Upcoming Industry Events
2014
FEBRUARY
Gibsonton, Florida
February 4-8, 2014
NJAA 19th Annual East Coast Gift & Variety Show
The Golden Nugget
Atlantic City, NJ
February 19-20, 2014
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President
John Maurer
1st Vice President
Scott Simpson
2nd Vice President
Angelo Cappetta
Treasurer/Secretary Doug Woodfield
Executive Director Kimberle R Samarelli
Legal Counsel
Lary I. Zucker
Registered Government Affairs Representative
Edward R. McGlynn
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From the Desk of
Kimberle Rolle Samarelli
NJAA Executive Director
I want to start this newsletter issue by saying I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Hanukkah! There's so much to be thankful for, and I want to say thank you to all the people who have touched my life this past year. Some may never know the myriad ways they've helped, but their amazing support and guidance brightened many a dark day.
To each and every one of my extended family, I wish you all an abundance of love and blessings during the holiday season and throughout 2014!
~
It was a fun, warm and productive week during IAAPA in Orlando last month. It's very nice to have a career where your family gets time to enjoy your job with you. The trade show is always great to see and experience, but when you have the opportunity to see it firsthand though your children's eyes and laughter, it makes it even better. What they find exciting and new also makes you feel extra special.
The business meeting on Thursday had a crowd of about 150 people. I apologize for the unfortunate breakfast mishap, but it was a mistake by the convention center. Thank goodness this time for the technology of having my confirmation confirmed from them; despite it being served in the hall and very late, I am happy to report that we received a FULL refund.
Our speaker, Chris Perry, from Wild Wadi Waterpark, Dubai gave an amazing presentation. We kindly thank him for the motivational uplifting and the "on point" presentation! It's so nice to have a take away and remember to watch the YouTube video he spoke about - it really is true. Here is the link:  | | Beautiful Commercial From Thailand Disconnect to connect VIDEO |
Below are pictures from IAAPA that I want to share with you, as well as an email we received from Give Kids the World.
The NJAA Annual Golf Outing Committee present Give Kids the World President Pamela Landwirth with a $10,000 donation check. The funds were raised during the NJAA 16th Annual Golf Outing held on September 17, 2013 at the Sea Oaks Golf Club in Little Egg Harbor Twp., NJ
L to R: Tommy Frey, Steve Whelan, Fritz Rolle, GKTW President Pamela Landwirth, NJAA President John Maurer
A special thank you to OABA and Bob Johnson for their generous donation to NJAA again this year.  OABA President Bob Johnson (pictured on the left) with NJAA Legal Counsel Lary Zucker
NJAA Executive Director Kimberle Samarelli presents Amusement Today Publisher Gary Slade with an award to honor the magazine's extended editorial coverage of the rebuilding efforts after Superstorm Sandy.
Amusement Today Publisher Gary Slade with
NJAA Executive Director Kimberle Samarelli
Kara Dhuse, Manager, Development of
Give Kids the World sent the following email:
"Wow, we were thrilled to see the total on the big check presented at the IAAPA Expo this year! Absolutely fantastic job...a big thanks to you and your fellow members for hosting such a successful tournament. We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support in helping raise funds and awareness for our mission. I just took a look at your record in our database and this $10k donation will put you over the $100k mark! Remarkable and impressive for just over 10 years of support. We typically assign a value of about $5k per wish family that visits us, so over the years NJAA members have provided a once-in-a-lifetime dream vacation for 21 families. That's 21 children and their (on average five) family members....an entire week of accommodations, meals, transportation, entertainment and incredible memories. From all of us at GKTW...thank you!" ~
This month's newsletter has been combined with November since many of us were in Orlando. The issue contains recaps and highlights from IAAPA, Ed McGlynn has information about applying for ride permits with the DCA, and Lary Zucker recaps the "wish list" for amendments to the Carnival-Amusement Ride Statute and Regulations. You'll also find details for NAARSO training and important exhibitor information for the 2014 NJAA East Coast Gift & Variety Show.
In addition, there are many more informative, interesting and uplifting articles for you to read this month - we hope you enjoy them!Happy Holidays!
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From the Desk of
Edward R. McGlynn, Esq.
Government Affairs Agent
For
The New Jersey Amusement Association
I trust everyone enjoyed the IAAPA convention and found all of the items you wanted. As I have said in the past for those of you who have ordered rides, please make sure you or the manufacturer makes application to the Department of Community Affairs for whatever permit(s) will be needed. The quicker this is done the better the chances of getting the ride opened in time for Easter. One of the things we constantly hear from the DCA is everyone seems to apply for ride permits at the same time, and therefore there is a significant backlog for review. The earlier you apply is helpful to both you and the department.
If you purchased games, please make sure those games are certified to operate in the State of New Jersey. If not already certified, please make sure the manufacturer has or will provide to the LGCCC the requisite paper work to make sure the game will receive a certification prior to its use in the State.
Writing about both rides and games brings to mind the many meetings we have had with both the DCA and LGCCC toward the goal of simplifying the permitting and certification process. Additionally, at each of these meetings we also discuss the removal of regulatory impediments toward the operation of both rides and games.
We seem to be making some headway on both fronts. At our last meeting with DCA we had extensive discussions about type certification; time tested rides; the length of time it takes for a ride to get permitted, etc. We had an excellent dialogue with the hierarchy of the Carnival Amusement Ride staff and other members of the Department of Community Affairs. One thing was a common theme throughout these discussions and that was the necessity for the lines of communication to remain fluid between the applicant and the Department. We believe we made progress on this front.
Concerning games, I would personally like to thank Chairman Ed Barrett and Commissioner Steve Layman for attending the convention and participating in our round table discussion after the NJAA breakfast. We are exploring with the Commission and the staff the possibility of test marketing games for some period of time prior to certification to determine if game is viable for production in New Jersey. Thereafter the manufacturer would seek certification. There seems to be some sentiment to permit this to happen. I will follow up with our membership.
While on the floor at the convention, I began to receive numerous calls about the abolition of Legalized Games. There have been Commissioners over the years who thought LGCCC should be abolished and other Commissioners who thought LGCCC should not be in the Department of Law and Public Safety in the Department of Community Affairs.
In fact, during the Governor Whitman administration there was both talk of abolishing the Commission or perhaps transferring it to some other entity such as Treasury. Nothing was ever done. While there is always some kind of discussion going on and each Commissioner has there own opinion, at the present time there is no discussion in the Governor's office about abolishing the Commission.
