Call for Hall of Fame Nominees The IAAPA Hall of Fame was established in 1990 to celebrate outstanding achievement and contributions to the growth and development of the amusement park and attractions industry, one that, like few others, depends on the imaginations, talents, and visions of its dream builders. Since 1990, 66 industry pioneers have been honored, including Walt Disney, George Ferris, and Walter Knott. Inductees are not chosen by virtue of their personal success alone but rather for significant contributions to the entire industry, their communities, and the world. We are now accepting nominations for the 2004 Hall of Fame Award. Nominations are due by August 20. For a nomination form, go to www.iaapa.org or contact Mandy Fritz at +1 703/836-4800 ext. 747 or mfritz@iaapa.org. Call for IAAPA Awards Program IAAPA recognizes members through these exclusive programs. Visit www.iaapa.org for details. Big E Awards 2004 recognize live performances. From individual performers and characters to hi-tech and big-budget productions, nothing contributes to the atmosphere like live entertainment. IAAPA’s Big E Awards honor excellence in 11 categories. Brass Ring Awards 2004 program is an annual competition that recognizes excellence in marketing for amusement facilities worldwide. Categories for the competition include brochures, print advertisements, media kits, outdoor advertisement, web sites, sales presentation videos, television commercials, and radio commercials. The awards program honors marketing excellence, and generates publicity for members who are recognized. Spirit of Excellence Awards 2004 honor IAAPA member facilities that are committed to excellence in human resources and training. The winning facility will have effective programs that motivate and inspire employees. Souvenir Awards 2004 highlight the most creative and innovative offerings for guests. Except for the memories themselves, nothing reminds guests of the fun they had more than the keepsakes. Top FECs of The World Awards competition gives IAAPA family entertainment center members the opportunity to share their facilities and operation techniques with the world, and to be recognized for a job well done. The entry deadline for all awards programs is August 2, 2004. Edward Wiesinger, 52 Years in the Industry Edward Wiesinger knows a bit about the amusement industry. Known for founding, operating, and planning parks, Wiesinger has many other skills. His resume also includes credits as a performer, a producer of live shows, and, most recently, as the co-designer of a new park in Austria. Wiesinger began his carreer in show business on January 17, 1952, in Frankfurt, Germany, as a performer in a German ice show called Emperor’s Waltz. The show went on tour to Brazil, stopping in cities such as Santos, Sao Paulo, Campinas, and Rio de Janeiro. This springboarded Wiesinger into becoming the featured comedian in the Viennese Ice Revue, which toured locales in Europe, North Africa, and Russia, from 1953 through 1958. Wiesinger then went on to be the featured comedian in Casa Carioca Ice Show, a show put on for the United Stated Armed Forces, in Germany. Wiesinger’s career then turned toward the corporate side of the industry. From 1958 through 1968, he was vice president of food and beverage for Vienna’s Sports and Events Center, Soccer Stadium, and the Viennese International Horticultural Exhibition. During these 10 years, Wiesinger also produced several live shows with European musical big-name stars such as Catherina Valente, Vico Torriani, and Freddy Quinn. For the following four years, Wiesinger worked as general manager of Jim Tiebor’s Florida Dolphin Show, in Munich. The company presented dolphin shows in Japan and all across Europe. In 1972 Wiesinger and Jim Tiebor founded Austria’s first and only Safaripark in Gänserndorf, near Vienna. In 1987 Tiebor quit the company, and Eddie took control of the operation along with Roswitha Gaida, who became a junior partner. The park was sold in 1999. For the past few years, Wiesinger and Gaida have been planning and designing a new facility called Jungle Golf in Austria, just south of Vienna. Wiesinger has been active with the German Parks Association, the Europarks Council, and IAAPA. He also holds the Gold Medal for Services to the State of Lower Austria, Gold Medal “Henri Dunant” for Services to Austrian Red Cross, and has several decorations from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. On July 16, Wiesinger turned 70. (Happy Birthday, Ed!) Vidoni Honored by Tradeshow Week magazine as One of Top Tradeshow Managers Diane Vidoni, IAAPA’s manager of convention and trade show operations, was named one of the top 25 association trade show managers by Tradeshow Week magazine. The May 10, 2004, issue recognized her contributions to IAAPA and the meetings and conventions industry. “IAAPA congratulates Diane on this recognition,” says IAAPA President Clark Robinson. “We are proud of our trade shows, and we thank Diane for continually striving to enhance the experience for exhibitors and attendees.” Vidoni’s responsibilities at IAAPA include managing show contractors, transportation, safety, insurance, pre-show exhibitor relations, shipping, and logistics. She is also a key member of the team that plans the IAAPA Asian Expo, the largest amusement industry trade show in Asia. With more than a decade of experience in the convention, exhibition planning, and hospitality industries, Vidoni joined IAAPA in 2001. She previously worked for The Motley Fool company as exhibits manager and for National Trade Productions. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University with a concentration in marketing and international business. “I enjoy working with the IAAPA conventions team to plan some of the most fun and successful trade shows in the entire world,” says Vidoni. “I truly love my job and am honored that Tradeshow Week chose me and IAAPA for this honor.” The IAAPA Orlando Annual Convention and Trade Show is the twenty-sixth largest trade show in North America and the largest amusement and attractions industry convention in the world. IAAPA also owns the IAAPA Asian Expo and co-owns the Euro Amusement Show, the largest amusement industry shows in Asia and Europe. Marketing Look for 2003 Show Wins SNAP Award IAAPA won first place in the SNAP EXCEL awards for the “Masterpiece of Fun” attendee marketing campaign for IAAPA Orlando 2003. The competition recognizes and rewards the exemplary work of association publishers. Sponsored annually by the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP), the EXCEL program judges nearly 1,000 magazines, newsletters, scholarly journals, electronic publications, and web sites in the categories of editorial quality, design, overall excellence, most improved, among others. The EXCEL Awards Gala ceremony will be held during the SNAP conference on June 17, 2004.