 Butler Amusements - Mick’s Unit . . . . . . . . . . 3,500 PBJ Happee Day Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,400 Frazier Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,000 TOTAL $100,335
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Thomas Carnival – Ft. Smith, AR
The fair’s front gate. Steve Pegg auctioning off these beautiful Thomas Carnival keepsake show posters.
Wanda Whalen loves her OABA apron! The live auction guys in action; Steve Pegg and Chris Atkins.
Having a fun time were Andrew Hanschen and his dad, John.
Every year for over 25 years, the fair board donates a bike for the auction. John Hanschen won the bid! One of the highest bidders for a Thomas Carnival poster was Dennis Bossman, pictured with Al DeRusha.
Kendrick Miller helped with the live auction.
Thanks to office manager Valerie Reyes for selling tip boards.
Charles Bridges works for food concessionaire Billy McKinney.
Chippy and Ray Ward were the highest bidders for the Sue Nichols paintings. NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
Jammin’ Jamborees continued NAME/Mid America Shows – Centreville, MI
The live auction guys doing a great job; Ray “The Guesser” and Blake Huston.
Mid America Shows held its Jamboree in Centreville.
Rick Huston and his friend, Carri Hoffman.
Petrus Moolman was the highest bidder for the OABA hat and jacket. Petrus is from South Africa, his fourth year on the show.
The 50-50 winners, from left, Amica Theunissen and Mike Diroff, pictured with Blake Huston and Ray, the auctioneer.
The theme for the Jamboree was “Back to the 80’s.” Ann Nowak dressed as Ferris Bueller’s girlfriend, Sloane Peterson. She’s pictured with Al DeRusha, who is “In His 80’s!”
Dave Perry and his son, Lawson, were the highest bidders for many auction items.
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The tip board guys; Paul Nachtrieb and Larry Wright.
Ricky Martin with his OABA hat and jacket. Mary Duvall spent three months crocheting this beautiful blanket which she donated to the live auction.
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NAME/Astro Amusements – East Texas State Fair, Tyler, TX Jamboree theme was “Back to the 80’s.”
The live auction dudes, Jason Wagner and Pat Repp.
Thanks to Jasmine Miller and dad Billy Willis for selling the tip boards.
Pat Repp pictured with his office manager, Jamie Culp.
Gregg Striowski, Sr. and Richie George pledged $400 for Jason Wagner and Pat Repp to perform a karaoke.
Brandon Nebauer modeled the Jamboree shirt.
Daisy and Shannon Towne were the highest bidders on many auction items. Richard Finkenstein and Ed Beery with their OABA shirts.
These party animals dressed for the party, from left, Wes Sparks, his wife Bridget, Roxann Wagner and Roxann Wagner (the first Roxann is the niece).
Puppy Roll Faribault, MN
NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
Jammin’ Jamborees continued Rosedale Attractions & Shows – La Plata, MD Attending the Jamboree was the Goetz family food concessionaires; Margaret, Leonard, Russell and Ken. Visiting from the Carroll County Fair, from left, Jimmy and Diann Linton, and Cindy and Terry Baker.
Jim Johnson, left, was the lucky winner of three pull tabs; the last one for $500! He donated it back to the OABA. Al DeRusha says, “Thanks Jim!”
Aiden Gaylin and Carl Leatherbury bid against each other for this beautiful Sue Nichols painting. Aiden won! Tom Gaylin presented a thank you gift to Mary Hartley for donating and bidding on many Jamboree items. Mary is the wife of OABA lobbyist Gregg Hartley.
In keeping with the Las Vegas theme, Tom Gaylin’s family – Joe, Katelyn, Michelle and Jason – wanted to auction off Tom’s 2017 Mercedes GLS 550. Tom’s response: “Yea, right!”
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The Jamboree theme was Las Vegas Nite. Michelle Farrow ran the roulette wheel.
Attending and supporting the OABA Jamboree were Washington, DC lobbyists with Cloakroom Advisors. Back row from left, Gregg Hartley, John Ariale and his wife Susan. Front row from left, Mary Hartley and show owners Barb and Tom Gaylin, OABA trustee.
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ASSOCIATION H PHOTO GALLERY
Photo Gallery OABA Visits Earl’s Rides – Amery, WI
Catching up on the latest news are long-time OABA members Gail and Chris Huston. Al DeRusha is pictured with Big Jake, the do-all guy on the show.
OABA Sr. VP Al DeRusha visited with show owners Jake Fink and his wife, Marie Neuber.
Peggy Neuber, long-time game concessionaire, was born and raised in the business.
Veteran game owners Nathen Hanzel and his dad Jim.
Working the Huston food trailer were Brittany Kolfenbach and Brandee Huston. The corndog has Al’s name on it!
