May Meeting Minutes

IBM Ring #258

Meeting Minutes – Thursday, May 28, 2009

Ring President Magic Ian opened the meeting at 7:15 PM at our temporary (now permanent?) meeting place, Denny's on Hwy 441/27 in Leesburg. Guests were Dan Halpin, who joined both the International and the Ring this evening, Richard Seitz from Seattle and Josh Gair from Orlando.

The Secretary's minutes were approved as e-mailed and posted on the Ring 258 website. The treasurer's report, also approved, showed a balance of $3906.75 at the end of April, including the expenses from "The Villages" show, but not the income. Ring membership stands at 47, including 5 who have outstanding dues payments and may be deleted from the roster.

Old Business

"The Villages" show produced a check of approximately $4300. But the net from the show was closer to $1800. This opposed to over $8000 the first year we performed there. Much of the difference was due to the number and size of the fees we were assessed by the Savannah Center which have grown every year. (Some of which may need to be reviewed further.) Discussion ensued as to how to raise our net. Ideas were: 1. Try to eliminate some of the fees by having more Ring members involved doing more of the work ourselves. 2. Produce the show without outside paid talent. 3. To Employ Art Thomas and crew to provide sound, lighting and staging of the show. 4. Have Ring members do more promotional work in order to fill more seats. 5. Try to get a prime Friday or Saturday date to raise attendance. 6. Put more emphasis on the performers in the lobby. A "Show Committee" needs to be formed now, to begin to organize the show for next year. Contact Magic Ian @ MagicianS@aol.com and let him know if you would like to be on the organizing committee and/or how you would like to participate. Every member of the Ring should be taking part in the largest Ring 258 fund raising event of the year.

Ring Secretary Roger Reid was in touch with Camp Boggy Creek Entertainment Coordinator Marshall Toy in reference to our next "teach in". He offered us a number of dates to choose from. Sunday, August 9th was chosen at the meeting. We will be there from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, performing and teaching magic. Contact Roger at bonzo1114a@aol.com if you would like to be one of the "teachers" going to Boggy Creek. A motion was approved to donate $500 to Camp Boggy Creek again this year.

Magic Ian asked that the Ring revisit his request for a donation to the Lake Sumter Hospice which was extremely helpful during his daughter's illness and passing. A donation of $250 was approved.

New Business

Greg Solomon reports that Ring 258 ½ will be on hiatus for the summer due to lack of interest. Hopefully it will start up again in the fall with the beginning of the new school year.

Ed Moravetz is teaching magic classes at The Villages University.

Greg also reports that U.S. Playing Card is no longer printing "gimmicked cards". (No such thing! No way!) Some dealers are passing off poor quality cards as substitutes. Haines House of Cards may be the last refuge of quality cards for magicians.

Stash Golabeck requested that meeting themes be chosen in advance so that everyone has a chance to prepare to perform. Next month's theme will be "Ventriloquism".

The idea of adding an "auction and flea market", open to all, at the Ring's summer Picnic was discussed and turned down. But a "Members Only Rummage Sale" of magic was approved. Our Picnic will be held on Sunday, July 12 and will take place at Brian Weller's "Big Top Auctions", 204 S. Main Street, (US 301), Bushnell, FL 33513. The Ring will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, "brats" and rolls. Bring your own drinks and at least one side dish. If you were not at the May meeting and expect to attend the Picnic contact Picnic Chairman Jim Moody to tell him what you will be bringing at crowdteaser@embarqmail.com . There will be games, prizes and surprises galore! Rich Hewitt will return as chef extraordinaire!

Ring member Donald Pierson will graduate from high school on June 4th. His mom has secretly invited Ring members to an open house on Sunday, June 7^th, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, to surprise Donald. The address is 5834 W. Pine Circle, Crystal River, FL 34429. Bring some "magic".

John Calvert is in the hospital, in Massachusetts, recovering from a minor stroke and fall. A mailing address for "get well cards" will be e-mailed to Ring members as soon as the information is available.

Daytona Magic's Convention will be held Nov. 6 – 8. Featured performers include Harry Anderson and The Pendragons.

Chuck Smith has DVD's, of this year's Villages Show, including John Calvert's performance, available for $10. Contact Chuck for a copy at craxytoo@yahoo.com.

Wallace Murphy, featured in the February issue of The Linking Ring, will lecture at the home of Chris Dunn on Tuesday evening, June 30. Contact Chris at youngdunns@yahoo.com to make reservations. Seating is limited. Also scheduled, later in the summer, Magic Ian will do a rope teach in.

Keep an eye out for the June issue of The Linking Ring! Ring President Magic Ian (One Man Parade), John Calvert and Ring 258 will all be featured in this issue.

Magic Ian will be lecturing at "Abbot's Magic Get Together", in Colon, Michigan, August 5 – 8, 2009.

This year's Hawthorne fund raising show will be on Sunday, October 25th as part of Magic Week. It will be a 90 minute matinee with no intermission. Those who wish to be on the bill, perform close-up in the lobby or work back stage should contact Jim Moody at crowdteaser@embarqmail.com.

David and Karen Lyons will be moving back to Pennsylvania this month. They graciously donated a number of effects to be raffled off and videos to the club library. We will miss you!

The 50/50 was won by Santa in the amount of $26. Then the meeting was adjourned.

The theme for the entertainment portion of the evening was "Table to Table Magic", MC'd by Roger Reid. First to perform was David Lyons, who did a series of penetrations, with a block, a ring and a needle, a needle through a solid block of brass in a match box and finally with rubber bands.

Stash, the Cab Driver, performed a story told entirely by the deck of cards he was handling. He received quite a few $2 tips!

Lee Langer made sponge bunnies multiply in the hands of Dandy Dan Dyer.

Jim Moody, "The Crowd Teaser", got us with "A Card Called Ralph" and "The Blushing Card".

Wally Libenson was able to find the selected card simply by counting to it!

Greg Solomon entertained with "Jumping Rubber Bands" which turned into a "Hippo" and followed with a beautiful ring and rope routine.

And President Magic Ian closed the show with "MIKO" (a 3 ½ of Clubs?) forced from an electric deck and his very own "Pepsilkola" (silk in a mini pepsi bottle).

Respectfully submitted,

Roger L. Reid

Secretary, Ring 258

---