July 28, 2010 a.m.
WEDNESDAY

"Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented, and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful"
(Norman Vincent Peale)

IT named one of the Best and Brightest: For the third consecutive year Incredible Technologies (IT) has been named one of Chicago's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR). IT officials formally accepted the award at the NABR ceremony on Aug. 2 at the Oak Brook Marriott.

IT earned the award based on a range of criteria that includes diversity, work-life balance, compensation and benefits, employee education, retention, and community initiative. Best and Brightest winners are selected by an independent market research company and an independent panel of judges.

IT became famous for its Golden Tee Golf game franchise that is still going strong with continual updates and advancements after 20 years. Recently IT diversified into the development of mobile entertainment such as iPhone apps, home video games for the Wii console system, and casino gaming--namely its new line of Magic Touch video slot, poker, and keno games.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of IT, which now has 140 employees. According to Cory Christensen, IT's Director of Human Resources, winning the Best and Brightest award for three years straight reflects the company's core philosophy: namely, that an employee-friendly atmosphere fosters success in every facet of business.

"A productive, satisfied, invested employee is the best kind to have," she said. "Our three-peat indicates that our owners have been successful in making sure every employee knows the value that both their job and person bring to our company."

IT recently received other awards as well. Although still in testing at various casinos, Magic Touch has already received an industry award for its innovative technology. Elaine Hodgson, President and CEO, is a former NASA scientist turned video game designer/entrepreneur, and was recently honored with a "Great Women of Gaming" award by a leading gaming industry trade publication.

The company celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala party held at Arlington International Racecourse in early July. The employees surprised owners Elaine Hodgson and Richard Ditton, Executive Vice President, with individual mementoes and a 25th anniversary poster signed by all the employees. For more information, call (847)870-7027; Web (www.itsgames.com).

Smart teams with Firestone: Smart Industries has partnered with Firestone Financial Corp. to offer great deals on Easy Touchdown, a game that recently won an Innovator Award from the Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA). Option 1: zero percent APR for 12 months; Option 2: 5.99 percent APR for 24 months. This is a limited time offer valid on the purchase of a new Easy Touchdown machine. For more information, visit (www.smartind.com) and (www.firestonefinancial.com).

Industry mourns loss of Roy Bellettieri: Rocco "Roy Beltier" Bellettieri of Bayside, N.Y., the owner and principal of Bayside Vending Co., passed away on July 23 after a long battle with cancer. He was 79. Bellettieri is survived by his wife, Gloria; daughter Teresa; and son-in-law, John Alimo.

Before starting Bayside Vending Co., for many years he was associated with the late Tilford Gross of Madison Amusements, also in Bayside, N.Y. Bellettieri worked his entire life in the amusement and music industry in a variety of roles. Ken Goldberg of PLK Vending, President of the Amusement and Music Owners Association of New York Inc. (AMOA-NY), said, "Roy was an exemplary and loyal member of AMOA-NY. He was always the first person to step forward and lend a hand for the good, welfare, and benefit of his fellow operators. Roy was always optimistic. He was respected among his business relationships because of his fairness and the credibility of giving his word. Roy was an 'operator's operator'." In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Jimmy V Foundation, an organization committed to fighting lung cancer (www.jimmyv.org/).

Valley-Dynamo introduces long-awaited Valley Panther and Panther ZDX pool tables: Valley-Dynamo announces the introduction of its newest pool tables, the Panther and Panther ZDX. These tables represent over a year of research, development, and testing to make the world's best coin-op pool tables even better than they were.

Among the new innovations are: 1) New flush-mounted corner castings, pocket liners, and top rails (everything is flat) 2) New rail cap molding with the screws hidden below (no more snags); 3) New five-bolt bolt cushion rails for better, more consistent caroms; 4) All new software, battery, and electronics in the ZDX (longer battery life, more pricing options, accepts league dues, detailed accounting, and more); 5) New concave down corners and Cherokee Leather laminate (the most popular ever); 6) No price increase! Orders are now being taken for August shipments. For more information, visit (www.valley-dynamo.com).

Vanessa Cabrera joins VGT: Vanessa Cabrera has joined Video Gaming Technologies (VGT) as Sales and Marketing Coordinator-Illinois. Cabrera's career includes 10 years at the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) as Marketing and Communications Manager. During that time she has built solid working relationships within all segments of the music and amusement industry. She may be reached at (847)253-2380; fax (847)253-5791; Web (www.vgt.net).

TouchTunes and UMe offer jukebox tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd: TouchTunes Interactive Networks and Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) announce an exclusive jukebox tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd. The newly released album, "Sweet Home Alabama--The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd," will be promoted nationwide on TouchTunes Digital Jukeboxes and BarflyTV screens. TouchTunes will be the exclusive jukebox network to feature the album until 2011.

In partnership with UMe, the album will be promoted from July 27 through Aug. 9, and highlight classic Skynyrd tracks performed by today's top country music artists, including Eric Church, Randy Houser, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Uncle Kracker, Randy Montana, Ashley Ray, and Eli Young Band. The compilation album was produced by Jay Joyce.

"At any TouchTunes location, it's always about the music." said Vicki Saunders, TouchTunes Vice President, Digital Media and Music Marketing. "Lynyrd Skynryd has been a consistent favorite across our network of 45,000 digital jukeboxes and we are excited to make the album exclusively available to our locations."

The eight-song compilation was released exclusively through Walmart on July 20. For more information, visit (www.touchtunes.com).

QubicaAMF grows Bowling Center Management School: QubicaAMF Worldwide launched a new Marketing Seminar that ran May 24-28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The seminar was developed as an extension of the QubicaAMF Bowling Center Management School, which is held annually during the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, in a response to industry demand. Seminar presenters were QubicaAMF representatives Roger Creamer and Rosa Katz.

"Since developing the original AMF Bowling Center Management School more than 15 years ago, we have always thought that there was a need to help the busy bowling center manager better understand how to use marketing to grow their business," stated Roger Creamer, Regional Sales Manager for the U.K. and the Middle East for QubicaAMF Worldwide. "We talked to several customers and investors and found that center marketing was a critical area for their business, and one where they felt they could see great opportunity if the right knowledge and resources were made available."

"This Marketing Seminar is the result of listening to our customers and delivering to them the tools, products, and resources they need to not just operate their businesses, but to drive their businesses," said Rosa Katz, Senior Product Manager for Center Consultancy and Services for QubicaAMF. "By sharing best practices and providing useful tools, we are showing customers how these practices can be implemented in their facilities." For information on future seminar dates and locations, e-mail (rkatz@qubicaamf.us); Web (www.qubicaamf.com).

Green Coin Machine updating Web site: Green Coin Machine Distributing is updating its Web site with logos, information, and brochures of coin-op products at (www.greencoin.net) Interested companies may contact Alan Dunasky at (843)626-1900; e-mail (alandunasky@yahoo.com).

BCA Names Ivan Lee of Iwan Simonis 2010-2011 Board Chairman: During its general membership meeting in Las Vegas on July 13, the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) announced the results of the 2010-2011 Board of Directors elections:

Category 1 (Manufacturer/Distributor): Austin Rothbard, Brunswick Corp., three-year term; Elaine Gerber, Presidential Billiards LP, three-year term; Martin Bloom, Olhausen Billiard Mfg. Inc., three-year term; and Thomas Rodgers, Robertson Billiard Supplies, three-year term.

Category 2 (Retailer): Tony Stick, The Billiard Factory, three-year term. Category 3 (Room Operator): Nick Alexander, Clicks Billiards, three-year term.

In follow-up elections, Ivan Lee of Iwan Simonis Inc. accepted a one-year term as BCA Board Chairman, as did each of the remaining seated officers: First Vice Chairman, Karim Belhaj, Predator Group; Second Vice Chairman, Kathy Vegh, Danny Vegh's Billiards & Home; Secretary, Skip Nemecek, Tweeten Fibre Co. Inc.; and Treasurer, Mike Serra, MBS Group.

The remaining directors include: George Darafeev. Mikhail Darafeev Inc.; Tom Gregory, Toltec Lighting; Danny Kuykendall, Danny K's Billiards; Fred Cohen, D&R Industries/Championship LLC; and Eric Weber, CueStix International Inc.

"I look forward to teaming with a very experienced and talented group of individuals who are committed the BCA and its mission to enhance the success of its members and promote the game of billiards," said Lee. "The additional representation from the table manufacturers is welcome, and their support and input will be invaluable over the next three years." For more information, visit (www.bca-pool.com).

Clarion unveils new identity for ICE in London: Clarion Events has created a new look for its London total gaming event, the International Casino Exposition (ICE), which, as Show Director Kate Chambers explains, represents much more than just a quick makeover: "What we have developed is a new corporate identity for an international exhibition which has come of age and which now incorporates all strands of the gaming experience comprising casino, remote, street, bingo, betting, online, and lottery." The ICE is co-located with the International Gaming Exposition (IGE) set for Jan 22-27 at Earls Court in London.

She continued: "All the research and stakeholder consultations we undertook showed how strong the recognition levels were for ICE However, I must stress that this is not a return to the past. The 'new ICE' is contemporary. It has change, technology, and opportunity at its core, all of which are important features of the show experience. We're delighted with the identity, which has also been well received by exhibitors. It gives us a fantastic platform from which to implement the great plans we have to take ICE to a completely new level."

Clarion's vision for the development of ICE is, according to Chambers, already underway with the objective of delivering visitors and exhibitors with "a whole lot more." She noted: "Our customer pledge to deliver 'more' encompasses every facet of the ICE experience including more exhibitors, more heavyweight keynote speakers than in the past, more content including seminars on mobile and social gaming, more networking, and more opportunities to do business.

