Page 54 2020 Advancing The Cause
With Clear Vision by Debbie Powers, Chair 2020
This may be a good time to introduce myself.
My name is Debbie Powers, and alongside my husband, Les “Corky” Powers, we own and operate Powers Great American Midways. The reason I am writing to you today is that I am also the 2020 Chair of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association. The theme this year for
the OABA was “Advancing the Cause with Clear Vision” – a wonderful thought. However, very difficult to execute in this unprecedented time in history due to the pandemic, which has provoked us to think outside our boxes of normality. For most of us, that is an arena we are totally not comfortable with. It takes chutzpah to walk along a path unchartered, but that is exactly where we have all found ourselves. As the Chair I was able to form a new committee which we named the Crisis Communication Committee. The mem-
bers of this Committee have worked diligently to come up with ideas and solutions to overcome the issues that we may or will face. We have written suggestions to follow up on this matter and have also been in close communication with our sister organizations including the IAFE! While reading a while back in one of my daily devotionals, I started to think how this message could be applied to what
we are experiencing today as a country and world. The author stated that if you are wise you must do four (4) things. I am paraphrasing the wording but hopefully maintaining the correct thought process. 1. Focus on the path ahead. If you continue to look in your rearview mirror, you very well may end up in the ditch or
worse, something far more tragic. So keep your eyes (and take your mind with them!) looking forward and learn any- thing and everything you can. 2. Stop looking for the easy answers. Typically, simplistic methods do not work. Having difficulty finding solutions
does not mean you are on the wrong path; it simply means you need to push on and try harder. 3. Continue on your path and recognize that not everyone will
go with you. There are many people in this world who abhor change and because of that, they cannot bring themselves to do what is necessary for survival. This should never deter you from growing, expanding your knowledge, and continuing to move to the next level. 4. Simply put, “Believe in Yourself.” When someone tells you
your ideas are crazy, smile and keep going. It is always possible they may not be the correct solutions but moving on to the next idea should be your focus. The bottom line to this message is that success is an argu-
ment you cannot refute, but usually there has been a hefty price paid.
We, as organizations, whether fair boards, carnival com- panies, or independent concessionaires, need to stand strong together, sharing ideas (even if crazy) to restore what has been taken from us to get back on track to open our fairs! After all, we are partners in this thing together. We need to restore health and prosperity to the industry we all love and cherish!!!
Faircracker SUMMER 2020
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