October minutes

The October meeting of IBM Ring #258 was called to order at 7:00 PM by President Jim Moody. Guests in attendance were Josh Gair from Orlando and and Eric Schmock from Ring 216 in San Jose, California!

The minutes of the September meeting were approved as e-mailed, except to Rich Hewitt. Our Treasurer, George Smallwood, reported a balance of $5489.00 in the bank as the end of September with 35 paid up members on the roster.

Old Business

Ring member "Magic Ian" Sutz gave a lecture at Orlando Ring # 170 on October 17th. Eleven members of Ring 258 traveled to Orlando to be among the standing only crowd to see an excellent lecture that included canes, silks, coins, "gimmicks", and bits of business that could be used by everyone. The lecture was very well received.

On October 14th four members of Ring 258 visited Camp Boggy Creek again, this time to entertain the riders in the "Bikers for Boggy" ride from Daytona. Approximately 1000 bikers, including representatives of law enforcement motorcycle units from around the state rode in to Camp on for a fund raising event. Members Lee Langer, Rich Hewitt, Jim Moody and Roger Reid, performed close up magical entertainment during lunch provided by Outback Steakhouse. Funds were raised through live and silent auctions held in the afternoon. More ring members should take advantage of the opportunity to perform at Camp Boggy Creek as it is an unpaid gig and a great chance to practice and try out new routines.

Members of the ring are performing at the N.Y. Cafe, our regular meeting place, each evening during Magic Week Oct. 25 through October 31. Performers will be Greg Solomon, Jack Palumbo, Andy Long, George Smallwood, Ian Sutz and Jim Moody.

"The Lunch Group/Holiday Party Committee" sampled the fare at the Harbor Side Restaurant earlier this month. With the recommendation of the Committee the Ring approved holding our combined December Meeting and Holiday Party there on Saturday evening December 29. There will "Chinese Gift Exchanges" for both men and women. Gifts should be around $10 in value. Anyone who would like to perform that evening, please contact Jim Moody.

New Business

Ring Librarian Lenn Lameroux has not been able to make many meeting this year, thus the DVD library has been missing in action. Dandy Dan Dyer volunteered to take over the handing of the library and organize it with a binder and library cards for tracking of items lent to members.

Our October meeting was also Election Night. Nominations were accepted from the floor. Only one slate of officers was proposed, Jim Moody as President, Ian Sutz as Vice President, Roger Reid as Secretary, George Smallwood as Treasurer and Rich Hewitt as Sergeant at Arms. The slate was approved by acclamation. The new officers will begin their terms on January 1, 2008. The Secretary will notify the IBM of the new officers, as soon as Ian joins the International!

A reminder that our regular meeting night, the 4th Thursday of the month would have us meeting on Thanksgiving. So... the November meeting has been moved to Thursday, November 29, 2007, 7:00 PM at the N.Y. Cafe as usual.

New members who joined tonight were Myrna Smith and Lew Jones.

Trivia Question of the Month

"What is the Chinese Laundry Ticket and who invented it?" For the first time this year we did not have a winner! Many knew what the trick was, but no one other than Ring Pres. Jim Moody (who made up the question) knew that the inventor was Professor Harlan Tarbell! Magic Ian performed the effect beautifully for all to see.

50/50 Raffle

The 50/50 raffle was won by Allen Konstan in the amount of $27, which he eagerly accepted.

All "business" completed the official portion of the meeting was adjourned.

The "after meeting" portion of the meeting was dedicated to a panel discussion on the subject of "Ethics in Magic". Panel members were Jim Moody, Roger Reid, Ian Sutz and Dan Dyer. Areas discussed were originality, theft of intellectual material, manufacturing rights, etc. A rousing discussion ensued with lots of input from members of the ring. Some of the more important themes of the discussion were that magi should put their own twist/personality on effects so that everyone is not doing the same thing, give credit when known and the fact that there is little that can be done about the intellectual theft that occurs in our craft.

After the Ethics discussion the crowd thinned a little. Those that remained were treated to some real magic mini lectures on: Roger Reid - Gimmicked Coins, Jim Moody - Sponge Balls and Don Allen's Bowl Routine, Magic Ian - Diminishing Sponge Balls, Jack Palumbo - Dice Stacking with a Jumbo finish, Lee Langer - Coins through the Table and Magic Ian again - Card Flourishes/Spreads & George Sand's "Do as I do."

It was getting late, so we all went home!

Respectfully Submitted,

Roger L. Reid

Acting Secretary