Permit me the opportunity to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving. For me it is a time to reflect on all that we truly can be thankful for. I hope it is for you as well.
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From the Desk of
 Lary I. Zucker
NJAA Legal CounselOn November 13, 2013, I attended a working group meeting with the DCA to discuss the Rides Committee "Wish List" for amendments to the Carnival-Amusement Ride Statute and Regulations. Attending the meeting on behalf of the DCA were Mike Baier, Mike Tripplet, Ed Smith and Don VanHouten. Industry representatives included Scott Simpson, Bob Hoban, Mike Clearkin, Geoff Rogers, Dominic Vivona and Ed McGlynn. We met for almost three hours to discuss the 11 items on the Wish List Memo dated October 10, 2013. Our discussion was open and candid and progress was made on a number of issues. The DCA will now conduct internal meetings to discuss our proposals and we will all meet again to finalize some new rules. WISH LIST DISCUSSION
1. Amend the Type Certification Statute ( N.J.S.A. 5:3-42) to provide that a ride Type Certification will be valid for a period of five years instead of three years. The DCA agreed to support an amendment to N.J.S.A. 5:3-42 that would allow Ride Type Certification to be valid for a period of five (5) years instead of three (3) years. In addition, the DCA will also support legislation increasing the time period to appeal a violation from the current ten (10) days to 30 days. (This amendment will help the Carnival industry file appeals on a timely basis).Ed McGlynn does not expect the current "lame duck" legislature to act quickly on these measures. However, with DCA support, we will begin to lineup legislator sponsorship.2. Create a multi-track system for reviewing Type Certification so that applications for a kiddie ride or simple ride will have to be approved or denied within 14 days of the date of filing. The 30-day period found in N.J.S.A. 5:3-42(f) will still apply to all other rides. The DCA explained that they already use an informal two-track system in their engineering review process. They generally assign kiddie rides or simple rides to new engineers for review. This allows senior engineers to work on the more complex amusement rides.Paragraph 2 was discussed in conjunction with Paragraph 4 and 5 below. These three items on the wish list address frequent complaints about the engineering review process including our inability to easily confirm basic information about the application process, such as the date application was filed and the name of the engineer assigned to the project. In addition, we had a frank discussion about the delays caused by incomplete applications and the review of supplemental documentation, all of which can extend the review process beyond 30 days.The DCA agrees that there is a need to make more information available about the application process. However, the Department does not have the computer resources to make this information available online. The DCA will explore other alternatives to address our concerns, such as sending out e-mail notices, confirming the date that an application was filed, the name of the reviewing engineer and the date that the engineer began his review.We also discussed the delays caused by incomplete applications that are missing basic engineering documents required by the Statute. The Department will try to address this concern by updating their list of the most common missing documents. Hopefully, this updated list will help with compliance.A related problem is the delay caused by the engineer's initial review to determine if the application is complete. We asked the DCA to set a two-week time period for this initial engineering review but the Department is unlikely to agree to any rigid timetable. Several NJAA members at the meeting asked the engineers present to use more informal communication with applicants, such as phone calls or e-mails, in order to obtain the missing documents. There is concern about informal communication because telephone discussions can be misinterpreted adding to additional delay.The Department did offer two specific suggestions for expediting the engineering process when a request has been made for additional documents or information:* If an engineer asks for additional documentation to complete a ride application, the owner or manufacturer supplying the document should always note that the new information is limited in scope and does not require a complete re-review of the entire application. This advice would make it less likely that the application would be put on the bottom of the pile.* When an engineer requests a change in the manual, it is only necessary to re-submit the page containing the change, rather than re-submitting an entire revised manual. If the applicant re-submits the manual, the entire manual will have to be re-reviewed.We will continue our discussion with the Department about these important matters.3. "Hurricane wind loads" do not involve ordinary wind parameters for operating rides. Hurricane loads and earthquake calculations are not required for patron safety; they are supposed to avoid property damage in the event of one of these catastrophic events. The problem is that these calculations require an engineer and are not related to rider safety. One operator explained that he purchased a service-proven ride for use in New Jersey and he had to hire an engineer for $7,500 to calculate hurricane wind and seismic loads. The Department understands that hurricanes are rare events and that rides are not going to be operating when they occur. However, the DCA pointed out that these calculations are required by Statute and are important to mitigate property loss to surrounding buildings and structures. We may continue this issue and we may request amendment to the statute. 4. Upgrade DCA computer capabilities to provide online information concerning Type Certification and Individual Approval applications. Information that should be available online would include: a. The date of filing of the application; b. The name of the engineer to whom the application has been assigned; c. The date that the engineer received the assignment; d. The date that the engineer has begun his review of the application; e. Progress notes on the engineer's review of the application; f. Any additional information needed to make the application complete; g. The reason for any delay in reviewing the application. Please see discussion under Paragraph #2 above.5. Require DCA staff engineers to determine if an application is complete within 10 days of the date of filing. Please see discussion under Paragraph #2 above.6. Some ride manuals are hundreds of pages in length and the DCA should only require one copy of the ride manual. The DCA offered one tip for dealing with ride manuals. In the event that only one page has to be corrected, do not correct the page and then resubmit the entire manual. If you resubmit the entire manual, the engineer will review the entire manual that you submit. Instead, just resubmit the one page that needs to be corrected. That will shorten the review process.7. Ride design engineers often utilize software in the design of their amusement rides. The parameters for the design of the rides are generated by the computer programs. We should find out if the DCA accepts the computer-generated calculations or not, or if they run all the computer-generated calculations all over again. The DCA stated that they do not have access to the computer programs used to generate calculations and design options. It is also their experience that there are too many variables to automatic acceptance of computer generated calculations. 8. Used amusement rides that are purchased for use in the State of New Jersey often present unique questions, especially those that are not being supported by a present manufacturer. It would be very helpful to have the engineers and ride inspectors meet at the location of the used ride and examine the ride rather than just rely on the paperwork. Experienced engineers and ride inspectors could make this process a lot less time consuming. The DCA agrees with this idea in concept but there are too many variations in ride design and in service proven rides to warrant reliance on informal inspections.9. Require ride permits to be printed when they are paid for. This will avoid those situations where a ride will be ready for inspection or have the completed inspection but will not be able to open because the permit has not been issued or printed. This is not a safety factor. If the printed permits were on location, the ride inspector would be able to complete the inspection and open the ride. The DCA indicates that they already do this. When they send permits to ride owners for the rides in their park, they also send a list of those rides which shows whether the rides are ready to be inspected or if they have violations that need to be addressed first. We made it clear that paperwork delays the type described in Paragraph 9 can have a serious effect on our operations. Missing a day or weekend may not seem like much to the DCA, but they have important financial impact during our short season.10. Re-evaluate the RCMT process that now requires RCMTs to compete their CEU credits by attending basic NAARSO classes. CEU courses should "drill down" into more specific topics, such as control systems, hydraulic and electrical systems. The DCA advised that back in April, the regulation was changed to allow RCMT's who are licensed through NAARSO to convert their certifications to DCA certifications. Once an RCMT has a DCA certification, they are not limited to attending CEU courses approved by NAARSO. They may also attend CEU courses approved by the DCA. (However, by attending DCA approved CEU classes, the RCMT must be aware that their course attendance will not count towards NAARSO re-certification.) 11. One engineer noted that "quality control systems" change over time and that it is necessary to review the quality control system in effect at the time the amusement ride was designed and built. The DCA is unlikely to change their current procedure which is required by the Statute and ASTM. The Department also pointed out that quality control systems change over time and they have to be current.
