I.B.M. Ring 362
The Maine Mystics
Bangor, Maine

Minutes of May 2007 Meeting
May 20, 2007

The May Meeting of I.B.M. Ring 362 was held at the Friars' Bakehouse in Bangor, Maine, on May 20, 2007, at 3:00 pm. The theme of the meeting was The Mind of Annemann. Please see the Ring Report for details of the performances.

A raffle was held for a 1928 Thurston Good Luck Token from an anonymous donor. Matt Bennage won the raffle, which raised $31 for the Ring. Brother Don donated a copy of Anneman's Complete One-Man Mental Routine as a consolation Prize; Deane Stern won the book. Paul Szauter sold a dozen Bicycle 1800 decks at $5 each to benefit the Dr. James William Elliott endowment; $60 was raised for the endowment.

Danny Baker called the meeting to order. Sergeant At Arms Geoffrey Miller cited 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 Danny Baker called for the adoption of the agenda, which was approved without amendment.

The minutes for the April meeting were approved without amendment.

Treasurer Randy Von Smith was not in attendance, and had not submitted a Treasurer's Report.

In Old Business, the Brother Don Paul and Contest Official Kevin Roberge reported on the Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest. The judges are Alicia Anstead of the Bangor Daily News, Rev. Bob Carlson, and Stephanie Lanham, all of whom have theatrical experience. There are five registered contestants: Danny Baker, Conjuring Carroll, Professor Miller, Brother Don Paul, and Dr. Wilson. The deadline for registration is midnight on June 2. In the event that there are insufficient contestants to make a full show, Brother Don and Kevin will recruit additional performers who are not competing.

The All Souls Congregational Church will be selling tickets prior to the event; if the crowd is large, the space will be set up to use a small stage rather than the "parlor." The venue will open at 1:00 pm for performers who wish to arrive early to set up.

In Old Business, the Secretary reported on behalf of General Show Chair Randy Von Smith on the All-Star Magical Revue, set for July 4, 2007, at 2:30 pm at the Criterion Theatre in Bar Harbor. On May 1, the Criterion Theatre was sold to a nonprofit group, the Criterion Theatre and Arts Center, which intends to stage many more live theater events than in the past.

The Show Committee has prepared a tentative set list for the show as follows:

Paul Szauter displayed one of the two 4' x 6' sideshow banners that will be given to The Incredible Gill-Man as part of his compensation for the performance. He reported that the last obstacle to staging this act was making sure that the Criterion Theatre stage could bear the weight of the water tank and the water; the Criterion Theatre management and the Fire Marshall of Bar Harbor recently certified that the Criterion Theatre stage could bear the weight, as it had carried similar loads in the early days of the theatre.

Members involved in the All-Star Magical Revue so far are: Randy Von Smith (Talent Coordination & General Show Chair), Paul Szauter (Publicity and Ticket Sales), Geoffrey Miller (Stage & Theater Management). Also working publicity are Danny Baker (radio publicity), Dr. Wilson and Kevin Roberge (Breakfast Unit), Admiral the Clown, Professor Miller, Kevin Roberge, Dr. Wilson, Sue McClatchy (Parade Unit). The stage crew is: Randy Von Smith, Matt Bennage, Kevin Roberge, and Aubrey Smith. The Ring needs more volunteers for backstage work and the Parade Unit; members are encouraged to volunteer.

Stage and Theater Management Chair Geoffrey Miller requested that each performer send him a description of what props and equipment they will be using, especially noting items that must be moved.

Paul Szauter distributed a flyer with the poster artwork and a form for patrons and display ads for the program. The quote from Staples for 500 programs, four double-sided 8.5" x 11" pages each, folded and stapled, is $425, so at least $500 in ad and patron sales are necessary to make the program feasible. Additional flyers are available on the Ring's website as a PDF; ad forms are also available as a PDF. Ad and patron information must be received by Paul Szauter by midnight of June 25 in order to be included in the program.

The first publicity stunt for the All-Star Magical Revue is the Threepenny Magic Show, scheduled for noon on June 9 on the sand bar in Frenchman Bay near Bar Harbor. The All-Star Magical Revue will also be promoted at Legacy of the Arts in Bar Harbor at Danny Baker's show on June 21, Richard Merrill's Nasruddin show on June 22, and Miller & Wilson's Theater of Marvels on June 23, all at Otter Creek Hall.

In Old Business, in the absence of Kim Hawkins, there was no report on magic classes for SFOA in July.

In Old Business, the Secretary reported that the Worldwide Escape Artist Relay 2007 has 59 registrants from ten countries. The Criterion Theatre and Arts Center has requested one or more Halloween shows, so the Board will consider staging the WEAR 2007 show at the Criterion Theatre.

In New Business, Hal Meyers has offered to present a lecture to the Ring without charge. Ring guest Deane Stern spoke about Hal's history, and his own. The Board will find a suitable time for the lecture after the All-Star Magical Revue.

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