President [email protected]

It is a thrill to be writing my first newsletter column as the newly-elected president of IBM Ring 280 – The Mark Wilson Ring! After serving as vice-president for two years, I have a good understanding of how much added work this position requires, but I felt that it was time for me to try to step up and do more for the Ring. Thank you to everyone who voted at the May meeting, and thank you also to the other Ring Officers and Board Members who were willing to stand for election and will be contributing some of their valuable time over the next 12 months. We are extremely fortunate to have not one, not two, but three(!) former Ring 280 presidents serving on our new Board! Each of them brought their own strengths and ideas to the Ring, and I was privileged to serve as VP under two of them (Steve S. and Bob T.). Along with their continuing counsel, I am also especially lucky to have Brian Hoffman as my/our vice-president. As most of you already know, Brian is a constant source of creative ideas, and so knowing that he would be there to help keep this newbie-Prez from stepping off of a cliff had a lot to do with my willingness to run for this position. I would be negligent to not point out that we are also fortunate in having the current PCAM president Raul

Fernandez on our Board. Many ‘props’ also to Dave Norman and Mark Wray, who have graciously agreed to continue doing the club’s essential “dirty work” as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. With continuing Board Members Everett and Shawn, and new Board Member John Evans added into the mix, I believe that the Ring leadership team has all of the necessary ingredients for a very successful year! Together with the Board, I’m hoping that we will be able to craft a blend of traditional Ring 280 meeting segments/activities with a sprinkling of the newer ideas that we have ‘test driven’ in recent years. We will also be factoring the results of the membership survey we conducted earlier this year into our meeting planning. The key goal is to try to ensure that Ring membership and each monthly meeting offer value to the full spectrum of our members, from true beginners to serious amateurs to our working semi-professionals. Keeping both ends of this spectrum actively engaged presents quite a challenge… in addition to the broader challenge of declining membership being faced today by ALL types of clubs and fraternal organizations! In 2014 and 2015, I attended two Magic Club Summit events in Las Vegas that were organized by the SAM to openly address and dialog about these challenges being faced by virtually all magic clubs today. The events, which also included a strong IBM presence, featured active workshop activities and discussion on various topics, along with talks by well-known performers who believe in the value of magic clubs, including Jeff McBride, Jamie D. Grant, Stan Allen, and Brian Brushwood. I will be sharing some of the insights gained at these summit

FRED continued on page 3

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The Monthly Conjurer The Monthly Conjurer is a monthly publication of EDITOR: Dave Norman Copy Editor: TIM JENNINGS We welcome news, articles, items of interest, rumors and wild speculation, jumping to conclusions, un-credited opinions, and unrepeatable phenomena. Submission deadline is the 24th of every month. Contact us by mail or email: 24413 Denise Place Newhall, CA 91321 661-259-6109 [email protected]

We would like to encourage those members who will be supporting Touch-a-Truck to use the meeting performance time next meeting to rehearse/showcase anything new that they will be performing at T-a-T. We will also be announcing our next lecturer ... Who could it be? What more would you want on a Thursday in June? -YOUTH MAGIC MEETINGNo meeting this month

[email protected]

President:

FRED KING

[email protected] V.P.: Brian Hoffman Treasurer: Mark Wray Secretary: Dave Norman Sgt. at Arms: Bob Thomas Imm. Past Pres. Bob Thomas Members at Large: Everett Gomez Shawn De Cavia John Evans Steve Silverman Raul Fernandez Librarian: Fred King Newsletter: Dave Norman Webmaster: Brian Hoffman Email the Board: [email protected]

Everett Gomez 6 - 1 Tim Jennings 6 - 24

Is your birthday missing? Email us at: [email protected]

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ibmring280 Follow us on Twitter: @IBMRing280 or http://ibmring280.shutterfly.com/

Check out our Ring 280 website at: www.ibmring280.com

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What Day: Saturday June 4th, 2016 Where: Church of Jesus Christ LDS 15555 Saticoy Street Van Nuys, CA 91406 (come to the back of the property to find the picnic!) What Time: 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Bring Family and Friends - All are welcome!!! Please bring your favorite salad, side dish, or dessert. The Ring supplies hot dogs, hamburgers, vegetarian alternative, condiments, drinks and water. At 3:00pm we start off with food! Then we go on to an auction and a magic show in which anyone can participate. As far as the auction goes, you can auction off five lots (each lot can contain as many items as you wish). AND we will be auctioning off the MegaRita! (I, Bob Thomas, will be demonstrating it at the picnic!) This is a wondrous stage effect that is a lot of fun.

