TEA NETWORK UPDATE
June 28, 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

• TEA "Offline"?
• 2002 TEA President Elected
• Elections
• Great Advertising Opportunities
• Thea Awards Update
• IAAPA Hotel Rooms
• Dues Renewals and the 2002 Members Directory
• Eastern Division Member Open House
• Meet the New Members

TEA OFFLINE?

Anybody who has tried to contact the TEA Offices between Thursday June 21st and Monday June 25th was probably wondering what happened to us. Well, through the miracle of modern technology, our ability to receive and place phone calls, send and receive faxes and to send and receive e-mail all went "south" thanks to a malfunction by our telecommunications provider. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you were trying to reach us during that time, please try again. We are now almost fully back online (still having occasional service outages but getting by - be patient).

2002 TEA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT ELECTED

At the June International Board of Directors meeting an election was held to select the 2002 President for the Association. We are pleased to announce that Keith James was re-elected to serve a second term as the International President. Congratulations, Keith.

BOARD ELECTIONS & BYLAWS REVISION

Speaking of elections, we are heading toward that time of the year when new Board members are selected for both Division Board positions and for International Board positions. All "Standard" (read: voting) members of the Association are eligible to stand for election to either of the Boards. However, division board positions are open only to those members located within that division (if you don't know what division you are located in, please contact us and we'll let you know. North America is divided roughly in half - Colorado and New Mexico are "West" - and the line runs all the way up into Canada so all Standard Members in Canada are eligible. In Europe, well, all Standard European members are eligible for that Division's Board). A call for nominations will be going out to all members (anyone can nominate) sometime later in the Summer. Ballots will then be distributed by late September. Newly elected board members will assume office in November (at IAAPA).

Serving in a leadership capacity is a "win-win" proposition. TEA needs and depends upon the energy, ideas, and efforts of it's members. Serving on one of the Boards allows the Association to tap into that energy. In return, you get two great benefits: one, you get to directly influence the direction of YOUR association and help to shape it into the organization YOU think it should be. Secondly, there's no question that holding office increases your profile within the industry. If you want more people to know who you are and what your company does, then there's no better way than running for office and serving your association. Start thinking about getting involved in the TEA. Its good for all of us.

Finally, this Fall will also bring you a different kind of ballot in the mail. The International Board of Directors is closing in on a comprehensive revision of the association's bylaws. As the association has grown and matured, our needs have changed. These changes will allow us to continue that growth into the future. This ballot will require your close attention. You will receive in the mail (hopefully, this August) a ballot along with a lengthy document that specifically guides you to what our old bylaws currently say, what the new "proposed" bylaws will say, and the rationale behind the proposed change. You will then cast your vote, up or down, on the entire document. It won't be the most exciting thing you read this year but from TEA's perspective it will be one of the most important. Please be on the "look-out" for this package and spend a bit of time to review the material and cast your vote. It really does matter.

SELL YOUR COMPANY!

The dog days of Summer is the perfect time to step up your marketing efforts. To help you reach those critical decision-makers, TEA has two outstanding advertising vehicles where you can show your "stuff". You already know about our fantastic magazine, Behind The Themes. What you may not be aware of though is that our circulation is continuing to climb. The "European Focus" issue that is just now hitting your mailboxes was our largest printing EVER! 6000 issues were distributed. Remember, that out of that number, less than a thousand are going to other TEA members. The rest are being sent to industry decision-makers, casino operators, museum directors, resort developers, theme park managers, and on and on. And the list continues to grow. In addition, each issue this year has had, or will have, a "special" distribution. By this we mean that the first issue this year was also distributed at the Urban Land Institute's Entertainment Symposium and at the Large Format Cinema Association's conference. This current issue was eagerly snapped up by attendees at the Trends in Leisure Entertainment (TiLE) show in London. The next issue (the one you want to get your ad into) will be handed out to all attendees at this year's Thea Awards and will also be sent to all of the credited vendors who worked on this year's Thea Award-winning projects (in fact, it will serve as a portion of the event's program...more on this below) and we are looking at a couple of other shows as well including a large developers conference in France. And, if all of that is not enough, this is the perfect issue to take out that "congratulatory" ad letting the world know how proud you are of this year's Thea Award winners (and, of course, the work that you did on the project). Also, you may want to also take out an ad congratulating Tony Baxter on his lifetime achievement award. Then, of course, there is the annual IAAPA Issue. If things continue to trend in the direction they have been heading, that issue will break all records for the TEA magazine in terms of distribution. Behind The Themes is no longer just a newsletter for the membership, its fast becoming THE definitive source of information about our industry to the broader marketplace and you can have your company's name right there four times a year.

