Ring 258 Minutes for December 2009

     December Minutes, Ring 258

     Because our regular meeting date fell on Christmas Day, and we already had our Holiday Party scheduled for the evening of Sunday, December 27, it was decided that a brief monthly meeting was to be combined with, and held prior to, the Party, which took place at "The Great Hall at Royal Highlands".    

     Members and guest gathered beginning at 6:00 PM.  At 7:00 outgoing President "Magic Ian" Sutz officially opened the evening, welcoming everyone and inviting one and all to have dinner.  The chef served up a trio of entrees, chicken, pork loin and pot roast.  They were accompanied by a beautiful assortment of vegetables including, rice, broccoli, oven roasted potatoes and a tossed salad.  Dessert was a choice of apple or pecan pies with coffee or tea.

     When dinner was cleared Ian ran the briefest of formal meetings to install the newly elected Ring 258 Officers, President – Frank Martin, Vice President – Bryan Weller and Treasurer – George Smallwood.  The Secretary position remains open as Ian had to decline due to hearing problems.  A request for volunteers to fill the position went unanswered.  The meeting was adjourned in favor of the evening's festivities.

     Past President Jim Moody, the organizer of the Holiday Party emceed the evening's entertainment and ran the lights and ran the sound board! 

     First up was Chuck Smith, who performed "The Lazy Magicians Trick", where in a lady, four silk handkerchiefs and Chuck's jacket were freed from tied ropes, all while Chuck relaxed in a chair and gave instructions.   Chuck graciously gave credit, to both John Calvert and the famous Dante, whom Chuck saw perform when he was the ripe old age of 10, for his inspiration to perform the effect!

     The second act on the show was Tom "Stash" Golabeck, the Polish Mentalist, ably assisted by Dandy Dan Dyer.  Though blindfolded and on stage, far from the audience, "Stash" was able to repeatedly name any item given to Dan by an audience member.  "Not Possible!"

     The show's finale was Wally Libenson, who made a series of astounding card predictions and brought the house down with his version of "Mental Epic".  Wives of some of the long time magicians were actually heard to ask "How did he do that?"

     Next…The Infamous Gift Exchange!  Gifts were selected by number and some were "stolen" as many as three times.  And Sandy Langer went home with "body butter" again!

     As the evening wound down, incoming President Frank Martin thanked Jim and Linda Moody and the rest of the committee who worked so hard putting together another excellent Holiday Party.

     January's meeting will be back at Denny's, on Hwy's 441 & 27, in Leesburg, until we find a permanent home.

     Respectfully Submitted (one last time), Roger L. Reid, Secretary