Clarion's own research shows that exhibitors debut a combined total of more than 2,000 new products at ICE. Also noted: as of mid-July, ICE is 90 percent sold. For more information, visit (www.icetotallygaming.com).

Brunswick Bowling partners with Bowling Music Network: Brunswick Bowling announced today that it has partnered with Bowling Music Network to provide bowlers the ultimate entertainment experience. The exclusive partnership became official at the 2010 Bowl Expo and unites the leaders in the bowling and music video entertainment industries. Bowling Music Network will be offered to new and existing bowling centers with Vector scoring It will give centers the opportunity to enhance the entertainment experience for their bowlers, and create new profit opportunities for them.

Ninety-three Brunswick-owned retail locations are already offering Bowling Music Network entertainment to their customers with good results. The centers are experiencing the system's simple-to-use programming and expanded music video selection.

"Our customers are delighted by the entertainment programming of Bowling Music Network and our employees are raving over the system's operating simplicity," said Jim Fox, President of Brunswick Retail. "Bowling Music Network is clearly the foremost expert in bowling center music. Their system allows our employees to only choose from music and promotional videos most appropriate for a given time of day, and day of week."

Bowling Music Network provides quality audio and video, marketing and entertainment scheduling, play list control, new bowling-specific promotional support material, 18 themed music formats, and more. For more information, visit (www.bowlingmusic.com).

Office coffee service (OCS) event in Brazil: Expo Vending & OCS Latin America 2010 is a vending and office coffee service (OCS) event being held Aug. 4-5 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The expo will put attendees in touch with the latest market trends in vending machines and coffee service. It will also feature new technologies, equipment, products, and services. Suppliers and operators of vending machines and coffee service are invited to attend. For more information, visit (www.expovending.com.br), or call Angela DiLoreto, +55-11-5531-4455.

July 23, 2010 a.m.
FRIDAY

"Happiness sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open"
(John Barrymore)

AMOV sets meeting in August: The Amusement and Music Operators of Virginia (AMOV) are hosting an Annual membership Meeting and product display Aug. 12 at the Double Tree Hotel at 990 Hilton Heights Road in Charlottsville. The agenda will include reports on membership, finances, legislation, and more. For hotel reservations, call (434)973-2121. Operators do not have to be members of AMOV to attend the meeting. Contact Jeff Smith at The Smith Group by Aug. 1 to reserve a spot, (804)353-2322; e-mail (thesmithgrp@aol.com). 

LAI Games teams up with Imaging Spectrum for low-cost photo booth paper: LAI Games has teamed up with the digital imaging experts at Imaging Spectrum Inc. to offer low-cost paper to the operators of LAI photo booths. According to LAI, the low price per print results in higher profits for operators through decreased operating costs. 

Imaging Spectrum created (www.SnapshotPaper.com), an e-commerce Web page where operators can purchase paper for their photo booths for $95 per 600-vend roll and have it shipped free to anywhere in the continental U.S. (less than 16 cents per print). The Mitsubishi dye-sublimation printer in LAI photo booths is the same printer used by other photo booth manufacturers, but only LAI allows the photo paper to be purchased from a third party at a discount.

"We want to support our operators any way we can," said LAI's General Manager, Pete Gustafson. "We sought out a partner in the imaging industry who could supply our photo booth operators with high quality paper at an affordable price, and that led us to Imaging Spectrum. They worked with us to achieve a very low cost per print, and our customers appreciate the service and value Imaging Spectrum provides."

"As a customer focused organization, we are excited to be a partner with LAI Games," said Imaging Spectrum's Partner Relations Manager, Steve Behen. "We know it's important to get the customers what they need, when they need it, and at the right price. We operate with a sense of urgency and work hard to earn our customers' trust as a reliable supply source."

The media pack available at (www.SnapshotPaper.com) contains 600 sheets of 4-inch by 6-inch glossy photo paper. It is compatible with LAI's complete photo booth line, including the compact Snapshot and Mini Star Blitz, and the full-size Star Blitz Deluxe. LAI's Mini Little Masterpiece children's touch-screen coloring game also uses this paper.

ICMOA hosts successful Annual Meeting: The Illinois Coin Machine Operators Association (ICMOA) hosted its Annual Meeting June 17-18 at the Eagle Ridge Resort in Galena, Ill. The agenda included general membership and board meetings, an evening dinner, and an auction. In addition, due to the state passing the Video Gaming Act in 2009, operators were most interested in exhibits of equipment from a number of companies that provide video gaming terminals. While no date has been set for the start of the video gaming program, it is expected in the first quarter of 2011. 

A new slate of officers were also elected: Tom Fiedler of Melody Amusement, President (for a third term); Tom Westgate of Williams Enterprises, Vice President; Jason Rowell of Action Amusements, Treasurer; and Tony Harrolle of Apollo Amusements, Secretary. 

Platinum sponsors of the meeting included AGS, Aristocrat, Bally, Gametech, IGT, Incredible Technologies, Spielo, VGT, and WMS. Gold sponsors included AG&E, American Vending Sales, Arachnid, Betson Midwest, EDC ATM, Firestone Financial, IGM, Suzo Happ, Patriot Gaming, and Golden Gaming. 

Richard Mitchell, Executive Director of the ICMOA, said the meeting was one of the best attended in the association's history, with 200 attendees (two-thirds of which were operators). For more information, visit (www.icmoa.org).

Global VR reports on Kaboom: Global VR reports that the redemption game Kaboom from Adrenaline Amusements is performing well in the field in family fun centers and in arcades. According to Global VR, the game provides excitement in the form of hi-definition video output, but also the wind-gusting effects of TNT. Extensive operator menus make the game customizable to create settings correct for every location. For more information, call Global VR (713)751-8870; or Adrenaline, (450)932-4205. 

 

Elaut offers Buy Back on the Big One: In an effort to fill the growing demand, Elaut USA Inc. has issued a buy back opportunity for anyone wishing to trade or outright sell a Big One Crane. Elaut is offering $7,000 for a Big One II and $5,500 for a Big One I. The offer is good until Aug. 1 and Elaut will make
arrangements to pick up the games. A check for the proceeds will be paid upon pick up or a credit towards a new Disco Round, Little Giga, Mr. Claw, Giga 900, Four-Player Quattro, or Four-Player Carre. For more information, contact Elaut's National Sales Manager, Debbie Gonzalez, (877)533-5225; e-mail (Debbie@elautusa.com).

NAMA Chairman testifies before Congress: National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) Chairman, Craig Hesch, NCE, recently testified before members of Congress that any changes to coin or currency will cost the industry more than $530 million. The remarks were made before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, and addressed the state of U.S. Coins and Currency.

As part of his testimony, Hesch said, "With approximately 5.3 million food and beverage vending machines in use today, any changes which would require replacement, modification, or reprogramming will harm the industry. These costs could result in job reductions and price increases, thereby creating an unfair disadvantage for our industry versus other retail channels."

Hesch brought a coin and bill validator with him and said, "This mechanism costs $450, and takes 20 minutes to install. If it needs to be reprogrammed to accept the new designs of a new U.S. Federal Reserve Note, it will cost $100 and take 20 minutes for a trained technician to reprogram the device, in addition to travel time to the location." 

"But an estimate of the cost may be much more complicated," added Hesch. "For example, one NAMA member estimated that it would cost the entire vending industry billions. First, companies would have to spend millions of dollars on design and development to even identify equipment that is capable of handling the changes. The more drastic the changes, the greater the cost of engineering." 

Hesch also thanked the U. S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and Mint for a solid partnership, but warned of job losses if there were dramatic changes to the size or designs of currency. "Dramatic changes to the physical design such as size changes, notches, punches, or cuts could result in increased costs to replace equipment, and could result in more bills being refused, resulting in lost sales," he said.

NAMA was the only association invited, thus the food and beverage vending industry will take a prominent role in arguing to minimize the economic impact of any changes in coins and currency designs. For more information, contact Ned Monroe, NAMA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, CAE, (nmonroe@vending.org).

Tom Williams named keynote speaker for breakfast event at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2011: The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) announced that Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts, will be the keynote speaker at the General Managers' and Owners' Breakfast at the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010. The event is set for Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m., in Room S320 of the Orange County Convention Center.

The General Managers' and Owners' Breakfast, sponsored by CNL Lifestlyle Co. LLC, provides a forum for attractions industry professionals to learn from the experiences of successful top-level industry leaders. This year, participants will benefit from Williams' more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He joined Universal Studios Florida in 1987 as part of the project's opening team and led the group that designed and developed all operational aspects for the new theme park, which opened in 1990.

Williams has served as Chairman and CEO since September 1999. He oversees Universal Studios Parks & Resorts, including Universal Studios Hollywood theme park and Universal CityWalk in Hollywood, Calif., as well as Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Fla., which consists of Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, three hotels, and Universal CityWalk. He also oversees the international operations of Universal Parks & Resorts in Japan and Singapore, and the development of theme parks in Dubai and South Korea. 

While the event is geared toward executive and management-level professionals, it is open to all IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 registered participants. Tickets for the event $85 for members and $119 for non-members, in addition to expo registration. For more information, visit (www.IAAPA.org/IAAPAAttractionsExpo).

July 21, 2010 a.m.
WEDNESDAY

"We've got to have a dream if we are going to make a dream come true."
(Dennis Waitley)

North Carolina governor signs ban on video sweepstakes games: On July 20, Gov. Bev Perdue of North Carolina signed into law a ban on video sweepstakes games. This action was expected after the General Assembly voted to extend the 2006 ban on video poker machines to cover sweepstakes machines.

According to a report from StarNewsOnline, "The measure makes it a misdemeanor for anyone to operate the sweepstakes games. Repeat offenders could be found guilty of a low-grade felony. The bill's language would not outlaw arcade games and marketing games by soft-drink companies and other retailers that require the consumer to type in a code at the company's Web site." 

