Funworld June 2010

IAAPA Board Nominations Wanted

IAAPA is accepting nominations for the 2011 Board of Directors. Nominations are due July 16, 2010. Qualification details and forms can be found at www.IAAPA.org. Please send your completed nomination forms to Susan Mosedale, EVP, 1448 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA, or via fax to +1 703/836-3036.

Bigger and Bolder Brass Ring

IAAPA is merging many of its individual awards programs under the Brass Ring banner for 2010, which will include a single marquee awards event at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 in Orlando. This new process and presentation will allow the association to strengthen the value and visibility of the IAAPA Awards Program for all participants and the industry as a whole.

The new Brass Ring Awards presentation will recognize IAAPA award winners in a fresh and lively format. The production will include awards for marketing, advertising, live entertainment, merchandising, guest services, and best family entertainment. The exhibitor awards will also be recognized at this event.

The event will be held in the afternoon on Wednesday, Nov. 17. Details on the combined awards program and application process can be found at www.IAAPA.org/membership/awards.

Nominate Your Peers for Service Awards

IAAPA is now seeking nominations for the 2010 Service Awards. Nominations are due Sept. 3, 2010. Nomination forms can be found at www.IAAPA.org/membership/awards/ServiceAwards/award_service.asp.

Nominations will be accepted for Lifetime Service, Outstanding Service, and Meritorious Service.

Please send your completed nomination forms to: IAAPA, ATTN: 2010 Service Awards, 1448 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA, or via fax at +1 703/836-1192. Questions regarding the Service Awards can be directed to Jan McCool at +1 703/836- 4800 ext. 747 or jmccool@IAAPA.org.

IAAPA to Establish Operations in Asia; Seeks Executive Director

The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is expanding its global operations to better serve its members in the Asia Pacific region. To lead this effort, IAAPA is now seeking an executive director to staff an office located in Hong Kong or Singapore. IAAPA Asia Pacific will be responsible for membership sales, service, education, and the Asian Attractions Expo. The executive director of IAAPA’s Asia Pacific operations will report to IAAPA’s president and CEO, Charlie Bray, and will work closely with the Asian Advisory Committee.

Please visit the IAAPA web site (www.IAAPA.org) for a full job description and application. Interested candidates can submit their CVs and applications no later than June 11 to Executive Director Asia Pacific Search, IAAPA, 1448 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia USA 22314 or via fax to +1 703/836-1192 or via e-mail to smosedale@IAAPA.org. Questions about the position or search process should be directed to Susan Mosedale, Executive Vice President, +1 703/836-4800 ext. 766 or smosedale@IAAPA.org.

New Committees in Europe

IAAPA is a member-driven association, and as such it is of great importance to have the members set the direction of the organization. This is also the case with the new regional offices in Latin America and Europe, where advisory committees and subcommittees guide and recommend activities and the priorities of IAAPA Latin America and IAAPA Europe.

Beginning in 2010, IAAPA Europe developed a new committee structure to guide the member services in Europe. The committees are composed of 40 European industry professionals representing the entire attractions community in Europe.

The European Advisory Committee is chaired by Mats Wedin, CEO and president of Liseberg in Sweden, and former chairman of IAAPA. The committee oversees and advises on the overall strategy of IAAPA Europe and coordinates the activities of the three subcommittees: the IAAPA Europe Education Subcommittee, the IAAPA Europe Government Relations Subcommittee, and the IAAPA Europe Manufacturers and Suppliers Subcommittee.

The IAAPA Europe Education Subcommittee, which is chaired by Marcel Schonenberg of Beurs van Berlage in the Netherlands, plans and organizes the various educational programs in Europe, including the Euro Attractions Show conference program and the European Institute for Attractions Managers. He also oversees the adaptation and translation of additional IAAPA educational products.

The IAAPA Europe Government Relations Subcommittee is chaired by Alain Trouve of Compagnie des Alpes. On the subcommittee are representatives from most of the national attractions associations in Europe, and they oversee all of IAAPA Europe’s EU public affairs priorities and activities in Brussels.

Last, the IAAPA Europe Manufacturers and Suppliers Subcommittee advises on the planning and operations of the Euro Attractions Show as well as all other issues related to the supplier members such as amusement ride safety, liability insurance, and intellectual property rights. The subcommittee is chaired by Sascha Czibulka of Ride Trade.

The new European committees and subcommittees met for the first time in February 2010 in Brussels and followed up with a meeting in May at Liseberg in Sweden. Look for a full report of the Liseberg meeting in the August edition of FUNWORLD.

If you are interested in being part of future IAAPA Europe committees and subcommittees, please contact the executive director of IAAPA Europe, Andreas Veilstrup Andersen (aandersen@ IAAPA.org), for further information.