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The New Jersey Amusement Association Proudly Presents
The 19th Annual East Coast
Gift & Variety Show 2014!!
The show will be held at the Golden Nugget (formerly Trump Marina) Grand Ballroom located in Atlantic City, NJ. The show dates are Wednesday, February 19 and Thursday, February 20, 2014; with set up on Tuesday, February 18. The Exhibitors' application, which you can view by clicking on the link below, includes the NJAA Show Space Contract, registration form and hotel information.
Vista Convention Services is the official service contractor for this show. Click on the link below for their complete exhibitor kit.
Important Notice To Vendors: Please go to the Vista web site www.vistacs.com and click on EXHIBITOR LOGIN. The username is NJAA (all caps/no spaces) and the password is GNUGGET (all caps/no spaces). This will bring up all the forms in the kit. Print out your desired forms and fax back to Vista at 609.485.2392
All questions regarding shipping, storage, furniture, and labor should be directed to:
Customer Service
VISTA CONVENTION SERVICES
6575 Delilah Road
PO Box 3000
Pleasantville, NJ 08232-0036
Tel: (609) 485-2421
Fax: (609) 485-2392
email: info@vistacs.com
The Annual East Coast Gift & Variety Show is THE TRADE SHOW TO KEEP YOU CONNECTED TO THE AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY IN THE TRI-STATE AREA!
Attendees include owners, partners, managers, buyers, and workers of amusement parks, arcades, games, concessions, piers, restaurants, and other segments of the tourism industry. The NJAA is inviting individuals from New England, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. We are also encouraging all of our vendors TO PROMOTE YOUR CUSTOMERS TO COME TO OUR SHOW! Supply us your email list and we will promote.
Seminars include Annual Ride Regulations Update and Legalized Games of Chance Update. Workshops are being scheduled as to not conflict with show hours.
On Wednesday night, February 19, 2014, NJAA will hold its' 24th Annual Scholarship Kick-off Cocktail Party at 5:30 PM at the Golden Nugget. Join the Board of Directors and NJAA members and have a chance to unwind and participate in a great social event! Please see the attached brochure for more information and NAARSO training registration:
If you have questions, you can contact the New Jersey Amusement Association using one of the following options:
Phone: (732) 240-0000
Toll Free: (866) 933-1340
E-mail: NJAA40Plus@aol.com
Postal Mail: P.O. Box 178, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
Additional information and updates will be available on the NJAA website and posted in our monthly newsletter.
We're looking forward to seeing you at the show!
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Important Update Regarding
NAARSO Training
6th AnnualEast Coast / Mid-AtlanticRegionalized NAARSOOutreach Safety SchoolSponsored by the New Jersey Amusement Association
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Presented by NAARSO
Location
Golden Nugget, Atlantic City, NJ
Dates
February 17-20, 2014 - 32 hour program
February 19-20, 2014 - 16 hour program
February 20, 2014 - Certification Exams
Cost
(fees are per person)
Full 32 Hour Program:
2013 NJAA Member: $550 / Non-Member: $650
Individual Days:
2013 NJAA Member: $150 / Non-Member: $175
Meal Package
Four days - $50
Two days - $30
Test and Test Prep Only - $150
Time
8:00 am - 4:30 pm Classes
Our program will cover the following:
32 hours of secondary classes (all days)
16 hours of primary classes (on 19th & 20th)
NAARSO Level I & Level II exams
Please Note:
There are ADDITIONAL FEES that need to be paid directly to NAARSO. Please contact them directly at: 813-661-2779
For registration form and additional details, click on the link below:
Call NJAA Office at 732-240-0000 for any questions.
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New Jersey Association Conducts
Upbeat Meeting at IAAPA
 NJAA President John Maurer and Executive Director Kimberle Samarelli lead the discussion during yesterday's NJAA Annual Meeting in Orlando. One year ago at the Orlando trade show, the membership of the New Jersey Amusement Association (NJAA) was coping with a crisis of epic proportions. Just two weeks earlier, Superstorm Sandy decimated much of the state's shoreline, including many of the famed seaside amusement parks operated by NJAA members. At yesterday morning's NJAA membership meeting at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the only crisis was a tardy breakfast service, and like virtually all of the many hurdles NJAA members have faced the past year, the group deftly dealt with the situation by re-arranging the agenda and simply moving on with the program.
President John Maurer of Coast to Coast Entertainment thanked and congratulated NJAA members for their hard work, persistence and resiliency throughout the past year.
NJAA Executive Director Kimberle Samarelli, who was the recipient of a prestigious award from Amusement Today for her relentless efforts in support of her organization in the aftermath of Sandy, reciprocated by awarding the magazine's publisher, Gary Slade, with an honor for extended editorial coverage that chronicled the yeoman rebuilding undertaken by NJAA members.
NJAA Government Relations Counsel Ed McGlynn and Association Legal Counsel Lary Zucker discussed issues such as minimum wage, ride regulation and safety and a proposed legislation covering sick leave requirements for hourly employees.
And despite the hardships incurred during the past year, NJAA continued the tradition of supporting the "Give Kids the World" charity, presenting a $10,000 check to GKTW President Pamela Landwirth.
 AMOA President John Pascaretti addresses the membership of NJAA at the group's annual breakfast meeting yesterday.
AMOA President John Pascaretti briefly addressed the NJAA membership, noting a crisis like Sandy can bring out the worst AND the best in human nature, and is clear that in the case of NJAA, it was definitely the latter.