In a report from newsobserver.com today, Perdue said one of her concerns about the sweepstakes industry were the unchecked proliferation of parlors that allowed for profiteering. She was quoted: "I think if you have video sweepstakes, whether it is video poker or video machines in general, we really do need to have some kind of organized, unified system of regulation where they are under a standard set of rules and regulations where we can be sure that nobody is profiteering from it." Also stated in that report: "A spokeswoman later clarified that Perdue was open to ideas on how to regulate the industry, but was not actively pushing to legalize it." 

Namco introduces new photo frames and monsters for Tank! Tank! Tank!: Namco America announces a free software upgrade for the Tank! Tank! Tank! arcade game. The software upgrade will provide players with new enemies to battle, more "NamCam" photo frames for additional customization, and increased audio and visual instructions for better game play. The new enemies are Bee-Bots and The Octo-Giant. They will automatically rotate on a monthly basis between the original enemies, Arachnos and The Red Dragon, in the cooperative game play mode. 

"With enemies that alternate every month, players will benefit from having a completely new experience when they play the cooperative game mode from one month to another," said Sam Ven, Product Coordinator for Namco America. "The game experience is further enhanced with additional audio and visual directions to help players defeat enemies and advance to the next level." 

Additional "NamCam" picture frames will give players more options when customizing their player photos. A cowboy hat, black samurai helmet, prisoner uniform, and a tiger mask are the newest frames added to the large list of "NamCam" picture frames. The default game mode has been changed to Free-For-All in the game selection screen. Operators can receive this free upgrade through Namco America's Advance Replacement Program; call (847)264-5612; e-mail (parts@namcoamerica.com). New shipments of Tank! Tank! Tank! will have the latest software. 

BCA concludes successful trade show: The 2010 edition of the Billiard Congress of America's (BCA) International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas July 14-16. Total attendance was 1,645, compared to 2009's total of 1,737; buyer attendance for the 2010 BCA Expo was 833, compared to 953 in 2009. The 2010 exhibit hall contained 132 companies in 465 booths, including 31 new exhibitors--a seven percent increase in total booth space, of which more than 10 percent offered new products.

"The exhibit hall provided an energy for doing business that hasn't been seen in this market for several years," commented Ivan Lee, Co-Chair of the Expo and Chairman of the BCA Board of Directors. "Whether it was walking the Expo floor or participating in the Business of Billiards seminar series, you got a very positive feeling for the commitment to the industry and the great opportunities that occur when this industry gets together in person, face to face. There was a powerful sense of productivity taking place that is very refreshing," said Lee. 

Contributing to this year's Expo was the BCA's unveiling of BankShot Entertainment, a new marketing and activation division of the association. BankShot Entertainment will help increase the profitability of billiard businesses, including pool rooms and retail stores, by researching and negotiating partnerships with nationally recognized companies that offer discounted products, services, and rebates. Through the group purchasing and rebate program, billiard centers and retailers will enjoy the same purchasing power normally reserved for Fortune 500 companies. BankShot Entertainment will also secure marketing partnerships outside the billiard industry that will help increase participation in, and awareness of, pocket billiards. The event will return to the Sands Expo and Convention Center next year, July 13-July 15, 2011. For more information, visit (www.bca-poolcom). 

AMOA to host Annual Council of States Meeting: The Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA) will host its annual Council of Affiliated States Meeting Feb. 10-12 at the Westin Tampa Bay. This meeting addresses important industry issues, and allows state representatives to network and learn from each other's experiences. The agenda includes state reports, panels devoted to specific issues, and social events. Details will be finalized at the AMOA Mid-Year Board Meeting this month in Nashville. For more information, call Lori Schneider, AMOA Deputy Director, (800)937-2662; e-mail (lschneider@prodigy.net). 

BPAA plans Mid-Winter Summit: The Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) will hold its 2011 Mid-Winter bowling Summit in Phoenix; dates are Jan. 23-26, 2011. The strategic mid-winter conference for bowling center proprietors, managers, and bowling industry leaders promises to deliver a wealth of business-building ideas. The program will include seminars, how-to business sessions, peer networking, hands-on training, and group events. 

The BPAA has narrowed down the hotel selection to three and plans to finalize the exact host facility soon. Details will be forthcoming on special discounts for booking flights on American Airlines and hotel reservations. For more information, visit (www.bpaa.com).

DIY Jukebox Program to launch: AMI Entertainment Network recently partnered with Circone + Associates to launch Musicati.com, the world's first (do-it-yourself) DIY Jukebox Promotional Program. Musicati was created to assist unsigned independent artists in their quest to be heard. Bands can come to the site to build a profile, upload their music, and utilize promotional tools to enhance their presence to fans and to the music industry. 

AMI and Circone + Associates' Musicati partnership strengthens the AMI music catalog, brings new bands to the network, and attracts new fans to the jukebox to seek out and listen to the music they love. Musicati acts as an additional on-premise revenue stream for operators, as fans in those locations will spend money to hear emerging artists who otherwise would not have the opportunity to be played on the jukebox. For more information, visit (www.amientertainment.com) and (www.musicati.com). 

Coney Park installs Goin Tech Game System: Coin Tech has installed its debit card system at the family entertainment center (FEC) Coney Park in Lima, Peru. Coney Park has a wide variety of rides, a playground, a candy store, party rooms, and redemption and video games. 

"We are very excited to start working with a great facility like Coney Park," said Santiago Barbero, Sales manager for Coin Tech. "Our most important goal has always been our serious commitment to our customers and their satisfaction. In order to accomplish this goal, our professional team of software developers, electronic engineers, and technical support specialists are there to provide them with the best customer service." 

Coney Park will open 23 locations across Peru. The first location opened on July 2; five more are scheduled for the 2010. Every Coney Park location will be equipped with Coin Tech's latest innovations, the Xperience card reader and Ticket Jackpot. The park will also use another Coin Tech Game System module, POS System, which allows the facility to have a full control over its games. For more information, visit (www.coneyparkperu.com) and (www.game-system.com). 

Zwack Air Hockey World Championships: Davis Lee Huynh of San Francisco won the 2010 Zwack $10,000.00 Air Hockey World Championship held in Houston, July 17-19. Billy Stubbs of Chicago took second place; Anthony Marino of Sugar Land, Texas took third, and Danny Hynes of Houston took fourth. 

The event featured competitors from across the globe, including Russia, Singapore, Venezuela, and the U.S. Former University of Houston Champion Danny Hynes failed to defend his title in this double elimination event. A major challenge match between Hynes and winner Davis Huynh is planned for late 2010 in San Francisco to see if Hynes can return the number one ranking to Texas. For more information, visit (www.airhockeyworld.com). 

QubicaAMF's 46th Bowling World Cup now in Toulon, on the French Riviera: QubicaAMF has set a new location for its 46th Bowling World Cup: Toulon, France, Oct. 15-24. Michel Beltramone, Managing Director of the 44-lane Bowling de Provence, stepped in to host the World Cup after a change in ownership in Croatia prevented the tournament going ahead there as planned. 

John Walker, President and CEO of QubicaAMF, said: "It is very regrettable that the economic climate in Croatia and ownership changes at the host bowling center have made it necessary to move the 2010 Bowling World Cup from Zagreb. We had great support for the event from the Croatian Olympic Committee, the local Bowling Federation and other government agencies and I am confident that the World Cup will be held in Croatia in the near future. We are also very lucky to have an alternative like Toulon where Michel has offered to host this great event and bring it to France for the third time." For more information, visit (www.amusement.qubicaamf.com).

BAMS and NAMA partner for cashless payments: Thanks to a new partnership negotiated with the Bank of America Merchant Services (BAMS), National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) members who accept credit cards can enjoy lower costs and increased sales and profits.

NAMA Vice President of Sales and Service, Dean Gilland, NCE5, CCS, said: "Thanks to the new NAMA and BAMS partnership, NAMA members can offer their customers the convenience of cashless payments at a competitive cost across small and large average transaction pricing in a variety of industry segments." 

NAMA's preferred processor has a broad knowledge of card brand rules and regulations and has leveraged that knowledge to customize a program that provides NAMA members access to exclusively negotiated rates across various industry segments (vending, coffee service, and food service). 

The NAMA Cashless Solution program is a networked end-to-end solution that is hardware neutral, and works with qualified communication suppliers and card associations for payment reconciliation and account management. NAMA is also working to provide members with a broad range of preferential financial services. 

The program offers favorable rates for both wireless communications and processing of cashless transactions, and can be configured as an extension of an installed remote monitoring system or as a standalone application. Apriva as a provider comes with the program, but it is open to other PCI-compliant providers. The program offers favorable Coffee Service and Foodservice rates as well.

Concluded Gilland, "If you are now accepting credit cards for your vending, foodservice, or coffee service business, or plan to do so in the future, visit (www.vending.org) to see how the NAMA Cashless Solution program might lower your costs and increase your sales and profits." To inquire directly, call BAMS, (888)317-0971.

Bowling can earn scholarship funds: Some 60 teams representing 25 states and Canada are expected to descend upon North Texas July 29-31 to bowl for $70,000 in scholarship money at the 35th Annual International Family Tournament (IFT), according to the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA). 

The IFT is an annual parent-student scholarship tournament sponsored by Georgia Coffee and presented by QubicaAMF, and is the only sporting event in the U.S. in which parents participate with youth and teens for international championship and scholarship funds. To get to the finals, contestants from across North America compete in state competitions to qualify for a trip to the IFT and a shot at scholarship dollars. Overall, teams from the U.S. and Canada converge in the Parent/Youth and Parent/Teen divisions at the IFT, held this year at AMF Euless Lanes, Euless, Texas.

Each division's top eight teams after competition on July 30 advance to a match play final round on July 31. After the eight games of match play, the top three teams in each division compete in the stepladder finals to decide the titles. both first-place teams each win $5,000 scholarships. Scholarships totaling $70,000 will be distributed. Additional scholarships of $500 each for boys and girls in each division are awarded to Youth and Teen Division bowlers for bowling the highest six-game scratch total during the qualifying round.

The IFT is but one of many scholarship opportunities for youth bowlers. As an industry, bowling offers over $6 million in scholarship money each year through proprietors, bowling associations, councils, and certified tournaments around the U.S. For more information, visit (www.bpaa.com). 

July 15, 2010 a.m.
THURSDAY

"A people that value its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
(Dwight D. Eisenhower)

Betson Syracuse announces July Trailer Shows: The Betson Syracuse crew is hitting the road again this month with its showroom on wheels. Due to the demand and success of last year's show, it's time to hit the road. Betson promises that this year's show will be the best ever, with many new surprises when the truck comes to a location near you.

The road show will give operators a chance to take a look at the latest, greatest amusement and redemption equipment from top manufacturers in the business. During the road show, Betson will be offering show special financing on the latest equipment. Along for the ride will be manufacturer's representatives to answer any questions. 

Following are locations and times: Tuesday, July 20 at the Clubhouse Fun Center located at 70 Jay Scutti Blvd., Rochester, N.Y.; the doors will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. After finishing the first stop, Betson will pack up the truck and head to Wimbleton Bowling at 220 Center Rd., West Seneca, N.Y. The truck will be parked from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

The show will continue to roll on the next day with the truck parking in the lot at the Betson Syracuse office located at 6743 Thompson Rd., in Syracuse. Stop by and check out all the newest releases from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The road show will conclude on Thursday, July 22 at Guptill's Arena on Route 9N, Latham, N.Y., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (800)541-1142 or (315)437-2400 and ask for Dave Lerner at ext. 7201; or Dave Reiners at ext. 7209; e-mail (dlerner@betson.com).

AMI V3 software helps increase revenue: According to AMI Entertainment, locations that updated their AMI jukeboxes with the V3 software are seeing an increase in revenue as high as 15 percent. After their initial experience with the new User Interface, players are enjoying the ease with which they find their favorite artists, favorite songs, and even what other patrons in the bar are selecting. For more information, visit (www.amientertainment.com/music/V3software).

NAMA endorses Healthy Choices Act: The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has endorsed The Healthy Choices Act (The Healthy Communities through Helping to Offer Incentives and Choices to Everyone in Society Act) H.R. 5209. HR 5209 was introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and co-sponsored by Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-WI) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH). 

NAMA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ned Monroe said, "As the association for the food and beverage vending industry, NAMA has long recognized the importance of offering healthy options for our customers. Our members know that solutions to obesity require a comprehensive approach. This legislation is a great step in providing choice for our customers to live a better life." 

Commented NAMA President and CEO Richard M. Geerdes, NCE5, CCS, "Congressman Kind and the bi-partisan co-sponsors are commended for this common sense legislation. By providing incentives for healthy options and exercise, we can provide nutritious food and help solve this growing problem of obesity. Our members can provide a wide variety of healthy options in vending machines. We have such machines in the White House, for example. This bill recognizes that those same options should be made available to customers in underserved areas of our nation."

NAMA is committed to assisting in this effort, and through its Balanced for Life and Fit Pick programs are working across the nation to combat obesity. Its Fit Pick vending labeling system is currently being used in vending machines to highlight healthier options. For more information, visit (www.vending.org).

July 13, 2010 a.m.
TUESDAY

"All things are difficult before they are easy."
(Thomas Fuller)

Atlantic City FEC chooses Big Choice Crane by Betson: Central Pier Arcade is the perfect spot for a family to enjoy the day or just take a break from the pounding waves just a short distance from the entrance. A family-run business owned by Corine Gorfman has been an Atlantic City family destination and landmark for over 15 years. 

Once inside you will be face to face with over 50 NEW Big Choice cranes lined up just waiting for people to feed them. The Big Choice crane made exclusively by Betson Enterprises has a rich classic look with a mirrored back, glass shelving for prize display, state of the art percentaging technology, built-in easy view meter on the front door and an optional bill acceptor. When designing the New Big Choice crane, Betson used their years of redemption experience by making the unit operator adjustable, simple to maintain and player friendly. 

"We have been working with Betson for years and we needed to replace our old outdated cranes so we called Betson. They told us about the Big Choice and it turned out to be the perfect choice," stated Dave Gorfman.

For more information on Betson Enterprises, visit www.betson.com, email us at info@betson.com or just call 1-800-524-2343. To contact Central Pier Arcade email: mainbreez@aol.com or call 609-345-5219. 

Move voices on sweepstakes gambling:
From the StarNews Online on Thursday, July 8, 2010
Another little wrinkle in the internet sweepstakes ban comes to light. It looks like there are more people that will lose in addition to the operators. That's Ron Musselman's opinion of the ban on Internet cafes and sweepstakes parlors that passed the N.C. House Wednesday. Musselman, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, owns Players Internet cafe in Longleaf Mall. He said Thursday that the businesses - 53 of them in Wilmington - "came and opened their doors under certain guidelines, and we met the criteria, we invested money, we developed our businesses." The ban will not only put the parlors and cafes out of business, it will leave lots of empty spaces amid a commercial real estate slump that was showing signs of a small recovery. For more in this article, click: 
www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100708/ARTICLES/100709696/0/ZNYT04

From the Fayobserver.com for Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sweepstakes gambling ban will deny city revenue for Fayetteville. A city official estimates that Fayetteville will lose $1.2 million in new revenue with the state's ban on sweepstakes gambling businesses. The budget that the City Council adopted last week included new fees on the owners of gaming parlors. The city planned to charge them $2,000 per location and $2,500 per computer terminal. The General Assembly voted 7/8/10 to outlaw the gambling parlors, often called Internet cafes, starting Dec. 1. Gov. Bev Perdue is expected to sign the legislation. For more of this article, click:
www.fayobserver.com/articles/2010/07/10/1012665?sac=Home

Lieberman Companies new hire: Lieberman Companies is pleased to announce that Monica Lopez Minick has joined their sales team. She will assist with vending, amusement, ATM, and route sales. Monica brings over 5 years of experience in vending equipment and parts sales for Automatic Products - Crane Merchandising Systems where she was responsible for inside sales campaigns and customer support. She was recognized at Crane for her excellent customer service and rapport with customers. 

"We are investing in the future of our sales organization," said Hal Lieberman, President. "Monica was well regarded at Crane and is a perfect complement to our team." 

Monica can be reached at 952-887-5285 or monica.minick@liebermancompanies.com. 

EMBED USA appoints new GM: EMBED, a leading provider of Debit Card and Point of Sale Systems for the amusement and family entertainment industry, has named Ted Parsons as General Manager of the company's North American Division. Parsons is an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience working with route operations, arcades, FEC's, water parks, bowling centers, and theatres. In addition, Parsons has an extensive background in amusement facility development and management.

Mark Easte, Embed's Managing Director noted that, "Ted's background and expertise in operations is fundamental to understanding our customer's needs and will be a tremendous value in our future growth and development. He is a perfect fit for Embed's mission and will ensure we continue to provide the best product, solutions and support for our customers. Ted has firsthand experience of what potential users of a Point of Sale and Cashless Payment System will encounter as they research, purchase and use their systems."

"I'm very excited to have joined such an outstanding team of professionals and look forward to working with our current and future customers as well as our industry partners," said Parsons. Ted will be based in Embed USA's Dallas office and can be reached at 469-521-8000 or via e-mail at tedp@embedcard.com. 

July 9, 2010 p.m.
FRIDAY

"Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up."
(Robert Frost)

Stern's new On-Line E-Store: Stern Pinball Inc. brings you a brand new E-store with a great assortment of Stern-branded clothing and accessories, including t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, stickers, and more. The "Shop The Stern Store" button can be found at the top of the Stern Pinball website, www.sternpinball.com. For dealers and distributors, e-mail Jody Dankberg at jody.dankberg@sternpinball.com for wholesale pricing and to place your order.

WAMO Conference concluded: Attendance at the WAMO Conference and Show at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha on June 23-24 broke previous attendance records with 270 people and 25 exhibits Opening day included five chartered boats for a Lake Michigan fishing excursion, golf outing (canceled due to rain), a reception, and motor coaches to Miller Park for a expansive dinner buffet at the Gehl Club, the Brewers win against the Minnesota Twins, and the ever-popular hospitality room. Technician training on repair of monitors and bill acceptors, and wiring of sound systems continued throughout both days. Technical instructors included Randy Fromm of RF Casino School, Ray Holdren of Kokopelli Consulting, Ed Glapinski of NSM, Kevin Tseng of ICT, Gary Thompson of Pyramid Technologies.

Operators and vendors attended Thursday business sessions on government affairs and membership issues. The event concluded with an awards banquet and auction. WAMO is proud to host the largest dart tournament in the world, the largest pool tournament in the nation, an exceptional member Winter tour or cruise, and now believes the industry's largest state association conference. Executive Director Maxine O'Brien of Middleton has served the association's management needs for the past 15 years. She attributes WAMO's success to many years of unselfish leadership, dedicated committees, outstanding professionals and tournament directors, and the time and talent of its many volunteer members. Look for more information about this event in our next issue

New R&D facility in Australia for LAI: LAI Games is proud to announce the opening of its second R&D facility in Brisbane, Australia. Alan Freimuth, CEO of LAI Games, says, "Game development and Innovation drive our business, improved game concepts and a novel approach to R&D is the key to pull our Industry out of the doldrums. Operators demand new products from manufacturers to sustain their business, they need products that get the public excited about Coin-Op games and fill their cashboxes, by expanding our R&D capabilities we will increase the odds to bring more Hit products like Lighthouse, Stacker and Snapshot to market. 

