Faircracker
Page 67
SPRING 2022
Greetings friends of the Florida Federation of Fairs from the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) Greetings to all of our friends at the Florida Federation of Fairs from the Outdoor Amusement Greg Chiecko OABA Business Association (OABA). Once again, it is our pleasure to provide you with a short synopsis of President & CEO what is going on in the mobile amusement industry. The fair season, which kicks off in Florida, seems to be off to a good start. Despite the new variants of COVID it appears that the general population just want to get out of the house and return to a normal life. Fortunately for us, this means attending fairs and carnivals, large and small. I believe that the American people will no longer permit the government to infringe on their personal freedoms. For the most part, I also believe that our government on Federal, State and Local level understand this as well. I guess we can go back to our old worries; weather and people's ability to spend money. It is amazing that our slice of America has been so missed in these past few years. It is a reinforcement to what we have always known. The fair and carnival industry unites families and communities. It’s great to know that the product we produce is part of the fabric of people's lives and “what we do matters.” Our industry continues to be plagued by labor issues. Our federal government is broken with regard to supplying our foreign guest workers. No matter how much we try, and we have spent million trying, we just can’t get through the Washington DC logjam to provide us with relief. We work every day to advocate for the proper legislation to get the workers we so desperately need. We will continue to do so until we can no longer sustain our businesses. We wish to thank all of you who have taken the time to listen and understand our situation. We sincerely appreciate all the advocacy you have done on our behalf to attempt to get us our foreign guest workers. Trust me, Florida has been one of the front runners to advocate on our behalf. We look forward to making our presentation at the FFF and IAFE Zone 1 & 2 meeting in Naples, “The Show Must Go On – A Unique Perspective on the Daily Life of a Carnival Owner.” Ever wonder what goes on before the carnival opens to the public? This workshop, presented by carnival owners, will describe the history of carnival shows, what it takes to move the carnival from town to town and what unique challenges face the industry every day.
Stay safe and I hope to see many of you in Naples.
