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SEPTEMBER 2010

Mark Moore

Uremet Corp.
AIMS president
mark@uremet.com

AIMS exhibits at IAAPA's Asian Attractions Expo

AIMS International exhibited for the first time at the recently held Asian Attractions Expo held in Malaysia. This was done at the suggestion of Charlie Bray (CEO / President ) of IAAPA who organizes the annual show. Charlie was very adamant that Asia is starving for education in the amusement industry and that safety training is highly desirable. He thought it would a good idea to exhibit this year to see what the reaction would be for the AIMS Safety Seminar.

I was able to combine the show with seeing some of Uremet’s customers and personal time to test the idea of AIMS safety training in Asia. Timo Klaus of Kumbak Coasters was also planning on attending the show and was able to help man the booth. Jim Seay of Premier Rides was able to work in some pull-up banners with his promotion items to provide the banners at a good cost. IAAPA does several education classes at the show. Jim Seay was the speaker at one, and classes were twice the size as last year.

I am pleased to report that there is considerable interest in the AIMS Safety Seminar and certification program. I was pleasantly surprised how well known our seminar, education and certification program is in Asia and referred to as the bar setter. Many people came up to the booth to express that they had heard of AIMS and the high quality education AIMS is known for.

It was mostly the opinion that people from Asia would rather not travel to the U.S. but are very interested in attending a safety seminar in Asia. Even with the reluctance to travel, at least four people committed to traveling to Orlando this year for the seminar because they could combine it with the IAAPA Attractions Expo. This may change as more people learn that the seminar is being held in conjunction with the show.

The Chinese organization China Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions had heard of AIMS and has asked if I would do a presentation on safety education. I see this as a great opportunity to further promote AIMS in Asia and internationally. I am currently working out the details and will keep the AIMS membership up to dates.

All in all, the Asian Attractions Expo was beneficial to AIMS's future growth.

School already?

Patty Beazley

When Pigs Fly
AIMS seminar director and educational chairperson
Beazley@comcast.net

Although you are reading this in September, I sit at my computer in early August with record-breaking heat listening and reading “back to school” commercials and advertisements. I find this ironic, as I know that most school kids are not ready to go back to school. There are definitely more “dog” days of summer to be had at the pool and furthermore, there is no crisp chill of autumn air to be found within the continental United States! As I was speaking with my 15-year-old niece, Sarah, concerning the beginning of the school year, she flatly exclaimed that she despises school. Even though she is a straight “A” student, she claims that the best part of school was seeing her friends and that her favorite activity is cheerleading. Hmmm…. It made me think!

As our conversation continued, I explained that school is a necessity. In fact, learning is a life long pursuit. When we cease to learn, our careers and life opportunities have a tendency to diverse. And about that cheerleading? It’s her passion. Passion is what drives us to do what we like the most.

To all of my amusement industry colleagues – what drives you? Did you major in Amusement Park Industry? No. Most of you probably had ideas of other career paths yet were consumed by your passion of working in the amusement industry.

By trade, I am in education. I received my Master’s in Guidance Counseling and became a teacher and guidance counselor. How in the heck did I get into the amusement industry? Passion. Plain, simple, and with a fire.

Like many of us, I started as a seasonal employee at a local park, but I always had the passion to do more, do better and be the best that I could be. Upon becoming a full time employee at the park, I had heard of the AIMS organization, but thought it was an organization for only senior management. In fact, I didn’t even attend an AIMS Safety Seminar until I was self-employed and upon the urgency of my business partner.

If I could change the hands of time, I would have insisted to my previous employer that I needed to be a part of AIMS to continue my education in the amusement industry!

I can honestly say that my first AIMS seminar was one of the best professional weeks of my life. To be in company with others who are as equally passionate about the industry was invigorating. And if you believe that the AIMS Safety Seminar is for senior management exclusively, let me rectify your thoughts. Senior management does attend, but the majority of our classes are driven for the front line and supervisors in operations, maintenance, aquatics, and inspectors. These individuals are the ones who deal with the issues, problems and opportunities of our industry on a day-to-day basis. In fact, the education committee keeps that in mind when we plan our yearly curriculum for the AIMS Safety Seminar.

The AIMS Safety Seminar is a 40-hour week of classes that also provides certification testing and continuing education credits in an amusement professional’s chosen field.

Our certifications include Operations, Maintenance, Aquatics and this year, Inspections. We offer certificates of completion for the following curriculum tracks: Aquatics, Leadership, Certified Pool Operator, Mobile Shows, ASTM and Crisis Management. Our classes are taught by many of the top individuals in their field from the amusement industry that want to share their wealth of knowledge so you too can be your best. I guarantee that if you attend an AIMS Safety Seminar, you will learn. I encourage you to visit the AIMS Web site at www.aimsintl.org and review the classes that will offered for the upcoming seminar.

This year, the AIMS Safety Seminar will be held in Orlando, Florida, November 13- 18, 2010. Like my niece Sarah, I too enjoy being with old friends for the week and even learning something new. I hope to see you in November. In the mean time, I’m going to be watching a passionate cheerleader on Friday nights!

READ MORE IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF AMUSEMENT TODAY

Space for this AIMS page is provided courtesy of Amusement Today as a corporate partner of AIMS Intl. Content is provided by AT & AIMS. Please direct comments to info@aimsintl.org