"Those who agree with us may not be right, but we admire their astuteness." ~ Cullen Hightower
Fairs Year-round Information	F.Y.I. Volume 8, Issue 9 May 8,1998

IN FOCUS

CCA Explores Opportunity to Trim Fairs' Electric Bills —
Potentially Up to 25 Percent

Each year during fairtime, fairgrounds’ electrical needs soar, often up to two to four times their average power usage. While some fairs have arranged lower than average rates for their power, others aren’t as fortunate. But, when you combine these fairs’ annual energy needs, spreading their “peaks” more evenly throughout the year, the amount of energy needed overall may be the enticement needed to negotiate a group energy discount from an electrical service provider.

In response to fair inquiries about this type of group purchase, in light of the upcoming electricity deregulation, CCA consulted with the Division of Fairs and Expositions, and FEEP — the Fairs Electrical Energy Purchasing program — was born.

As FEEP’s program manager, CCA’s Tom Baker is working with interested fairs to explore the feasibility of such a group discount. Initial estimates indicate a potential savings of 10 to 25 percent for participating fairs. The fact that electric companies are already promising a 10 percent cut once the deregulation goes into effect, Tom says, shows there’s room for negotiation.

Earlier this year, Tom sent a memo to all fairs, asking fairs interested in participating to supply him with their 1997 electrical bills. Close to half of California’s 80 fairs responded, and Lori Thomas, also with CCA, is currently creating a database with their information. Once the anticipated amount of electricity needed is calculated, Tom will begin approaching electric service companies.

If you haven’t yet responded to the memo, there’s still time to send CCA your electric bills from 1997, although you must do so ASAP. For more information, or if you have any questions about FEEP, please contact Lori Thomas at 916/263-6117.

Western artists are encouraged to enter two western-themed fine art competitions organized by the California State Fair.

Art that focuses on the unique heritage and themes of “the West” will be highlighted in the 1998 California Works Competition. Entries will be accepted through May 29, 1998; prize money totals $14,560.

New for the year is “California’s Golden Discoveries” competition, celebrating the California Gold Discovery to Statehood Sesquicentennial. This new division is open to artwork themed around the discovery of California’s gold and other natural riches.

For a competition handbook and entry information, write: California Works, California State Fair, P.O. Box 15649, Sacramento, CA 95852; or call: 916/263-3146.

Looking for a way to increase local student participation at your fair? How about suggesting projects focusing on agriculture to the teachers in your community? The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is available to help with professionally-developed classroom curriculum and other resources.

To update teachers on everything available from AITC, tell them about the annual Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, October 15 - 17 in Sacramento. The Conference offers informative workshops and hands-on round tables, in addition to a resource store, agricultural field trips, and much more.

The registration fee, due October 1, 1998, is $165 per person, and includes all meals (Thursday dinner - Saturday lunch). For more information, please contact the Foundation at 916/561-5625.

Steven A. Lucas, Executive Officer of CCA, recently announced the addition of a new employee, as well as a change of status for two other CCA employees.

Mike Leonard, a building and grounds inspector, joins CCA’s Southern California team. He holds a number of International Conference of Building Inspectors certifications, and before joining CCA was a building inspector for the cities of Temecula and Lancaster.

Added to permanent staff status is Lisa McKnight, who fills the administrative assistant post vacant since August 1997. She previously worked with the North Highlands Recreation and Park District, Kemper Insurance Company, and Industrial Indemnity Insurance. Robert Beal, a member of CCA’s staff since February 1994, has been promoted to systems administrator. Originally a computer assisted design (CAD) operator, his roll has continually grown over the past few years to meet the needs of CCA’s operations and increased technology.

One of the easiest ways to free up space on your hard disk is to delete fonts you don’t use. Even if you haven’t personally added any fonts, most anytime you install a software application, fonts are automatically loaded along with it. To eliminate the fonts you don’t want, with your left mouse button:

1. Click the Start button
2. Choose Settings > Control Panel
3. In the Control Panel window, double-click on the Fonts folder
4. Before deleting a font, make sure it’s what you want to delete by clicking it twice to bring up the Preview Window
5. To close the Preview Window, click Done
6. To delete a font, click File > Delete > Yes

Caution:Be careful not to remove any of the following fonts, as you could adversely affect your computer’s operations:

• Times New Roman
• Arial
• Courier New
• System
• Symbol
• Wingdings
• Any font whose name begins with “MS”
• Any font whose name begins with the name of another software manufacturer

If you have any questions about fonts, or any other computer-related questions, call Mike Johnson, CFSA Computer Services, at 916/263-6155.

Applications are being accepted for the position of Secretary-Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Redwood Empire Fair and Event Center in Ukiah, California.

Under the direction of the DAA’s board of directors, the CEO plans, organizes, implements and administers the day-to-day development and utilization of the fairgrounds, directs its staff, and performs other work as required. Emphasis is on administration and management, financial accounting, planning, facility enhancement, marketing and public relations. Candidates must have working knowledge of the state contracts system and labor agreements, and be willing to work irregular hours and weekends, and participate in community activities and organizations.

A fair residence is available and the CEO may be required to reside there. Salary: $4,464 - $5,306 per month. For a complete job description and application packet, or if you have any questions, please contact:
Selection Committee
12th District Agricultural Association
1055 North State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
707/462-3884

Final filing date is May 26, 1998, and all applications must be received at the above address no later than 5:00 p.m. Postmarks and facsimiles will not be accepted.

For the seventh year, California Fair Services Authority has supplied fair dates, locations and contact phone numbers for publication in the Sacramento Bee’s “Summer Attractions” pullout section.

Last year’s 32-page section was delivered to more than 240,000 subscribers. About 250,000 copies will be delivered this year, with an additional 5,000 available at newsstands.

Attention Fairs! Share your ideas and accomplishments with your friends and fellow fairs in F.Y.I. The Fair Exchange column is dedicated to articles from and about California’s fairs. Simply give Melissa Thurber a call, a fax, or make life really easy for yourself and add her to your fair’s press release mailing list. (She’ll even write the article for you.) Contact her at: