The earliest document the FAA possess in its archives relates to an “organizational meeting” held three years before the associate was formally incorporated. A group of attraction industry leaders met at Marineland. This organizational meeting involved the creation of a new alliance. Dick Pope, Sr. (Cypress Garden) suggested the name of this group should be the Florida Attractions Association. The group

addresses a number of steps to be completed in the creation of the FAA - the creation of a “constitution” and bylaws, establishment of committees, election of officers, and a code of ethics.

Previously, this group of attraction leaders met as a committee under the auspices of the FPPRA – known today as the FPRA or the Florida Public Relations Association. The group discussed the potential of membership of the Okefenokee Swamp, which straddled the Florida-George line, but determined the swap was primarily a Georgia attraction.

There was conversation about the State Advertising Commission – the predecessor to today’s VISIT FLORIDA – but even in 1946, it was a target to be eliminated from the state’s budget! Some things never change.