Minutes of April 2010 Meeting
April 18, 2010

The April Meeting of I.B.M. Ring 362 was held at Happy China Buffet in Bangor, Maine, on April 18, 2010, at 3:00 pm. The theme of the meeting was the Elliott Card Challenge. Please see the Ring Report for details.

President Geoffrey Miller 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.

The minutes for the March meeting were approved without amendment.

President Geoffrey Miller reported that the balance in the old Ring account at Machias Savings Bank was $1750.00. He wrote a check to "I.B.M. Ring 362" for $1700.00 and gave it to Treasurer Prashant Srivastava for deposit in the new account at Key Bank. The balances at Key Bank were not available. Members voted to approve the Treasurer's Report.

In Old Business, the President called for the payment of 2010 dues. The Treasurer reported that no additional members had renewed memberships by mail. Brian Rodgers, Aubrey Smith, and Wes Booth were dropped as members. The Board had earlier appointed Danny Baker as Sergeant At Arms to serve the remainder of the term vacated by Brian Rodgers.

In Old Business, Contest Official Paul Szauter invited members to compete in the fourth annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition, scheduled for Saturday, May 15 at 7:00 pm at Next Generation Theatre in Brewer. The performance will be open to the public, with general admission tickets at $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. The Ring will receive 50% of the gate. Contestant Brother Don Paul tossed three coins six times to determine his placement in the order of performance using the I Ching.

Contest Official Paul Szauter reviewed the registration requirements. Most importantly, performers must send their music on CD to Paul Szauter as soon as possible. He reviewed the dimensions of the stage, viewing angles, and conditions backstage, which have been presented in The Rapping Hand and in the Technical Requirements page on the Ring website. Brother Don Paul requested a spoken introduction, and Paul made it clear that spoken introductions would not count against the ten minutes given to each performer.

Dr. Wilson will be teaching a magic class at Next Generation Theatre at 2:00 pm on May 15 in order to generate interest in the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition.

In Old Business, President Geoffrey Miller reported that the Nate Leipzig Close-up Magic Contest would be held at Next Generation Theatre in September. Geoffrey Miller will be the Contest Official, who in this case is permitted to compete.

In Old Business, Danny Baker reported that he has been discussing with the Bangor Public Library the scheduling of the Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest. The contest will be held in the late afternoon on a weekday in the early part of November. Paul Szauter is the Contest Official.

In New Business, the President reviewed the calendar for 2010, calling for additional themes and Teaching Tables. There are currently no plans for a regular Ring meeting in May; the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition is scheduled for Saturday, May 15, at the Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, with Paul Szauter as the Contest Official. The theme of the June meeting is Magic from DVDs. The theme of the July meeting is Magic of the Mind with Prashant Srivastava as Theme Leader. The theme of the August meeting is Ball Magic, with Professor Miller as Theme Leader. Dr. Wilson will lead the theme of Paper for the September meeting. Danny Baker will lead the theme of Show Me the Funny for the October meeting. The ever-popular theme of Turkeys will return for the November meeting. No Teaching Tables are currently scheduled; members were encouraged to develop Teaching Tables, which need not match the meeting's theme.

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