I.B.M. Ring 362
Dr. James William Elliott Ring
Bangor, Maine

Minutes of August 2006 Meeting
August 20, 2006

The August Meeting for I.B.M. Ring 362 was held at the Sebasticook Valley Community Center (SVCC) in Newport at 2:30 pm on August 20, 2006. The theme of the meeting was I Made It Myself! The meeting began with a teaching table by Paul Szauter, followed by member performances. Please see the Ring Report for details of the performances.

President Alan Drew called the meeting to order. Sergeant At Arms Geoffrey Miller was absent, so Randy Von Smith showed a set of simplified Rules of Order that have been made available as a PDF on the Ring's web site, which were adopted as the Rules of Order for the meeting.

The agenda for the meeting had been made available in advance, and Alan called for the adoption of the agenda, which was approved without amendment.

The minutes for the July meeting were approved without amendment.

Treasurer Randy Von Smith reported that the Ring's new bank account has a balance of $800 from the All-Star Magical Revue, and that there is approximately $200 in petty cash. He reported that the bank account has a service charge of $5/month, and that the first set of checks cost $13.30.

In Old Business, Randy reported on incorporation. The application for incorporation has been accepted, and the Ring is officially recognized as a nonprofit organization in Maine. There is a minor error on the numbering of exhibits that will be fixed next year when the incorporation is renewed. Randy obtained an EIN for the Ring from the IRS in order to open the bank account. He suggested that the next order of checks require two signatures; these are $40 vs. $13 for regular checks.

In Old Business, Secretary Paul Szauter reported on nominations for Ring office in 2007. There are two mechanisms for nomination: petitions signed by 10% of the members (three members) or nomination by the Board. The Board has not yet met to consider nominations, but must do so prior to October 1. Four petitions, all with an excess of signatures, have been received by the Secretary. The following Ring members are nominated for the offices named: Danny Baker (President), Paul Szauter (Secretary), Randy Von Smith (Treasurer), and Geoffrey Miller (Sergeant At Arms). Ring members interested in running for office should either express an interest to the Secretary for consideration by the Board, or submit a petition signed by at least three members prior to October 1.

In Old Business, Randy has not yet prepared a written policy for the Policy and Program Manual on Substance Abuse, but will do so for a future meeting.

In Old Business, Wes Booth reported on the Cavalcade of Magic show scheduled for Saturday, September 16 at the SVCC. Wes has assembled a sequence of acts and requested music and technical requirements from each performer. The SVCC has a number of ideas for marketing the show. Wes requested that performers arrive at the SVCC by noon on September 16 for a walk-through.

In Old Business, Alan reported that Territorial Vice President Bob Nixon is available for Charter Night on October 15 at the Friars' Bakehouse. The meeting will begin at 3:00 pm, with sandwiches provided by the Friars' Bakehouse; members should bring drinks, soda, chips and the like. Alan discussed obtaining press coverage and asked that members look into the possibility of preparing a 3' x 5' banner either painted by members or printed on vinyl. Members are encouraged to wear formal or performance attire. The theme of the meeting is Houdini Night, featuring the magic and escapes of Houdini. A table will be set up for close-up performance.

In Old Business, Alan Drew reported on the Parlour Magic Contest. The rules for the contest (appended) have not yet been revised. No Contest Chair was named. Alan suggested that the contest might be held in January or February, and suggested that a group of members revise the rules, but did not appoint a committee to do so.

In New Business, Paul Szauter reported that the Ring has received periodic offers from lecturers to present lectures for a fee. After some discussion, the consensus emerged that it might be best to refrain from paid lecturers in the first year or two, until the Ring funds reach $1500 - $2000.

In New Business, Kim Hawkins reported on the opportunity presented by Schoodic Arts, which holds classes in the first two weeks of August. Instructors are paid a stipend and a set amount per student enrolled, as well as being compensated for supplies and materials. Instructors are also permitted to set the age range for their classes. Kim taught clowning this year, and suggested that it would be a good opportunity for a Ring show or instruction in magic by Ring members in August 2007. The final show is presented in Hammond Hall.

With no further business at hand, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

The "standard contest rules" which Alan proposed for the Parlour Magic Contest are appended. The change from ten to eight minutes has been made. In the opinion of the Secretary, these rules will require further modification to suit the proposed contest.

