All members of the Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) are invited and encouraged to attend the organization's Annual Breakfast and Membership Meeting next week in Las Vegas.

Set for 8-9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, in Pavilion 1 of the Las Vegas Hilton, the meeting will include updates on the association's legislative, financial and other business affairs, and will also feature the announcement of the 2010 AMOA Innovator Award winners.

AMOA President Gary Brewer will preside at the 90-minute membership meeting. This is the first time this gathering is to be held in the late winter/early spring time slot, and moving forward, the plan is to conduct AMOA's annual membership meeting in conjunction with the Amusement Expo this time of year.

And many doubted it would ever get done.

One month from today, the inaugural "all-industry" trade show for the coin-op and out of home entertainment industries will be winding down on its final afternoon.

When that day, Friday, March 12, rolls around, it will mark the culmination of years of work by many, many individuals within AMOA and AAMA. Some are no longer active in the industry, a few didn't live to see it happen.

In the whole scheme of things, the unification of the AMOA and ASI shows does not rival a Time Warner-AOL deal or any other high-profile, big-money corporate mergers, but in the world of coin-op, it's a major — and positive — development.

We hope you will join us in Las Vegas for this historic occasion, as the AAMA/AMOA Amusement Expo will reflect what the industry organizations have been seeking to achieve: a more robust, cost-effective, productive, enjoyable and valuable experience for the companies and individuals who make a living in the coin-op business.

It's not too late to sign up. You waited a long time to see the events hook up. Why not join your equipment providers, customers, competitors and industry friends who will be there? Visit www.amusementexpo.org to register today!

The 2010 annual raffle fundraiser on behalf of the Wayne E. Hesch Scholarship Program is just over one month away. In addition to the broad range of industry equipment that will be featured as part of the program conducted during the March 10-12 AAMA/AMOA Amusement Expo in Las Vegas, the grand prize — to be awarded at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 12 at the Hesch booth — will be a beautiful, brand new 2010 Honda Fury motorcycle.

Even if you don't win the grand prize — or any of the great items to be awarded as part of next month's Hesch program fundraiser — EVERYONE is a winner, because the proceeds from the raffle are directed to scholarships for college students, most of whom have a connection — through family or employment — to the coin-op industry and AMOA members specifically.

The Hesch program is the industry's longest-running, most prolific charitable endeavor. Since its inception in 1985, nearly $1 million in scholarships have been awarded. In fact, it is expected this year, the Hesch Scholarship Program will top the $1 million milestone in scholarship monies awarded.

The annual equipment raffle during the trade show is the primary source of revenue for the scholarships. We strongly encourage you to purchase your Wayne E. Hesch raffle tickets for 2010. Winners need not be present to win.

On behalf of the Coin-Op Cares Charitable Foundation, which oversees the Hesch Scholarship Program, thank you in advance for your ongoing support and best of luck in the raffle!