But wait! There's more. We are in the preparation phase for the new 2002 TEA Members Directory (more about this below as well). By placing your company's ad in the directory you are guaranteed to have your message on the desks and bookshelves of industry decision-makers YEAR-ROUND! That's right, your ad will live for an entire year. Everytime someone picks up the Member's Directory (and they DO pick up the directory) your name is going to be there every single time. But, only if you act fast. This opportunity only comes once a year and its here right now.

For complete advertising information, there's only one person to call: Melanie Allen here at TEA handles all of your advertising and makes sure that you get exactly the exposure you're seeking. Contact her today to get into the special Thea issue of Behind The Themes and the 2002 TEA Members Directory. Don't forget to ask her about the "congratulatory ad" special and other discounts.

Melanie Allen: 818.843.8497 or via e-mail: [email protected]
Deadline for Ad Orders for the next Behind The Themes: July 18
Deadline for Ad Orders for the 2002 TEA Members Directory: July 31

2001 THEA AWARDS UPDATE

Saturday September 22nd is the day. The Alex Theatre in Glendale, California is the place. Mark your calendar and be prepared to attend the best awards gala we've ever staged. This year's event will different from past Thea Award galas. Instead of the dinner component we have had in years past, we are instead scrapping the rubber chicken in exchange for a fantastic after-gala party complete with wonderful hors d'ouevres and a free-flowing bar. The show will be more of a stage production and it will start and finish on-time. And, best of all, the ticket price is coming down. Once we place tickets on sale, they will be sold on a standard "best seats first" basis. So, plan to buy your tickets early...don't wait or you'll be in the back of the theater. Also, if you want to get involved in the production of the show, we'd love to hear from you. This show is the result of many, many volunteer hours and we need all the help we can get. Drop us an e-mail and we'll get you in touch with the production team.

While you're planning your outfit for the big night also start thinking about being a sponsor for the big after-gala party. We have a very limited number of opportunities to have your company's name achieve high-visibility through your involvement with this event.

For details, contact Melanie Allen here at TEA. 818-843-8497 or via e-mail: [email protected]

We have most of the credit lists from the owners of this year's winning attractions. The TEA website will have them posted by the end of this week. We haven't, though, received all of the credits. We will continue to post them as they come in to us. If a project you're interested in doesn't have their credits posted, keep checking back. If your review of the credits shows that something needs to be changed or added, you have to contact the owner directly and have them send the change to us here at TEA. Please don't call us to tell us you should be on the list or that your credit is incorrect. We cannot change the credit list unless the change comes from the owner...in writing. The name and phone number of the appropriate contact person for each project is listed at the top of the credit page for each attraction.

IAAPA HOTEL REMINDER!!

Don't let the time and these great prices slip away. As we do every year, we designate two hotels to serve as "TEA" hotels. We always try to pick hotels in two different price ranges (one higher, one lower). This year (and probably for the coming years in Orlando) we have chosen the Rosen Centre Hotel (right next door the TEA wing of the Convention Center) and the Wyndham Orlando Resort (lower rates) which is situated right in the heart of "I-Drive" and still quite close to the Convention Center (there will be shuttle service from this location). TEA has reserved a block of rooms in both of these hotels and you must contact Globetrotter Travel to take advantage of the excellent rates they have secured for us. The unbooked rooms are usually returned to general inventory around the 1st of September so book early to guarantee you get these great rooms at these special prices.

To book your room for this year's convention, call Globetrotter Travel and tell them you are a TEA Member to get a reservation form and to lock in the excellent rates we have at both of these hotels: (888) 774-2272 (in the US) or (301) 570-0800. Their fax number is: (301) 570-9514. You'll need to note on your reservation form that you are a TEA Member also.

DEADLINE FOR THE 2002 MEMBERS DIRECTORY

The time has finally come. If you have not yet renewed your membership with TEA, you will shortly be receiving a "farewell" notice from us. We have to drop all of the non-members from the database so that our 2002 TEA Members Directory contains only "members in good standing." Once dropped from the membership database, you will no longer receive Behind The Themes (or be eligible for special "members-only" ad rates), no longer receive these informative e-mails, no longer be eligible to reserve space within the "TEA-Area" at IAAPA, or participate in any of our "members-only" programs (like those great insurance rates), or receive notices about mixers, seminars and other events. In short, you'll lose a lot. And, once we've dropped you from the rolls, it will be up to you to contact us to get reinstated. So, please, if you receive a farewell note, take the time to pick up the phone right then and call us with a credit card number so that we can keep your membership active. If you believe you have already paid and you receive such a note, then you MUST call us immediately to make certain that we have our records correct so that your company appears in the 2002 Members Directory. We're working hard to help you and your industry...stay involved. We need you.

