Play Meter

Don't plant plant a a Don't FROM THE EDITOR BANANA TREE TREE BANANA without &5@&®m@J thought witho ut aa seco nd thoug ht T T he trio of trade shows has ended. Opinions about he trio of trade shows has ended. Opinions about what will happen next year are flying around like what will happen next year are flying around like dandelion fuzz on a windy day. Fun Expo, dandelion fuzz on a windy day. Fun Expo, AMOA, and IAAPA are ironically quite different AMOA, and IAAPA are ironically quite different shows, yet somehow their fates are discussed in shows, yet somehow their fates are discussed in the same breath. I was thinking about the shows, especially AMOA, when an image gushed out especially AMOA, when an image gushed out from the hazy fog of my past. I couldn't get the from the hazy fog of my past. I couldn't get the thought of banana trees out of my mind. AMOA. thought of banana trees out of my mind. AMOA. Banana trees. AMOA. Banana trees. The two kept Banana trees. AMOA. Banana trees. The two kept colliding in my head. I had to figure out why. colliding in my head. I had to figure out why. I began to picture a longI began to picture a longago time when I was a ago time when I was a young wife with a brand young wife with a brand new baby, a dog, and a new new baby, a dog, and a new house with aa very very bare bare house with yard. I had always loved the yard. I had always loved the look of banana trees with look of banana trees with their green floppy leaves their green floppy leaves and wild abandon. I had to and wild abandon. I had to have them. My older and, have them. My older and, now I I know, know, much much wiser wiser now 11eigl1uur waruetl me to give neighbor warned me to give this a little more thought. this a little more thought. Advice falls falls silent silent on on 2020Advice year-old ears. year-old ears. I planted banana trees and I planted banana trees and eagerly waited until they eagerly waited until they grew tall and willowy. I didgrew tall and willowy. I didn't have a long wait and, n't have a long wait and, while I Iloved lovedthem them atatfirst, first, while they soon took over the they soon took over the yard. Well, I didn'tlove them I didn't lovethem yard. Well, anymore. Soon I didn't even like them. Finally, I anymore. Soon I didn't even like them. Finally, I downright hated them! I couldn't get rid of them. downright hated them! I couldn't get rid of them. They grew until I thought I'd have to take the They grew until I thought I'd have to take the husband, new baby, and dog and move away! husband, new baby, and dog and move away! They would not be defeated. That root system They would not be defeated. That root system was so powerful super glue paled in comparison. was so powerful super glue paled in comparison. So why would thoughts of AMOA intertwine So why would thoughts of AMOA intertwine with my banana tree nightmare? Because AMOA with my banana tree nightmare? Because AMOA represents the grass roots of the coin-op industry. represents the grass roots of the coin-op industry. It's operators with a strong root system that won't It's operators with a strong root system that won't bedefeated. defeated.The Theshow showisisa astreet streetoperators' operators'show, show, be hasbeen beenfor fordecades. decades.Sure, Sure,there therewere wereaafew few asasitithas FEC owners, probably some amusement park FEC owners, probably some amusement park owners, but for the most part it was attended by owners, but for the most part it was attended by the heart and soul of the coin machine business. the heart and soul of the coin machine business. The association was headed for major The association was headed for major changes, which many grass roots operators didn't changes, which many grass roots operators didn't fee l were in the best interest of AMOA. An imfeel were in the best interest of AMOA. An impressive number of past AMOA presidents railed pressive number of past AMOA presidents railed against the changes with convincing rationalism. against the changes with convincing rationalism. Only one of the five proposals was accepted. the same breath. I was thinking about the shows, ValerieCognevich Cognevich Valerie Editor Editor Only one of the five proposals was accepted. PLAYMETER METER PLAY 10 10 There were no selfish motives from these potent There were no selfish motives from these potent operators. Rather, they've been a vital part of the operators. Rather, they've been a vital part of the evolutionofofthe theassociation associationand andthe theindustry. industry.As As evolution control passes to another generation, they don't control passes to another generation, they don't want their efforts to have been in vain. As the inwant their efforts to have been in vain. As the industry advances, expands, and changes, it needs dustry advances, expands, and changes, it needs that firm, ferocious, and flexible element that will that firm, ferocious, and flexible element that will not be defeated or sit bacl and see the industry not be defeated or sit back and see the industry collapse! Now you may understand the banana collapse! Now you may understand the banana tree comparison! tree comparison! The AMOA turned out to be a good show. ot The AMOA turned out to be a good show. Not becausethere therewere weresosomany manyoperators operatorsthere. there.Not Not because because there were so many exhibitors. Not even because there were so many exhibitors. Not even because there were so many new people looking because there were so many new people looking at our industry. In fact, none of those were factors in theshow's show'ssuccess. success. The success was regroupin the The success was regrouping, sharing long conversations with long time ing, sharing long conversations with long time business friends, forming new relationships, and business friends, forming new relationships, and generally realizing that the industry is still viable. generally realizing that the industry is still viable. It's still one that we're proud to call home. We It's still one that we're proud to call home. We may go to Fun Expo or IAAPA to see things that may go to Fun Expo or IAAPA to see things that may be a welcome addition to our businesses, but may be a welcome addition to our businesses, but we go to AMOA because it's UU.K show. we go to AMOA because it's OUR show. Someone said that perhaps we're expecting Someone said that perhaps we're expecting too much from a trade show. We want everything too much from a trade show. We want everything under one roof. We see that fine line between varunder one roof. We see that fine line between various forms of entertainment becoming an indisious forms of entertainment becoming an indistinguishable blur. We want everything and we tinguishable blur. We want everything and we want it now. But sit back and listen to the wise want it now. But sit back and listen to the wise words of Harold Skripsky in his column this issue, words of Harold Skripsky in his column this issue, "Do we need to attend every show or expo?" We "Do we need to attend every show or expo?" We can say no, confident that we'll catch up at the can say no, confident that we'll catch up at the next show. next show. final thought about AMOA concerns Jerry AAfinal thought about AMOA concerns Jerry Derrick, who served as AMOA president during Derrick, who served as AMOA president during the past year. Jerry represents what's good and the past year. Jerry represents what's good and fair about the industry. He is a strong businessfair about the industry. He is a strong businessman who worked diligently for AMOA for many man who worked diligently for AMOA for many years. His efforts and dedication culminated in his years. His efforts and dedication culminated in his election to the highest position. Every operator election to the highest position. Every operator saw that the AMOA presidency wasn't a political saw that the AMOA presidency wasn't a political quest, it was within the reach of every one of the quest, it was within the reach of every one of the members if they worked for it. members if they worked for it. For those who doubted Jerry's effectiveness For those who doubted Jerry's effectiveness as AMOA president, I say this: It doesn't take a as AMOA president, I say this: It doesn't take a very big person to amplify the shortcomings of very big person to amplify the shortcomings of another, but it does to lend well-deserved supanother, but it does to lend well-deserved support and respect. I admire the way Jerry hanport and respect. I admire the way Jerry handled a tough year. The industry's impenetrable dled a tough year. The industry's impenetrable roots sprang from operators like him. When I roots sprang from operators like him. When I say he 's like a banana tree , I mean it with the say he's like a banana tree, I mean it with the highest regard. I'm glad we have people like highest regard. I'm glad we have people like him looking toward the future, willingly and unhim looking toward the future, willingly and unselfishly serving this industry. .A selfishly serving this industry. A at our industry. In fact, none of those were factors DECEMBER1997 1997 DECEMBER