Guest speaker Chris Perry of Wild Wadi Waterpark in Dubai, was scheduled to speak at last year's meeting, but Sandy pre-empted his comments. Invited back this year, Perry described some of the principles that he has embraced and incorporated into his facilities.
Last year, Perry's upbeat, high-energy message would likely have missed its mark with an audience that was still reeling from the Sandy disaster. But yesterday, his words hit home with a NJAA organization that has made a powerful statement about unity, recovery and hope for the future.
Article courtesy of AMOA's Online Report - Off The Top E-Newsletter, November 22, 2013 edition.
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Year After Superstorm Sandy  by Mike Bederka
Down but not out.
That's the big-picture assessment for New Jersey and New York shore attractions in the first year after Superstorm Sandy, a natural disaster with few peers that caused dozens of deaths and billions of dollars in damage, leaving thousands homeless and millions without power.
"This has been the shortest longest season in history," declares John Maurer, president of the New Jersey Amusement Association (NJAA), reflecting on the first summer post-Sandy. "The majority of owners and operators did the best they could in the time they had with the money and resources available. Safety is our main concern. No one opened anything nor would the state inspectors allow us to before we were ready. We had to bring up everything to the highest standards-rides, games, buildings, electrical."
While some places opened in a limited capacity around Palm Sunday-which fell early this year on March 24-Maurer says others took until July or August to open because of uncontrollable delays. One of the biggest problems stemmed from receiving new rides and parts, often made overseas. Transit time for a major component could be 30 days.
Despite the complicated logistics, he's pleased with the overall recovery effort to date. "Our members have worked extremely hard together to help rebuild," Maurer says.
Will Morey, 2013 IAAPA Chairman of the Board, shares a similar post-Sandy view. Although his facility, Morey's Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey, sustained minimal damage from the storm, he has spent much time touring areas knocked around by the 80-mph winds and torrential rains and subsequent flooding.
"The boardwalk is a special collection of many attractions," Morey says. "It's the collection that creates the energy and compels people to visit. Nothing unites people like a common challenge, and we have seen those most affected by the storm reach down deep and keep plowing forward. It's really amazing. While there are significant variations in damage, we all should be in this together until the Jersey shore is completely restored."
IAAPA worked closely with NJAA and assisted in the recovery by supporting its membership with technical services, he says. For example, if a venue needed engineering advice, the organization stood ready to connect it to members that provide such services. IAAPA also worked toward getting federal disaster relief money to the region. Yet despite these efforts, much distress still exists in the area.
According to the NJAA, revenue across the state was down anywhere from 5 percent to 60 percent compared to previous years, depending on geographic location, Morey says. Those hit hardest by Sandy suffered the most, but these numbers incorporate other negative revenue factors, including less-than-ideal summer weather conditions.
Rain soaked much of the region throughout June, while in July the wet weather continued along with cooler-than-normal temperatures. Only August and September offered more ideal conditions. "It's harder to get a close handle on the revenue effect from Sandy when you have poor weather," Morey says. His best guess puts weather alone negatively impacting an outdoor facility's revenue by approximately 5 percent. And then in September the Jersey shore experienced another major blow when a fast-moving boardwalk fire wiped out dozens of businesses in the still-recovering Seaside Heights area.
Now as the one-year anniversary of Sandy's landfall approaches on Oct. 29, Funworld revisits several facilities to hear how they fared on their road back from the storm.
Seaside Heights, New Jersey
The ocean breached the wall at Coin Castle. As a result, six feet of water and sand rushed in, says owner Wayne Cimorelli. He lost everything in the basement: inventory, walk-in boxes, ice machines, and more. The resulting damage cost $1.3 million.
"I never felt sorry for myself," Cimorelli declares. "We got hit hard, but there was no time for tears. We just turned around and went to work. I've been through a lot in my life, and this is just one more test."
He and his team started the repairs a few days after the storm and worked every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., much of that without heat or electricity, to get the job finished. "It was pretty intense," Cimorelli says.
They opened March 9, with the goal of seeing their first customers before the popular St. Patrick's Day parade. He represented the minority, though.
Many other Seaside Heights venues-and even the boardwalk itself-didn't open until at least Memorial Day, Cimorelli says. (Up to that point, his guests used a street entrance.) He attributes those two facts as to why his business dipped by 15 percent this summer.
Even with the lower numbers, those who did come out expressed much gratitude.
"They were very thankful that the Jersey shore was open again," he says. "The story for the summer was, 'I haven't been here in 15 or 20 years, but this is where my childhood memories were made. After everything we've seen, we should come here and give you some support.'"
A short walk away at Casino Pier, the haunted mansion, roller coaster, and many other rides fell into the Atlantic Ocean. (The "Jet Star" coaster sitting in the water was one of the iconic images of Sandy's wrath.) The pier lost about 200 feet on the northeast corner and 50 feet on the southeast corner, says Maria Mastoris, marketing manager.
Casino Pier optimistically hoped for a Memorial Day reopening, but it took until the end of July for the lower deck, with 14 new and renovated rides, to open. The infrastructure work was more intensive than anticipated, she says of the delay. Repairs continue on the upper deck, which is scheduled to reopen in 2014 if everything goes as planned. By missing two of the three major summer holidays, revenue took a hit, she says, and guests who plan their vacations far in advance avoided the shore this year.
"They didn't know if we would be open," she says. "They picked other locations like the beaches in Delaware and Virginia."
Casino Pier hired Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, to provide master planning and programming services for the rebuilding effort. Jeff Lichtenberg, senior project designer for JRA, says he has an especially strong emotional connection to this project.
"The Jersey shore is a magical place, and we want to keep the memories going," he says. "When someone is hurting, you want to get in there in and give them a hand. You want the property to be back entertaining and shining again."
Point Pleasant, New Jersey
The staff at Jenkinson's Boardwalk consider themselves lucky compared to other area attractions, says Toby Wolf, director of marketing. The majority of their buildings were still standing. The south end of the boardwalk had the most significant damage, she says: "It looked like pick-up sticks."
Jenkinson's lost a miniature-golf course and an arcade, as well as the quarantine and vet rooms and life support systems in its seaside aquarium. Fortunately, all the animals survived thanks to backup systems and staffers who rode out the storm in the facility. The train station in the amusement park had to be rebuilt.
"There was so much to do and so many projects," she says of the complex nature of the rebuilding. "Where do you start?"