GoldStar Amusements Membership Drive – Clay County Fair, Spencer, IA
NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
Contribution Fund PROGRAM
2017 OABA Contribution Fund Program Participants
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 First Prize $300 Second Prize $200 $100 Third Prize
Final drawing in February First Prize $3,000 Second Prize $2,000 $1,000 Third Prize
Silver Plan
Contribution from Concessions & Rides $10.00 per week
Monthly drawings April-October First Prize $400 $300 Second Prize Third Prize $200
Final drawing in February First Prize $4,000 $2,000 Second Prize Third Prize $1,000
Bronze and Silver Plans: If the carnival contributions exceed $5,000, OABA dues are waived for carnival.
Gold Plan
Contribution from Concessions & Rides $5.00 per day
Monthly drawings April-October First Prize $500 $400 Second Prize Third Prize $300
Final drawing in February First Prize $5,000 $2,000 Second Prize Third Prize $1,000
Gold Plan: If the carnival contributions exceed $10,000, OABA dues are waived for carnival.
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Doolan Amusement Co. Tina & John Doolan Frazier Shows 3 G’s Adam Schrum AJ Schrum Allie Carpenter Andrea Broetsky Ashley Broetsky Ash’s Lemonade Betsi Schrum Billy Carpenter Blazen Entertainment Broetsky Equipment Broetsky Foods
Broetsky SW Bryan Broetsky Cash Broetsky Dylan Tobias Elizabeth Landon Emma Tobias Frazier Shows Garfield Miller Garry Miller George Tobias Ginny Miller Jan Broetsky Jan Cavanaugh Jaxon Scales Jessica Johnson Julie Broetsky
2017 OABA Contribution Fund Ray Cammack Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71,740 Reithoffer Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,950 Powers Great American Midways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,760 Frazier Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,080 NAME/Astro Amusement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,240 Luehrs’ Ideal Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,120 Rainbow Valley Rides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,640 Skerbeck Entertainment Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,200 Deggeller Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,180 NAME/Mid America Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,100 A Fantasy Amusement Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,000 Rosedale Attractions & Shows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,105 Carousel Family Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520 Doolan Amusement Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 SwikaS Amusements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 TOTAL $134,135
September Drawing Winners BRONZE
Teri Kedrowicz Rainbow Valley Rides $300 Barbara Gaylin Rosedale Attractions & Shows $200 Julie Broetsky Frazier Shows $100
SILVER
John Stoorza Reithoffer Shows $400 Jay Russell Deggeller Attractions $300
GOLD
Chris & Jody Lopez Ray Cammack Shows $500
Guy & Charlene Leavitt Grandchildren Fund Brandon Ray Cammack Concessions Shows $400 Powers Great American Midways Mary Ousey $200 Ray Cammack Shows $300
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Lauren Lauther
Steven Jones
Mid America Concessions
Alan Putter
Piper Broetsky
Tony Jones
Mike Huston
Andrew Schoendienst, Jr.
Schrum Entertainment
Carousel FEC
Miles Huston
Ashley Kastl
Stephen P Broetsky
Angelo Cappetta
MJSS Enterprises
Bill Morton
Stephen T Broetsky
Patricia Thomas
Nagel Concessions
Brian Bradbury
Steve Broetsky
Deggeller Attractions
Pier Amusements
Brooklynn Retherford
Sugar Mana’s
Alex Brand
Richard Huston
Tobias Sky
Barrett’s East Coast Foods
Runyan Games
Bryan Creason
Tristan Scales
Bobo Concessions
Sylvia Wilson
William Carpenter
Brandon Concessions
Toby Runyan
NAME/All Star
Bungee Blast
Troy & Celicia Meadows
Cathy Deggeller
Troy Meadows
Carl Vance
Chris Robbeloth
Powers Great
Dawn Snoddy
Dale & Sharon Negus
Dennis Voss
DEA Games
Alan & Stefanie Wheelock
Greg Wilde
Deggeller Foods, Inc.
Bob & Suzette McKnight
JPB, Inc.
Deggler Attractions
Bobby Lyon
Kristina Rieder
Dennis Rowland
Brandon Concessions
Pat Blomsness
Dexter Oscar
Brian Cotham
Rainbow Valley Rides, Inc.
