Behind the Scenes is a bi-annual newsletter published by FFMA. Some of the topics discussed in Behind the Scenes include: News from Florida facilities, legislative updates, FFMA committee updates, employees "on-the-move", job postings, and sponsor spotlights.

Archived newsletters:
Jan 2004, Dec 2004, Feb 2005, May 2005, Nov 2005, Mar 2006, June 2006, Oct 2006
Mar 2007, June 2007, Dec 2007.

President's Corner

I am pleased and honored to have the opportunity to serve as your president once again. During my first term in 1991-93 FFMA was in its infancy. Although we are still a relatively young association we have come a long way in a very short time. Our accomplishments are a credit to our members, the Board of Directors, who are very dedicated and committed to FFMA, as well as to our support staff, Executive Director Cherie Worley and Lobbyist Wayne Malaney, Esq. In addition; our past presidents have provided outstanding leadership for us through the years. To that end I would like to complement Mary Bensel on the extraordinary job she did as president during the past two years. Through her leadership we strengthened our relationship with the Florida Presenters, developed an association brochure and Web site (floridafacilities.com) and established a broad student scholarship program as well as expanded our membership fold. It gives me great pleasure to welcome our new officers, Vice President Rick Hamilton, Secretary/Treasurer, Mickey Farrell, and our directors at large, Dave Anderson, Judy Joseph and Rose Rundle, who were elected at our very successful annual meeting this past June. The membership expanded the number of directors at large from one to three at the meeting, which will assist us in maintaining diversity amongst the Board of Directors as well as include a broader range of venue and geographical representation. In addition, this measure will help nurture and grow senior leaders of FFMA. This is a very important and critical year for FFMA and we need your support. Many of you will recall that several years ago we pushed a number of tax initiatives through the state legislature. These initiatives are back-up for the 2006 legislative review. I encourage you to take time to review them and speak with your legislative delegation about the importance of sun-setting these initiatives for another five years, if not permanently. In closing, I would like to extend special thanks to board member Judy Joseph and the entire staff of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center for hosting our annual Operations Seminar. They did an incredible job with the planning, coordination and execution of the entire program and we are truly grateful for their dedication and hard work in making it such a success. Feel free to contact Cherie at cworley@binary.net or myself at ldubay@uflu.edu if we can be of assistance to you in any way.

Lionel J. Dubay,
FFMA President and Director, Stephen C. O’Connell Center/University of Florida

Operations Seminar Recap

The FFMA Operations Seminar was held on Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center on the riverfront in downtown Tampa . There were over 100 participants in attendance who enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with their peers from various venues throughout Florida . Jeanne Piazza and Teresa Gallar led the charge for the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center which put together a day full of informative workshops that included:

• Creating the Experience
• Terrorism
• Facility Assessments and Long Term Capital Forecasting
• Data Collection and Utilization of Patron Base
• Catering
• Ask the Boss

Bernie Kloppenburg and the entire Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center catering staff really outdid themselves with the food and beverages for the day. The kickoff was a breakfast served in Maestro’s Restaurant, continued with a beautiful lunch in the Carol Morsani Hall and capped off with a cocktail buffet and mingles at the end of the day. The entire day was a huge success and offered a chance for those who attended to open the door as a continued source of information and networking opportunities.

FFMA Annual Meeting Update

The FFMA Annual Meeting will be held at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach from June 18 to June 20, 2006 . The FFMA Conference rate is $149.50/night (single or double). The deadline for reservations is Tuesday, May 16th, 2006 . More detailed information will be forthcoming as final plans develop. Please check out our website at floridafacilities.com to get the latest update.

The FFMA Board of Directors held its’ first fall board meeting in conjunction with the FFMA Operations Seminar at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. President Lionel Dubay said, “typically the Board holds monthly conference calls and only meets at the annual meeting and in January of each year. However, with the elections of two new officers and the addition of two Director-at-Large members, it behooved us to hold a fall meeting to bring our new members up to speed with the Board. In addition, it provided a great opportunity for us to get a jump start on our program, sponsorships and promotion of our June 18-20, 2006 Annual Meeting which will be held again at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Florida.” A copy of the fall Board Meeting minutes and support materials can be found on our floridafacilities.com web site.

