The July meeting of the GMC was well attended and the excitement was high as we prepared to host the 75^th Annual South Eastern Association of Magicians (SEAM) convention in August. We began with a Pre-Meeting Mini-Lecture (PMML) by Lee Cox on the Serious Work of Writing Comedy. Being funny (and original) can be a lot of work, but quite worthwhile. Thanks Lee, for enlightening us!

After a lengthy Business Session, where we covered the SEAM from top to bottom, and our monthly drawing (this month was a Charles Hopkins book donated by John Miller) we got down to the MAGIC! Mark Hatfield performed for membership. His beautiful version of the Linking Rings to George Winston’s Joyful was breathtaking! On a completely different note, Rich Mendel, assisted by Tommy Toucan (a bit of electronic wizardry, so real as to be lifelike!), named Sharon Hatfield’s selected card to the surprise of the volunteer and the audience!

Our Theme for July was "Star Spangled Magic!" Lynn Fox started us off by showing why he is a rising star in magic. Dan Garrett performed a patriotic card trick (yes, it can be done) with starred and striped cards, which formed a flag in the final revelation. He also performed a trick where a selected card was revealed after consulting the Jokers (not club members!), Sharon Hatfield’s birthdate, a favorite word, and the colors of the chosen card. Then to top it all off, the cards spelled out her favorite word (almost)!

Corey Huddleston performed a Stars and Stripes routine to Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever, performed by the Georgia Magic Club Chorale. We won’t be quitting our day jobs just yet! Howie Marmer sculpted a rubber band into a star, produced a sponge star to some very bad puns (which means they were very good puns) and produced a star spangled flight with the help of Daniel, a guest of the club.

Colm Mulcahy, who will be leaving us for a year long sabbatical did an interesting "take-off" on a news story from another continent with the help of Lynn Fox. No description here could possibly do this trick justice (or mercy!). Joe M. Turner violently vanished a picture of Osama and magically placed a flag where the picture had been. Joe was obviously trying to win the contest on raw emotion and patriotic fervor. It worked! Joe was awarded the Coveted Royal Blue Pen for his magic.

In the General Magic category, Ted Harty, the "pen guy" from last meeting proved his ability with cards with the able assistance of Rick Silver. Howie did some powerful (or forceful) magic with a Shoney’s menu and volunteer Lynn Fox. Craig Winkelmann ended the evening with an outstanding billiard ball manipulation. It was a great night of magic and fun for all!

If you are ever in the Atlanta area, we’d love to meet you! Come to a club meeting or e-mail one of us (addresses are on our website at www.gamagicclub.com) and we’ll let you know what’s going on!

Tommy Johns, Ring 9 Scribe