Giffin’s Enterprise
Corky & Debbie Powers
Teri Kedrowicz
Global Glow Toys
Fairin Dando
Rosedale
Happy Swing
Flores Sales
Jaden Leavitt
Heidi
Fonzone
Jayce Pacheco
Barbara Gaylin
Jamie & Andy Deggeller
Ianni Concessions
Joanne Leavitt
Jason & Joe Gaylin
Jay Russell
Jason Sales
Jody Lopez
John Smith
Kat’s Quarters
Jeff & Shelia Dean
Jossue Ibarra Osequera
Michelle Farrow
Cody Syler+B7:B34
Jill Wells
Juan Carlos Mendoza
Ray Farrow
Macneill Bull
Marc & Tiffany Janas
Juvenal Palafox Garcia
Sue Shreve
Old Tyme Photos
Mike Heaton
Kade Lopez
Tom Gaylin
Parks-Speedpitch
Mystic Air
Kate Ousey
Wayne Hinson
Pete Katz
Pam McDonald
Kirsten Ousey
Skerbeck Entertainment
Porky’s
Phil & Suzie Corl
Laura Howard Morton
Pugh & Sons Concessions
Power Play
Lopez Concessions
Cindy Koleff
R&A Concessions
Powers Learning Center
Rob Myers & Alieta Hopp
Ruthie Evans
Mad Hatter
Tim Koleff SwikaS Amusements
Robbeloth Concession
TM Concessions
J & C Enterprises
Robby Myers
Wheelock
Jimmy Snyder
T&T Concessions
Reithoffer Shows
Larry Koza
Luehrs’ Ideal Rides
Andrew Prestin
Paula Swika
Andrew Schoendienst, Jr.
Beau Pugh
Stephen Swika III
Andy & Lorelei Schoendienst
Bobby Pugh
Chris & Kristin Atkins
Gary Alberry
Luehrs’ Ideal Rides
Jan Husted
A Fantasy Amusement Co.
NAME/Mid America Shows
John Stoorza
Alan McKinney
Alvin Kennedy
Kevin Lamkin
Andrew Broomfield
Anyway-U-Lykit
Mario Rojas
Bill Johnson
Banks Huston
Michael Lauther
Charlotte Gudenkauf
Bechler Concessions
Mike Bronchik
J. George
Body Syler
Paul Smith
Jeff Mckinney
Cisco Amadon Diongue
Rick Reithoffer
Savannah Bradley
Jim Gudenkauf
Cody Syler
Robert Vinson
Shelby Wendland
Judy & Richard George
Cooper D. Huston
Tony Albanese
Tanner Lopez
Katie de Swardt
Gary & Lori Crabtree
Kelly Bayman
Hardins Concessions
Mary Johnson
Lucy Huston
Rich McMillen
Michiana Facepainting
Amusements
Attractions & Shows
Group
SILVER
Burt Morton Cameron Kastl Carrie Morton Chris Lopez Deborah Morton Diego Edwardo Palafox
American Midways
Dominic & Kim Palmieri Dylan Lopez Emily Bradbury Emily Machelor Eveline Howard-Morton Hailey Ousey Jacqueline Bradbury
Mario Garcia Tellez Marley Rae Houston Mary K. Ousey Michael John Ousey Michael Ousey Michele Leavitt Mike Ashcraft Mike Ousey Nancy Bishop Odyssey/OCF Pasyn Leavitt Riley Lopez Robot Ousey Roger Leavitt
Taylum Leavitt
GOLD
Trevor Stonerock
Ray Cammack Shows
Walker Retherford
A. Murray
Zane Bradbury NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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ASSOCIATION H SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
OABA–Duke Smith Memorial Education Fund 2018 SCHOL ARSHIP
Eligibility Requirements
H Each applicant must be a member in good standing of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association.
H Each applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a continuing student at a university, junior college or trade school or be employed in the mobile amusement industry. Each applicant must have plans of attending an accredited educational institution or trade school of their choice for their continued education.
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Statement Of Purpose
The Mobile Amusement Industry, Inc. (MAI), through its OABA–Duke Smith Memorial Education Fund, is interested in furthering the educational goals of young people within our industry. The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow and will require the education necessary to be competitive in an increasingly complex business environment. Individual and company contributions to the OABA–Duke Smith Memorial Education Fund and the annual generosity of Allied Specialty Insurance Company and Gold Medal Products provide opportunities to eligible applicants for financial assistance with advanced education.
