Our Pre Meeting Mini Lecture this month was led by Howie (Howie the Great!) Marmer and the topic was "Sponge Balls." After a very clever routine, which included calling the sponge balls "clown noses," (which of course led to Howie asking a volunteer to pick his nose!) he taught us a couple of vanishes and other routining bits. He closed with tips for the care and feeding of sponge balls.

Our business session included the recognition of the Greater Atlanta Magician of the Year Ken Scott and new officers, listed above. Several Georgia Magic Club members are very busy lecturing, performing, and otherwise assisting other magicians around the country. This list includes Abb Dickson, Dan Garrett, Max Howard, Howie Marmer, Ken Scott and Paul Sponaugle. Congratulations to Joe M. Turner and David MagickSmith for winning first and second place in the close-up competition at The South Carolina Association of Magicians Convention (SCAM)! The door prize was a set of lecture notes donated by Scott Horn and won by Tommy Johns.

After delicious snacks provided by Colm Mulcahy and the recognition of Dale Adamson’s birthday we started the MAGIC! The January theme, since it is a new year, was "Out with the Old, In with the New: Farewell or Debut Magic." The idea was to perform something you have never done before OR something you are performing for the last time. (A few of the routines may have fit both categories!)

Tommy Johns started things off by naming a card selected by volunteer and frequent guest James Smith. Strangely enough the name of the card was also James! James assisted Howie Marmer with a startling, though somewhat lengthy card revelation. We love guests! They make great volunteers! Next, Rolando Santos performed a wonderfully told story/routine, helping volunteer Matt MacElhanon gain entrance to Hogwart’s School for Wizards. David Oglesby assisted Joe M. Turner in finding the only printed card in a blank deck.

Ken Scott amazed and entertained with a mental trick of EPIC proportions, correctly predicting the favorite animal, TV show and female singer of Rick Hinze, Christophe Fouquet, and Rick Silver, respectively. The use of music and musical clues added much to the presentation, even if the volunteers were not influenced by the subtle subliminal messages imbedded in the music. Lynn Fox’s heartwarming story about his grandmother’s thimble and the way love works left not a dry eye in the room. After regaining his composure, VP Joe M. Turner introduced Dale Adamson, whose color changing bunny routine from the early 70’s showed that this trick should have been retired a LONG time ago.

In the General Magic category there were two performances. Christophe Fouquet used Rick Silver and two other Jokers to help him with a new card routine Christophe is working on. Scott Horn closed out the evening with a signed color-changing card and deck with the help of Ken Scott. This was Scott’s last meeting with us as an Atlantan. He is moving to San Antonio and will be sorely missed by Ring 9. Take good care of him Ring 18!

2002 marks the return of the Coveted Royal Blue Pen as the prize for the Best Theme Performance each month. This month the CRBP went to Ken Scott! Congratulations again, Ken!

Thumb Tip of the Month: Every once in a while, wash those sponge balls! Not only will it make your show more attractive, slightly damp sponge balls are larger and more brightly colored than dry ones, and present better for the audience.

If you are ever in the Atlanta area, get in touch with us and visit the GMC. We have a great time each month and we’d love to have y’all join us!

Tommy Johns, Ring 9 Scribe

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