I.B.M. Ring 9
Ring Reports
Our January meeting began with our new president David Smith leading us in a session of looking ahead at 2004. We completed a questionnaire designed to gather input from members about where we can improve an already outstanding club. Our business meeting included recognizing several past Magician of the Year recipients: Paul Sponaugle (2003), Rolando Santos (2002), Joe M. Turner (2000), and Bill Packard (1999) with plaques. Rick Silverstein was given the 2003 President’s award and received a special IBM Presidential Citation from David Sandy, presented by Rolando Santos. Rick is the webmaster for the IBM website www.magician.org (as well as our ring 9 site).
Following this and other important business, we got down to the magic. January’s theme was Old and New Magic. As always, this was WIDE open to interpretation! Walter Fields had a trick so new, it was still in the box. After Walter vanished a bandana (is that spelled right?), TVP Dan Garrett did a Barry Mitchell effect, The Mother of All Diamonds with Harry Potter patter. Tommy Johns decided to go with "old" and recreated the first illusion he ever performed for an audience. He started that first show 25 years ago with Clippo. Daniel and Howie Marmer wowed the audience with brand new card effects, and Joe Morrison found Kathy Hoffman’s card using an old toy with a new trick. Rick Silverstein’s new effect was the double discovery of cards chosen by guests Lori and Daniel.
Joe M. Turner’s version of the four bank robbing Jacks included the original way he learned it and a much improved, more magic way to do the effect. David Smith performed perhaps the worst Zombie routine in history to a magic parody of the song, "American Pie."
In the General Magic category, Joe and Howie dazzled us with some card magic and new member Justin McCartney did 3 ESP card predictions. After the votes were counted, David Smith won the theme magic competition and will receive a certificate and the Coveted Royal Blue Pen.
If you are ever in the Atlanta area, let us know and we can help you find some magic, magicians, or just a good place to eat. There is now almost always a weekly get together of some club members at the Angel Pub, and every week there is a magic show at Kennesaw Magic, a great new shop in the area.
Tommy Johns, Ring 9 Scribe