Commenting on the functions of the two R&D Studios Chris McGrath, LAI Games' International Product Manager, says, "We choose Australia for our second Studio as the country is demographically aligned to our International markets, plus Australia has a ready pool of talented game and graphic designers to meet our needs, we expect the Australian creative R&D team to add a fresh new perspective to Game concepts, our long established Factory R&D team who developed Stacker, Snapshot, Little Master Piece and 14 other games in our portfolio will also continue to develop new Games to make LAI Games one of the world's leading suppliers of Coin operated games.

Correction to web link on MEI's press release: Operators can order the Conlux NBM-3500 by calling Wittern Group at 877-426-6589. For more information and technical specifications, visit http://www.meigroup.com/usa/vending/vending_products/bill_acceptors/conlux_nbm-3500_1/.

2010 Big Buck World Championship and National Tournament: The 2010 Big Buck World Championships are just about here! August 1st begins the online qualifying tournament for the players. Make sure to have your games online so that they can qualify for their chance at the top prize of $10,000. Big Buck Hunter® Pro Open Season™ and Big Buck Safari® will have their own World Championships and each one has a top prize of $10,000. 

July continues the National Tournament exclusive to Big Buck Hunter® Pro Open Season™. It runs from July 7th -July 27th. Make sure to upgrade your Big Buck Hunter® Pros to Open Season so that you can participate in the National Tournaments. For more information on the World Championship you can visit the Big Buck Hunter Player Website: www.bigbuckhunter.com/us/wc2010/overview/or contact Dave Snipes dsnipes@playmechanix.com

July 8, 2010 p.m.
THURSDAY

"Your journey begins when you feel you've reached your limits"
(unknown)

North Carolina Legislature votes to ban sweepstakes machines: In an expected, but unwelcome turn of events, the North Carolina Legislature voted to ban video sweepstakes machines as an extension of the 2006 ban on video poker machines. On June 21, the North Carolina Senate voted to extend the ban, and then the measure moved to the House. The ban would be effective on Dec. 1, 2010. 

A report in the Charlotte Observer quoted William Thevaos, President of the Entertainment Group of North Carolina, who said, "We will look at all options available to us, including our legal avenues and the advances of technology, allowing the industry to continue to do business." The Entertainment Group of North Carolina has long supported the regulation and taxation of the machines. 

The vote in the House was 86 to 27; now the measure goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue. House members who did not support the ban cited the loss of jobs and the impact on small businesses. Rep. Alma Adams and others who opposed the ban wanted more debate and discussion on possible regulation and legalization of the machines. 

Sega names Morrissey: Sega Amusements USA Inc. announces the appointment of Amanda Morrissey as Sales, Marketing, and Shipping Coordinator. Morrissey was most recently employed at Air Cryo Inc., where she worked in an administrative role supporting the engineering department and president. Her responsibilities included purchasing, shipping, and other administrative tasks. Prior to that she was a Technical support Specialist with Heidolph-Brinkmann handling purchasing, inventory management, and customer service. She also held a post as Staffing Manager with a professional staffing firm in Chicago. 

"We are excited in welcoming Amanda to Sega Amusements USA", stated Sega Director of Finance, Hiram Gonzalez. "Her depth of experience and knowledge gained from a variety of past roles is sure to make a positive impact to our organization." 

Morissey will be responsible for supporting the sales team in promoting new and upcoming products, providing efficient shipping of product to customers, coordinating freight pickups, and arranging shipping details. She commented, ""I am very excited and looking forward to my new position with Sega Amusements and the interesting world of the coin-op industry." She can be reached at (847)364-9787; Web (www.segaarcade.com).

Conlux bill validator now accepts $10s and $20s: A recent field study conducted by MEI found that higher bill acceptance leads to a 15-20 percent increase in overall vending machine sales. Accordingly, MEI has enhanced its Conlux value-priced bill validator to now accept $10 and $20 bills. The Conlux NBM-3500 validator also features a new bezel decal that visibly "advertises" that the vending machine accepts all bill denominations from $1 to $20.

Consumers most frequently carry $10 and $20 bills in their wallets because those are the denominations ATMs distribute. Accepting larger denominations enables consumers to purchase higher priced products and to purchase multiple products in one transaction. 

"Upgrading the Conlux 3000 Series to accept larger bills made sense after MEI learned that 65 percent of consumers carry at least one $20 bill at any given time," said Heidi Chico, Vice Chairman of the Wittern Group, the main distributor of Conlux products. "Vend item prices are rising, so vending machines that don't accept large bills will end up losing customers to convenience stores and other retail outlets." To order the Conlux NBM-3500, call the Wittern Group, (877)426-6589; technical specifications can be found at (www.meigroup.com/usa/vending/vending_products/bill_acceptors/conlux_nbm-3500_1/).

Redemption Plus sponsors free Webinar on driving sales through customer loyalty: Redemption Plus is sponsoring a free Webinar on Thursday, July 22, 12-1 p.m. Central Time. The Webinar is presented by Grace Black, Project Manager for Service Management Group (SMG). Black has over 15 years of marketing and project management experience. SMG represents over 120 brands, providing insight at the unit level up to the ownership group to drive business results. Their clients include Round Table Pizza, Chick-fil-A, Sonic, Dunkin Brands, and The Capital Grille. 

The Webinar will cover the difference between a highly satisfied and satisfied customer in terms of their loyalty to your business, and see not only how the data is collected but also examples of the location specific action planning tools. Register for the Webinar at (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/123886539). 

July 7, 2010 p.m.
WEDNESDAY

"If a man has common sense, he has all the sense there is."
(Fortune Cookie)

North Carolina Legislature close to decision on fate of sweepstakes games: North Carolinians may soon have the final decision on the Legislature's apparent inclination to eliminate sweepstakes games by extending the existing video poker ban of 2006 to include sweepstakes machines. The games have proven to be popular; locations with the games have come to be known as sweepstakes parlors, Internet cafes, or business centers. Players purchase a phone card or Internet time and can then play games and possibly win cash or prizes. The Legislature will adjourn at the end of this week. On June 21, the Senate voted 47-1 to extend the ban. A House Judiciary Committee will vote on the issue. 

An Associated Press article on the matter stated: "Owners of sweepstakes businesses and their employees who lobbied the Legislative Building in a last ditch effort to block the ban, say a prohibition would put several thousand workers on the unemployment line. They asked lawmakers to study the games--leaving them in place until at least next year--or sought support for a measure that would regulate the sweepstakes, which they call a casual form of entertainment that draws customers to buy Internet time."

VNEA Annual Championships will move to Bally's in 2011: The Valley National Eight-Ball association (VNEA) is moving its Annual International Pool Championships to Bally's Las Vegas in the heart of the Strip. Dates for the 31st event are May 26-June 4, 2011. The VNEA cited the wide variety of amenities at Bally's: multiple dining opportunities, entertainment, bars and lounges, pool, shopping, nightlife, and more. For a closer look at Bally's through a virtual tour, visit (www.vnea.com), or call (800)544-1346; e-mail (info@vnea.com). 

MCMOA sets time for Golf Outing and Meeting: The Michigan Coin Machine Operators Association (MCMOA) has scheduled its 2010 Golf Outing for Aug. 30 at the Hawk Hollow Golf Course in Bath, Mich. Included in the day's activities are a breakfast and annual meeting with reports and election of officers; dinner and an auction follow the Golf Outing. MCMOA members are encouraged to invite their state representative or senator to golf with them. For more information, call (517)377-0848; e-mail (administrator@mcmoa.com). 

Palmentere opens Michigan branch: Palmentere Coin Operated Games Inc., which is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., has opened a branch location in Waterford, Mich., to help serve the Northeastern part of the country. The branch is located at 5368 Dixie Highway near Detroit. Vic Morrow will lead the Waterford office; he can be reached at (248)892-4273; e-mail (info@palmsarcade.com). 

Joey Palmentere said, "We have a strong customer base in the Michigan/Ohio area, as well as the rest of the Northeastern part of the country. It just made sense for us to open up there to help better serve our clients. The new location will help us save on the freight cost of traded-in equipment that will no longer have to be transported all the way down to Kansas City. We will operate the branch as a full line distribution center just as we do in Kansas City."

Palmentere Coin Operated Games Inc. is well known for liquidating used coin-op equipment. The company accepts trade-ins of all sorts on consignment or for purchase. Cash or merchandise credit for new or newer equipment are options. For more information, call the new Michigan office or the main office in Kansas City, (816)421-7816; e-mail (info@palmsarcade.com). 

Awards presented at Bowl Expo 2010; Palin delivers keynote: The International Bowl Expo, which took place last week in Las Vegas, drew more than 7,000 attendees. In addition to seminars and an exhibit floor filled with products and services, award presentations were part of the program. Award recipients were: Victor Lerner Memorial Medal and BPAA Hall of Fame Award to Ted Hoffman Jr., Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl (Dublin, Calif.); President's Medal, Tom Martino, Majestic Lanes (Hopelawn, N.J.); V.A. Wapensky Award, Roger Dalkin (Greendale, Wis.); and Special Projects Award, Dan Labrecque, Nottke's Bowl (Battle Creek, Mich.). 

In addition, Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and Republican vice presidential candidate, gave a rousing keynote address, highlighting the impact of bowling as the nation's number one participatory sport and a thriving industry. Palin spoke to the important role played by bowling proprietors as business owners and community leaders, as well as the vital presence of bowling centers as social hubs in communities across the nation.

