I.B.M. Ring 362 The Maine Mystics Bangor, Maine
Home Archive Constitution Bylaws Policy and Program Manual Index to Minutes Index to Executive Minutes Index to Ring Reports Hall of Fame		Minutes of Executive Meeting January 2008 A meeting of the Board was held on Sunday, January 20, 2008, at the Friars' Bakehouse in Bangor, following the business portion of the Ring meeting. Many items of business had been settled in advance via email, as noted. Officers: President: Danny Baker Vice President: Geoffrey Miller Secretary: Paul Szauter Treasurer: Randy Von Smith Sergeant-At-Arms: Matt Bennage

Agenda

Call to Order, Rules of Order, Approval of Minutes.

President Danny Baker called the meeting to order under the revised Rules of Order. The Board adopted the agenda, which had been developed in advance via email.

Minutes. The minutes of the August Executive Meeting were approved without amendment in an email vote [Paul Szauter (yes, 8/23/2007), Geoffrey Miller (yes, 8/24/2007), Danny Baker (yes, 8/24/2007), Randy Von Smith (yes, 8/24/2007)].

Treasurer's Report.

A. Current Finances. Here is the 2007 budget with budgeted, August 1 year-to-date (YTD), and full year numbers listed:

The Board accepted the final balances on January 20, 2008, but understood that the financial statement of 2007 was still under revision. The revised version (posted 1/31/2008) includes donations to the general fund, donations to endowments, and award expenses disbursed from the endowments. This did not change the totals very much from January 20, 2008.

The Board had voted earlier via email to direct the proceeds of the January 2008, February 2008, and March 2008 raffles to the Lecture Endowment.

B. Financial Review. Carroll Chapman submitted a statement as the result of his financial review of 2006:

"Dear Board Members: This letter is to notify I.B.M. ring #362 board members that the financial review committee has met with I.B.M. ring #362 Treasurer on September 16th 2007 and has the following to report. The financial review committee spoke with Randy (ring #362 treasurer) to review the financial procedures. Randy explained the banking procedures and had a detailed ledger in ink of deposits and expenditures. He has also compiled the ledger information on a spreadsheet to access information per requests. The treasurer has also provided monthly running balances for the membership including expenditures and income. The financial review committee has been receiving these monthly balances and found no reason to question their validity. The financial review feels that the treasurer is doing an excellent job for his position. If there is additional information or specific action needed by the board please contact Wes Booth, Chris Florey, or myself. Sincerely, Carroll I. Chapman Jr."

In an email vote, Carroll Chapman, Danny Baker (10/1/2007) and Randy Von Smith (10/1/2007) voted to accept the financial review statement.

C. Budget. The Budget Committee (Randy Von Smith, Danny Baker, Geoffrey Miller) is required to prepare a budget within 30 days of taking office on January 20, 2008.

Old Business

A. Calendar

   1. Themes. Themes have been selected via email discussion through the August 2008 meeting. Themes (other than contests and lectures) will have a Theme Leader who agrees to perform to the theme and to help organize other performances. Dr. Wilson will be the Theme Leader in March. Brother Don Paul will be the Theme Leader in June. Danny Baker will be the Theme Leader in July. Please see the Ring Calendar.

   2. Teaching Tables. Geoffrey Miller will give a Teaching Table at the February 2008 Ring meeting. Brother Don Paul will give a Teaching Table at the June Ring meeting. Please see the Ring Calendar.

   3. Lectures. In an email discussion in January 2008, the Board approved Tom Craven as a lecturer in Rumford on April 20, 2008. Tom Craven will compete in the Elliott Card Challenge prior to the lecture. Stan Davis will lecture on school shows at the August Ring meeting. Please see the Ring Calendar.

   4. Contests. The Elliott Card Challenge is scheduled for April 20, 2008, at 1:00 pm at the Hotel Harris in Rumford, Maine's Capital of Magic. The Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest is scheduled for May 18, 2008, at 3:00 pm at All Souls Congregational Church in Bangor. The Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition is scheduled for September 7, 2008, at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor. Please see the Ring Calendar.