Jenkinson's worked on a rolling deadline to get everything running. First up in February, the aquarium, the sweet shop, a couple arcades, the pavilion, fast-food restaurants, and the nightclub; mini-golf and rides by Palm Sunday; and the arcade that sustained the most damage by Good Friday. The amusement locale was 98 percent operational by Memorial Day.
Management tried to prepare for the summer like any other year as far as when they would hire staff and plan events. Beyond that, they didn't know what to expect with attendance.
Revenue dipped "a little bit" compared to 2012, with a particularly slow June due to the weather, Wolf says: "We're held hostage by Mother Nature. She just battered us on all sides this year."
However, Wolf thinks they did better than others because of their wide variety of attractions. Breaking their backs to get most of the food and entertainment up by the end of May also helped with the bottom line.
"We have so many dedicated workers who care about this company," she says. "We're with each other more than our own families. We knew we had to get it done. We were so busy we didn't have time to get down."
Keansburg, New Jersey
Every single ride at Keansburg Amusement Park needed work: new motors, control systems, and all-new bumper cars, says co-owner William Gehlhaus. The total tally in damage was $3 million.
They got to work two days after the storm and opened partially on Palm Sunday with six rides, he says. "Each week after, we had more things going. We're proud of what we did. We had great contractors."
Business, too, increased as the weeks went on, with August surpassing expectations.
"We saw a lot of new faces," Gehlhaus says. "Hopefully, we impressed them, and they'll continue to come back."
Coney Island, New York
The upper boardwalk level at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park suffered only minimal damage, says Dennis Vourderis, vice president and co-owner of the facility. Lots of sand piled up, but that was about it.
On the lower street level, though, the water came through the back of the neighborhood, essentially flooding everything including the maintenance facility-where they stored much of their equipment to avoid wind damage.
"In 40 years, it never flooded," he says. "You're just throwing out $17,000 arcade machines. They're going straight into the Dumpster."
Deno's also lost its famed "Spookarama" pretzel ride that dates back to 1955. Damages cost $600,000, most of that paid for out of pocket, Vourderis says. Some team members worked 90-hour weeks ("a herculean task," he says) to hit their Palm Sunday goal, which they did. Roughly 90 percent of the park was open by then and 100 percent by Memorial Day.
Being in full swing by summer's start, Vourderis had high expectations for the season, and they did well when the weather cooperated, he says. Overall, including Labor Day weekend, revenue slid 10 percent compared to last year.
Sales were off at nearby Luna Park, too, says Valerio Ferrari, president of Central Amusement International, operator of the attraction. But again it was weather, not necessarily Sandy, that proved to be the blame.
"It's been a long winter, spring, and summer," says -Ferrari, who anticipates a much better 2014 with the debut of the 65-mph "Thunderbolt" roller coaster, which was already in the works pre-Sandy.
Looking Ahead
Next year, it still won't be business as usual at the New Jersey and New York shore attractions. In fact, it may take several years beyond that for a return to normalcy, says NJAA's Maurer. The main reason is the destruction-and very slow rebuilding-of the secondary home and rental market in many beach communities, he explains. Without these key travelers, nighttime business dies.
"Ninety percent of traffic this year was day trippers," he estimates. "At 9 p.m., people get tired from being in the sun all day and go home. The boardwalks were ready to close then."
With the housing issue in mind-along with the fact that the national media spotlight may move off these areas next year-the shore will need to push its positive message forward in 2014, says Morey: "Clearly, you cannot take your foot off the gas pedal in marketing the shore now."
Also, for those facilities still in recovery mode, they need to remember another massive storm can happen, and they must be prepared, Maurer says: "We need to rebuild our facilities to the highest standards."
Morey agrees, saying venues should look-when possible-for better ways to restore their properties to help avoid future storm damage.
"Nobody wanted the storm to happen, but after it has passed, you want to be certain to make the best of what you have," he says. "There will be a freshness to the new -construction, and many areas will be built with more robustness."
Contact Contributing Editor Mike Bederka at
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Fear the Pier Hurricane Relief Concert & Costume Contest Marks the Last Concert for Two Toms River Teens Who Raised $39,000 to Help Local Residents Rebuild
3 concerts, 12 bands and over 800 attendees later,
Sara Brilliant and Amanda Kacperowski
stand out as young adults on the rise.
(Toms River, NJ - November 13, 2013) Sara Brilliant, a 15-year-old sophomore at Toms River High School North, and Amanda Kacperowski, a 17-year-old senior at Monsignor Donovan, met on the social-networking site, "Tumblr" in October 2012 following Superstorm Sandy while bonding over their shared love for a local band. Before the Storm, they were just two shy Toms River teenagers with a love of music, but they soon turned that love of music and interest in some bands, into raising $39,000, 3 concerts later. The last concert was held at Hemingway's Café in Seaside Heights on
November 3rd marking the one year anniversary of the storm. Sara said, "The storm changed me completely."
Only when Sandy hit and the two began comparing notes about their respective damage did the girls realize they lived only five miles a part from one another. That's when the idea for a charity concert materialized. "Since the hurricane destroyed a lot of homes and our friends' houses are gone and the boardwalk is gone, we thought it'd be fun if we put together a bunch of good bands and brought the community together to help raise money," said Sara. "We wanted to make a huge impact by helping the people in our community and everyone knows, there is no better way to bring people together than music," said Amanda.
"To our parents' surprise, we were able to find bands willing to perform within 24 hours," said Amanda. Amanda and Sara were able to secure Before You Exit (BYE), an Orlando-based band featured on Disney Radio and recently toured with Olly Murs and Cody Simpson to all three of the concerts. "We saw the destruction our first time on the Boardwalk and during our most recent trip, we were able to see some of the rebuilding," said Riley McDonough of BYE. "It feels good to give back and help out," said Connor McDonough of BYE.
Over the course of the year, Sara and Amanda have learned about the business of concert promotion, from sound requirements and securing a facility for the event, to on-line ticket sales and trademark infringements. Their original name Pier Pressure was trademarked by a firm in California after their second concert, so they turned the disappointment into Fear The Pier, a concert with a Halloween costume twist.
Most importantly, they needed the support of a registered non-profit and the New Jersey Amusement Association (NJAA) First Responder's Fund stepped forward and worked tirelessly with the girls to support the concerts and manage the distribution of proceeds to families in need.
NJAA Board of Director Greg Kohr (R) with Tim Ferrell. Tim was the recipient of the NJAA Pier Pressure 2 concert proceeds. The NJAA First Responders Relief Fund has distributed over $30,000 to first responders since Superstorm Sandy struck last October.
