Florida Attractions Association Board in Tallahassee

The FAA Board of Directors met today in our Tallahassee office, a spring tradition held in conjunction with Florida Tourism Day (tomorrow). Steve Geis (Chairman of the Board), Mary Altman, Sandy Craig, Drake Decker, Andrew Hertz, Mark McHugh, Van Rice, and Ralph Rodriguez participated in the meeting.

Following the meeting, we dined at the historic Silver Slipper, a Tallahassee tradition, and were joined by our lobbyist Jim Tillman and his wife Barbara.

Happy Easter

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.- Matthew 28:6

FAA Annual Conference Registration Opens

Registration for the 2008 Florida Attractions Association Annual Conference is open. Mike and Linda have done a great job pulling together the details for the registration page.

The Hyatt Regency Bonaventure in Weston will host our meeting.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Florida's State Song - Music to My Ears

As a 4th generation “cracker”, I believe some things shouldn’t be messed with. Orange juice served at our state’s welcome centers, the Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee, and the St. John’s River flowing north set us apart from “the other 49” states. So talk about changing our state song raised my ire. Swanee River -- Old Folks at Home by Stephen Foster has been one of those sacred Florida traditions. In recent years, concern has been expressed about some of the racial undertones in Foster’s lyrics.

Actually, Old Folks at Home was not Florida’s original state song. Florida, My Florida written by Rev Dr. C. V. Waugh was adopted by the Legislature as our state’s first state song in 1913.

In 1935 Swanee River became our 2nd state song.

Now in 2008, the Florida Legislature is again considering a new state song. Jan Hinton of Pompano Beach, a Fort Lauderdale middle-school music teacher, has submitted the winning entry for Florida’s new state song Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky.

I admit upon hearing the title, I was skeptical. But after hearing the song on Jan’s web site, I’m beginning to think that sometimes change is a good thing. The song starts with a simple melody and builds in richness and pomp. The lyrics are inclusive of virtually every symbol of the sunshine state.

Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky is growing on me! Maybe its okay for Florida to shed old traditions, and begin new ones.

Click here, take a listen, and let me know what you think.

Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel, Charlottesville VA & Horton Hears a Who!

Horton Hears a Who! opens in movie theaters today, but there may be more to the who Horton hears story, than you ever imagined...

Charlottesville, Virginia is best known for the University of Viriginia that was founded by our third president, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's mountain-top home, Monticello, and the Foxfield Races! (Yes, people do know Charlottesville for that crazy horse race!) As far as Monticello, it is also in Albemarle County and it attracts thousands of tourists every year. The famous author, Edgar Allen Poe, also attended the University of Virginia and his room on the Lawn at the University of Virginia is always on display.

Rumor also has it that Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to all as Dr. Seuss, applied three times to the University of Virginia. Three times he was denied entrance. That last day, he vowed to one day look down on the University. He began writing childrens' novels such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. As his fame grew, so did his fortune!

It is said, that prior to writing How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss purchased a large, stately home high up on the mountain looking down on the University of Virginia. Today you can see the home back behind the Rotunda up on the hill. He bought the home so he could always "look down" on the University.

Have we forgotten the part in the Grinch that references all of the little Hoos in Hooville? That "Hooville" is said to be the University of Virginia. UVA's mascot is the Cavalier, but for those that live there, they are also the HOOS (Wahoos).

IAAPA Legislative Summit – Day 2

Our day began with a breakfast briefing in the US Capitol.



Congressman Ric Kellar (FL-8th) and Congressman Sam Farr (CA) were the featured speakers.

Following breakfast, we received a briefing on IAAPA’s legislative agenda. The Travel Promotion Act of 2007 is a major initiative with board support from national and state tourism entities. The TPA would create a public-private partnership (similar to VISITFLORIDA) with public funding coming from a $10 fee which would be collect from US visitors arriving in the US from visa wavier countries. Our industry is working to garner additional sponsors for the bill in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.

Our groups received appointments to visit elected officials from Florida. With me, our group included Barbara Heffernan (Anheuser-Busch), John McReynolds (Universal), Roger Berry (R.S. Alberts Co). We were escorted by Melinda Maxfield, an Associate with Williams & Jenson, IAPPA’s lobby firm.

Our visits including meeting with Legislative Aides for Sen. Mel Martinez, Rep. Allen Boyd (FL-2nd), Rep. Corrine Brown (FL-3rd), and Rep. Tom Feeney (FL-24th).

