I.B.M. Ring 362 The Maine Mystics Bangor, Maine
Home Archive Constitution Bylaws Policy and Program Manual Index to Executive Minutes Index to Minutes Index to Ring Reports Hall of Fame		Minutes of August 2007 Meeting August 12, 2007 Ring Report for this meeting. The August Meeting of I.B.M. Ring 362 was held at the Friars' Bakehouse in Bangor, Maine, on August 12, 2007, at 3:00 pm. The theme of the meeting was Tarbell Night. Please see the Ring Report for details of the performances. A raffle was held for a 1935 Tarbell System token, donated by an anonymous donor. Randy Von Smith won the raffle, which raised $20 for the Ring. Danny Baker called the meeting to order. He 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 July meeting were approved without amendment. Treasurer Randy Von Smith presented a Treasurer's Report. The Ring bank account has a total of $1319.22, with $318.00 in petty cash for a total of $1637.22. The Ring funds include a total of $370.00 in endowments: Elliott Endowment ($110), Ring Name Plaque Endowment ($140), Chung Ling Soo Endowment ($60), and Max Malini Endowment ($60). The recent change in the endowments is a consequence of a donation by Randy Von Smith of $220 to the Ring, after being reimbursed for $220 for parts used to build the banner stands for the All-Star Magical Revue. The check from the Criterion Theatre and Arts Center for the All-Star Magical Revue was for $868.50. The projected expenses are from the Executive Meeting of April 7, 2007.

Members voted to approve the Treasurer's Report.

In Old Business, the Secretary reported on a compilation of Charity Events for 2007. The Ring does not yet have a number from Scot Grassette for An Evening of Magic and Superstion, but it is likely that around $200 was raised for the Mountain Valley High School Class of 2009. Adding together the Threepenny Magic Show, the Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest, and the All-Star Magical Revue gives a total of $2,286.

There are two charity events in the near future. The Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition on September 8 is a charity event for All Souls Congregational Church. The next day, on Sunday, September 9, friends of the Town Hill Playground will stage a world record attempt at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. The attempt is to break the record time to lay a mile of pennies. Ring members are encouraged to participate in both events.

In Old Business, Contest Official Paul Szauter reported on the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition, scheduled for September 8. He distributed registration forms. Three contestants (Danny Baker, Brother Don Paul, and Professor Miller) received registration forms and cast coins for the I Ching to determine the order of performance. The order of performance is based on the based on the numbers of the hexagrams, lowest performing first. The numbers of the hexagrams for the three contestants are: Brother Don Paul (19, changing to 11), Professor Miller (62, changing to 11), and Danny Baker (64, changing to 35).

Brother Don reported that All Souls owns a follow spot and other lighting. Paul will provide the sound system, including pre-show music. To fill time between acts and during the judges' deliberation, the congregation of All Souls will provide musicians, both to perform during the judges' deliberations and to cover transitions between the acts. Ring members estimated that the transition time between performances would be on the order of three to five minutes, and that the judges would complete their deliberations in fifteen minutes.

The Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition is a public show with a Show Committee consisting of Paul Szauter (Talent Coordination and General Show Chair), Randy Von Smith (Stage and Theater Management), and Geoffrey Miller (Publicity and Ticket Sales). Ring members who are not competing are encouraged to volunteer to assist by contacting the Show Committee.

In Old Business, the Ring's first effort at magic instruction for youth produced a graduating class of 24 apprentice magicians at SFOA. There are photos and details of the final performances in the August issue of The Rapping Hand and in the Ring Event Report. Photos and a brief story have been submitted to The Linking Ring.

In Old Business, in response to a call for more Teaching Tables, Dr. Wilson is scheduled for a Teaching Table on Publicity at the September meeting, and Geoffrey Miller is scheduled for a Teaching Table on Coin Box Magic at the February 2008 meeting. Randy Von Smith was encouraged to give a Teaching Table on Prop Fabrication.

In Old Business, only one member of the Nominating Committee, Brother Don Paul, was in attendance. Brother Don Paul reported that the Nominating Committee had asked Geoffrey Miller to run for Vice President and that he had accepted the nomination. Three current officers have communicated to the Nominating Committee their willingness to be nominated to the offices they have held in 2007: Danny Baker (President), Paul Szauter (Secretary), and Randy Von Smith (Treasurer). The deadline for nominations is October 1. Members of the Nominating Committee were encouraged to submit a complete list of nominees at the September Ring meeting (September 16), to allow members time to prepare nominating petitions if they so desired.

In Old Business, the Secretary reported that the Worldwide Escape Artist Relay 2007, scheduled for October 27, 2007, has 71 registrants from thirteen countries. Local performers include Dr. Wilson, SFOA graduate Aidan Pasha, and possibly Danny Baker (not yet registered).

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