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Newsletter
September,
2004
Updated
9/4/04 |
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2005
Annual Conference Scheduled |
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The Best Western Lawton Hotel & Convention Center will be
the site of FEAO's Annual Conference, March 6, 7 & 8,
2005.
The working theme for the conference is
"Extreme Festival Makeover," and promises to be a
departure from standard conference fare with more interactive
hands-on sessions for participants.
The conference will also feature FEAO's trade show. Interested
exhibitors can contact Steve Frantz sfrantz@fullnet.net
for more information. |
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A message from FEAO President,
Steve Frantz |
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HB
2421
SECTION 2.
AMENDATORY Section 16, Chapter 472, O.S.L. 2003 (68 O.S.
Supp. 2003, Section 1364.2), is amended to read as follows:
Section 1364.2 A. Promoters or organizers of special events
shall submit an application for a special event permit to
the Oklahoma Tax Commission at least twenty (20) days prior
to the special event. The application shall be accompanied
by a fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). The application shall
include the location and dates of the special event,
expected number of vendors, and any other information that
may be required by the Tax Commission. A separate permit
shall be required for each special event and must be
prominently displayed. Multiple events held at the same
location during the calendar year may be included in one
application. |
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It
is a great pleasure that I have the opportunity to address you as
President of FEAO. There are many changes that have occurred over
the last year and many challenges ahead. At our Board Meeting on
July 19, 2004, the Board of Directors of FEAO decided to terminate
our affiliation as a chapter of IFEA and we will operate on our
own effective July 31, 2004. When we examined the goals of FEAO as
they relate to the members we serve and the potential members we
expect to reach in our state, we did not see where the goals of
IFEA were consistent with our own.
We are in
the process of establishing the way we will conduct FEAO as an
independent organization with a separate dues structure, a
separate membership classification and our own list of member
benefits. It is our desire to build a viable organization, serving
the interests of small, medium and large events and festivals in
our state and to provide educational programming, networking
opportunities, resource information, professional development and
other membership services to those event individuals, including
those who cannot afford the dues of IFEA.
We have
planned a number of events for this coming year to respond to
these goals and we are building a number of relationships for the
future. We just completed two Mini-Seminars on "Improving
Your Event: We Can Help!" in Ponca City and Pauls Valley.
FEAO’s Board Members Tommy Scott, Donna Baldwin and Joel Everett
led the discussion with Deb Shumate and myself providing the
Welcome from FEAO. The seminars were well attended and everyone
agreed they were very productive.
Our Annual
Conference is planned for March 6-8, 2005 at the Best Western
Conference Center in Lawton. The Annual Conference is shaping up
to be fun and educational, with general sessions, breakout
sessions, round tables and plenty of informal networking
opportunities. Throughout the rest of 2005, we will have other
seminars and workshops, "behind the scenes" tours and
other educational and informational opportunities.
We also
work to protect the interests of the festivals and events industry
and to assist our members with exposure and promotion of their
events and services. We are fighting against legislation
detrimental to our industry and we are forging alliances with
other organizations. Our membership represents individual
festivals and events as well as products and services supplied to
festivals and events. We are supported by institutions that view
our industry as benefiting the quality of life of our communities
and the State of Oklahoma as a whole.
FEAO has
worked hard to build a reputation in the State of Oklahoma as an
organization that supports festivals and events of all sizes and
brings services to all areas of the state. We have a recognized
website, visibility of our annual conference, a reputation for
conducting mini-seminars and workshops throughout the state and
our membership is growing. We are proud of the growth and
accomplishments of our organization. We encourage anyone who works
in festivals and events to join us in improving and protecting
this great industry. Thanks goes to all our members who support
FEAO. We are looking forward to fantastic year ahead.
Respectfully,
Steve Frantz, President FEAO |
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Claremore's
"Chilifest" Turns 25 |
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(Photos
courtesy of Front Row Concert & Festival Productions)
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Congratulations to FEAO member Dell Davis for 25 years of
producing the Bluegrass & Chili Festival, affectionately known
as "Chilifest" by longtime attendees. When Chilifest
started in Tulsa in 1979, local bands played on the steps of what
was the Westin Hotel to a crowd of fewer than a thousand people.
The event grew steadily throughout the years to become one of the
better known festivals on the bluegrass circuit.
In 2001,
Chilifest moved up Route 66 to Dell's hometown of Claremore. Dell
was nervous that the move would ruin attendance; however, from the
first year, the festival drew record crowds and kept growing. In
2003, headliner Ricky Skaggs drew a crowd of over 15,000, nearly
doubling the town's population of 16,000.
"I
remember my golf cart driving privileges were temporarily
suspended by the festival committee due to the fact I bumped a
porta pottie (yes, there was a lady inside)," said Dell when
asked about her most memorable moment. "A pedestrian stepped
out in the street in front of the cart and my choice was either to
hit the pedestrian or the porta pottie. The lady inside did look a
bit pale when she exited, but it ‘ended’ well and the incident
was reported with all ‘paper’ necessary."
Ricky
Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will make their third consecutive
appearance at Chilifest this year, closing the event with a
Saturday evening performance. Other performers include Rhonda
Vincent, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Whites, Continental
Divide, Ronnie Reno & The Reno Tradition, and the
international bluegrass band Fragment, from the Czech & Slovak
Republic.