Legislative Updates from FFMA Lobbyist, Wayne Malaney, Esq.

s.212.031 (10) exempts from the tax on rent the charges for labor, event staff, security and the like (which are generally rolled into the overall rent, but can be backed out for settlement purposes).

s.212.031 (1) (a) (12) exempts from tax on rent that portion of the rent which is based on the sale of novelty items by the concessionaire.

s.212.031 (3) and s.212.04 (3) allows for the submission of tax on rent and tax on admissions, respectively, after the show has taken place, rather than upon receipt. Based on a series of meetings with Senate Leadership, our Senate sponsor and senior staff in the Senate President’s office, the legislation being pursued this year will seek to extend the sunset. It is never too early to contact your local legislature by phone, letter or better yet a face-to-face meeting (so you can start to build a relationship if you don’t already have one stabled). Also, consider attending your county’s legislative delegation to introduce yourself to as many members as possible.

These local meetings are taking place around the state right now. Call any local legislator’s office and the staff will be able to tell you when and where the delegation is meeting. Ask if it will be possible to take a few minutes to describe the issues. If you are able to do so let me know and I will send you a “Talk Sheet” on the bill. I will provide regular updates on the progress of the legislation and how you can help at the grass roots level throughout the legislative process. Equally important for those of you owned by a governmental entity, be sure your county or city manager and your council and commission members have these bills on their agenda. These appointed and elected officials also have the ear of your elected legislators.

SCALP TICKET AUCTIONS
Word is that another attempt will be made by eBay to pass legislation allowing them to auction SCALP TICKETS. FFMA HAS CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED THIS LEGISLATION. This proposal was defeated in 2004. But, this year there will be a bill in each Chamber. I’ve been told Senator Mike Bennett will sponsor the bill in his chamber. I’ll let you know who the House sponsor is as soon as one is found. And, I will send out the respective bill numbers. Let your legislators know that Attorney General Crist and Commissioner Bronson of the Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services both oppose the bill. The members of FFMA are the last protector of the general public’s right to have equal access tickets. Each of you has horror stories to tell about the problems that arise from scalping. Be prepared to share these atrocities with your legislators. Remind them that it is the facility, their publicly owned facility, that faces the wrath of the irate citizen, not the performer or promoter or ticket reseller. The consumer protections set up through eBay and other marketers don’t exist. ALSO, PLEASE EMAIL OR FAX ANY ENCOUNTERS YOU’VE HAD IN THIS AREA. I want to share them with the Atty. General, Commissioner Bronson and the Legislature.

Some of you may recall a presentation by the Miami Heat and Ticketmaster at last year’s conference concerning the resale of season tickets. Several professional sports teams are pursuing legislation that will allow them to resell season tickets at a higher price than the season ticket holder paid, under controlled circumstances, when the ticket holder can’t make it to a game. The FFMA Board voted to remain neutral on this issue.

OTHER MATTERS
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE: Effective January 1, 2006 the minimum wage for hourly employees in the State of Florida increases from $6.25 to $6.40. This is in line with the amendment to the Florida Constitution, which requires an annual increase. The increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index and is calculated in September of each year. The exception to this wage is for employees who may receive tips. In that case the minimum wage is reduced by $3.02. This is a fixed number. So, the 2006 minimum wage for an hourly employee who receives tips is $3.38. Please keep this in mind as you negotiate new or renewal contracts with your vendors.