   5. Public Shows. The Elliott Card Challenge is scheduled for April 20, 2008, at 1:00 pm at the Hotel Harris in Rumford, Maine's Capital of Magic. The Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest is scheduled for May 18, 2008, at 3:00 pm at All Souls Congregational Church in Bangor. The All-Star Magical Revue is scheduled for July 4, 2008, at 2:30 pm at the Criterion Theatre. The Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition is scheduled for September 7, 2008, at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor. The Ring is likely to have the option to present a Halloween show on October 25 at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor. Please see the Ring Calendar.

There was some discussion of the need to develop additional venues for public performances besides the Criterion Theatre and All Souls Congregational Church.

B. Appointments.

Danny Baker announced some appointments via email on January 16, 2008, and spoke with several Ring members, who are considering appointments, but who had not yet accepted them.

Accepted appointments include:

• Scribe - Paul Szauter
• Editor - Paul Szauter
• Webmaster - Paul Szauter
• Historian - Bryan-Keith Taylor
• Financial Review Committee
• Elliott Card Challenge Contest Official - Paul Szauter
• Public Show Committee - All-Star Magical Revue
1. General Show Chair - Geoffrey Miller
2. Talent Coordination - Geoffrey Miller
3. Publicity and Ticket Sales - Paul Szauter
4. Stage and Theater Management - Randy Von Smith
• Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest Official
• Public Show Committee - Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest
1. General Show Chair
2. Talent Coordination
3. Publicity and Ticket Sales
4. Stage and Theater Management
• Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition Contest Official - Paul Szauter
• Public Show Committee - Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition
  1. General Show Chair
  2. Talent Coordination
  3. Publicity and Ticket Sales
  4. Stage and Theater Management

C. Ring Name Raffle. The Board considered Ring names submitted at the January Ring meeting. The present name, The Maine Mystics, was automatically accepted. Paul Szauter submitted Chung Ling Soo Ring. Both names were deemed suitable by the Board.

Following the meeting, the officers learned of the death of Territorial Vice President Bob Nixon, and Paul Szauter submitted Bob Nixon Ring for consideration.

D. Ring Quality Program. The International Brotherhood of Magicians has a Ring Quality Program to improve local Rings. Please see the guidelines for the Ring Quality Program at the I.B.M. website.

It is worth looking over these guidelines to begin to make further improvements in the Ring.

There are quite a few areas in which our Ring currently meets a high standard, and other areas worth looking into for further improvement. Here is an outline of the online document; those areas in which we are meeting the standard are marked as OK. I have also marked several areas as "Areas of Focus," meaning that if the Ring invests some time in development here, there will be a good payoff.

Goals and Areas for Improvement. The Board should identify key areas in which the Ring should improve, and set goals to achieve.

Working with the TVP. In 2007, TVP Bob Nixon attended the Ring Banquet in March, the April 13 show in Rumford, and the April 29 Elliott Card Challenge in Rumford.

Youth Program. The Ring's participation in SFOA was its first effort at a Youth Program. The three-week magic class, taught by Kim Hawkins with guest appearances by Dr. Wilson, had an enrollment of 24 students. Danny Baker, Kim Hawkins, Bryan-Keith Taylor and Paul Szauter donated supplies. Students were given forms to submit their names, addresses and birthdays to the Ring. Please see the Ring Event Report for SFOA magic classes.

The Ring has been invited to participate in SFOA in 2008.

Charity Performances. The Ring has been quite active in charity fundraising and charity shows. A web page documents 2007 Charity Activity by the Ring. The Ring raised $3,265.00 for charity and gave two charity performances in 2007.

Library. There has been no recent discussion of the library.

Outside lecturers. Tom Craven will be our first outside lecturer in April 2008.

New Business

A. Policy and Program Manual Review.

The Vice President and the Secretary are required to review, and if necessary revise, the Policy and Program Manual for clarification or to reflect any change in policies during 2007. The Vice President and Secretary agreed to work on this, and to submit proposed changes to the Board for consideration.