2013-11 Ring Report

President Craig Fennessey opened the meeting and introduced the Ring's officers to the membership at large.  He commented on the fact that next month the Ring will be nominating members  to serve on the Board in 2014 and give thought to serving.  Next month's meeting will be on November 20th and after a brief business meeting Daryl will lecture.  Craig paid tribute to John LeClair who recently passed. The Daytona Convention is coming up a couple of weeks and the members were encouraged to attend. Progress on our IBM Convention here in Orlando next May is progressing nicely.  The Master of Illusion Show will appear in  neighboring Lakeland on February 17 at 7:30 PM.

Guest Bobby Cassell introduced himself as a magic enthusiast and is appearing in Finding Nemo, The Musical, now appearing at a local Theme Park.  Kostya Kimlet invited our membership to attend the Halloween production, Magic Mansion, to be held   at the historic Dr. Phillips House on October 28 thru the 30th.

Phil Schwartz alerted the Ring to the Potter and Potter auction on October 26th of Magic Apparatus from the Bill King Collection in Hagerstown, Maryland.  

Bev Bergeron headlined his act at Wizard's Magic Theater in Kissimmee this past Monday. Mark Fitzgerald and Doug Otto continue to entertain at the Hard Rock Cafe and Ravelli is busy doing his Magic and Music at the Marriott and other venues in the area.  Not to be outdone, Jacki Manna has had a busy couple of months appearing at the Houdini Club and others in Wisconsin.  She is also busy locally with gigs at a Children's Hospital, McDonalds and  kid parties.  Dan Stapleton will be performing at a Holiday Inn in Fort Lauderdale, at a magic club in The Villages, and at the Rosen Center Hotel in November.

Phil Schwartz presented Magic History Moment #53 with a detailed explanation on   "The Seance".   Harry Houdini's widow, Bess, tried, unsuccessfully, to communicate annually with her late husband until 1936.  All her attempts with contacting "the other side" were futile.  Phil went on to discuss various methods of Spiritualism from the Ouija Board to leader assisted seances.

After a brief intermission Ravelli emceed the membership presentations with Bev Bergeron leading off with a card prediction routine.  Dan Stapleton brought the house down with a comical presentation of another card pairing prediction.  Newcomer Bobby Cassell did some excellent silver dollar coin handling.  Mark Fitzgerald showed the group one of his 'walk around' bits with a soda bottle and two bottle caps.  His presentation was flawless as well as entertaining.  J. C. Hiatt ended the evening of magic with his "Illusion of Equality", illustrating JC's masterful rope manipulation.