Scholarship applications and all supporting documentation must be received by the OABA by December 31, 2017. Students who have applied for and/or received scholarships in the past are eligible to reapply by submitting updated transcripts and autobiography. (The deadline for fall transcripts is January 12.) If you are an OABA member, go to www.oaba.org, Member Area, Member Programs, Education and Industry Training Scholarships, OABA-Duke Smith Memorial Fund Scholarship, then click on Applications for forms. Or call the OABA office at 800.517.6222 for more information. IMPORTANT:
Applications and/or supporting documentation received after the deadline WILL NOT be submitted to the scholarship committee for consideration! H
CALL FOR DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS
I
f you or if someone you know is interested in serving as a Director of the largest national trade association serving the mobile amusement industry for over 50 years, please let us know by completing the Director Application form found on our website. This trade association is governed by a Board of Directors who direct and control the policies and programs of your association. There is a total of 24 Directors representing all segments of our membership in the U.S. and Canada. Directors, who are nominated by the Board and elected by members present at our Annual Meeting in February, serve two-year terms and may serve for up to ten years, or five consecutive two-year terms. The OABA holds three scheduled board meetings annually; two meetings take place at industry conventions in Orlando and Tampa, and the third takes place in the spring at a location chosen by
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the OABA Chair. OABA committee involvement is mandatory for all board members. Serving on the board is a great networking opportunity with other industry leaders. This year’s Nominating Committee is chaired by First Vice Chair Jay Strates; Trustees Mike Featherston, Tom Gaylin, Chris Lopez and Michael Wood; Chair E.J. Dean; Second Vice Chair Larry Yaffe; Third Vice Chair Debbie Powers, along with OABA members Tom Arnold and Ron Porter, who were appointed to this committee by Chair E. J. Dean, in accordance with the By-Laws. Go to our website, www.oaba.org, and click on the Director Application. Feel free to contact the office or any member of this Committee should you have an interest in serving on our board. All Director Applications must be received by December 15. Applications submitted last year will also be considered by the Nominating Committee. H
H OABA ShowTime Magazine | NOVEMBER 2017
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What do you need to take your show to the next level?
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OA Finance has the capital you need to make it happen. Let OA Finance make next season your best season.
Financing Your Outdoor Amusement Dreams Since 2000. Wade Muller wade@oafinance.net
Mark Walker mark@oafinance.net
Paul Muller paul@oafinance.net
Pam Muller pam@oafinance.net
816-581-0033 • 839 NE Woods Chapel Road • Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 • www.oafinance.net ShowTime_Nov2017_36pp_book.indb 25
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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H DOT REGULATORY NEWS
DOT Regulatory News FMCSA Proposes Reductions In UCR Fees The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has proposed reductions in the fees payable under the Unified Carrier Registration Plan. 82 Fed. Reg. 44143 (September 21, 2017). The reduction in the annual registration fees collected from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies for the UCR Plan will be effective for the registration years 2018, 2019 and subsequent years. For the 2018 registration year, the fees would be reduced below the current level by approximately 9.10% to ensure that fee revenues do not exceed the statutory maximum, and to account for the excess funds held in the depository. For the 2019 registration year, the fees would be reduced below the current level by approximately 4.55% to ensure the fee revenues in that and future years do not exceed the statutory maximum. On March 14, 2017, the UCR Board of Directors voted unanimously to submit a recommendation to the Secretary for a reduction of registration fees collected by the Plan for 2018, with a subsequent upward adjustment in 2019. The requested fee adjustments are required by federal statute because, for the registration year 2016, the total revenues collected have exceeded for the first time the total revenue entitlements of $107.78 million distributed
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to the 41 participating states plus the $5 million allowed for administrative costs in running the UCR Plan. H DOT Updates Guidance For Autonomous Vehicles Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao has released a new departmental guidance policy on development of autonomous vehicles entitled “A Vision for Safety 2.0,” which replaces the Federal Automated Vehicle Policy Version 1.0 released in 2016. The new guidance notes that 94% of serious crashes are due to human error, and that adoption of advanced technology can help save lives. The guidance is intended to establish uniform national regulatory standards to promote innovation and developing and testing autonomous vehicle technology. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is also expected to issue a policy document on autonomous commercial motor vehicles in the near future. H FMCSA’S Van Steenburg Sets Out Agency’s Safety Agenda Jack Van Steenburg, Chief Safety Officer and Assistant Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, addressed the NPTC’s National Safety Conference and set out the agency’s safety agenda for the next few years. He began by noting that there were 4,718 fatalities involving heavy trucks in 2015, the last year for which complete records
are available, and that 10% of those fatalities resulted from trucks rear-ending other vehicles. But Van Steenburg stated that private fleets generally had a better safety performance than for-hire motor carriers — for-hire carriers comprise 53% of the trucking industry but are involved in 77% of total crashes. He also noted that the FMCSA regulates some 524,000 motor carriers and 5 million CDL drivers. The agency is focused on identifying and bringing into compliance some 2,900 high risk carriers that have a significantly higher probability of crash involvement than the overall fleet population. He said the FMCSA conducts about 8,000 inspections each year, and state enforcement agencies conduct another 8,000 motor carrier inspections as well. Van Steenburg also mentioned the following regulatory activities of the FMCSA:
H The Entry-Level Driver Training rule is scheduled to go into effect in 2020, with performance-based standards for all new and upgrading CDL drivers; training providers will be listed on the FMCSA website. H As of June 2018, CDL drivers will have their medical certificate data transferred electronically to their licensing states; eliminating the need for paper records. H There are currently some 55,000 Medical Examiners listed on the National
Registry of Certified Medical Examiners; the DOT Inspector General has engaged in six investigations of fraudulent medical exams, leading to three arrests. H The agency’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule will go into effect in January 2020, and include data on all positive tests and refusals to test; carriers will have to check the clearinghouse database on all driver applicants, with the driver’s permission.