Following her speech, Palin joined Steve Johnson, executive director of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA), and a number of pioneering female bowling executives and athletes in delivering a historic announcement of a new, revitalized Bowling's U.S. Women's Open in 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tx. It will be held on June 30, 2011 in conjunction with the 2011 International Bowl Expo. More details to come.

Beaver Machine takes regular summer break: Beaver Machine Corp. is closing for its regular summer break, July 19-Aug. 3. The office and plant will both be closed for this period. To arrange for orders to be shipped before this time, contact your sales representative. For more information, call (800)265-6772; e-mail (sales@beavervending.com); Web (www.beavervending.com).

Barron Games on TV's "Downfall" game show: Products from Barron Games International, manufacturer of air hockey tables, kiddie rides, redemption games, and walking animals, were featured in the third episode of the new TV game show, "Downfall," which aired July 6. The weekly series began June 22 and appears each Tuesday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. The show puts contestants on the top of a 10-story building to see who has the focus and fearlessness to avoid their "downfall" over the edge. In the process, they may win cash or prizes. Episode six will feature fabricated facsimiles of all prizes placed on a conveyor belt. In each round, players will try to answer trivia questions to keep cash and prizes from going over the edge of the roof. For more information, contact Barron Games, (716)866-0054; Web (www.barrongames.com). 

Henry Givray to deliver keynote at NAMA CoffeeShow 2010: One of the country's best known experts on leadership will deliver the keynote address at the National Automatic Merchandising Association's (NAMA) CoffeeShow 2010. Henry Givray, President and CEO of SmithBucklin, will speak on "The Passion of Leadership," at the new event being held Oct. 20-22 at Bally's in Las Vegas.

NAMA's new CoffeeShow 2010 is a completely new and enhanced event that will deliver tangible tools, resources, and insights to help this critical segment of the industry continue to grow. Expanding on the previous Coffee Summits, this new event features 10 separate education sessions, the popular Quality Coffee Certification Program (QCCP) Brewing Fundamentals segment, and more tabletop exhibits. In addition, the agenda includes a Silent Auction and golf outing. For more information, visit (www.namacoffeeservice.org).

July1, 2010 p.m.
TUESDAY

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men, 
and so it must be daily earned and refreshed--else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, 
it will wither and die."
(Dwight D. Eisenhower)

AAMA'S game room both at Bowl Expo proves popular: Coin-operated amusement, games, and redemption was once again the big attraction to bowling proprietors attending the 2010 International Bowl Expo held this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The trade show's theme "The Best is Yet to Come" brought enthusiastic attendees looking for new ways to generate business in their bowling centers. 

Fifty-six educational seminars and workshops were held Monday and Tuesday followed by two days of trade show exhibits. Extra security measures were implemented this year due to the featured keynote address speaker Sarah Palin. Shortly after completing her session she proceeded to the show floor for a photo opportunity with attendees. Photos cost twenty-five dollars with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics. Sondra Doyle of Sureshot Redemption told Play Meter how popular redemption is to the bowling centers. "One of the entertainment income seminars had about one hundred twenty attendees. When asked how many of them had redemption in their centers approximately half the audience raised their hands. The other half was there because they were adding it to their game rooms." Among the other popular seminars were the party hosting sessions with emphasis on party host selection and training by Beth Standlee of TrainerTainment and party make-overs with Sheryl Bindelglass of Sheryl Golf. 

AAMA's coin-op pavilion with 14 exhibitors displaying nearly 30 amusement products in an arcade type setting was "the busiest booth of the whole show" commented Kristina Chevalier of Pyramid Technologies. Twenty-one additional coin-op exhibitors were also pleased at the interest in their products.

Bowling centers are no longer the traditional facilities of years ago. Every center is now looking for new ways to generate profits and interest in their business. By implementing or planning better coin-op amusement, entertainment, and redemption areas these owners are adding to the success stories of bowling centers across the country.

According to AAMA, Bowl Expo guest speaker Sarah Palin did steal the spotlight as she provided a photo opportunity for attendees on the trade show floor. Check her out on AAMA's YouTube channel. 

The game room booth, #563, features AAMA, Andamiro, Arachnid, Bay Tek Games, Benchmark Games, Firestone Financial Corp., Kalkomat, LAI Games, Namco America, Pipeline Games, Sega, Stern Pinball, Sureshot Redemption, and Valley-Dynamo. For more information, call (866)372-5190; Web (www.coin-op.org).

TouchTunes celebrates Independence Day with special Fourth of July Playlist: TouchTunes Interactive Networks announces this year's new Fourth of July Playlist. The holiday playlist became available June 29 on more than 30,000 digital jukeboxes nationwide and will feature a selection of fan favorites celebrating Independence Day. 

The playlist will also be promoted on BarflyTV screens nationwide and feature 100 patriotic and U.S. focused pop, rock, and country anthems, including such hits as: "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, "God Bless the U.S.A" by Lee Greenwood, "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A" by John Mellencamp, "Born in the U.S.A." by Don McLean, "American Girl" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, "Miss America" by Saving Abel, "America the Beautiful" by Ray Charles, "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock, "Chicken Fried" by Zac Brown Band, and "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus.

"There's no better way to celebrate America's independence than with classic hits about the USA," said Vicki Saunders, Vice President, Digital Media and Music Marketing for TouchTunes. She added, "TouchTunes provides locations with the perfect Fourth of July music that draws customers, gets them in the mood to party, and keeps the festivities going all night long!" For more information, call (888)338-5853; Web (www.touchtunes.com).

Shelti opens Texas distribution site: Beginning July 7, Shelti Inc., the Michigan manufacturer of the Bayside coin-op and electronic pool tables, Eye2 darts, and an assortment of games for the home, announces the opening of a warehouse in central Texas. According to company Owner Mark Robbins and Director of Sales Mick White, having tables readily available for operators reduces the turnaround time on orders for the Bayside and allows Shelti to pass freight savings on to the operator. For more information, contact Mick White, (817)235-9930; also (877)893-1739; Web (www.shelti.com). 

EAG Expo 2011 sales move into second phase; new Web site launched: Following the successful first European and Gaming Expo (EAG) 2010 in January, the show's organizer, the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), has been busy improving the show and hall layout and rebooking the companies that took part at the first event.

With this first phase successfully completed the show is now open to all companies wishing to participate and book space. Martin Burlin, Chairman of EAG Expo, was upbeat: "The start to EAG 2011 has been absolutely fantastic; 30 of the major exhibitors have already booked, and almost half the hall is taken. We would like to see everyone in the amusement industry join us at EAG." 

According to BACTA, EAG Expo was a much needed success story for an amusement industry that continues to struggle with uneven markets and a recession. The EAG Expo was well received, and broke records as the biggest trade launch event at the ExCel London venue. It drew over 5,000 visitors, 40 percent from overseas.

Burlin spoke about the decision to start EAG: "We invested in EAG because the industry desperately needed it. The success of EAG 2010 was cemented by the fact that exhibitors turned inquiries into sales. BACTA continues to invest in our industry and we will continue to develop EAG as a showcase for the best in the amusement world, and as a place where business can be done." The hall plan is available on EAG's new Web site (www.eagexpo.com), or contact Karen Cooke, e-mail (karencooke@eagexpo.com).

June 29, 2010 p.m.
TUESDAY

"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, 
see a fine picture and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words."
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

MOMA hosts Annual Conference: The Minnesota Operators of Music & Amusements (MOMA) held their Annual Summer Conference June 9-10 at the Radisson Hotel at the Mall of America in Bloomington. A number of important issues were on the agenda. As with many state associations, legislative issues are a top priority for MOMA. The state is facing a budget deficit and many legislators believe that gambling is the answer. Interest in gambling initiatives is gaining momentum. 
MOMA members realize that if they don't have input in the way proposed legislation is framed, it could be disastrous to their businesses. Another issue discussed: redemption laws and how they are worded.

The association has always been a leader in pool and dart tournaments, posting high numbers for competitions. MOMA announced that the yearly state tournaments for dart and pool would be combined starting in 2011. The goal is to increase participation by giving players a larger, more festive and exciting atmosphere. Plans for the combined tournament include $160,000 in prize money. The tournament will be held at the St. Paul River Center, Jan. 27-30, 2011. In order to add even more interest, the association discussed the possibility of inviting teams from other states through the cooperation of those state associations. 

The association was honored to have Gary Brewer, President of the Amusement and Music Operators Association (AMOA), as a special guest. Brewer gave an uplifting address to members at the Annual Meeting. Chuck Leininger, Executive Director of MOMA, thanked the many manufacturer sales representatives who attended the conference, including Todd Martin of TouchTunes Interactive Networks, Kris Geck of JVL Corp., John Hassett of Arachnid Inc., Bill Maloney of Extreme Sports, John Akin of Ecast Inc., and Ted Furkin of Pyramid Technologies. For more information, call (612)927-6662; Web (www.moma-ops.org). 

New V3 jukebox software from AMI: AMI Entertainment's new jukebox software is overflowing with attractive features for patrons to enjoy. They're drawn in by the interactive banner ads that take them directly to an artist's page, a specific album page, a custom playlist page, or even a contest sign up page where they can win amazing prizes--all with one touch. For more information, visit (www.amientertainment.com/music/v3software). 

Betson Pittsburgh holds multimedia and music seminar: The Betson Pittsburgh management team of Lou Larson and Jim Wittler introduced the entire AMI Entertainment Network multimedia arsenal to its technical customer base, and hosted an AMI Service School on June 24. The instructor was Gordy Anderson, Director of Technical Services for AMI. The seminar covered maintenance and troubleshooting and also the importance of multimedia capabilities as it relates to operators' potential role in locations. 

