"It's better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Fairs Year-round Information	F.Y.I. Volume 7, Issue 20 September 26, 1997

IN FOCUS

CFSA Board Director Resigns ~ Mid-Term Election Planned to Fill Vacant Seat

Gary McDonald, representing Class I and II fairs, relinquished his position on CFSA's Board of Directors after resigning as CEO of the Cloverdale Citrus Fair.

Assuming McDonald's duties as board chair is assistant chair, Kelley Ferreira, CEO of San Benito County Fair.

One of Ferreira's immediate responsibilities is to chair the Nominating Committee, composed of Ron Maraviov, CEO of the Yolo County Fair, representing Class I and II fairs; and John Kegebein, CEO of the Santa Cruz County Fair, representing Classes III through VII. Eligible electors from Class I and II fairs are welcome to contact the committee members if interested in serving on the board.

The committee will forward its selection of eligible electors to CFSA. These candidates' names, along with write-in slots, will be placed on the ballot, and sent to Class I and II fair electors for voting. All ballots are due back to CFSA within 14 days. The October issue of F.Y.I. will report the results of the election.

Is all the talk about "El Nino" and the prediction of a very wet winter to come giving your fairgrounds' staff nightmares? Steve Lucas, executive officer of the California Construction Authority, provided these easy-on-the-budget, quick-fix preventative maintenance tips you can use in-house to put those nightmares to rest:

• Clean building roofs.
  And while you ' re up there, check roof-penetrating flashing (i.e., sheet metal around venting areas) and tack down loose roofing tiles.
• Clean-out drains
  (especially storm drains) and gutters.
• Look over your landscaping
  make sure dirt is pulled below the sill plate around the perimeter of each building
• Re-caulk seals
  around doors, windows
• Clean electrical panel boxes
  and check breakers
• Trim trees
  cut limbs away from buildings and power lines

Don't miss this rare opportunity to be entertained and enlightened by one of the California fair industry's most popular speakers. Peter McGugan. McGugan will share his insights on the art of beating job burnout, Tuesday, october 21, as part of the California Authority of Racing Fair's 4th Annual Satellite Supervisors Symposium, Monday-Tuesday, October 20-21.

Because of the relevance of McGugan's topic to all areas of the fair industry, his presentation, as well as that of Monday's keynote speaker, T. Scott Gross (building long-term customer loyalty), is open to everyone interested in attending. There's no charge for either presentation, but seating is limited. Please RSVP to Joan Bartosik at 916/663-9256.

John Kegebein, CEO of the Santa Cruz County Fair reports that the paid attendance at this year's fair was up 18 percent. There were a number of elements contributing to the tair's success ~ great weather, new attractions, community and media support, plus the realization that the fair was a safe place for families to come and enjoy themselves.

Helping boost Placer County Fair's total paid attendance was the elimination of free admission on July 4th.

With 37 fairs reporting in, here's how the numbers add up:

When the Stewarts return trom vacation on Wednesday, October 1. it will be business as usual at the Surplus Warehouse. If you haven't already faxed or mailed your equipment Wish List (included with your September 12 issue of F.Y.I.) to Graeme, feel free to do so at any time. The sooner you do, however, the better Graeme's chances are of finding the items your fair needs.

In the meantime, here's a sampling of items currently in the warehouse. Remember, items are limited to stock on hand. on a first-come, first-served basis:

• Secretary chairs ~ five-wheel design, with height adjustment levers
• Ticket booth stools
• Tall, metal cabinets ~ with shelves, lockable
• Carts with attached step ladder ~ three shelves, casters and three-step ladder
• AC/DC electrical testers

For more information on these and other great buys, or if you’d like to arrange a tour of the South Sacramento surplus warehouse or accompany the buyer on a visit to a surplus yard, 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.

Here’s how this year’s handle adds up after 12 days of racing at the Cal Expo, the seventh stop on the summer fair horse racing circuit:

• 1996 on-track: $35,300,146
• 1997 on-track: $34,124,858
• Down: -3.32%

• 1996 Northern California off-track: $92,622,667
• 1997 Northern California off-track: $93,362,976
• Up: +.79%

• 1996 Network total: $127,922,815
• 1997 Network total: $127,487,838
• Down: -.34%

F.Y.I. invites and encourages all fairs to contribute articles and article ideas for the Fair Exchange column. We’ll even write the article for you. For details, call Melissa Thurber at 916/263-6178 or Joan Bartosik at 916/663-9256.
To add F.Y.I. to your press release mailing list, send or fax releases to:

1776 Tribute Road, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95815
Attn: Melissa Thurber
Fax: 916/646-1238