H The FMCSA is waiting for the Department of Health and Human Services to establish standards for hair follicle testing to incorporate as part of the FMCSA’s drug testing protocol. H The FMCSA is also waiting for Congress to authorize and enact directives on standards for autonomous commercial motor vehicles. H The Electronic Logging Device rule will go into effect as scheduled on December 18, 2017, although vehicles outfitted with Automatic Onboard Recording Devices may operate until December 18, 2019 before they must have ELDs. H The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has stated that its members will not issues out of service orders for failure to comply with the ELD rule until April 1, 2018, although non-compliant drivers and carriers are subject to citations for ELD violations effective December 18, 2017. H
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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H ARNOLD SAFETY CONSULTING
ELD and Audit Updates By Eric Arnold, Arnold Safety Consulting
ELD
T
he ELD regulation will go into effect on December 18, 2017. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), which represents all the various police agencies which regulate trucking throughout the country, has announced it will not place drivers Out of Service until April 1, 2018 for failing to have an ELD. However, they will very likely issue monetary citations starting December 18, 2017. The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has continued to fight the ELD law, tooth and nail. However, they have just about exhausted all their options. They have been turned down by the Supreme Court, and last month had their latest effort defeated in the House of Representatives. I continue to be on the record that their efforts will fail. This regulation will be implemented, as scheduled, on December 18, 2017. President Trump has finally announced he intends to nominate an FMCSA Administrator. That person is Raymond P. Martinez, who is currently the Chairman and Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Mr. Martinez is an attorney and served in the State Department under George W. Bush. Prior to that he was the Commissioner of the New York DMV. He has no trucking experience. It will probably be 2018 before he is confirmed by the Senate.
Audits
FMCSA routinely conducts audits of motor carriers who have USDOT numbers. If you have a USDOT number, it is possible you may be audited. OABA members are all motor carriers. ‘Motor carrier’ is the term FMCSA uses to describe anyone who has a USDOT number.
Gull Wing Industries Working with the Carnival Industry since 1989 Contact us at:
www.gull-wing.com
Pack-Man 175 kw or 250 kw Quiet Power Tractor or Trailer Mounted
GFlex 400 Amp
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309 N.E. 1st Street P.O. Box 128 Alta, IA 51002 Toll Free: 800-838-1482 Fax: 712-200-1936
How likely an audit is depends on your CSA scores. The CSA scores are based on your roadside inspections and accidents. Whichever motor carriers have the most violations in roadside inspections and/or the most accidents get the highest CSA scores. CSA scores are percentiles that range from 0-100. A score of 98 signifies that 98 percent of the motor carriers against whom you are being compared have less violations than you do. Said another way, the scores are like golf — high scores are bad and low scores are good. If your CSA scores are high enough, FMCSA may select you for an audit. This is bad. FMCSA audits have become very intensive. FMCSA auditors are being instructed to very thoroughly scrutinize all compliance paperwork pertaining to the vehicles and drivers. An audit often takes multiple days; it is not uncommon for an audit to last a full week. Generally speaking, FMCSA auditors usually give you approximately a week’s notice before beginning the audit. The audit will take place at whatever address you have listed as your principal place of business. It is possible to negotiate with the auditor as to the timing of the audit. However, most auditors generally simply inform you they will be at your office at some future date, perhaps a week away, and expect you and your records to be there. If the audit takes place while you are on the road, immediately, it’s a disruption to your business. The auditor is based in the state where your principal place of business is. He is not going to travel on the road to whatever fair or festival you are working to do the audit. You must travel back to the winter quarters, with your safety records for the audit, which will probably take multiple days. The audits have become much more difficult to pass in recent years. Auditors are being forced to more thoroughly review your records. The longer they look for violations, the more likely it is they will find some. FMCSA fines are in the thousands of dollars. Audits are giant pain in the backside. They are disruptive, stressful and expensive. The best way to avoid them is to make sure your drivers and equipment are in compliance with the DOT regulations when operating on the road. H
Eric Arnold, President of Arnold Safety Consulting, Inc, is a former U.S. Department of Transportation agent, with 27 years regulatory and transportation compliance experience. His column will appear periodically in the ShowTime magazine. As part of your OABA dues, Mr. Arnold is available for free consultations regarding the DOT rules and regulations.
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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS H FEATURES
InsideGovernment the BeltwayFeature Title by Government Name by John Ariale, Cloakroom AdvisorsOfficlal – OABA’s Government Relations Team
Insights from the Hill — It’s Time!
