FYI - January 6, 1997

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	"Reality is only an illusion, albeit a very persisitant one." - Albert Einstein

Fairs Year-round Information	F.Y.I. Volume 7, Issue 5 February 28, 1997

AFTER THE FLOOD

"Mathematics are well and good, but Nature keeps dragging us around by the nose. " ~ Albert Einstein

And Mother Nature recently did just that, with tropical storms and torrential rains causing widespreadflooding and displacing thousands of people, pets and livestock. Fortunately, with the water, also came a flood of volunteer aid Among those offering assistance were a number of California fairs/fairgrounds' staff.

This second-in-a-series of Fair Exchanges salutes anotherfair that made a difference - the RedwoodAcres Fair. Office Assistant Diane Fales reports:

During the heavy rains and higher than average tides in late December and early January 1997, the pasture area below the fairgrounds was submerged under five feet or more of water. Unfortunately, this pasture was also home to 23 horses and mules. Thanks to six caring and daring friends of the fair, these animals found safe harbour at the Eureka fairgrounds. Working in shifts, four people swam/led the animals through cold flood waters to the far side of the pasture and up the hill to the fairgrounds, while the two other people waited in the water with the remaining animals. Diane notes the rescuers worked long into the night, and well past midnight. Continuing the teamwork, the fair's business assistant, Barbara Darst, and her husband donated feed to the tired, hungry animals. Thanks to everyone's commitment, all the animals were saved, and only one horse was reported to have cuts from a fence underwater. In fact, no one even reported catch ing a cold. The animals were safely stabled on the fairgrounds during the emergency, and all but two remain, waiting for drier, uncontaminated pastures and warmer days.

FINAL SEAT ON REVENUE PROTECTION PROGRAMS CLAIM COMMITTEE FILLED

Congratulations are in order for John Root, CEO of the San Mateo County Exposition and Fair Association, recently appointed to the Revenue Protection Program Claims Committee, representing the CFSA board of directors.The other members of the four person committee are Matt Etzler, representing the Division of Fairs and Expositions; Gene Marquart, representing CFSA's Risk Management Unit; and Ron Lillard, CEO of the Siskiyou Golden Fair, representing CFSA's member fairs.

TOTAL PAID ATTENDANCE AT CALIFORNIA'S FAIRS DROPS IN '96

A1180 fairs have reported in (five have free gates), and here's how 1996's total paid attendance compares to 1995's:

1995:	7,500,967
1996:	7,152,050
Down:	-348,917	-4.65%

CARF TIP SHEET:
PLANNING AHEAD CAN SAVE YOU MONEY ON YOUR FAIR'S STATIONARY

Getting ready to reorder your business stationery? Cheryl Kreps, supervisor of the California Authority of Racing Fairs' Print Shop offers these money saving tips:

Don't "bleed" (run your image off the side of the page or envelope) your artwork. This process requires printing on a larger-thanfinished-size sheet of paper, adding oversized paper and trimming costs to your order. Running a bleed on an envelope makes it necessary to assemble the envelope after it's been printed.
Print your return address on the front of the envelope. Printing on the back flap can cost up to 6O percent more than printing on the front.
Because paper mills discontinue many speciality papers, try to select a basic, classic paper for your stationery.
Don't order three years worth of stationery if you only have two years left on your office lease. If you have any questions about an upcoming print job, or if you 'd like a price quote on a specific project, give Cheryl a call at 909/ 390-7788 or fax her at 909/390-7790.

"LIKE-NEW" REFRIGERATERS AVAILABLE AT DISCOUNT SURPLUS PRICES

Spring cleaning is the ideal time to take stock of items your fair could use, like compact refrigerators that fit neatly into tight corners. Here's a sampling of items currently in the Government Surplus Warehouse to prime your thinking:

Refrigerators, like new - choose from twosizes: small, available in brown; or medium, available in white; both, single-door style.
Map cabinets - ideal for aerial fair photos and as-built maps. Five drawers per section; stackable.
Solar shade cloth - in time for spring and summer events. Provides approximately 85 percent shade, 28' x 32' hexagon.
Hard plastic sheets - ideal for picnic table tops and counter tops.
Metal pallets - virtually indestructible.

For more information on these and other great buys, or if you'd like to arrange a tour of the South Sacramento surplus warehouse, call Graeme Stewart at 916/765-3673. Please note: CFSA's Surplus Purchasing Program is only authorized to obtain surplus property for California's fairs.

PST PROGRAM SAVES FAIRS MORE THAN $650,000 IN 1996

Had California's fairs participated in the federal government's social security program and then been required to match each 119-day employee's social security payment, the fairs collectively would have paid $786,375 in social security benefits. Instead, by participating in the parttime, seasonal, temporary (PST) retirement plan created by the Department of Personnel (DPA) and using CFSA as a pass-through agency, the fairs paid just $91,380, a savings of $694,995.

ANNUAL MITY-LITE TABLE ORDER DATE DRAWING NEAR

Need some durable tables? Karen Gallay will place her annual Mity-Lite Table order on March 24. This is your once-a-year opportunity to purchase these lightweight, plastic-topped tables at a volume-order discount price.
For more information, or to place an order, call Karen at (916) 263-6191.

F.Y.I. is published by CFSA in partnership with CARF, CCA, F&E and WFA