DHS Releases ViSAT for Convention Centers

The Department of Homeland Security has released the convention center version of the Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (ViSAT). Convention center managers, please watch your inbox for instructions from the Department of Homeland Security. The next version of the ViSAT will be performing arts centers and is expected to be released soon. Managers on the convention center list will receive two emails from DHS. Please do not delete it as junk mail! For security purposes, passwords are only valid for 60 days from date of issue. Do not delay getting started. If your facility is not contacted by the DHS, please contact IAAM/s coordinator at security@iaam.org. A training session was held for the ViSAT to IAAM’s International Crowd Management Conference (ICMC) November 6-9, 2005 in Dallas, TX. There were three training sessions on the ViSAT: a full demonstration of the software program, a discussion about security sensitivities and use of the ViSAT data, and a session on hints and techniques to complete the ViSAT. More training opportunities will be available in the coming months. When your assessment is complete, managers are encouraged to submit it to the DHS. “The information is protected by federal regulations regarding sensitive security information,” said Dexter King, CFE, IAAM executive director. “No one else in your community will have access to your data.” When you submit a completed ViSAT, DHS will review it for completion and consistency of your responses. They will not judge your vulnerability. “It is your responsibility to use the report to assess Vulnerability.”

King also offered the following reasons for you to submit your completed ViSAT to DHS:

1. Better comparative information for you. With a substantial body of data, trend information will be developed by DHS to assist managers in analyzing their preparedness and countermeasures as compared to other venues. More data will produce better comparative reports.

2. More resources for your industry. DHS officials will analyze aggregate information for the extent of risk and vulnerability that public assembly facilities face every day. DHS officials will place priority for programs, grants and funding, assistance, and other resources based on the extent of total risk. The data is needed to demonstrate the size and extent of vulnerabilities faced by the public assembly facility industry.

3. Access to DHS funding. DHS is being encouraged to use completion of the ViSAT as one of the qualifiers for grants, funding, and other assistance from DHS through your local and state homeland security agencies.

Protecting your facility and the benefits it provides to your community by completing the ViSAT is one way to protect lives. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of your patrons and employees!

News from Around the State

Global Spectrum Announces Change in Arena Names
Global Spectrum, the management firm for the University of Miami Convocation Center, announced on November 16, 2005 that the building has been renamed to the BankUnited Center as part of a 10-year sponsorship deal between BankUnited and the University of Miami . The BankUnited Center, a 7,000+ seat multi-purpose entertainment facility located on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus, hosts concerts, family shows, trades shows, lecture series, sporting events and the University of Miami men’s and women’s basketball teams. For more information, visit their website at BankUnitedCenter.com.

Ruth Eckerd Hall
One of the actors in Eckerd Theater Company (ETC), the professional touring company based at the Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute is from Gulfport, Mississippi . Her family lost everything and was scattered to different parts of the country by the storm. The actors felt strongly that they wanted to do something for the hurricane victims. They wanted to do something to lift their spirits and begin to heal their hearts. Wilma tore through Florida communities in which ETC has toured in for years. “A plea to the benefactors of Ruth Eckerd Hall’s education programs at the recent Harvesting for Scholarships fundraiser showed overwhelming support for this venture and will now enable ETC not only to perform The Little Moon Theater in Biloxi in February, but to also present a day of performances this December for young victims of Hurricane Wilma in Palm Beach County.” Said Robert Freedman, President & CEO of Ruth Eckerd Hall, “The generosity of our donors continues to show their passions and support for not only our programs and community, but for those around us.”

Orlando Centroplex
The TD Waterhouse Centre has finally drawn the curtain after 16 years! The TD Waterhouse Centre recently purchased a state-of-the-art curtain system accommodating a variety of seating capacities ranging from 2,500 to 17,000. It was installed in late October for TD Waterhouse Centre’s inaugural curtain show for 3 Doors Down w/Alter Bridge on November 3rd. The Dew Action Sports Tour is The Pro Tour of Action Sports hosted by TD Waterhouse Center, October 13-15, 2005. The Tour boasted five major, multi-sport events, the biggest competitive purse in action sports, a million-dollar bonus pool based upon year-end standings, and the largest network and cable television broadcasting commitment ever. Orlando exceeded expectations of promoters, as tens of thousands of action sports fans crowded the outdoor and indoor activities. The Orlando Centroplex looks forward to a multi-year contract with Clear Channel Entertainment Motorsports and the Central Florida Sports Commission. The TD Waterhouse Centre, Carr Performing Arts Centre and Florida Citrus Bowl stadium are among the topics of renovation discussion. City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has made Orlando’s community facilities a priority and recognizes the need for investment in our community and economy. Currently, the Orlando Magic have ben asked to head a “life-cycle” study to verify if renovation is a viable option of the TD Waterhouse Centre. The Florida Citrus Sports Association, the bowl game organizing committee for Orlando , has hired an engineering firm to conduct a feasibility study for possible renovations at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. The Orlando Performing Arts Board has selected Houston-based Hines, as the developer who will oversee the planning, design and financing phase. This phase will be complete by the first quarter of 2006.