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s the legislative year begins to wind down, Congress continues to face numerous legislative challenges that consume Members’ attention and energy. Before the year is over, Congress must reauthorize major federal programs, raise the debt ceiling limit, pass Fiscal Year 2018 spending bills, overhaul the tax code, and consider other key components of President Trump’s legislative agenda. While Congress tackles these big-ticket items, they are also laying the groundwork for the 2018 legislative year. The work being done behind the scenes does not necessarily receive the same attention that the marque items do; however, the legislative wheels — no matter how slow they turn — are indeed turning. Based on our conversations on the Hill, we believe that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte fully intends to consider a complete array of immigration legislation — both measures addressing enforcement matters and those designed to reform existing programs — over the coming months. As a result, we need to be ready to take full advantage of every possible opportunity to advance our agenda. Over the past few weeks, and for the foreseeable future, we have heard and will hear about efforts on Capitol Hill to address immigration enforcement measures such as increasing border security patrols, funding and building a border wall, and other measures like E-Verify and agricultural worker reforms. As I mentioned a few months ago, once these enforcement measures are addressed, we believe it is Congress’ intent to shift to immigration reform measures. While we continue to advocate for H-2B reform through the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations process (which will once again be a key subject of debate early in December), we have worked closely with key Members of Congress on committees of jurisdiction to look at immigration measures in general with an eye toward identifying a path forward on two specific legislative proposals that we helped to craft. Those provisions — Senator Thom Tillis’ Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2017, S.792 and Congressman Steve Chabot’s proposal, the Strengthen Employment and Seasonal Opportunities Now (SEASON) Act, H.R. 2004 — represent the only viable paths forward that deserves consideration by Congress.
It’s time to let our voices be heard loudly and clearly. You can lend your voice to this effort by contacting your representatives in Congress and asking him/her to consider supporting these proposals. When calling, you should ask your U.S. Senators to support S. 792 and add their name to the Save our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2017 by contacting Senator Tillis’ office at 202-224-6342, and contact your U.S. Representative and ask him/her to support H.R. 2004 and their name to the Strengthen Employment and Seasonal Opportunities Now (SEASON) Act by calling Representative Chabot’s office at 202-225-2216. It’s time to secure as many congressional supporters on these proposals as possible. Throughout the rest of the year, Congress will consider immigration enforcement measures. As these enforcement measures are considered, there may be opportunities for Members of Congress to consider the reform measures we have worked hard to advance. However, any effort to offer major components of the Chabot and Tillis bills as viable solutions to the H-2B problem, are enhanced if these measures are widely and broadly supported by other Members of Congress. For every new supporter we garner for one of these measures, we gain more credibility in our push for Congress to consider these measures. As we enter the final weeks of this legislative year, we need to end the year with widespread support for H-2B reform. As the legislative agenda for 2018 is developed, we want to begin the new year strong, bolstered by broad support for the Chabot and Tillis proposals. Only then will we have a chance to secure a stable, reliable and permanent solution for the H-2B visa program. It’s time! H John Ariale is a Principal at Cloakroom Advisors where he works with Gregg Hartley and William Fox as part of OABA’s Government Relations Team in Washington, DC. Cloakroom represents OABA before Congress and the Administration. NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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ASSOCIATION H CIRCUS MEMBERS
From The Center Ring Connecting & Protecting the Circus Industry! Rodney Huey, RAH PR Strategies
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OABA Circus Media Consultant
n spite of the challenges the American circus has faced this year, let’s take advantage of the Thanksgiving season to reflect on the myriad good tidings we receive from the American circus, the least of which is how the tenacious circus brings joy to countless fans from coast to coast on a daily basis. First and foremost, the Big Apple Circus is back “bigger and better than ever” featuring high wire phenom Nik Wallenda, signature clown Barry “Grandma” Lubin and animal trainer extraordinaire Jenny Vidbel. BAC opened strong on Friday, October 27 and officially kicked off its expanded season/itinerary with a Gala Opening on Sunday, October 29. BAC will play Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park through January 7 before launching a purported 40-city tour. The NYC-based circus will also present special performances for school groups and seniors, “adapted performances” for autistic children and Circus of the Senses performances for the hearing and visually impaired. Kudos to CEO Neil Kahanovitz and his staff and crew for giving us the circus comeback story of the year! Universoul Circus, now in its 24th consecutive season, plays Fairmont Park in Philadelphia (PA) November 2–19. Cirque Musica, produced by TCG Entertainment and headed by former Feld Entertainment marketeer Stephen Cook, boasts four stage productions: Cresendo, Heroes & Villains, Cirque Musica Symphonic and Cirque Musica Holiday Presents BELIEVE. Heroes & Villain plays for one night only in Springfield (OH) November 18, appearing with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. BELIEVE opens its holiday run in Thunder Bay, Ontario and Winnipeg,
