2007-01 Ring Report - Ring #170 - The Bev Bergeron Ring

Our Ring December Holidays meeting had a great attendance. President Harvey Brownlow brought the meeting to order . Many guests filled the seats: Jacki Manna's son, Justine, MJ Emigh's two young ones and other youngsters could be the future of our Ring! Also present, Sidney McWithey, Kirk Musch,Darren Castelle, Eric Zeliya , Nathan Kapp and Brooksie and George from Miami.

Lecture Chair Craig Fennessey gave us a preview of some of the exciting lectures planned for 2007. Jackie Manna gave us an update on old members Wayne and Marty Scott who now live in west Lake County. MJ Emigh spoke of the upcoming visit in Central Florida by Andy Dallas. and IBM Territorial VP, Steve Hart told us about the advantages of posting your magic website on the IBM server and getting the first hits when people search for "magicians".

The club election for the new officers for 2007 was put up to vote and elected were: Craig Fennessy, President, Chris Dunn, Vice-President, James Songster was elected as Director at Large. Returning to offices are Art Thomas, Treasurer, Dennis Phillips, Secretary and Charlie Cox as Sgt. at Arms. The 7th board member according to the club constitution is Stefan Bartelski, editor of FAMULUS.

The business meeting adjourned and we got down to the fun part, our annual White Elephant Gift exchange, coordinated by Jacki Manna. This is a fun club activity where everyone wraps up a "gift" of something magical worth around $15. Names are drawn from a hat and each participant gets to choose one of the gift boxes. The fun comes in when then have a choice of either keeping what they got or taking a gift from someone else! This is limited to 3 "steals" on a gift. Much laughter and expressions of loss follow these exchanges. The person who loses a gift gets to draw another unknown one. The final fun part is that we take a break and enjoy a few minutes of the food and drink and then have to actually perform the trick in front of the club.

The show combined performances with some of the newly acquired tricks as well as some prepared and polished routines. James Songster tried out an effect he just got where a signed note with a card prediction is held by a spectator who selects a card . That card's name appears on the paper ,in another mysterious written message ,while being held by the spectator. He found out the chemicals were a little out of date, but in his typical style, he made it a comedy hit! George Iglesias,a pro from Miami and new to the Orlando area, did some good card work with a spectator.He featured a false explanation of one effect with a lot of good laugh lines.

Ravelli did a nice job with a rope with 8 ends that changed to 2 ends and then his signature Fire Eating act. Young Sidney McWithey did an excellent routine with multiplying sponge balls. Nathan Knapp produced three kings from a deck and the spectator's chosen king was face up in the deck. Kevin Butler did the classic coin effect through the table where the cup covered with the paper napkin also vanished. Erik Zeliya made a silk handkerchief disappear and reappear on a spectators sleeve.James Songster, also a tour guide at Walt Disney World did an impromptu explanation of all the origins of the traditions we follow at Christmas.

The party ended and we closed out another year for the Ring. Good things are always happening in Ring 170.

Dennis Phillips