Volume 2, No. 5. March 8, 2002
Turner out
In
a bid to find other revenue streams beyond membership dues and trade show fees,
the World Waterpark Association announced that it would end its relationship
with Splash Magazine and begin publishing its own magazine next month. Splash
Magazine, which WWA founder Al Turner began as an off-shoot of the association,
will continue publishing under the helm of Marilyn Turner, Al's sister, who
has been the magazine's editor for more than 12 years.
"This was something Al started," Marilyn Turner said. Her brother launched the
American Waterslide Association in 1980, and three years later, "Because he
felt like the association should be run by its members he formed the World Waterpark
Association and split off as another company to provide the publications for
the waterpark industry." Those publications include the annual Buyer's Guide
and Developer's Guide, which Marilyn Turner said she would continue. "He expanded
from a small newsletter into a magazine that has continued to expand and grow,"
she said. She came aboard when Al asked her to write an article in 1987. "I
wrote a couple more, then I got a magazine that said, 'Marilyn Turner, Editor,'
and I called him and asked, 'Is there something I should know?'"
The WWA plans to initially title its publication World Waterpark Magazine, but
will change the name after conducting a contest among members, according to
a statement issued by the association. "This is a tremendous opportunity for
the association to improve member communication and provide increased coverage
of relevant industry issues like legislative affairs monitoring and educational
development while streamlining our operations and providing greater financial
stability for our association," WWA President Rick Root said in the statement.