Raymond James Stadium
On September 13, 2005, in response to the demand of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA) voted to adopt the NFL mandated pat-down procedure at Buccaneer games. TSA engaged a private security contractor to implement the procedure consistent with NFL guidelines. (There is, to date, an unresolved dispute between TSA and the Buccaneers regarding who should ultimately bear the costs of pat-downs). In advance of its implementation at RJS, the Buccaneers and TSA took steps to advise the public and ticket holders of this procedure. On October 13, 2005, Gordon Johnston filed a complaint against TSA in the Circuit Court of Hillsborough County seeking a preliminary injunction prohibiting the pat-downs. Jude Perry Little conducted evidentiary hearings on October 19, 2005 and on October 27, 2005. Johnston and his attorneys argued that their evidence demonstrated that the pat-downs are unconstitutional. The TSA and its attorneys presented evidence that we contend demonstrated that the pat-down procedures are constitutional as well as reasonable, necessary and effective in preventing and deterring attempted attacks by terrorists utilizing improvised explosive devices.

Judge Little ultimately ruled against the TSA and in favor of Gordon Johnston, granting his motion for a preliminary injunction. The written injunction was signed on November 2, 2005. TSA promptly appealed Judge Little’s order. The Second District Court of Appeal of Florida issued a preliminary ruling which, in effect, determined that the pat-down procedure could not be utilized at Buccaneer home games unless and until the preliminary injunction is reversed or vacated. Consequently, pat-downs are not currently being conducted. The Second District Court of Appeal has not yet ruled upon the merits of TSA’s appeal.

On The Move

Florida Gulf Coast University
Eric Balmer resigned as Facility Director of the Turner Center in Arcadia, Florida in July of 2005. In August, 2005 Eric started as the Assistant Director of Campus Reservations at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida . The areas Eric currently oversees at FGCU are the Student Union building, Aquatics Center and the Alico Arena, which has roughly 4,200 seats. Congratulations, Eric!

2005 FFMA New Members
• Julie Rand, Executive Director, News-Journal Center , Ormond Beach
• Mark Gatley, General Manager, Broward Convention Center , Ft. Lauderdale
• Bill Leaman, General Manager, Emerald Coast Conference Center , Ft. Walton Beach
• Roger Stried, Manager, War Memorial Auditorium, Ft. Lauderdale
• Josh Weinstein, Event Services Director, Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa

Scholarship Program
The FFMA Scholarship Committee announces the availability of the Association’s 2005-06 scholarships. We hope that you’ll share this information with your student interns and employees; and encourage them to go to the FFMA website at floridafacilities.com to find out more information about the scholarships and to obtain the application forms. The Committee will be awarding scholarships for each of the following:

$500 - FFMA Annual Meeting plus waived registration fee - The FFMA Scholarship Committee selected David Lucier from the University of Florida as the scholarship recipient for 2005. David is currently in a dual master’s degree program (Sports Management and Business Management). The FFMA Annual Meeting will be held at the Four Seasons in West Palm Beach, Florida from June 18-20, 2006. Application deadline is April 15, 2006.

$500 - College Scholarship - This scholarship is for the 2006-07 academic year. David Lucier, University of Florida, was also the recipient of the 2005 FFMA College Scholarship Award. Application deadline is April 15, 2006.

$500 - IAAM/UVMC Annual Conference and Trade Show - The FFMA Scholarship Committee selected Kathleene Dayton from the University of Florida as the 2005 IAAM/UVMC Annual Conference and Trade Show recipient. The conference will be held in San Antonio, Texas, August 4-8, 2006. FFMA offers interested and qualified students an opportunity to network with practitioners within the field to learn of internship and job opportunities in the industry. Application deadline is April 15, 2006.