During the concert series, Sara and Amanda brought the following bands to the Toms River area: Over the Edge of Freehold, Reverse Order of Hacketstown, Fountain Boulevard of Burlington County, Kicking Daisies from Connecticut, Deleasa of Northern Jersey (Mike's sister is Married to Jonas), Radio Activity of Bergen County, Alex Costa, Honor Society, The Dedication, Love In Motion, as well as Before You Exit. Along the way, Sara and Amanda have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to help rebuild the Jersey Shore. In May, Lt. Govenor Kim Guadagno quickly donned the concert shirt and stood alongside the girls as they presented checks to those families in need, and in June, Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon presented the girls with proclamations from the New Jersey Legislature for all they have done to help New Jersey recovery from Hurricane Sandy. Shawn and Sue in the morning on WOBM have invited them into their studio on three occasions to promote the concert and they have been interviewed by local and national media sources, as well as been recognized by Inspire Me 2 Aspire (www.im2a.info), a web site recognizing inspirational women and female teens around the world. If these teenagers represent our future, then our future is bright.
 Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno with Sara (L) and Amanda (R)
 Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon (L) and Senator Jennifer Beck with Amanda and Sara.
Their love of music brought them together and will keep them together as friends, even as Amanda plans to head to college in Florida next fall. Sara will continue her studies and hopes to start looking at colleges in Boston, the Carolina's and in New Jersey next year. Both girls plan to continue to help the Jersey Shore rebuild through individual social action projects, while continuing to follow all of the bands that performed and are now their friends.
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Industry News
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Announcements
Local Industry News/Announcements
NJBIA Membership Alert!
Stop New Paid Leave Mandate
To NJBIA Members:
All businesses are facing a possible new mandate to provide paid time off for their employees.
Legislators may consider A-4125 (Lampitt, Giblin) / S-2866 (Weinberg), which would require all businesses to provide between five and nine days of paid sick leave each year to EACH and EVERY EMPLOYEE.
NJBIA is urging all members to contact their legislative representatives and urge them to vote against this new proposed mandate. Go to our easy-to-use online system to send a message to your General Assembly members right now.
A-4125 / S-2866 will have a broad impact, affecting every business in the state, regardless of whether or not they already offer paid sick leave. Under A-4125 / S-2866:
*All businesses, regardless of size, would have to provide paid sick leave. Businesses with one to nine employees would have to provide five paid days off per year, and those with 10 or more workers would have to provide at least nine paid days off per year.
*All employees - part-time as well as full-time - would receive paid time off.
*Employees would be allowed to carry-over unused leave from one year to the next - up to 40 hours for small companies and up to 72 hours for larger companies.
*Preventing abuse of paid sick leave benefits would be limited. If employers require documentation for the leave, they would have to reimburse the employee for any associated costs. And if an employer disciplines an employee for abusing leave, they could face legal action. Even if complaints or lawsuits are without merit, employers would still have to endure the time and expense of defending against accusations.
*Employers that already provide paid-time off would also be affected. If enacted, A-4125/ S-2866 would supersede any existing company policies for paid-time-off eligibility,
carryover time and policies to control excessive absenteeism.
*Employers would have to keep confidential records of any leave used by every employee for five years or risk being charged with failing to provide leave.
Legally mandating paid time off would create a uniform benefit plan for all businesses, rather than allowing employers to tailor benefits to fit in with their individual workplaces. In many cases, businesses would have to pay twice - once for the employee who is out and again for the employee's replacement or suffer reduced productivity.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
NJBIA needs your help. We are asking each employer to do three things.
1. Send a letter to your Assembly representatives using our easy online system. The letter will go to the two Assembly representatives from your legislative district, as well as Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Speaker-elect Vincent Prieto. 2. Contact legislators personally. Reaching out by phone or personally as a constituent and a business owner in their district is the most effective way to influence lawmakers. ( Get the phone numbers for your legislators.) 3. Contact Stefanie Riehl and let us know what feedback you get. Thank you for your participation. Visit the NJBIA website for more information.
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New HUD Sandy Funding Notice Focuses on Infrastructure and Requires Forward-Looking Risk Assessments, Including Considerations of Climate Change
TRENTON, N.J., Nov. 13, 2013 -- Today the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its notice for states affected by Superstorm Sandy to apply for the next round of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. Of the more than $5.1 billion being made available in this round, New Jersey is eligible for $1.4 billion.
The notice provides additional guidance and direction for the state to conduct science-based risk assessments that will be used to inform infrastructure investments, stating: "Each grantee must describe the science-based risk analysis it has or will employ to select, prioritize, implement, and maintain infrastructure projects or activities. At a minimum, the grantee's analysis must consider a broad range of information and best available data, including forward-looking analyses of risks to infrastructure sectors from climate change and other hazards, such as the Northeast United States Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios from the U.S. National Climate Assessment, the Sea Level Rise Tool for Sandy Recovery, or comparable peer-reviewed information, as well as the regional analysis developed in Phase 2 of the Rebuild by Design competition."
"We think that it is very important that the federal notice calls out the critical need to conduct risk assessments and even identifies the types of tools that are available for conducting these assessments," said Chris Sturm, New Jersey Future's state policy director. "It makes much more sense to understand the long-term risks before making long-term capital investments."
There are several New Jersey-based tools, such as Rutgers University's NJ Flood Mapper, that might also meet HUD's risk-assessment tool requirements. The notice also provided for additional transparency at two junctures. The first is a requirement for a 30-day public comment period following the Action Plan Amendment publication. The second requirement involves the selection of large infrastructure projects (referred to as "Covered Projects"). The notice states that the state must provide a "description of the transparent and inclusive processes that have been or will be used in the selection of a Covered Project(s), including accessible public hearings and other processes to advance the engagement of vulnerable populations. Grantees should demonstrate the sharing of decision criteria, the method of evaluating a project(s), and how all project stakeholders and interested parties were or are to be included to ensure transparency including, as appropriate, stakeholders and parties with an interest in environmental justice or accessibility."
Finally, the notice highlights the importance of Local Disaster Recovery Managers and that their funding is an eligible and encouraged use of CDBG-DR funds. A "LDRM may coordinate and manage the overall long-term recovery and redevelopment of a community, which includes the local administration and leveraging of multiple federally-funded projects and programs. A LDRM may also ensure that federal funds are used properly, and can help local governments address the need for long-term recovery coordination," per the description in the notice.