Also, watch for the Mid-America Regional Chili Cook-off, Arts
& Crafts, Quilt Show, Open Car show, Kiddie Korral, Vocal
Competition, Junior Showcase, Dance Exhibitions and more. "We
hope the festival will carry on just as it has," says Dell.
"Twenty-five years for any event is a milestone. We have had
tremendous support through the years, with wonderful volunteers,
sponsors and attendees. We are going to move forward for another
twenty-five."
Chilifest
will be held September 9-11 on the grounds of the Claremore Expo
Center. For more information, visit the Events Calendar on the
FEAO website.
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Welcome, new members |
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City of Edmond
Parks & Recreation |
Laynie Harrod |
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German-American
Society of Tulsa |
Claus Griener |
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Sulphur Chamber of
Commerce |
Belinda Stevens &
Chessie Blanchard |
| And, some updates |
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Bethany Balloon
Fest |
Deborah Burroughs |
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Chickasaw Nation |
Robin Elliott, Kelcey
Harcrow & Sharon Nelson |
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Lawton Arts &
Humanities Division |
Billie Whipp |
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Bethany
Balloon Fest: Moving and Growing |
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Moving from a 400-acre venue down to an 80-acre
one would certainly be enough to make any coordinator of a huge
festival like the Bethany Balloon Fest a little nervous. This
event, however, was, as usual, a huge success. "There was an
overwhelmingly positive response to the location change,"
said coordinator Deborah Burroughs. The move from the vast field
at Wiley Post Airport to the quaint, picturesque atmosphere of
Eldon Lyon Park gave the event a more "community-based
feeling."
And there was certainly something for everyone
to experience. Kids enjoyed the many rides and attractions at the
Family Fun Zone and were wowed by the exotic animals exhibition.
There were also kite flying demonstrations, the Oklahoma City
Blazers Shoot Out, and shows by the United Freestyle Bike Team.
Tents lined the east side of the park, selling everything from
arts and crafts to corn dogs and funnel cakes. And what would a
festival be without good music. The bands included The Byron
Berline Band, Edgar Cruz, Narrow Gate, and Harvey & The
Wallbangers.
Let's not forget, however, the reason they all
gathered there to begin with. More than 35 balloons (both
traditional and special shaped) covered the park grounds. They
entertained spectators with their nighttime Moon Glow exhibitions
and their daytime launches. "It is very unusual," said
Deborah, "for these balloons to fly four out of five tries,
especially in August. I think the tree-line break at the park
helped."
The tallest balloon, The Energizer Bunny,
certainly attracted attention as it towered at 166 feet. La Ristra
(the chili pepper-shaped balloon) wasn't far behind at 128 feet.
Pilot Mike Shrum was quick to add, "If you cut it up, you can
make 128 million gallons of salsa." |
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FEAO
to partner with Oklahoma Centennial Commission |
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The Boards of Directors of the Festivals and
Events Association of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Centennial
Commission have agreed to form an alliance for the mutual purpose
of promoting Oklahoma's 100th Birthday and to promote the members
of FEAO. As we approach the Centennial of our State in 2007, the
next two years will bring many opportunities to become a part of
this unique celebration.
FEAO has committed to assist the Oklahoma
Centennial Commission to increase awareness of the activities that
will take place during 2007 and to encourage FEAO members to
become official Centennial Events to celebrate our 100th year. We
hope to offer ideas and advice to communities and organizations
that want to develop centennial activities. The Oklahoma
Centennial Commission has agreed to include FEAO member events in
their official "Centennial Calendar" so they will have
greater exposure throughout the Centennial year.
FEAO President Steve Frantz said, "We hope
that this cooperative effort will provide opportunities for many
areas throughout the state to develop a Centennial activity and
will allow both organizations the benefit of cross-promotion of
our activities. It is important that all the organizations in our
state support this once-in-a-lifetime celebration." |
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FEAO
Board Elected at Annual Meeting |
Board Officers
President: Steve Frantz, Western Enterprises, Carrier
First Vice-President: Deb Shumate, Oklahoma Tourism &
Recreation Dept.
Second Vice-President: Wendy Nix, Midwest City
Immediate Past President: Connie Barton, Nightmagic, Tulsa
Treasurer: Donna Baldwin, Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce
Secretaries: Janet Reed, The Chickasaw Nation, and Mark Morgan,
Nightmagic, Tulsa.
New board members
Debra Burch, Lawton Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce &
Industry
Marty Hight, Visual Mpact, Tulsa
Gary Martin, City of Ponca City
Kin Thompson, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah
Returning board members
Kathy Baker, CFEE, Oktoberfest, Tulsa
Dell Davis, Claremore Chamber of Commerce
Joel Everett, City of Muskogee Special Events
Lisa Price, Rose State College, Midwest City
Tommy Scott, CPRP, River Parks Authority, Tulsa
Richard Wells, Front Row Concert & Festival Productions,
Harrah |
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The FEAO
Newsletter is produced in cooperation with FEAO Member
Front Row Concert & Festival Productions
1-800-886-2224
Richard@FrontRowAudio.com
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Thanks!
To everyone who contributed to this edition of our online
newsletter, including Richard Wells, Ranell Givens, Steve Frantz
and Deb Shumate.
Mark Morgan
FEAO Website Editor
info@feao.org
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