In addition, Rich Gershman, Regional Sales Representative for AMI, addressed the crowd of approximately 60 technicians and business owners on how operators need to be more useful to their locations without forgetting their core business. Betson's Jim Wittler commented, "One of the most important roles of a distributor is to bring information to the owners and technical staff of coin operated businesses. We have always used the term, 'service after the sale,' to describe part of what we do for a living, but that term means much more now than ever. We feel our role additionally is to conduct these type of seminars and introduce these concepts to our customer base." 

During the break, the Betson sales staff shifted gears and invited Bob Wiles of Arachnid to demonstrate the new Knock Off/Super Shuffle game with league capabilities and in-board tournament charting. The game is scheduled for release this summer. For more information on the event, call (800)858-2705; Web (www. betson.com). 

Foundations University gears up for July session in Chicago: Foundations Education University, the three-day seminar program for the family entertainment center (FEC) and location-based entertainment center (LBE) markets, is gearing up for its next session July 13-15 in Chicago. The program includes 22 hours of instruction, one-on-one consultations with industry experts, and behind-the-scenes tours of an indoor FEC, an outdoor family fun center, and a bowling lounge. For more information, and to register, visit (foundationsuniversity.com). 

Betson Texas hosts another Spotlight Show: After hosting three successful shows in May, Betson Texas decided to perform an encore and add one more date to its spotlight tour schedule: May 27 at the Greenspoint Marriott in Houston. 

This final spotlight show of the spring tour proved to be the perfect closing act. Steve Fabian, Bob Murray, and Shannon Yates of Betson Texas made sure that the show line-up featured equipment for both the street and location-based entertainment operators. "Judging by the heavy attendance and response from the operators our spotlight encore was a clear indicator that we need to come back to Houston real soon," said Yates. For more information, call (877)638-4900; Web (www.betson.com). 

Armand Billiards Group (Aramith) activities split in two separate entities: The Armand Billiards Group, manufacturer and distributor of billiard and game room products, has split its activities in two entities. 

According to Denis Mola, President of Armand Capital owner of the Saluc Aramith Group and Armand Billiards Group, "The billiard industry in the U.S. has gone through serious challenges these recent years, and it will take several years for the industry to recover and regain the profitability level attained in 2006. In this context, we prefer to continue to invest in strategies centered on strong leading brands with differentiated high quality products. As such, we have decided to pursue further growth around the Aramith and Fusion brands in billiards as well in the industrial ball market with our Preciball USA division, and to divest from the more traditional products."

The activities that constituted the C.L. Bailey Co. have been acquired by an investment group including the C.L. Bailey's original owners, whereas the Aramith, Fusion, and Industrial Ball activities will continue to be deployed under the Aramith North America name out of its new marketing and distribution center in Savannah, Ga. For more information, call Alan Zeffer, General Manager of Aramith North America, (912)988-5900; e-mail (azeffer@aramith.com). 

AGS plans Grand Opening: AGS LLC, developer, manufacturer, and operator of casino games, systems, and technology, is throwing a party to celebrate the completion of its Itasca, Ill., office July 13 from noon to 5 p.m. The agenda will include special guests, good food, and the debut of new AGS software. AGS executives will be on hand for questions and conversation about the Illinois marketplace. There will also be demonstrations of new AGS product that was created with the Illinois market in mind. The location is 905 W. Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL 60143. For more information, call (630)446-7777.

June 24, 2010 p.m.
THURSDAY

"Do the best you can, and don't take life too serious."
(Will Rogers)

North Carolina Senate OKs legislation to extend the ban on server-based electronic game promotions to apply to sweepstakes games; the measure goes to the House: The North Carolina Senate voted on June 21 by a vote of 47-1 to extend the ban on server-based electronic game promotions to apply to popular sweepstakes games found in locations known as sweepstakes parlors or business centers. Players purchase a phone card or Internet time and can then play games and possibly win cash or prizes. 

Now two committees in the House will look at the measure, House Bill-80/Senate Bill-38. The next step would be a full vote in the House. The legislative session should conclude by the Fourth of July. The lone dissenting vote came from Sen. Julia Boseman, who has sponsored the Video Gaming Entertainment Act that would allow legalized gaming machines that are licensed, regulated, and taxed by the state. 

Feelings run high on the subject, with firm believers on both sides. According to a report at newsobserver.com, "The Sweepstakes and arcade industries say more than 1,200 people came to the Legislature to urge lawmakers not to extend a video game gambling ban to computer-based games found at several hundred Internet cafes and business centers. Busloads of industry workers and players of the sweepstakes games carried signs pleading with House members not to expand a 2006 ban because it will put people out of work and ruin a largely harmless form of entertainment." 

Coin Tech to exhibit at Bowl Expo 2010: Coin Tech will exhibit at the upcoming Bowl Expo 2010 in Las Vegas, June 27-July 1. The company will showcase the results of its investment in research and development and feature its new Ticket Jackpot as one way to raise income on redemption machines. The company invites attendees to stop at Booth #912 to check out Coin Tech's upcoming releases and specific solutions for the bowling industry that its game system offers. For more information, visit (www.coin-tech.com). 

Betson West Coast offices welcome operators: The West Coast offices of Betson Enterprises, located in Hayward and Buena Park, Calif., recently opened the doors for their annual spring spotlight shows. Traffic at the Hayward office was brisk as a steady flow of operators filed into the building during the day to talk with factory representatives about their latest offerings. Representatives from Andamiro, AMI Entertainment Network, ICE, Namco, Raw Thrills/Play Mechanix, and Chicago Gaming were on hand to field any questions and demonstrate their latest products while enjoying a barbeque lunch. 

"I think the operators in attendance really appreciated the time the representatives took in answering their questions about all the products. The representatives really helped make our show a success," stated Hayward Branch Manager Eli Backer.

In Buena Park, operators came early and stayed into the afternoon talking to Betson sales and factory representatives about the latest amusement offerings. Betson Buena Park Branch Manager Ron Hunt commented, "The amount of attendees and duration of stay at these spotlight shows just reinforces the fact that the operating community is hungry for new, high earning products." For more information, visit (www.betson.com). Pictured, (l-r): John Lemeuix of Dandy Amusement, Jim Belsito of PS Vending, and Ron Hunt of Betson. 

Coast to Coast Entertainment partners with Burger King for Give Kids The World: Coast to Coast Entertainment, together with Burger King Corp., has made a custom crane machine called The King's Treasure Hunt, for the Give Kids The World (GKTW) organization in Kissimmee, Fla.

Gary Balaban of Coast to Coast said, "We were very excited when representatives from Burger King contacted us to make a custom, one-of-a-kind crane machine that they were going to present to GKTW." The Coast to Coast team worked closely with the Burger King team to create a graphic package that would fit the promotion that Burger King sponsored along with their partners: Dr. Pepper, Snapple, Kraft Foods, and Nestle Waters. The King's Treasure Hunt graphics were applied at the Coast to Coast factory in Sayreville, N.J., and then shipped to Florida. 

"An all time winner, it never loses," said a Burger King Team member as she presented the game to GKTW. The game was set to play until you win, so all the kids played until they won a prize. "The game was a huge hit and we were very happy to do this project with Burger King," added Balaban. To view the game in action on YouTube, as it was presented by Burger King to GKTW, follow this link: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDxfTpfQqlM).

Sega to showcase game lineup at Bowl Expo 2010: Sega Amusements USA will show off its product line at the upcoming Bowl Expo 2010, June 27-July in Las Vegas. Games range from ticket redemption to driving games, and two gun video games. Included are: Pigs Might Fly, a humorous game that incorporates a 37-inch LCD screen and unique plunger controller; Cuckoo Clock, a brand new redemption game with a swinging pendulum; Monkey Paradise, a video ticket redemption game with up to five continuous stages; Sega Racing Classic with 32-inch high-definition LCD monitor; Hummer Extreme Edition, a racing game with a GM Hummer license available in three cabinet configurations; and Rambo 42-inch, a gun game with real movie pictures and woofer sound with a 42-inch LCD monitor. Sega invites Bowl Expo attendees to come by the AAMA Island Pavilion, Booth #563, to see the new equipment. For more information, visit (www.sau.sega.com) 

Lewis/Bindelglass party book now available at Sureshot Redemption/Party Supplies: Sureshot Redemption/Party Supplies now has available the party "how-to" book, "FUNdamentals of the Party Business," which is authored by Dorothy Lewis of Fun Station Associates, columnist for Play Meter, and Sheryl Bindelglass of SherylGolf. The book shows how to increase your party profits. 

Co-authors Lewis and Bindelglass are both well known in the family entertainment industry for their party expertise and their trade show seminars. Some subjects addressed in the book include: booking parties, staffing, designing party packages, up-selling party supplies, and marketing your parties. It also includes sample forms and a funny story about how NOT to use the popular Fast-Lite candles. To order a signed copy of "FUNdamentals of the Party Business," contact Sureshot, (888)887-8739, 
Web (www.sureshot-redemption.com). 

London Preview 2011 canceled: Howard & Wikberg Promotions has announced the decision to cancel the London Preview 2011 show originally set for Oct. 20-21 in London, England. The company stated, "Due to the very difficult trading condition in the U.K. coin-op market, we are canceling the London Preview Exhibition. We have explored several options to offer out exhibitors a viable alternative, but after careful consideration have been forced to make the difficult decision to cancel the exhibition." The show was established in 1980. While the 2011 event has been canceled, the situation will be considered again next year. For more information, visit (www.preview-uk.com). 

