Play Meter

Georgia does itl
It's official! The Georgia Amuse-
ment and Music Operators Associa-
tion has been formed, ending thirty
years of frustrated attempts to unite
operators and distributors in that
state.
In its second organizational meet-
ing August 28 at the Hilton Inn in
Macon, Georgia, the GAMOA re-
ported a total membership of 55.
The estimated number of operators
in the state is 150. Frank Cannon of
Thomasville, Georgia, the state
association's newly-elected presi-
dent told Play Meter (September,
1977, page 14) that the association
was aiming for a membership of at
least 40 before it could call itself a
truly representative organization.
The guest speaker at the August
meeing was Garland Garrett, presi-
dent of the AMOA.
In addition to Cannon, the other
officers elected at the August
meeting were as follows: James
Crews of Lagrange, Georgia , vice
president; Lee Martin of Macon,
Georgia, secretary; and John Martin
of Macon , Georgia, treasurer. The
membership also elected an 18-
member board of directors which
town . But believe me, the associa-
tion is doing everything possible to
reduce the taxes in the state. It's a
tough thing. But if there were a
piece of legislation which would
threaten to raise the operators'
taxes even higher, then all the
operators would be saying they
would join . But if we're talking
about reducing taxes, then suddenly
all the operators turn hard of
hearing ."
"In Redondo Beach, where I
operate, " he continued, "I paid
$1,500 in taxes last year. It's a
chartered city and has a $50-per-
machine license fee . I operated
thirty machines in the city and had
to pay $1 ,500 in taxesl That was
more than Save-On-Drug Store
paid, and it grosses around $15
million a year. It paid only $1,200.
And big department stores like May
Company, which gross many many
millions more, paid only $2,200 in
taxes. And here I am paying $1,500
for thirty machines.
" Sure, the taxes are bad, but if it
weren't for the CMMA, they' d be a
lot worse. Operators would be
paying thousands more than they
are now. Every change in the State
of California to lower licenses has
come through the efforts of the
p
R
b r.19n
will be headed by the association's
four officers . The board of directors,
according to state association Sec-
retary Lee Martin, represent the
operators and distributors through-
out the state geographically.
Martin also said that the associa-
tion will probably meet again before
the end of the year but that no date
has yet been set for that meeting.
He also revealed that the organiza-
tion's dues is presently $100 but that
will soon be amended after the
association can project a budget.
The first order of business for the
fledgling association will be to
repeal adverse and antiquated legis-
lation . Also, according to Martin,
the association plans to focus in on
ways to improve the image of the
industry throughout the state. Rus-
sell Cates of Albany, Georgia is the
committee head who will spearhead
the association 's legislative matters
for the present time.
The state association was formed
after an organizational meeting in
July drew 81 interested parties . It
was the fifth attempt by operators in
the state to unite.
Bill Swanson (right) LaFo/lles Coin
Machines, Manistique, Music Oper-
ators of Michigan 1977 Music
Operator of the Year receives the
award from Mike Benson newly
elected president of MOM. Swan-
son was honored for his contribu-
tions to the amusement industry
and Music Operators of Michigan.
• • • and defended
CMMA, " he added.
"Most operators, though , don't
give a damn," said Fisher. " They' re
coattailers. They're getting a free
ride. They won't pay their fair share,
but they' ll reap all the benefits
anyway.
" It won 't be the association 's
fault ," said Fisher, ifthe uniform tax
is not followed up. "It'll be the fault
of those coattailers."
he said that in March he mailed
out letters to 500 operators in the
state to join with the CMMA to
defeat detrimental legislation a-
gainst the industry. " I received
answers from twelve operators, and
half of those were from present
members who appreciated the fine
work we are doing . Four hundred
and eighty-eight operators ignored
the printed addressed card to
respond my letter. They spend a
great deal of money for equipment
and nothing to defend their busi-
nesses from unfair licenses and
taxes. "
Fisher continued , "So I mailed a
second letter in early August. As
usual, I received no response . These
non-association operators want to
ride on the coattail of the paying
members ." Fisher said that if more
members would join the CMMA , the
state association would be able to
get more done, perhaps fighting a
second successful battle, this time
against the chartered cities.
Former CMMA and MOA Presi-
dent George Miller said the recent
CMMA victory over the non-
chartered cities was because the
state association was able to get the
state legislature to accept pinball
machines and jukeboxes as "vend-
ing machines ." This was necessary,
he said, because the non-chartered
cities in the state got around an
earlier state law affecting vending
machines by saying that pinball
machines and jukeboxes were not
included .
" Now those non-chartered cities
will have to tax according to the
gross, " said Miller. "They won't be
able to get arou nd it."
Miller added that he sees little
hope at this time for the state
association to press on against the
chartered cities, though he con-
ceded that " the goal of the CMMA
is for a gross income tax with all the
cities, both chartered and non-
chartered, charging uniform li-
censes."
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