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NJAA Newsletter   
December 2014
 
Promotion
 
In This Issue
Season's Greetings!
Special Message from NJAA Executive Director Kimberle Rolle Samarelli
More Things Happening on the Trade Show Floor
NJAA 20th Annual East Coast Gift & Variety Show 2015
Industry News & Announcements


Upcoming Industry Events
2015


February

OABA 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting & Chairman's Reception
Sheraton Tampa
East Hotel
Tampa, Florida
February 6, 2015


2015 NJAA 20th Annual East Coast Variety Show
NJAA East Coast Expo
Golden Nugget
Atlantic City, NJ
February 18th & 19th

NAARSO Training
NJAA East Coast Expo
Golden Nugget
Atlantic City, NJ
February 17th - 19th






2014-2015
 
NJAA  Officers

President
William Gehlhaus

1st Vice President
Scott Simpson

2nd Vice President
Angelo Cappetta

Treasurer/Secretary
  John J. Maurer

Executive Director
Kimberle R Samarelli

Legal Counsel
Lary I. Zucker

Registered Government Affairs Representative
Edward R. McGlynn

 
Season's Greetings!



Wishing Everyone and Their Families  
A Happy, Healthy & Prosperous
Holiday Season!

 

From the NJAA Board of Directors


 

A Special Message from  

NJAA Executive Director

Kimberle Rolle Samarelli 

 

 

The NJAA successfully raised and donated $10,000 again this year from our annual golf outing, which was renamed the Fritz Rolle Legacy Golf Outing, benefiting Give Kids The World.

 

The donation was presented at the breakfast meeting, and on behalf of my family, we also dedicated a bench for the Village at GKTW for parents to adore the smiles of their children and watch memories being created. For those of you who knew my dad, he would always say meet me at the office (which was his bench outside Little Macs) so we wanted to create an office for him at the Village since he had such a passion for the place.

 

It was Fritz's vision for the NJAA to partner with Give Kids The World and raise money for them. To date, we have raised well over $150,000.00.

 

Thank you to everyone for making this possible!

 

 



L to R: Fantasy Island VP, Tommy Frey; Give Kids The World President, Pamela Landwirth and NJAA Executive Director, Kimberle Rolle Samarelli


 

More Things Happening on the
Trade Show Floor

 

OABA presents a check to the NJAA to help offset their expenses for their efforts to help the traveling carnival business.

 

L to R: Bob Johnson, President of OABA; Kimberle Rolle Samarelli, Executive Director of NJAA; and Mike Featherston, OABA Trustee and Owner of Gold Star Amusements.
 

 

 

 

'Tis the Season for Giving and Sharing

 

The bicycles in the photos below were donated with monies raised from the NJAA Volunteer First Responders Relief Fund. They were donated through the RAINE Foundation and will be distributed to children throughout Keansburg and Union Beach, New Jersey.  

  

 

   

 

 

  

  

   

 

RAINE (Reaching All in Need Everyday) is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2001 to assist children and their families who are in crisis.

To learn more about RAINE, request support for a family in need, donations or how to volunteer, please visit the RAINE Foundation website.

  

  

 



The New Jersey Amusement Association  

Proudly Presents
 

The 20th Annual East Coast
Gift & Variety Show 2015

Golden Nugget, Atlantic City, NJ 

 

Wednesday, February 18th

&

Thursday, February 19th

 

(Exhibitor Setup - Tuesday, February 17th)

 

~  ~  ~  

 

7th Annual East Coast / Mid-Atlantic
Regionalized NAARSO Outreach Safety School

Sponsored by the  
New Jersey Amusement Association
&
Presented by NAARSO

February 17th - 19th, 2015  

   

The Annual East Coast Gift & Variety Show is "The Trade Show to Keep You Connected to the Amusement Industry in the Tri-State Area" 

   

 

Three Great Events!

 

Be There!

 

One Great Place! 

 

 

Join us at the Golden Nugget Grand Ballroom to connect and network with professionals from various segments of the tourism industry. Attendees include owners, partners, managers and buyers; as well as workers of amusement parks, arcades, games, concessions, piers and restaurants.

 

~  ~  ~

 

On Wednesday, February 18th, the NJAA will hold its 25th Annual Scholarship Awards Party. Join the Board of Directors and NJAA members for a chance to unwind and participate in a great social event!  

 

Up to $5,000 in Scholarships Awarded!  


For College Students
who are continuing their education  

   

For Incoming Freshman who are graduating high school
 

The New Jersey Amusement Association's Scholarship Fund was started in 1988 by a committee chaired by Ken Wynne as a separate non-profit corporation to give something back to those who work so hard giving life to our industry. The fund will make annual awards to qualified applicants who are matriculated at or will be matriculated at an accredited college or university.  

 

~  ~  ~

The 2015 Vista Convention Services Exhibitor Material Package is attached below. This form also includes the Electrical Application.

Please note the following instructions after viewing their kit:   

  

Please go to the Vista web site: www.vistacs.com

Click on EXHIBITOR LOGIN

The username is NJAA2015 (all caps/no spaces)

The password is AMUSEMENT (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

 

~  ~  ~

7th Annual

East Coast / Mid-Atlantic

Regionalized NAARSO

Outreach Safety School

 

Sponsored by the  

New Jersey Amusement Association

&

Presented by NAARSO 

 

February 17th - 19th, 2015    

 

 Registration & Schedule  

TBA  

 

~  ~  ~  

 

Important updates with be announced via email, the NJAA monthly newsletter and the NJAA website. If you have any questions, please call the NJAA office at 
732-240-0000 

 


Thank you!