Contact the TEA Office to check your account status:
(818) 843-8497 or send an e-mail to: [email protected]

Also, if you have a satellite or branch office that you want listed in the 2002 TEA Members Directory, we have to receive the information and payment for that listing right away. Check your profile on the TEA website if you're not sure as to the branch office's status. If its not listed, its not paid for.

Speaking of the Member Profiles...the information we have on the TEA website's Members Directory (themeit.com) is the most current information we have in our database. We update the website once a month directly from the member database. Please take a moment and go to the website to check your profile. If there is any aspect of it that needs to be changed, please send your corrections to us right away so that the printed directory will contain the most accurate information.

Please send any changes, deletions, or additions to:
[email protected]

EASTERN DIVISION MEMBER OPEN HOUSE

Summer is a great time to get together and swap stories with your colleagues. If you're going to be in Orlando on July 19th, stop by and visit one of our newer members, Wow!Works and get caught up with old friends as well. This event is free to all TEA Members.

Where: WOW!Works
1239 Commons Court
Clermont, FL 34711

When: Thursday, July 19
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Catering: Hors d'oeuvres, beer, and wine provided
Why: To have fun, network, and learn about WOW!Works, a special effects design and consulting company
RSVP: Call (352) 243-2124 or E-mail: [email protected]
Please RSVP by Monday, July 16. Directions will be forwarded with RSVP

MEET THE NEW MEMBERS

Integrated Media Systems Ohio, Inc.
Mohammad Ahmadi
1000 Taylor Station Road, Suite A
Gahanna, OH 43230
Voice:(614) 552-6400
Fax:(614) 552-5401
Email:[email protected]
Website:www.integratedmediasystems.com

Integrated Media Systems Ohio, Inc. engineers, fabricates, installs and services audio, video and show control systems. Our company is dedicated to creating entertainment technology systems that seamlessly integrate design, technology and operation within the budgets set by our clients. We are one of the fastest growing technical entertainment firms in the industry.

Gothic Entertainment Group, Inc.
Joseph Camarota
776 Richmond Drive
Sicklerville, NJ 08081-9450
Voice:(856) 232-2373
Fax:(856) 232-1453
Email:[email protected]

Developers and operators of themed restaurants and entertainment complexes. We specialize in horror/sci-fi/fantasy themes. Through the use of movie posters, motion picture fine art, props, animated figures, sculptures, full size wax figures, we bring the venues to life through the use of interactive dioramas and dynamic stage performances.

MousePower
Andy Plaskett
Hartham Park
Corsham
Wiltshire, SN130QB
ENGLAND
Voice:+44 (0)1249-712-712
Fax:+44 (0)1249-712-717
Email:[email protected]
Website:www.mousepower.co.uk

MousePower (est.1989) is one of the UK's most respected digital design and development companies. As part of the pan-European Winsome Group, we can offer you broad creative and technical expertise both locally and internationally for heritage, environment and public attractions projects. Virtual tours; touch screen interactives; morphing; data capture; CD-ROM/DVD-ROM; visitor personalisation, Internet cafes; web sites; edutainment games and full consultancy. Clients include: Bristol, The National Trust, The Woodland Trust, and BBC Education.

Event Communications, Ltd.
Cel Phelan
The Clove Building
4 Marguire Street
London, SE1 2NQ
ENGLAND
Voice:+44 (0)207 7378-9900
Fax:+44 (0)207378-9911
Email:[email protected]
Website:www.eventcomm.com

Event is one of Europe's largest creative groups specialising in museum and visitor attraction design. Our skills and experience range from masterplanning, interpretative development through research, 3D and graphic design, conservation, interactive design and project management. Since 1986 we have directed over 90 major projects world-wide, many gaining presitgious awards.

If you have received this e-mail accidently or do not wish to continue receiving e-mail information from the Themed Entertainment Association, send an e-mail to [email protected] with the word REMOVE in the subject line. This is a "post-only" e-mail. Please do not reply directly. If you have questions or comments, please send a message to [email protected].