FFMA Operations Seminar plus waived registration fee - The Scholarship Committee selected Lori Graham, a senior at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida, as the recipient of this scholarship for 2005. Up to seven (7) recipients will be given $75 to offset his/her expenses for the 2006 Seminar. Application deadline is twenty days prior to the Seminar.

All scholarship applications should be submitted to:

FFMA Scholarship Committee
ATTN: Mark Stiffler, Chair
FSU Oglesby Union, T211
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4026
mstriffler@admin.fsu.edu

Palm Beach County Convention Center
The Palm Beach County Convention Center welcomes the arrival of our new Director of Operations, Trung Lee. Most recently Trung was the Director of Operations at Miller Park, one of the first retractable roof stadiums in the United States, and home of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. Prior to that Trung worked for Johnson Controls in the HVAC and electrical field and ran his own electrical installation company. Trung brings a great deal of experience to our facility in the areas of HVAC, electrical, capital improvements, and building infrastructure maintenance. Trung and his family will be relocating down from “sunny and warm” Milwaukee Wisconsin.

Dulce Angulo joins the Palm Beach County Convention Center as Event Manager. She formerly was an Exhibit Manager at the International Fine Art Exposition, IFAE, who is responsible for the production of two of the most prestigious Art and Antique shows in the U.S. The Security Department welcomes Christina Such to the Palm Beach Convention Center. Christina comes to us from Indiana where she worked as the Security Dispatch Supervisor for the Indiana Convention Center. She will serve as the Assistant Public Safety Manager. Also we welcome Jamal Johnson who was selected as a part-time security agent after working for the Macon Police Department as a recruit.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Wendi Mason has been promoted to the position of Box Office Manager. In her short time with the facility, Wendi has done an outstanding job with the Finance Department, displaying her keen sense of organization and attention to detail. These traits are a few key components to ensuring success within a Box Office operation. Her “can do” attitude will continue to allow her to be an integral part of our operation and allow us as a facility to continually exceed our clients’ expectations. Wendi’s past Box Office experience with the Sound Advice Amphitheatre and South Florida Fairgrounds will certainly be an asset for our facility. Wendi will also continue to assist the Finance Department with various duties. Congratulations, Wendi, on your recent promotion.

2005 FFMA Sponsors

FFMA is grateful for the generous support of the following companies. These sponsors are very important to the success of FFMA. We urge all participants to thank the representatives of these companies, and encourage you to remember them for your venue’s product and service needs.

• Ticketmaster
• Hardin Construction
• Zeidler Partnership, Inc.
• Aramark Corporation
• Irwin Seating
• White Stallion Productions
• Centerplate
• Robbins Sports Surfaces
• Clarin
• Feld Entertainment
• Daktronics
• Milliken Carpet
• Boston Culinary Group
• Horner Flooring
• Cleanevent USA
• Ocean State Event Services
• StageRight
• Andy Frain Services
• Ad Systems
• Facility Forecast, Inc.
• Palm Beach County Convention Center
• Contemporary Services

FFMA Board of Directors

Lionel J. Dubay, President
ldubay@ufl.edu

Rick Hamilton, Vice President
rhamilton@oceancenter.com

Mickey Farrell, Secretary/Treasurer
mfarrell@tampasportsauthority.com

Mary Bensel, Immediate Past President
genmgr@bbmannpah.com

Dave Anderson, Member-at-Large
danderson@pbconventioncenter.com

Judy Joseph, Member-at-Large
judy.joseph@tbpac.org

Rose Rundle, Member-at-Large
rrundle@cityftmyers.com

Mike LaPan, Past President
mike.lapan@lakelandgov.net

Roger Englert, Past President
renglert@tlccc.org

Allen Johnson, Past President
allen.johnson@cityoforlando.net

Ron Spencer, Past President
rspencer@tlccc.org

Cherie Worley, Executive Director, FFMA
cworley@binary.net

Wayne Malaney, P.A., Florida Lobbyist, FFMA
fllobbyist@aol.com