2009-07 Ring Report Ring #170 The Bev Bergeron Ring

President Craig Fennessy called the June meeting to order and introduced the Ring officers to the forty-two members and guests in attendance. Craig mentioned that a Broken Wand Ceremony was performed for the late Carol Bristol, a past member of our Ring who passed away in June after a lengthy illness. Bev Bergeron reported that John Calvert was convalescing at his home in Bowling Green, Ky. John was taken ill in New England while on tour.

The Ring has planned several future lectures that will include a former member, Jon Armstrong, who will return home to Orlando and conduct his lecture for the Ring on August 4^th. Jon now makes his home in Los Angeles and is a frequent performer on TV’s ‘Masters Of Illusion”.

Ring volunteers have been performing for the children and their families at the “ Give Kids The World Village” in Kissimmee, Fl. Joe Vecciarelli reported that their efforts have been well received.

Phil Schwartz, our Ring’s historian, presented Magic History Moment #13 - a treatise of Floyd Thayer’s skill as a wood-turner and provided the membership with numerous examples of Ball Vases and Clingo Balls that Mr. Thayer produced in his time.

James Songster emceed an unprecedented number of entertaining presentations by members and guests. Keith Locke (Elliot Hitchcock) presented his “First Kiss” effect developed from “Room for Doubt”. A volunteer selected a vehicle and one of nine locations where he received his first kiss. A miniature Juke box was started and instructions as to moves around the nine cards on the table were followed and the location of the “First Kiss” was ‘divined’.

Guest John Donahue, who attended with his wife, Rhonda, displayed a scale model of his dream “Magic Shop” which he built and was enjoyed and admired by the membership.

Kerry Pierce won the door prize which was a DVD for the performing cabaret magician .

Following an intermission Patrick Oliver, John Donahue, Mike Martin, Mark Fitzgerald, James Songster, JC Hiatt and Bill Wortman performed entertaining and comedic card routines for the membership’s pleasure.

Charlie Pfrogner chipped in with a routine utilizing a large die card that couldn’t quite make up its mind as to how many pips were on either side of the card.

Leo Michaels demonstrated his skill in card handling, which in part won him a junior award at a 2006 IBM competition.

Josh Stenkamp performed a cup and ball effect with a double jigger and olive to the audiences’ delight.

Dan Stapleton closed the entertainment with a Max Maven “Kurotsuke” trick, predicting which one of six participant volunteers had selected the odd “stone”.

The membership was reminded that the Florida State Magic Convention would be held in Daytona Beach, November 6-8, 2009.