Volume 1, No. 21. November 16, 2001
Called to order
Rudi Rasschaert and five of his staff
from Mini Europe in Brussels, Belgium, were driving to the airport Monday when
they heard about the American Airlines crash in New York City. By consensus,
the group decided to cancel their trip to IAAPA. Rasschaert as president of
the newly formed International Association of Miniature Parks was expected to
formally present to IAAPA the organization, formed in September (LOOP,
October 5, 2001). He also had scheduled a meeting of his fellow miniature
park operators for Wednesday at 8 p.m. (20,00).
So, the group had gathered in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel and were talking
business when they decided to call on their president for a little direction.
With impish encouragement from the others, E.M. Bierens of Madurodam in The
Hague, The Netherlands, called his colleague back in Brussels, where the time
was 2:45 in the morning (0245). "Hrrmphpmrhm," Bierens quoted Rasschaert who
then hung up. "I don't think he appreciated that," Bierens said. But he should
appreciate being titular head of a fledgling association that so gleefully teams
up to accomplish a goal of delivering fun.