2011-12 Ring Report

President Craig Fennessey opened the meeting on November 16th with 19 members and guests present at the opening: more were to come as the meeting progressed. Paige Sessions introduced himself, as a guest and told of his interest in magic and a desire to join the Ring.

Annual dues have come around again and all those members who are paid up by the January 4th lecture, by Joshua Jay, would be admitted without charge.

At our next meeting there will be a Christmas gift exchange and participants are asked to bring a gift,
which will be opened when selected and available for the picking. A gift of $15 or more was suggested. Members were solicited to consider Board Membership for the upcoming year of 2012. This subject will be considered more thoroughly at our next meeting.

Several members told of their current bookings: Ravelli is keeping busy with appearances at the Columbia Restaurant in Celebration on weekends as well as the Marriot Courtyard and Royal Plaza Hotel in Lake Buena Vista. Joe Zimmer endorsed the Titanic, The Experience, attraction on International Drive which is expanding to include a Dinner Show. Mark Fitzgerald and Craig Fennessey are busy at the Hard Rock Cafe and are
joined on occasion by Wallace Murphy, who will also be travelling to Naples to fulfill a Corporate gig. Dan Stapleton is performing at numerous locations on International Drive during this busy Holiday Season. Dan Knapp will be part of the monthly show at Give Kids The World.

Bev Bergeron continued with his series of impromptu magic with a dollar bill production routine. He was followed by Phil Schwartz with Magic History Moment #35. Phil, accompanied by Jeff Pierce, attended a three-day Magic Convention at Brookledge, in Studio City, California, the home, between 1928 and 1942, of Jennie and Floyd Thayer. The Thayers built a Studio-Theater, behind the house, which opened in 1933. The home was purchased by the Larson Family in 1942 who still reside at the property today. Brookledge is a property with a great amount of historical Magic significance. As a result of his interest, Phil recently published a high quality booklet entitled The Story of Brookledge.

After a brief intermission the performances were initiated by Bev Bergeron who did a comical card effect. Richard Hewitt continued in the same vein with a variation of the Invisible Deck. Charlie Pfrogner, with help from an audience participant, illustrated his physic powers of prediction. Dan Stapleton followed with a demonstration of his Poker Prowess with three audience volunteers going against him with little success. Ravelli
closed the evening with a very entertaining performance utilizing coins, rope and cards. It was easy to see why he is a sought after performer.

Sheldon Brook