Benchmark Games to bring Turnkey Package to Bowl Expo 2010: Benchmark Games will exhibit at the 2010 Bowl Expo next week in Las Vegas, June 27-July 1. The company will feature the popular turnkey redemption packages. Games exhibited will include Tickets to Prizes and several redemption games appealing to bowling and other family entertainment center operators.

Benchmark staff, including rich Long, Sales Manager, and John Denlinger, Midwest Sales Representative. Long said, "We are taking several of our popular packages to offer at the Bowl Expo for the well established bowling centers, redemption games operators, and start-up facilities. These packages are ideal for bowling centers, skating rinks, pizza parlors, and more. These are tested and proven workhorses of our business. The packages are great investments ready to plug in and begin increasing revenues."

The Benchmark Arcade "Ticket Redemption Turnkey Package" features eight machines, plus spare parts kit for all machines and $1,000 worth of prizes. A sample breakdown of machines for the Ticket Redemption-Turnkey Package is as follows: Ticket-to-Prizes, Goldzone two-player, Red Hot! two-player, Slam-A-Winner, Big Rig Truckin' two-player, Pop-it For Gold, Street Basketball, and Wheel-Deal two-player. The "Arcade" will be presented at Booth #563. For more information, call (888)538-1000; Web (www.benchmarkgames.com). 

AAMCF Golf Outing set for July: The American Amusement Machine Association Charitable Foundation (AAMCF) is hosting its 2010 July Charity Golf Outing following the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) Annual Meeting and Distributor Gala in July. The date for the golf event is July 30, with a tee time of 10 a.m. The location is the Indian lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, Ill. The registration fee includes golf, cart, lunch, and swag bag. For more information, contact Tina Schwartz, (847)290-9088. 

NAMA endorses House Bill to provide tax relief for small businesses: The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has endorsed H.R. 4841, the "Small Business Tax Relief and Job Growth Act of 2010." The legislation was introduced on March 21 by Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), who serves as Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee."

Ned Monroe, NAMA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, commented, "Job creation and small business development are currently at the forefront of the legislative agenda. In this economic climate, small businesses face decreased access to credit, diminished demand for their products, and millions of unemployed Americans are finding it harder to start their own businesses. This bill addresses these concerns by giving small businesses tax relief and allowing them to create jobs." 

Concluded Monroe, "This bill will certainly provide tax relief for the vending industry's small business owners and enable them to create jobs. We support it whole heartedly." For more information, visit (www.vending.org).

June 22, 2010 p.m.
TUESDAY

"There is no victory at bargain basement prices."
(Dwight Eisenhower)

TouchTunes, C3 Presents, and RED Announce Lollapalooza Sweepstakes: TouchTunes Interactive Networks, along with C3 Presents and RED, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, announced today a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to the premier summer music festival Lollapalooza, Aug. 6-8 in Grant Park, Chicago. 

What started as a touring music festival in 1991 by Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell, Lollapalooza has become the summer destination for thousands of music fans worldwide at historic Grant Park. Among the 130 bands, musicians, and DJs set to perform at the weekend-long event are major artists like Lady Gaga, Green Day, a reunited Soundgarden, Arcade Fire, the Strokes, and Phoenix.

Music lovers can enter the sweepstakes at over 20,000 TouchTunes locations nationwide, or at (www.touchtunes.com/lollapalooza), for a chance to win a flyaway trip for two and backstage access to the festival. The promotion will run for two weeks, ending July 7, 2010. TouchTunes will also feature a custom Lollapalooza Playlist across its digital jukebox network. The playlist will highlight select RED artists performing at Lollapalooza including Phoenix, The Temper Trap, Gogol Bordello, Matt & Kim, and many others. 

"We are thrilled to extend the RED lineup at Lollapalooza at TouchTunes locations nationwide," said Bob Morrelli, President of RED. "With over 40,000 locations around the country, TouchTunes presents a truly unique platform for us to introduce our artists to a new audience of music fans and engage them beyond our usual marketing channels."

"Lollapalooza has grown to be the premier summer music festival," said Vicki Saunders, Vice President of Digital Media and Music Marketing for TouchTunes. "And for the TouchTunes user who can't make it to Grant Park this summer, we're bringing the festival to them." For more information, visit (www.touchtunes.com). 

IAAPA debuts expanded Brass Ring Awards Program: The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) will build on the tradition of the brass ring and expand the scope of the 2010 Brass Ring Awards to recognize excellence in multiple disciplines, including marketing, merchandising, human resources, and entertainment. The Brass Ring Awards ceremony will take place Nov. 17 during IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. 

Starting this year, the awards will include categories of marketing and advertising, live entertainment, souvenir development and display, employee training and motivational programs, best family entertainment center, best new product, and best exhibit at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010. Supporting organizations of the event include Matt Davenport Productions Inc. and RWS and Associates Entertainment Inc.

Additional information about the IAAPA Awards programs and the application processes can be found at (www.IAAPA.org/awards). For information regarding sponsorship opportunities, contact Emily Popovich, (epopovich@IAAPA.org). 

Allstar Vending joins Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook: Allstar Vending has inaugurated its own Youtube Channel, Facebook, and Twitter pages. "We're looking to build community with our customers and operators," said Adam Dorfman, President of Allstar Vending. "That's our primary focus."

On YouTube, Allstar will provide operators with inside tips and useful "how-to" instructional videos. In its first clip, Rasha, Allstar's International Sales Manager, demonstrates step-by-step how to change a 50-cent coin mechanism to 75-cents. Visit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeuCCJNK8fo).

On Facebook, the company promises a space to interact with the vending community, see and post pictures from the National Bulk Vending Association (NBVA) Expo and other events, and connect with the Allstar family. Visit (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Allstar-Vending/114413528577306?v=wall#!/pages/Allstar-Vending/114413528577306?ref=ts).

On Twitter, Allstar will offer new and established customers a place to comment on Allstar products, and suggest new items that they would like to see offered. Information bites, sales, and product trends will be included. Visit (http://twitter.com/allstarvending).

June 21, 2010 p.m.
MONDAY

"Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected."
(George Washington)

North Carolina Senate to vote on measure regarding video sweepstakes games: According to a report today by the Greensboro News & Record, the North Carolina Senate will vote tonight on a proposal to outlaw video sweepstakes shops, which have grown in number in the last two years. The report said, "Unlike video poker machines that became illegal in the summer of 2007, these new Internet-based games rely on a sweepstakes system." Locations with the games are often referred to as "sweepstakes parlors."

William Thevaos, President of the Entertainment Group of North Carolina, was quoted: "If you want to clean up video gaming in the state, provide state accountability, state oversight, and state taxation." The Entertainment Group of North Carolina has lobbied lawmakers to take up a measure by Rep. Earl Jones to tax and regulate the business. 

Apple Industries and Betson Enterprises visit Yankee Stadium: During a recent baseball outing, Apple Industries hosted an outing for several key Betson Distributor executives at Yankee Stadium. Attending were Joe Ingui, Betson's National Sales Manager; Allen Weisberg, Apple's President; Bob Boals, Betson's Executive Vice President; and Neal Rosenberg, Apple's Director of Operations. Besides taking part in all the new Yankee Stadium had to offer, real Yankee fans relished in the game's outcome, a Yankee victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Notable absentees were Apple's Sales Director Mel Lafarge, who is an avowed Chicago Cubs fan; Peter Betti, Betson's CEO; Bob Geschine, Betson's President; Robert Betti, Betson's Chief Operating Officer; and Kevin Fritz, Betson's key finance executive, all rival New York Mets fans.

The Betson Yankee fans and the Apple Yankee fans went over to New York's Little Italy for a feast at Rigoletto's Restaurant. "It was a day and evening of pure fun," explained Weisberg, "we never talked business, only baseball."

Redemption Plus hosts Webinar on June 23: "Getting Your Team on the Same Page" is the title of a free Webinar sponsored by Redemption Plus on Wed., June 23, 12 to 1 p.m. Central Time. Webinar participants will learn how providing a shared vision for your business can drive profitability. Highlights will include: why most employees are not engaged and what to do about it, six ways to engage any employee in growing your business, and the power of recognition and praise.. 

The presenter is Joe Calhoon, President of Priority Advantage, who helps his clients identify lasting solutions to problems and opportunities for business growth and organizational transformation. According to Redemption Plus, Calhoon is the most requested and highest rated keynote speaker with the Covey Leadership Center. For free registration, visit (https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/401785907).

Pinnacle to lead game and redemption seminar at the Bowl Expo: George McAuliffe, President of Pinnacle Entertainment Advisors by Redemption Plus, will lead a games and redemption seminar at the Bowl Expo, set for June 27-July 1 in Las Vegas. The title of the seminar is "High Profit Game Rooms in the Bowling Center-A Comprehensive look at How and Why;" it will outline key components to establishing a redemption management system for today's bowling centers. 

The seminar will cover all the bases, from redemption game selection and management to set up, merchandising, and redemption center throughput, as well as hot products and superior customer service techniques. The session is designed to help everyone, from beginners to industry veterans. It will be held on Mon., June 28, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

McAuliffe will be joined by Kurt Harz, Vice President of Capital Sales America for Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, and George Smith, President of Family Entertainment Group (FEG). Harz will discuss his customers' experiences with adding game rooms, while Smith will contribute his expertise as a nationwide game operator whose client list includes Kalahari, CoCo Key, CiCi's Pizza, Muvico Theatres, and Brunswick Bowling Centers. 

"We are looking forward to the Bowl Expo seminar," said McAuliffe. He added, "Our team is committed to providing honest observations on what is working and what is not in bowling center FECs. We're also planning on sharing concrete ideas for maximizing sales." For more information, visit (www.grouppinnacle.com); (www.brunswickbowling.com), (www.familyentertainmentgroup.net); and (www.bowlexpo.com).

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