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The 2003 IAAPA Annual Membership Meeting will be held during the IAAPA Convention and Trade Show on Wednesday, November 19, at 8:30 a.m. in room S310 E.
During this meeting, the Nominating Committee will present nominations for election to the IAAPA Board of Directors. The Constitution and Bylaws of IAAPA, effective since March 9, 1992, provides the following:Article VII, section 3(a), of the bylaws states that “nothing herein contained shall prevent active members other than those recommended by the committee from being voted upon for directors, provided the nomination is duly made and seconded at the time the election is held. Said nominees’ names must be presented in advance in writing to the executive director and signed by five active members of the association 10 days prior to the commencement of the annual meeting of the association . . .”
To comply with the procedure outlined in the bylaws, any active member wishing to make nominations for directors must submit the name(s) signed by five active members of the association to Clark Robinson, IAAPA, 1448 Duke St., Alexandria, Va. 22314.
Benavent Promoted to Vice President Ana Elisa Benavent, CAE, has been promoted to vice president of membership and marketing services for IAAPA.
Benavent, formerly the manager of membership and marketing, will focus on IAAPA’s membership recruitment and retention efforts and ongoing development of IAAPA marketing programs. Additionally, Benavent will develop and implement marketing strategies to promote IAAPA products and services, IAAPA Europe, and all training services and seminars.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge as we build an even stronger membership-oriented organization that will continue to serve the entire amusement park industry and to increase the quality of our association’s products and services and the value of being an IAAPA member,” she says.
Before joining IAAPA in 1999, Benavent was the general manager of the Latin American Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions based in Mexico City. In this role, her duties included servicing more than 500 members in 14 countries, both directly and through their national associations in the fields of educational and training resources, development of local industries and associations, strategic planning, and direction of the industry.
IAAPA Sponsorships Help Exhibitors
Exhibitors should consider joining in IAAPA’s sponsorship opportunities. Studies of sponsorship programs show that they can increase your company’s visibility and generate greater attendance at your booth, which means an increase in sales leads.
IAAPA’s sponsorship program offers exhibitors many exciting opportunities to maximize exposure at the IAAPA Orlando Convention and Trade Show. Sponsors will realize many benefits through participation in the program. Not only will they receive greater corporate visibility at the trade show, but sponsorships can help differentiate them from competitors and increase exposure.
Available sponsorships are the General Manager and Owners Breakfast, the What’s New Theater, the Brass Ring Awards, and the Waterpark Social.
For more information about the sponsorship program and other opportunities, please contact Karen Staley at 703/836-4800 or send an e-mail to kstaley@iaapa.org.
IAAPA Press Office On-site services for the media will be available at the IAAPA Press Room, located in rooms S210 B/C of the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South Complex.
Members of the media can register and pick up their badges in the Press Room on November 18-21, from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday, November 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Computer and Internet access and exhibitor media kits will be available. IAAPA staff press contacts are Scott Towle, Beth Robertson, Joel Cliff, Lisa Tilt, and Nicholas Wolaver.
A Fabulous Day of Fun and Fashion IAAPA Board of Directors’ spouses have organized a fashion presentation and shopping experience for convention-goers. The event, which benefits Give Kids The World, will be held on Friday, November 21. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. with a luncheon at The Peabody. From there, participants take a short shuttle ride to Neiman Marcus located in the Mall at Millenia.
The Neiman Marcus presentation, “Art of Fashion,” will highlight the latest trends of ladies’ ready-to-wear and accessories from designers such as Manolo Blahnik, Carmen Marc Valvo, Robert Cavalli, YSL, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Eskandar, St. John, and more. John Graff will be IAAPA’s master of ceremonies. During the runway presentation, eight models will show off what’s new in fashion. After the presentation there will be time to shop at Neiman Marcus and the Mall at Millenia.
“We are so excited to welcome IAAPA members to the newest Neiman Marcus store in the company, and equally thrilled to participate in an event that helps Give Kids The World,” says Georgiana Ungaro, public relations manager for Neiman Marcus.
The $50 ticket includes lunch, shuttle transportation, fashion presentation, and prize drawings for items such as a Jay Strongwater jeweled piece. There is only enough room for 200 attendees, so you need to act fast. To reserve your ticket, please call IAAPA at 703/836-4800 or register online at www.iaapaorlando.com.
Exhibitor Staff Badge Registration
Make sure your entire staff is ready for IAAPA Orlando 2003 by registering them in advance. When you register in advance, your badges will arrive in the mail before the trade show.
You can also register at iaapaorlando.com. Choose your company name, enter your IAAPA member number/passcode, and enter your information.
Tyvek Wristband Requests
IAAPA is using a wristband program to simplify exhibitors’ set up and take down, and to ensure that badges get processed in a timely manner.
Exhibitors are allowed to wear the wristbands, instead of their exhibitor badges, during move in and move out. The bands also provide full access to the trade show floor. Don’t forget to request your wristbands online at www.iaapaorlando.com/tyvek.html or call IAAPA at 703/836-4800.
Silent Auction Donations Needed
There will be a display in the central restaurant and demonstration area on the trade show floor where all pledged items will be on show from Wednesday through Saturday morning. There will be a catalog and bid forms for the auction items available on the stand.
The auction closing will take place at noon on Saturday, November 22, officiated by John Collins and John Graff.
