News

AMOA Launches New Programs Prepares For 2020 Amusement Expo

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- The Amusement and Music Operators Association is planning an informative and stimulating program for the upcoming Amusement Expo International, which it again is cosponsoring with the American Amusement Machine Association and co-locating with the National Bulk Vendors Association and Laser Tag Convention. This year's AEI is set for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center here from March 9 through 11 (Monday-Wednesday). As in years past, the first day of the event will be devoted to ed...

January 19, 2020

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- The Amusement and Music Operators Association is planning an informative and stimulating program for the upcoming Amusement Expo International, which it again is cosponsoring with the American Amusement Machine Association and co-locating with the National Bulk Vendors Association and Laser Tag Convention. This year's AEI is set for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center here from March 9 through 11 (Monday-Wednesday).

As in years past, the first day of the event will be devoted to education. "With more education opportunities than ever before, there will be something for everybody," said AMOA president Emily Dunn, Tom's Amusement Co. (Marietta, GA). Click here for online registration for the event.

All AMOA members in good standing for 2020 receive two free badges to the trade show and need their eight-digit member ID# to register for the show. That ID# is on annual invoices and in the "Member Card" tile of the AMOA Engage mobile app. Members also may call AMOA headquarters at (800) 937-2662.

The association's new Operator's Choice Award program to recognize exceptional equipment will kick off at AEI. "Do you have an exciting new product or service that is 'operator-friendly?'" Dunn asked prospective exhibitors. "If you answered 'yes', then consider entering your product into the 2020 AMOA Operator's Choice Award program."

The Operator's Choice award competition joins the popular AMOA Innovator Awards Program. Click here for a description of both.

Dunn reminded AEI exhibitors that the deadline for submitting entries in both programs is Monday, Jan. 27.

Also new this year is a Platinum donor program. "In recent years, the AMOA Coin-Op Cares Foundation has often been asked how one goes about making a tax-deductible contribution directly to the charitable foundation, aside from buying Hesch raffle tickets," Dunn who chairs the foundation, explained. "The short answer is, you can simply write a check to the AMOA Coin-Op Cares Foundation and mail it in!" Because the Foundation has seen an increase in this type of donations, its board of directors is recognizing members who have generously made a tax-deductible donation of $500 or more as Platinum Donors.

She expressed her gratitude to the member companies that have responded immediately to this opportunity. They are: Fannie Farkle's (Gatlinburg, TN); Midwest Coin Concepts (Waite Park, MN); New Vemco Music Company (Fayetteville, NC); Sobota Enterprises (Grand Rapids, MI); Southeast Billiards & Games (Valdosta, GA) and Staff Music & Amusements (Hanover, PA) "Your generosity will help us reach our charitable giving goals," she applauded.

A keystone program of the Foundation is the Wayne E. Hesch Memorial Scholarship, which it has directed for more than 30 years. Named in honor of the late AMOA president, Wayne E. Hesch, A.H. Entertainers (Rolling Meadows, IL), the program raises funds for college scholarships. Since its inception, more than $1.2 million has been awarded to college students, most of whom have a connection to the coin-op industry.

Applications for this year's scholarships must be received by Feb. 13, 2020. Click here to download the application form in Adobe Portable Document format.

Applications with required documents should be mailed to the AMOA Education Foundation, Wayne E. Hesch Memorial Scholarship Program, 380 Terra Cotta Rd., Suite F, Crystal Lake, IL 60012. More information on Coin-Op Cares Foundation or the Hesch Scholarship may be requested from AMOA's Laura Kasch at (800) 937-2662.

Scholarship checks will be awarded June 1 for the fall semester.