Manitoba before turning stateside for the Thanksgiving holiday with performances in Fargo and Grand Forks (ND) November 25 and 26 respectively. Then it’s on to Billings (MT) and Omaha (NE). Cirque du Soleil’s touring productions are running at full speed this month. Crystal: A Breakthrough Ice Experience, representing Cirque’s first attempt to marry circus acts with ice skating (imagine that!), appears in St. Charles (MO) November 2–5 and Minneapolis (MN) November 9–12. Varekai is in Allentown (PA) November 9–12 and Syracuse (NY) November 15–19, and then closes the month in Biloxi (MS). Luzia plays Atlanta (GA) through November 19. The boutique Circus Venardos, founded in 2014 by former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Ringmaster Kevin Venardos, fulfills two separate playdates in the Mobile (AL) area November 1–12. Cirque Italia’s Water Circus’ Silver Unit opens the month in Colorado Springs (CO) while CI’s Gold Unit is in Florence (KY) November 2–5. The Great Shrine Circus featuring Spiderman will entertain Texans in the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio November 2–5, then move on to Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence (MO) November 16–19. In Florida, the Sahib Shrine/Garden Bros. Circus appears in the Bradenton (FL) Area Convention Center November 6–7. On the international scene, the 4th China International Circus Festival will be held in the Guandong Province town of Zhuhai November 18–25. The CICF is “a state-approved international competition
Help the OABA work to preserve the legal rights of Circuses and USDA licensed animal exhibitors with regard to exotic animals. Contribute a minimum of $25 to the OABA Circus Fund to receive your Elephant Pin — Get them before they’re gone! Your contribution will be listed in the next issue of ShowTime magazine. Donations of $50 or more will be listed in ALL issues of the campaign year. Make your check payable to: OABA Circus Fund and send it to: OABA, 1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045A, Winter Park, FL 32792
“Luke” is a male Asian Elephant, age 24, owned by Two Tails Ranch, Williston, FL
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2017 Circus Fund
and event for cultural exchanges” that, according to chinadaily.com.cn, will feature “28 teams of circus actors from 20 countries, including Ukraine, Sweden, Italy and Canada.” Also in China, American circus clowning was well represented last month at the AEMI World Clown Conference in Shanghai. Among noted American attendees were former Ringling clown Ruth Chaddock, International Clown Hall of Fame Executive Director Greg DeSanto, former Clown College Dean Dick Monday and his performing partner Tiffany Riley, juggler Andrew Scharff and stiltwalker Sarah Thomas. The 3rd Australian Circus Festival, presented under the Stardust Circus Big Top, will draw artists from around the globe to compete for top prizes in Blacktown, New South Wales, November 13–16. The 1st African Circus Arts Festival will be staged in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa November 27–29. Organized by the Ethiopian-based Fekat Circus, the festival’s goal is to “create the occasion
The Big “E”/NAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,050 Kathleen Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 Forepaugh-Lubin Tent No. 2, CFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415 National Showmens Association, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Paul Gutheil – in fond memory of Johnny Welde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Felix Adler-Paul Binder Tent No. 12, CFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Paul Gutheil – in fond memory of Dick Kohlreiser “America’s Favorite Dogcatcher” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Bill & Chris Schreiber – in memory of Johnny Welde, bear trainer, circus man & friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Kenneth Fake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Robert K. Momyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 James Rittle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 TOTAL $7,325
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.
NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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From the Center Ring continued for young African circus artists to express themselves and their talent.” The festival will feature circus groups from several African nations, including Egypt, Madagascar, Kenya and Senegal. In circus education news, Circus Center in San Francisco (CA) offers daily aerial and acrobatic classes throughout the month. Nimble Arts, an aerial instruction company created by New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) founders/sisters Elsie Smith and Serenity Forchion, will be convening two regional workshops this month: an “integrated movement workshop” in conjunction with Axis Dance Company of Oakland (CA) November 4–5; and “an intro to teaching aerials” in Wisconsin hosted by the Madison Circus Space November 8–12. NECCA is also presenting the 21st Fall Circus Workshop in its new trapezium space in Brattleboro (VT) November 9–12. The 5th Annual Juggling Ball of Circus Harmony is slated for November 18 in St. Louis’ City Museum. CH’s founder Jessica Hentoff has a lot to celebrate this year as two of her former students – Sidney “Iking” Bateman and Melvin Diggs – landed professional contracts with Cirque du Solei’s Luzia. Youthoriented Circus Juventas in St. Paul (MN) will close out its fall session November 18 and open its winter session on the 27th. In the “life after Ringling” department, tiger trainer Alex Lacey is performing in La Fête Lilloise du Cirque in Lille, France that runs through November 12; Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson is now Artistic Director of the newly formed Opera del Sol in Orlando (FL); diminutive comic Paulo Dos Santos is performing with the Zippos Circus in England; trapeze ace Ammed Tuniziani is flying high with the Big Apple Circus; and riders from the Tchalabaev Cossack Troupe are performing with Universoul. Pope Francis hosted traveling entertainers (including circus artists) at the 70th annual gathering of Italy’s National Association of Traveling Performers at The Vatican this summer. The Holy Father dubbed the circus “a handcrafted beauty” and urged the artists to “not be discouraged, [and] continue on your path so that our cities and our countries do not lose the taste for this peculiar beauty through your presence, your art, your joy.” Perhaps one day Pope Francis will replace St. Julian the Hospitaller as the patron saint of the traveling circus! H
