OB P AE - b o ono, OB reiet ad CO AA UDT y Bb Jhsn AA P sdn n E Having just finished a great week in Tampa, with the Florida State Fair opening, NICA events, the OABA’s Board
meeting and 49th Annual Membership Meeting and election of Directors followed by our new Chair, Chris Lopez from Ray Cammack Shows’ reception, I am playing you know what…trying to get caught up from being gone for a week on other business.
One of the key events last week hosted by Charles Pesano, CEO of the Florida State Fair, was our annual Florida Fair Rides Amusement Committee meeting at his fairgrounds. We were pleased with the turnout, including FFF’s Ex- ecutive Director Lisa Hinton and President Gayle Hart.
In addition to Charles Pesano serving on this amusement ride
safety committee, Martha Leverock from the Greater Jacksonville Ag Fair was appointed by Adam Putnum, the Com- missioner of Agriculture to serve on this committee, Charles Panacek of Belle City Amusements is also a committee member. These meetings are open to the public and we were pleased to see folks from Strates Shows, the Texas State Fair, and Jim Tucker, President/CEO with the IAFE attending this meeting.
We received updates from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division on ride inspection
changes, insurance requirements and amusement ride deficiency trends, from Alan Harrison, Chief, Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection and from Michelle Faulk, SMA II, also with the Bureau. There is no, new legislative actions planned by the Department for the 2014 session. The Department inspectors were very busy that day finishing up ride and attraction inspections for the follow- ing day’s opening of the State Fair. If you haven’t seen the spectacular midway and line-up of many new rides, hopefully many of you will get there this year.
The Gibsonton, Florida IISA trade show attendance seemed to be down somewhat, but there was no shortage of buyers looking for last minute deals on rides, game stock and LED lights, among other purchases for their 2014 season. LED lights and “wraps” continue to set new trends in the mobile amusement industry and can literally brighten-up an old trailer, ride or other attractions on the midway.
I am off to attend the ASTM meetings this week in Ft. Lauderdale where some 400 amusement ride experts from all over the world will gather to help develop and refine standards for amusement rides and attractions. Many of these amusement ride and device standards are being implemented in other countries. One of the key standards being developed is the concept of “Supervising Companion” that I will talk more about in my next update.
Wishing all the very best and safety first with your Fairs!
Florida Amusement Device and Attraction Advisory Committee Meets The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services held a meeting
of the Florida Amusement Device and Attraction Advisory Committee on Febru- ary 5th. The meeting was held at the Equestrian Pavilion at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Bob Johnson with OABA is the Chairman of the Committee and Federation members Martha Leverock, Greater Jacksonville Ag Fair; Chuck Pesano, Florida State Fair; and Charles Panacek, Belle City Amusements; are all members of the advisory committee. Jim Tucker, CEO and President of IAFE was in Tampa and joined the group for the meeting.
Central Florida Fair Director of Agriculture & Education Stacey Wade Travels to Springfield to Judge IAFE Ag Entries
I had the pleasure of spending three chilly days this past October in Springfield, Mis-
souri with two fellow Florida Fair colleagues; Vina Jean Banks and Bettye Thompson and a handful of fair folks from around the country judging the IAFE Agriculture Awards. The group of judges who volunteered their time should be commended on a job well done because the task that lay ahead of them was not an easy one. We ar- rived in Springfield on Wednesday morning, had lunch and were then whisked off to the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds to start the judging, which lasted until early evening, and followed up by an amazing dinner courtesy of the Ozark Empire Fair. The judging resumed early Thursday morning and lasted the remainder of the day. The judges looked at hundreds of entries from all over the US, Canada, Japan, and Australia. It is amazing the work we can do in the Fair industry, the lives we touch and the positive changes we can make in our communities and in our world. There was a good show- ing of Florida submissions, congratulations to those Florida Fairs who did receive IAFE recognition this year. However, I encourage all of you to submit your programs, events, contests, photos; whatever it is you do at your Fair, to the IAFE, for a chance to be recognized for all the great things you do at your Fair. If you ever have the opportunity to judge these awards please do so. Not only do
you get the chance to see some amazing work being done at our Fairs, but the net- working alone is priceless. Respectfully submitted by: Stacey Wade, Director of Agriculture & Education Central Florida Fair
40
Charles Panacek, Belle City Amusements; Martha Leverock,
Greater Jacksonville Ag Fair; and Jim Tucker, CEO & President of IAFE at the Florida Amusement Device and Attraction Advisory Committee meeting.
Betty
Thompson at work at the
South Florida Fair
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48