While the booth is open there will also be an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets. There are some great prizes, including a travel package.
We are asking for raffle prizes, promotional goods, donations, and silent auction items, e.g. sports event tickets and memorabilia, park memorabilia, special destination visits, and company products.
Raffle prizes, donations, and items to be auctioned are needed. It would be very helpful if your company can help with any of these items. If you are able to support this project or have any questions, please contact one of the following people by e-mail: Cherie Collins, jpccollins@aol.com; Jane Anne Alter, jadalter@optonline.com; or John Graff at jgraff1@cox.net.
What’s New TheaterThe What’s New Theatre opening session will take place on the third floor of the South Lobby, Room S320, which seats 1,800. The show will be very high-tech this year and will focus on the “Faces of the Industry.” Accompanying the video segments about the new innovations will be an introduction by the president, general manager, or spokesperson for the company to talk about what’s new. Guests’ faces enjoying the park, attractions, or rides will also be part of the video.
PAPA Meeting Shows Strength in Numbers
The annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Amusement Parks Association (PAPA) was held at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Tipton, Pa., on July 23 and 24.The meeting began with the annual gathering of one of the oldest and most active state groups in the United States. Each attendee entered the DelGrosso Spaghetti Sauce Factory, which was stacked to the ceiling with walls of glass sauce jars bound in pallets.
The evening’s dinner started with a warm introduction by Steve Gorman, the PAPA president and General Manager of Waldameer Park, and wound through the staff of the DelGrosso park and factory. The factory tour that followed dinner demonstrated just how much effort goes into making spaghetti sauce.
We were told that so many family members get involved in the operation that the annual Christmas gathering occupies an entire house for the event.
The next day was the annual board of directors meeting, followed by an afternoon of fun at the facility.
The meeting covered a range of topics and issues—from marketing strategies for promoting Pennsylvania parks to rider regulations and legislation.
The association boasts past presidents as far back as 1935, beginning with R.L. Plarr from Dorney Park, in Allentown, Pa.
Pennsylvania has seven of the top 25 oldest operating amusement parks in the country. The people who make up PAPA have retained what it takes to be real winners in the amusement industry.
The best part of the event was getting the chance to swap ideas with the management team of the park. From all of us at IAAPA, thanks for the wonderful time at a great park.
NEAAPA Summer Meeting at Six Flags New EnglandOn August 13, 2003, the sun finally shown on New England as the New England Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (NEAAPA) held its annual summer meeting at the recently expanded Six Flags, New England in Agawam, Mass.
The 75-plus attendees were greeted by enthusiastic and gracious hosts during the day-long event. IAAPA President Clark Robinson was in attendance, as well as representatives from other member parks, attractions, suppliers and past presidents of the association. The afternoon featured a backlot tour of the property with an emphasis on operations, security, and marketing.
The board of directors held a brief board meeting in the afternoon, and then, after the cocktail hour, the staff amazed attendees with a traditional New England clambake. During the dinner, NEAAPA Association President Alan E. Ramsay welcomed the group and made a few remarks. “It’s amazing that it was exactly 90 years ago that in this very park that a group of concessionaires banded together with the same common goal—in that case, to oppose permit fees imposed by the local government on their businesses. This was the indirect creation of the New England Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions, organized here in the former Riverside Park.
“Now we are here 90 years later to show our thanks to Six Flags, New England for their generosity and support of one of the greatest amusement associations.” Ramsay then presented Ron Severt, general manager of Six Flags, New England and Tom Wallbridge, director of finance and a member of the board of directors of NEAAPA, with a plaque thanking them and the Six Flags organization for their support.
NEAAPA has more than 150 members— not only in the six New England states but around the country. NEAAPA members benefit from diverse educational programs, legislative lobbying, and a newly created scholarship program.
More information about NEAAPA can be found on the association’s web site, at www.neaapa.com
Efteling Named Park of the Year
Readers of the ANWB (Dutch Automobile Association) magazine De Kampioen (Champion), which has a circulation of 3.8 million, chose Efteling Park in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands, “Champion Amusement Park of the Year 2003.”
On August 20 the editor-in-chief of the magazine, along with Christian Farla of the “Miraculous Efteling Show” and Efteling host Pardoes, unveiled a life-sized wax seal at the main entrance building with the inscription: “Kampioen Attractiepark van het Jaar 2003.” The Efteling Park staff is honored by this award, which shows the park is moving in the right direction by focusing on fairy tales and the total family experience.
CAAPA Holds Summer Meeting
The China Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (CAAPA) successfully held its summer meeting in Harbin, China, from July 18 to 24. Presiding over the meeting was President Yu Chang Jia, who is also general manager of Dong Fang Amusement Park in Guang Zhou, Guang Dong Province.
The association is now made up of more than 300 members, of which 100 are amusement parks. Other members include consultants and suppliers. Recently a translated listing of members names and addresses was made available to international members interested in contacting Chinese association members.
One order of business at the Harbin meeting was to arrange a delegation to attend this year’s IAAPA convention in Orlando. CAAPA officials attending the convention are Yu Chang Jia, president; Bi Jian Bin, executive secretary; Liu Jing Wang, senior vice president.
© Copyright 2003 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. All rights reserved under copyright. Use of any content contained herein prohibited without the expressed consent of the publisher.