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Capitol Update By Joan Galvin, OABA Government Relations Consultant
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ello from The Hawkeye State, where Bob Johnson and I are joined by Marla Calico from IAFE at the Iowa fall meeting of Ag America, a group of state agriculture commissioners and directors. Marla made an amazing presentation about the positive economic and civic impact of fairs on local communities and the critical role that fairs play in educating our youth. Of course, she also highlighted the vital role that the mobile amusement industry plays in all of this. As we are attending this meeting, several areas of our country severely impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria are working to ensure that Congress and the Administration send critical disaster relief where it is needed most. While communities are rebuilding and the agricultural sector recovers, we are almost immediately seeing a familiar pattern play out – workers are migrating to critical jobs in hurricane recovery efforts, such as debris removal. The gap that is left behind will impact the construction, landscape, agriculture and mobile amusement sector as scarce workers, seasonal and otherwise, are harder and harder to find and retain. To that end Bob Johnson made a plea to the state agriculture officials at the Iowa meeting to engage with their Congressional delegations and the Administration to seek emergency relief from the H-2B caps for those operating in states impacted by the hurricanes. Commissioner Sid Miller of Texas has already stepped up and contacted his delegation Marla Calico, Bob Johnson and Joan Galvin in front of a portrait of Norman Borlaug at the World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa.
for their support. We are hopeful that others will follow suit. It is an undisputed fact that state, county and regional fairs are a showcase for American agriculture and that our industry is one of the keys to their success. So as Congress looks to reforms to the H-2A guest worker programs, we should be mindful of the opportunity to link the critical role of fairs and fair workers for possible inclusion in new agriculture based visa programs, as well as our continued efforts at H-2B reform. By all working together we will continue to push hard for needed relief and reforms to ensure the continued success of our mobile amusement industry! H Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain, Joan Galvin, Texas State Representative Doc Anderson and Bob Johnson at the Ag America meeting. NOVEMBER 2017 | OABA ShowTime Magazine H
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Carnival Kid Utilizes Technology to Change the Industry G rowing up on a carnival has its perks.
Chris Leavitt used to run around the fair after hours with his cousins, riding rides, playing games and getting into mischief. “Good memories,” Leavitt said. “It was like growing up at Disneyland.” It wasn’t all just fun and games though. Leavitt learned the value of hard work in his family’s business, Ray Cammack Shows. He had his own hot dog cart at age eight and a shaved ice stand at 15. He worked his way up to vice president with RCS and when his children were born, he left the company to be able to be home with his young family. He also saw an opportunity. In Leavitt’s 30 years in the carnival business, he learned the ins and outs of event management and saw the struggles the industry faced. It’s a business based on cash, he said, and theft is a major issue as is accurate reporting on everything from inventory to employee schedules. Making sure the event-goer has a positive experience and stays for a good amount of time is also important to event management. Leavitt wondered how technology might address all of those concerns and improve the business. He started Ecash Systems, a reloadable card system that can be used for ride passes, games and concessions,
admission, pre-sale tickets, and even parking. The system also offers real time transactions and gives operators superior tracking and reporting. Leavitt said the system can be customized to work for any fair or festival. Customers load money to an RFID card at kiosks located around the event, which Leavitt says is eliminating the exchange of actual cash and helping event operators reduce theft. Leavitt said his clients are seeing a 10-25 percent increase in profits using his system. “I’m taking the knowledge I learned in the carnival and adding technology to make it work for any event operator,” Leavitt said. Fair operators can also see reports for employees, ride inspections and inventory with the system, making Ecash Systems an all-in-one answer to many event concerns.
“The industry really needs this,” he said, explaining that the carnival industry is several years behind other industries in terms of technology. Leavitt, a third generation fair operator, said he understands the needs of an event and can make the technology work for any event, even the ones that move frequently. Mick Brajevich, CEO and President of Butler Amusements, Inc., said the system is fantastic. “Chris and his team designed and built a totally wireless, stateof-the-art cashless/ticketless system that’s so easy to use and maintain that you don’t need to hire any IT professionals,” he said. An unexpected benefit of Ecash Systems is the information coming out of the tracking feature. Leavitt said they’re seeing real data such as which rides, games and stands are getting the most traffic and the amount of time people spend at the event, how much they spend and where. “That data is priceless,” he said.
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