Appendix: "Standard" Contest Rules

Contest chairs will be appointed four months before the events.

Contests will have two categories, junior (less than 18 years) and senior divisions.

Contestants must be members of Ring in good standing with dues paid for the current year. Performer's assistants need not be members of the Ring.

The first place winners of the previous year's contest are not eligible to compete within the same division the following year; however, they may perform an act at the contest show and have their performance evaluated by the judges if time permits. This option is at the discretion of the Contest Chair. Judging criteria outlined will be applicable to both stage as well as to close up contests.

The minimum number of judges required to constitute an official judging panel is three. The panel will be guided by a Chair appointed from within the panel.

The judges will evaluate the performance(s) on the basis of criteria that follow.

There will be a timer who is responsible for timing each performer and establishing that the performance did not exceed the maximum of 8 minutes. Penalties will apply if such was the case.

There must be a minimum of two performers in a category in order to hold a contest. Should there be less than two performers for a contest, no plaque will be awarded for ranking, instead entrants will receive a certificate of merit for participation. However, if the minimum number of performers are not present, those who are present will be given the opportunity to perform. In order for plaques to be awarded, there must be a minimum of two performers within a category. There must be at least three performers in a category to establish a first and second place ranking. There must be at least four performers in a category to establish a first, second and third place rankings.

Performers are required to sign up for contests no later than one week prior to the event. Those signing up for performances will not be informed of who else is signed up to perform until after the sign up cut off date. Last minute entries, (day of the event) will not be allowed.

At the discretion of the contest chair, a contest review workshop will be conducted following the contest. Contestant participation in the workshop is voluntary, however it is strongly recommended. Present at the workshop will be the judging panel as well as other Ring members. The purpose of the workshop will be to provide the performers an opportunity to view their performances if taped, to discuss how they were judged with the judges, and to learn from the experience. This approach also provides performers an opportunity to render suggestions to the judges as to how judging criteria can be improved for future events.

Sufficient time between acts will be provided to allow the judges to adequately evaluate and rate each performance and to provide appropriate comments. The MC at a contest, will be prepared to occupy the audience between acts and while the judging sheets are being completed.

Appearance: Personal appearance, with emphasis on costuming, apparel and grooming. The contestants costume shall be appropriate to the act.

Stage Craft: The appearance and handling of the apparatus, special lighting effects, use of the microphone as well as stage technique, movement on stage, use of stage space, etc.

Stage presence/Audience appeal: Was the contestant comfortable, at ease and confident? Was the performer able to hold the audience's attention? Does the contestant control the show?

Ability and Technique: The dexterity and extra skill used in performance. Was the audience surprised? Was the technique concealed in the delivery or by the use of misdirection? Where there any errors or flashes? How well did the performer handle technical difficulties or mistakes?

Presentation: Was the act routined? Was there a theme or continuity to the program? Choice of material, handling of the props, and/or assistants, use of the available stage space?

Entertainment Value: This is the most important of all the qualities because a performer could be "Perfect" in all other criteria and fall short on having an entertaining act. Was the reaction spontaneous and/or prolonged? Was the response appropriate to the situation?

Originality: Was there originality in effect, method, or presentation? Covers standard as well as novelty presentations, new principles, concepts, or ideas displayed in the act.

Time: One ranking point will be deducted for each 30 seconds above the performer's allotted eight minute maximum.

Rating Method: Contestants will be evaluated individually, in each of the above categories using a 10 point rating system as follows:

1. Bad
2. Very Poor
3. Poor
4. Mediocre
5. Fair
6. Good
7. Very Good
8. Excellent
9. Outstanding
10. Perfection

Multiplier: Scores in each category are muliplied by a multiplier to achieve an overall score. Those mulipliers are:

• Appearance (x 1)
• Stage Craft (x 2)
• Stage presence / Audience appeal (x 2)
• Ability and Technique (x 3)
• Presentation (x 4)
• Entertainment Value (x 5)
• Originality (x 2)
• Time (x 1)

Judges should offer constructive commentary to entrants, give them feedback of what, in the judges estimation, the entrant did well or not so well and explain the scoring given. The post event workshops provide an opportunity to expand upon comments made during the contest.