IAHA Member Meeting Donald E Stephens Convention Center (Lower Level) 5555 North River Road Rosemont, Illinois 60018 Date: March 4th, 2005 Time: 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm (The Buyer's Appreciation Party will immediately follow the IAHA Meeting, in the same room)

At the IAHA meeting:

2005 IAHA CASKET BASKET COMPETITION

Once again the gauntlet has been thrown down and all haunters have been challenged to participate in the International Association of Haunted Attractions’ Casket Basket Competition. This is your chance to earn your bones and show the haunting world how creative you are and help IAHA at the same time.

The Casket Basket Competition will take place following the IAHA business meeting at the Transworld Halloween, Costume and Party Show in Chicago. The IAHA meeting starts at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, March 4, 2005.


INFORMATION & GUIDELINES

1)  We need members to donate: Baskets, Coffins, Pumpkins, Cauldrons, Boxes, Bags, Coolers, Tubs, Chests (you get the idea) filled with FUN items. Some suggestions are: hats, candy, t-shirts, make-up, decorations, jewelry, items of interest from your area of the country, wine, candy, etc. Use your imagination, give something you would like to receive, use a theme, place your items in a “unique” container or reusable storage item. Remember that this item might have to be carried home on a plane or shipped, so make it packable / shipable if possible.

2)  IMPORTANT: Please provide three copies of an inventory of what is included in your donation (one for IAHA records, one to be placed with your item for buyers to review, and one for emcee. This should include all items included, the type of container, estimated value and the name and location of the donating entity. Donations will be accepted from anyone, BUT ONLY THOSE WHO INCLUDE THE REQUIRED INVENTORY COPIES WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARDS.

3)  Baskets may be delivered to the IAHA booth by 3:00 P.M., Friday, March 4, 2005 or brought to the IAHA meeting that evening at 6:00 P.M.

4)  Awards will be as follows: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Place trophies. Special awards will be given to the basket(s) receiving the popular vote (top money raisers). These great awards have been donated courtesy of Ghost Ride Productions.

5)  Please advise Jim Smith by e-mail (Juice@haunted.org) of your intention to make a “Casket Basket” entry so that sufficient table space can be planned.

This has been a great IAHA fund-raiser for many years. Let’s make this the best yet – with more entries, more creativity and more fun than ever before.

BUT THERE IS MORE!!

Official announcements will be coming soon, but it is never too early to start making plans to spend Friday night at the convention center. As great as the IAHA meeting and the Casket Basket Competition is, there is more to the evening’s events. There will also be an auction of haunted items and services, donated by members, member vendors and other vendors. Then finish the night with the Haunt Buyers Appreciation Party. It will be a great time to relax after a day at the show and network with others in the industry.

ANNUAL AUCTION

The annual IAHA Auction will be your chance to obtain one of the great Casket Baskets, as well as bid on all of the excellent products and services donated by IAHA members and vendors. While the donations are still coming in, we already have items like a multi-thousand dollar prop from Scarefactory, items from Unit 70, Distortions, and guest appearances/services of Bobbie Weiner and Rex Hamilton at your haunt. So be sure to bring money, checks and credit cards. Be prepared to bid high and bid often. I you would like to make a donation to the auction, please contact Julie Pawlowicz (Juliepawlowicz@mac.com).

HAUNT BUYER'S APPRECIATION PARTY 

Thanks to the efforts of Larry Kirchner, the IAHA will be hosting a Buyer's Appreciation Party, sponsored by Distortions, Transworld Exhibits Inc., ScreamPass.com, Scarefactory and IAHA (hopefully more in the near future). The party is scheduled to start for 8:00 P.M. and is open to all Transworld attendees. Music, food and refreshments will be provided. Other than a cash bar, this event will be free of charge (thanks to our sponsors).

Note: The preceding information was posted online on February 12, 2005 by Jim Smith, IAHA Board Member.