Industry News
&  
Announcements

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * 

 

New Jersey Monthly 

Best of 2014 

  

Congratulations!

 

Gillian's Wonderland Pier

 Best Amusement Park 2014

 

 

Anyone approaching Ocean City can't miss the 140-foot giant wheel that beckons families to play at Gillian's Wonderland Pier, a park with an 85-year history of classic amusements. Many flock to Gillian's just for the funnel cake. Co-owner Michele Gillian credits her family's secret recipe. "You can't find better funnel cake," she declares. Don't miss the latest frights added to their haunted house.(609-399-7082)

 

 Pirate Island Adventure Golf

Best Mini Golf 2014

  

The caves, the waterfalls, the suspension bridges, and of course, that huge pirate ship-all of it makes putting your way through Pirate Island Adventure Golf feel like a true buccaneer's adventure. The talking animatronic pirates add to the show. "It's great family entertainment, and that's what we cater to-the families," says Pirate Island COO Scott Rosen. Open since 1994 with locations in Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Avalon.  

 

 

Congratulations to the following for also making the NJ Monthly Best of 2014 List!  

 

  

 

 

Keansburg Amusement Park

Best Amusement Park/Central

Keansburg, NJ 

 

Land of Make Believe

Best Amusement Park/North

Hope, NJ  

 

iPlay America

Freehold, NJ

 

Jenkinson's Boardwalk Mini Golf

Point Pleasant, NJ 

 

 

 

The following excerpt is from NJ Monthly Online 

 

How You Picked Jersey's Best


The listings on these pages are based on online voting throughout the year at njmonthly.com. Readers were asked to vote each month on a different category. In all, 5,686 ballots were cast.

This section provides brief descriptions of the winner in each of the 59 categories, plus a list of runners-up. In the interest of honoring reader favorites from throughout the state, the runners-up are the top vote getters in the regions (North, Central or South) not represented by the winner. In a handful of cases, only two of the three regions are represented. In the case of ties, we have included descriptions of multiple winners.

For local and regional chains, votes for individual stores were aggregated into a single entry. National chains were not eligible.  

  

The NJ Monthly Best of 2014 is the cover story for their December issue. You can also read the article and view all the categories online at:

 

NJMonthlyBest2014SummerGetaways 

   

 

* * * * * * * * * * * *  


H. Betti Industries, Inc.Celebrates its
80th Anniversary!

H. Betti Industries, Inc. the leading world-wide distributor of coin operated equipment celebrated their 80th anniversary during IAAPA 2014. To show their appreciation to their devoted customers and suppliers, H. Betti Industries, Inc. hosted a cocktail party at the Hilton Orlando Hotel adjacent to the convention center.

 

Over 300 guests attended a three hour cocktail party at the Hilton Bistro room, a perfect location for this celebration. Friends socialized while enjoying cocktails and a wide variety of delicious appetizers prepared by extremely talented chefs, including butler service hors d'oeuvres, two carving stations, and a tapas bar that pleased all in attendance. Guests had the option of socializing inside the Bistro, or outside on the beautiful patio that included a fire pit, and additional seating.



Among the guests was the Betti family along with President of H. Betti Industries Bob Geschine, there to personally thank all in attendance for helping H. Betti become the amazing and successful company that it is today.

 

 

During the party, Bob Geschine spoke and thanked the customers and suppliers in attendance for supporting H. Betti throughout the years as well as expressing his reverence for the company. Geschine, who's been with Betson for 40 years, calls Betson, "80 years young" and is very "passionate about the industry and excited about our future". After speaking, Bob Geschine introduced Peter Betti, CEO and Chairman of H. Betti Industries who shared touching memories, both about the business and about his family which captured the attention of all. Peter spoke nostalgically about how H. Betti Industries became the thriving business that it is today and how it all started, remembering, "my grandfather saw something coming...the jukebox". Peter also shared stories of his family coming over on a ship from Italy and starting out with only one office in North Jersey, "it was never our goal to be big" Peter states. As H. Betti continues to grow and expand, it was obvious Peter Betti, as well as the rest of the Betti family really care about the people and employees. "it's the people that make the business," Peter said in closing.

 

 

 

As guests departed the event they were handed a custom gift box designed by H.Betti to show their appreciation.  


About Betson Enterprises


Headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, Betson Enterprises with 14 distribution offices nationwide is the leading distributor of coin operated amusement and vending equipment, coin operated parts, and service in the United States. With over 80 years of experience and leadership in the coin-operated industry, we will help you make informed decisions that are best for your business.

Betson offers entertainment and vending solutions for your business through our relationships with the operator community. For locations looking for a simple and profitable solution or vendors looking for equipment that fits any situation, Betson Enterprises can help you. Betson Enterprises has an industry proven reputation for quality and customer focus.

For more information on Betson Enterprises, visit www.betson.com, email us at [email protected] or just call 1-800-524-2343.


* * * * * * * * * * * *  

If you would like to submit an announcement or share news that is industry related, please send it in an email to:


Thank you!



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 [email protected].

Remember to check our website www.njamusements.com for valuable resources, recent news and up-to-date information.



Sincerely,

Kimberle Samarelli
Executive Director 
New Jersey Amusement Association