"We were very happy to see the Local Disaster Recovery Managers emphasized in this notice," said Peter Kasabach, New Jersey Future's executive director. "Many towns simply do not have the capacity to engage in recovery tasks and plan for future hazards that will keep their residents and businesses out of harm's way." New Jersey Future currently deploys four Local Disaster Recovery Managers in seven coastal communities.
Visit New Jersey Future for more information. The full notice can be found online at: About New Jersey Future - New Jersey Future is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings together concerned citizens and leaders to promote responsible land-use policies. The organization employs original research, analysis and advocacy to build coalitions and drive land-use policies that help revitalize cities and towns, protect natural lands and farms, provide more transportation choices beyond cars, expand access to safe and affordable neighborhoods and fuel a prosperous economy.
Contact: Peter Kasabach, Executive Director (609) 393-0008 ext. 104 or (609) 954-7422 cell
Chris Sturm, Senior Director of State Policy (609) 393-0008, ext. 114 or (609) 213-4673 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Upcoming ACA Webinar
IRS' ACA Virtual Town Hall Presentation on Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
The IRS, with help from the SBA, is putting on three webinars regarding the small business health care tax credit. These will be a great chance to hear how small business owners can apply and benefit.
You have been invited to attend the following event:
IRS ACA Virtual Town Hall Presentation on Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
To register for one of these events, use one of the following registration links:
Note: All sessions will cover the same materials; you only need to register for one event.
Session 1 Date: December 11, 2013 (Wednesday)
Time: 10:00 PM - 11:00 AM (Eastern Time)
Session 2
Date: December 16, 2013 (Monday) Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Session 3
Date: December 18, 2013 (Wednesday)
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Eastern Time)
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December 2013 - Affordable Care Act 101 Webinars
Presented by SBA & Small Business Majority
With new health insurance marketplaces now open, the Small Business Administration and Small Business Majority are excited to announce the next set of Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinar dates.
Each week, small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and how they can enroll in small business health insurance marketplaces. Other topics discussed include insurance reforms, the small business health care tax credit, and employer shared responsibility provisions. SBA representatives help small business owners understand the facts of the Affordable Care Act so they can make informed decisions about providing health insurance for their employees.
The Affordable Care Act 101 takes place every Thursday at 2:00 PM ET. Below are the registration links for upcoming presentations.
Thursday, December 12 at 2:00 PM ET
Thursday, December 19 at 2:00 PM ET
For more information on how the new health care law affects small businesses, check out:
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NAARSO Certification Renewal must be
Complete by March 31, 2014. There will not be another grace period extended.
On September 16, NAARSO President, Clyde Wagner, sent out a reminder regarding the certification renewal date for members whose certification expired on 3/31/13, but were granted an extension due to Hurricane Sandy. Below is a copy of the letter. Please read it carefully as there are various options to choose from (including one that NJAA is currently working on - see #4 below) as well as a mandatory completion date.
Dear NAARSO Certification Holder:
Due to the damage caused by Storm Sandy, you may remember, NAARSO granted a one year extension to those individuals whose certification renewal date was March 31,
2013, in certain effected states. It is our hope that this additional year has provided you with the opportunity to recover from any storm damage caused by this devastating
weather event. The NAARSO Board of Directors inclusive with the Certification Board would like to remind you that your NAARSO certification renewal will need to be taken
care of by March 31, 2014. There will not be another grace period extended. There are several opportunities available on the East Coast for the NAARSO approved continuing education including:
1. The Pennsylvania Showmen's Club training, PACE. The brochure can be found on our website under the "Seminars" button. This training is taking place October 28 - 31, 2013, in Greensburg, PA.2. AIMS Safety seminar held the week of January 12 - 17, 2014, in Orlando, Florida. You can find their brochure on their website.3. Our 27th Annual Safety Seminar to be held the week of January 26 - 31, 2014, in Charlotte, North Carolina. There is an information flyer on our website under the "Seminars" button. The full brochure will be posted shortly.
***4. After a one year's absence, the NJ Amusement Association is currently working with NAARSO to schedule a full 32 hour training for certification renewal purposes. The date is February 17 - 21, 2014, located in Atlantic City, NJ. Please check with the NJAA office directly for registration information which will be available after November 2013. NAARSO will be posting a full brochure as soon as it is available.
5. If you find that you are unable to attend any of these training opportunities, you can also look at our Online Training option. Simply click on the "Online Training" button on our website and follow the link.Hopefully this reminder with training options will provide you with the information you need to be prepared to renew your NAARSO certification by March 31, 2014. If youhave any questions, certainly feel free to call the office.
Respectfully,
Clyde Wagner President A pdf version of this letter is provided below:
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National Industry News/Announcements
ASTM F24 FALL 2013 GLOBAL SAFETY STANDARDS CONFERENCE SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD / KEY SAFETY STANDARDS PASSED
 ASTM President Jim Thomas awarding Greg Hale the William T. Cavanaugh Memorial AwardASTM F24, the committee on amusement rides and attractions that produces global safety standards for the amusement industry, held its semi-annual meeting from October 24th through October 26th at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona. Approximately fifty separate meetings were held, each one focusing on a specific safety element of the amusement industry. Attendance set a new record with over 250 safety experts from 12 different countries participating. Jim Seay, Chairman of ASTM F24 Committee and President of Premier Rides, commented, "I continue to be humbled by the level of dedication that is shown by the ASTM F24 membership. For all these people to take time away from their daily responsibilities and travel on a voluntary basis all in the name of safety is quite impressive. The industry is fortunate to have so many people that care so deeply about the safety of our attractions." ASTM International President, Jim Thomas, attended the F24 meeting and was impressed with both the wide diversity of interests that were represented and also the significant outreach towards young professionals that is ensuring a next generation of leadership for the F24 organization. At the Main Committee Opening Session, Jim Thomas presented F24 member Greg B. Hale with the prestigious William T. Cavanaugh Memorial Award. Hale is Chief Safety Officer and Vice President of Worldwide Standards and Auditing for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. The Cavanaugh Award is granted to a person of widely recognized eminence in the voluntary standards system. The title of honorary member is bestowed on recipients of the award. Established in 1987, the award honors William T. Cavanaugh, who firmly established ASTM International as the world leader in the development and dissemination of voluntary consensus standards. Len Morrissey, Director/TCO Division of ASTM International noted, "Greg's award is a testament to the passion that the entire F24 committee exhibits and the seriousness with which the committee effectively and efficiently moves the safety standards process forward." There