The Haunted Attraction Association is considering a set of bylaws revisions that would, for the first time, allow a non-owner/operator to be elected to its Board of Directors.
The proposed changes, which would need approval from 75 percent of voting members to take effect, center on the Board’s 18th seat. Under the current bylaws approved in December 2023, all elected Directors must have a minimum of five Halloween seasons of ownership or operation experience. The revisions would carve out an exception for that final seat, opening it to a qualified non-owner/operator candidate.
What Would Change
A non-owner/operator seeking election to the 18th seat would need to meet a higher experience threshold than the standard Director requirement. Candidates would need to be a member in good standing, demonstrate at least seven years of documented industry experience and exceptionalism, and pass the same vetting process through the Member Qualifications Committee that all Director candidates go through.
If no non-owner/operator candidate fills the seat in a given election cycle, it would revert to a standard Board position requiring owner/operator eligibility until the next election.
The proposed revisions also build in restrictions on how far that seat can reach into the Association’s leadership structure. A non-owner/operator Director would hold the same fiduciary duties, term limits, and voting authority as any other Board member, but would be explicitly barred from serving as President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer. They would also be excluded from the Executive Committee, which exercises Board authority between meetings. They could, however, serve on standing or appointive committees.
A Smaller Change to Meeting Notice
The revisions also add a notice requirement for the annual meeting of voting members. Under the proposed language, the meeting must be noticed no less than 10 days and no more than 50 days in advance. The Board of Directors’ annual meeting already carries that same notice window, but the current bylaws don’t specify a timeline for notifying the voting membership.
What Comes Next
Any amendments to HAA’s bylaws require approval by a vote of not less than 75 percent of the members voting, and can be adopted at any annual or special meeting.
The Association’s annual membership meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 27, from 8:30 to 9:00 AM in Room 231 at TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis. The meeting is free and open to HAA members.
About the Haunted Attraction Association
The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA) is the only official association in the haunt industry, serving as the voice of the haunted attraction community. Its worldwide network of members exchange ideas, information, and experiences through conferences, exclusive networking events, message boards, newsletters, magazines, and more.
The HAA was formed in 2011 when the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA), founded in 1998, and the Haunted House Association (HHA), founded in 2008, joined forces with the common goal of protecting members and promoting haunted attractions around the world.
The Association represents professional haunted attraction owners, operators, designers, vendors, enthusiasts, and artists. HAA membership is open to all haunted attraction owners and operators, vendors, home haunters, conventions, professional actors, makeup artists, costumers, and enthusiasts.
Each year, HAA partners with TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show and other events to offer the Certified Haunted Attraction Operator Seminar (C.H.A.O.S.) safety program.