Our dinner was back at the Willard Hotel. Our speaker was Rep. Ron Klein (FL-22nd). Klein was running late because the Florida Democrat caucus had been meeting to discuss a resolution to the Florida Democratic primary stalemate between the Democratic National Committee, and the Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama campaigns. When asked, Klein stated that they had agreed that there would not be a revote.

IAAPA Legislative Summit – Day 1

The IAAPA Legislative Summit is headquartered at the historic Willard Hotel. Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Grant, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge and Harding have stayed at the Willard.

This afternoon, IAAPA hosted a meeting of state and regional amusement associations. California, New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida were represented.



This evening IAAPA hosted a welcome reception. Admiral William G. “Woody” Sutton, Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services, U.S. Department of Commerce was the featured speaker.

Florida House

While in Washington DC, I stopped by Florida House, located right one block east of the Supreme Court. Florida House is a “home away from home” for Floridians visiting our nation’s capital.

Described as a “state embassy”, Florida is the only state to have a facility of its type. Florida House is a nonprofit organization funded solely through the generosity of Florida citizens and businesses. I was greeted by Megan (a Nebraskan, actually, but a wonderful Florida ambassador) who offered me a tall glass of Florida orange juice and provided some background on Florida House.

Florida House was founded by Rhea Childs, wife of then Florida Governor Lawton Childs in 1973. Housed is an 1881 townhouse, Florida house offers a relaxing home away from home.

Washington DC - IAAPA

I’m in Washington DC attending the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Legislative Summit. We’ll meet with colleagues from across the US and trek to Capitol Hill to meet with Senators and Representatives to present positions on issues affecting our industry.

Governor Crist & State of the State

For the first time, our Governor presented his State of the State address during prime time. Governor Crist, before a joint session of Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives, presented his agenda for the legislative session. The speech was interspersed with 4 videos of Floridians expressing their support of the Governor’s programs in energy & economic development, health care, restoration of civil rights, and property taxes.

The address was optimistic, upbeat and forward thinking. It will be interesting to see how the Governor’s, House Speaker’s and Senate President’s agendas are maneuvered over the next 60 days. No one argues that the budget process will be a contentious debate. Revenue shortfalls will require budget reductions. The Governor favors using Trust Fund deposits to balance the budget. The Senate President is generally supportive of the Governor. The Speaker rejects using Trust Fund assets. The Democrats are looking at new revenue sources, primarily through closing existing “loop-holes”. The Republicans are taking a “no-new-taxes” position. The State Constitution requires a balanced budget.

In 60 days, we’ll see how this drama plays out.

Governor Crist’s 2008 State of the State Address

The Boys Are Back in Town

The Boys Are Back In Town

Guess who just got back today

Them wild-eyed boys, that'd been away

Haven't changed, had much to say

But man I still think them cats are crazy

-Thin Lizzy

The 2008 General Session of the Florida Legislature opened today with the ceremony and pomp deserving of our 163 year-old state. At 11:00 House Speaker Marco Rubio and Senate President Ken Pruitt each called their respective chambers into session for the first of 60 days of legislative action. Rubio and Pruitt presented opening remarks challenging colleagues to serve Florida's citizens, making difficult choices, and moving Florida's government through some difficult days. Florida faces many challenges, with housing foreclosures, anticipated revenue shortfalls, high property taxes and sky-rocketing insurance premiums.

Speaker Rubio's Opening Day Remarks (PDF)

President Pruitt's Opening Day Remarks

Tonight, Governor Crist will present his State of the State address to a joint session of the Florida Legislature.

Happy Birthday Florida

The Act establishing statehood for Florida was approved on March 3, 1845 by the second session of the 28th Congress.

Back to the "'Burg"

Anita, Daniel, and Emily left early this morning to return to Williamsburg. They arrived safe and sound this evening after the 13-hour trip. We had several showings of the house while they were in Tallahassee, but, alas, no offers.

Aquatica at SeaWorld Orlando Opens

After years of planning, design, and construction, Busch Entertainment (Worlds of Discovery) opened Aquatica - SeaWorld's Waterpark today. The park is located across International Drive (east) of SeaWorld and gives BEC a 3-park Orlando presence with SeaWorld and Discovery Cove nearby.

Aquatica combines state-of-the-art technology and an exciting display of sealife in a colorful, aquatic playground. The park is having a "soft opening" between March 1 and April 3 to ensure all systems and operating procedures get a good test and adjust period. Official opening is April 4.