Play Meter

National pinball association formed 1990 will be remembered as a landmark year for pinball not only because it coincides with the game 's 60th anniversary. On July 11, the first board of directors ' meeting for the newly created AMOAIFP A (International Flipper Pinball Association) was held in Chicago. The association is incorporated and has bylaws. Under the bylaws, the board of directors consists of 10 seats: four pinball manufacturer representatives , three operator officers, two AMOA members, and one distributor. Joe Conway, executive director of the AMOA-National Dart Association, is serving as interim director to get the IFp A off and running . Sharon Harris of Stan Harris & Co. is president, Ed Velasquez of Velasquez Automatic Music Co. is vice president, and Gene Urso of Madison Coin Machine Co. is secretary/treasurer. The distributor's seat has been filled by Frank Gumma Jr. of American Vending Sales . Representing the four pinball manufacturers are Roger Sharpe (Williams), Joe Dillon (Bally/Midway) , Gary Stem (Data East), and Gil Pollock (Premier). AMOA's Dick Hawkins will appoint the two members to come from that associa- tion's ranks . Conway is presently working on "teaser kits ," information packets to be sent to operators that answer questions about the IFPA and explain how to form pinball leagues. He expects them to be ready for distribution by the board' s next meeting on Aug. 29. The first big event planned by IFPA is the "World Championships of Pinball," slated for March 2-3, 1991 , in Milwaukee. Steve Epstein of the Broadway Arcade in New York will be the tournament director. Nominations open for AMOA board Seventeen German operators of NSMNalley Recreation Products equipment recently set out on a six-day camping ex· pedition in Idaho. The trip featured stops in Idaho Falls, the Salmon River, Corral Flats, Dome Lake, and Panther Creek. Activities along the way included horseback riding, white-water rafting, panning for gold, and target rifle shooting. The tour was arranged by NSM's Ulli Kunnecke and Valley's Bill Nemgar. AMOA-member operators or distributors have until Sept. 27 to submit letters of recommendation for those interested in joining the AMOA board of directors. The association ' s Nomination Committee will be meeting soon to review member candidates who are in good standing for election consideration. Ten new directors will be elected for the 1991 fiscal year at the AMOA's annual business meeting, which will be held during Expo '90 in New Orleans on Oct. 25-27. The criteria for board candidates stipulates that the member recommendation must 1) be an operator or distributor member of AMOA; 2) be endorsed in writing by five other AMOA members; and 3) be submitted to the Nominating Committee at least 30 days prior to the election. The letters of recommendation should include a brief summary of the candidate's involvement and achievement in state and local activities. The candidates three-year term will commence at Expo '90 in October and run through the 1992 convention. Send all recommendations to Kathy WagneratAMOA'sheadquarters, 111 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60601. August 1990/PLAY METER 13