were many highlights coming out of the meeting as a result of both the formal meetings that were scheduled and the dozens of informal meetings that occurred on the sidelines. Of particular note the ground breaking Control System Standard was formally approved and passed. The task group had been working many years on the important subject with literally hundreds of ballots being sent out in order to gain a strong consensus. The new standard will be the most detailed Control System Safety Standard in the world. Another task group whose focus was restraint systems got language passed that provides direction on the important subject of a Supervising Companion. After a number of years of discussion and outreach, a consensus was reached and the important new language will be published. A number of important new task groups were established. One of them, being led by Dr. Kathryn Woodcock of Toronto, Canada's Ryerson University, will focus on accessibility issues on amusement attractions and devices. The first task group meeting was held to a standing room audience due to the high level of interest. Another task group on control system security is being led by Linda Freeman of Rockwell Automation. The group will focus on evaluating what challenges may exist regarding unauthorized access to ride control systems and what steps designers and operators can take to prevent such access. The International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), including the IAAPA Safety Committee, collated multiple meetings at the same location. The California Attractions & Parks Association (CAPA) also held a meeting that included guest Nancy Medeiros of California's DOSH. Additionally, the following organizations were represented at the ASTM F24 Fall 2013 Meeting: Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), AIMS International, National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO), Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), and the World Waterpark Association (WWA). The ASTM F24 meetings were sponsored by Glynn Geotechnical Engineering, IALDA, I.M.P.A.C.T. Ironworkers, Premier Rides, ProSlide, PUCUDA inc., Rockwell Automation, Tapeswitch, Uremet, Van Stone Conveyor Inc, and Walt Disney Imagineering. The next ASTM Committee F24 Fall Meeting will be held February 12-15, 2014 at the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
ABOUT ASTM COMMITTEE F24 - ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices was formed in 1978. F24 meets twice a year, usually in February and October, typically with over 200 attendees from around the world attending several days of technical meetings. The Committee, with current membership of over 800 global members, currently has jurisdiction over 17 standards, published in multiple languages in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 15.07. These standards continue to play a preeminent role in all safety aspects important to amusement rides and devices. ABOUT ASTM INTERNATIONAL - ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world and is a trusted source for the technical standards of materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy. Standards developed at ASTM are the work of over 30,000 ASTM members. These technical experts represent producers, users, consumers, government and academia from over 120 countries. Participation in ASTM International is open to all with a material interest, anywhere in the world.
Media Contact:
Len Morrissey - 610-832-9719
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THE FOURTH IAAPA HARLEY-DAVIDSON / SPORTS CAR RIDE RAISES MONEY FOR GIVE KIDS THE WORLD FOUNDATION
 Harley Davidson / Sports Car Ride Sponsors (L to F) Ivy Parsons of Fun Spot, Dick Chance of Chance Rides, Bart Parsons and Patrick Tuten of Fun Spot, Sara Ingram and Jim Seay of Premier Rides, Ric Keller of Hill Rugh Keller & Main, Kelly Bernish, Tom Sheehan and Steve Tasch of The Sheehan Firm PC, Mark Glynn of Glynn Geotechnical EngineeringTo start riders off, Premier Rides hostesses distributed gift bags filled with waters, biker themed toys and treats, as well as essentials such as lip balm and bandanas. Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides, who has been a sponsor for every motorcycle run said "It is wonderful to start one of the busiest of weeks on a positive note where everyone is focused on helping those less fortunate." Each rider's bike was outfitted with a plush Mayor Clayton to represent the entire GKTW group.Prior to departure from the Harley dealership, the group was honored to meet Brad Loewen, a father who lost his child. The family had appreciated their visit to GKTW so much that they moved from Canada to be close to the village to be able to volunteer and help carry on the work of the village. Hearing his heartfelt story underscored the reason participating in this event is so rewarding.
Over 40 people on twenty-five bikes and in three cars toured through some of Orlando's quaint neighborhoods, along beautiful lakes and past orange groves. The group stopped at Fun Spot America, riding the bikes right through the park, stopping for a break and rides on the park's thrilling roller coasters. The park also supplied back packs filled with Fun Spot goodies.
The ride concluded with a luncheon at the Hawks Landing Golf Course where riders met up with the GKTW golf tournament participants. Tom Sheehan, who organizes the motorcycle run commented "It is heartwarming to see the number of individuals participating to raise money for this terrific charity. Although this is a "Harley Ride" you don't need a motorcycle license to participate. We had many who rode as passengers on the bikes and others who rode in hot cars to enjoy the event, all to support Give Kids the World."
ABOUT GIVE KIDS THE WORLD FOUNDATION
Recognized as the highest rated charity in America by personal finance site Main Street, and also reported by MSN Money, Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a 70-acre, non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. GKTW provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, donated attractions tickets, meals and more for a weeklong, cost-free fantasy vacation. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 122,000 families from all 50 states and over 74 countries. For more information about GKTW and its mission, visit givekidstheworld.org. Mark Hoewing Public Relations Manager 407-396-1114 ext 4259 MarkH@gktw.org
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Betson Enterprises
Betson Enterprises was a must see at IAAPA 2013 with their varied mix of titles. One feature was Aliens Armageddon.
ALIENS HYPE
Only you can save earth from the invading extraterrestrials in Raw Thrills™, latest shooter, Aliens Armageddon! Based on the popular Sci-Fi franchise, become a part of the action to help battle invading extraterrestrials after all of Earth's major cities get wiped off the map. As U.F.O.s descend from the skies, it begins to look as if humanity is doomed. Fortunately, you are there to fight back to try to send the invaders back to the stars.
Aliens Armageddon is a fully-licensed Aliens product with four chapters of intense game play. Epic battles with enormous Xenomorphs will have player's heart and guns pumping. Cutting-edge graphics and sound will make players feel like they are in the middle of all the action. Plus the force feedback guns with clip reload and alternate fire button add a depth of realism to the shooter. This game is CoinUp enabled with online leaderboards that will drive players to come back over and over again. The lighted multi-layer Alien topper will draw in players from across the room. The impressive looking deluxe model comes standard with a massive 55" HD LCD display and a 42" mounted gun version is also available to fit any locations space limitations. Both cabinets have lighting synchronized with in-game actions to add another layer of excitement to this game.
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The NJAA is a pro-active organization, identifying concerns, while working for the safety, health and overall economic betterment of the amusement industry.
If you have any questions or concerns, we can always be contacted at 732-240-0000 or njaa40plus@aol.com.
Remember to check our website www.njamusements.com for valuable resources, recent news and up-to-date information.
Sincerely,
Kimberle Samarelli New Jersey Amusement Association
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