From 170 Freeway: Take Sherman Way WEST Turn right (north) onto Sepulveda Turn left (west) onto Saticoy To 15555 Saticoy on your right. (East of 405) From 405 Freeway: Take Sherman Way EAST Turn left (north) onto Sepulveda Turn left (west) onto Saticoy To 15555 Saticoy on your right (east of 405) Bob Thomas Vice-President Ring 21

Directions to the Picnic: (in the Thomas Guide Pg. 531 G4&5)

FRED continued from page 8 meetings in the months ahead to see whether any of the ideas resonate with the Board. Finally, please be thinking about how you plan to help the Ring support the Touch-a-Truck event on June 18th in Santa Clarita’s Central Park. Aside from the Holiday Hocus Pocus show in November, this is the only community fundraiser event currently on our schedule for the year, so please plan to give a little back for a good cause that should be near-and-dear to the hearts of many of our members: the SCV Senior Center. It only runs from 9am to 1pm, but we will need lots of help to put on multiple short stage shows over that span. Even if you only have one or two tricks that you are comfortable presenting,

and can only support for an hour or two, PLEASE let Steve Silverman, our Touch-aTruck coordinator, know when you can attend and what you would like to perform (just a general description is fine). This is a great, low-key opportunity to get some real on-stage flight-time with that routine that you’ve only rehearsed in front of a mirror! And if you prefer to just do some walk-around magic or balloon work, we can use that also! Please plan to help… we will make sure that everyone that helps out gets something to eat and plenty of hydration! Until next month…

Fred

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PCAM 2016 extends the discounted registration fee of $185 through July 19th, 2016 for Ring 280. Ring 280 members (and readers of this newsletter) can mail or provide Raul Fernandez their $185 check/cash, made out to Raul Fernandez, at the Saturday, June 4th picnic or Thursday, July 7th Ring 21 meeting, as well as by mailing the check to PCAM c/o Raul Fernandez, 436 Palm Ave. #304 Burbank, CA 91501 by July 19th, 2016. Registration must be via check or cash to Raul Fernandez to receive the discounted rate. This extended registration discount is not available via our website, and only via mail or in-person sign-ups by July 19th, 2016 with cash or check payments. PCAM 2016 features three magic theme shows including the Tony Eng People’s Choice luncheon awards show, nine lectures, and twelve magic contests for juveniles (7 – 12), juniors (13 – 17), and adults in such categories as Close Up, Parlor, Stage, Mentalism, Comedy, and Children’s Entertainment. Continue the tradition of Ring 21’s involvement in PCAM by being a part of magic’s longest

running magic convention from August 4th – August 7th, 2016 at the Grand Vista Hotel in Simi Valley, California. You can use reservation code PCAM 1891 for the hotel rate of $102 plus taxes by July 15th, 2016 by calling the Grand Vista Hotel at (805) 583 – 2000 or (800) 455 – SIMI. For further information regarding PCAM 2016 visit the website at www.pcam2016.com

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CORNER again. But wait, now there are two quarters coming out of the bill. Now the magi is really puzzled. He unfolds the bill to show that nothing is in the bill, and then he folds the bill up again. Guess what, another quarter comes from the folds of the bill. Now there are three quarters on the mat and nothing in the bill. The magi looks under the mat again, but finds nothing. Flustered, the magi looks at the audience, as if to say that he has no answer to this puzzle. He folds the bill again and, once again, another quarter appears from the bill. Now the magi is mad. Greetings my fellow magicians. You're just in time for my latest magic review. By George, I think you are going to like this review. By George, I know you will like it! In fact, “Bye George” is the name of the trick! The magi displays a dollar bill. (You know, the bill with George Washington's picture on it? Hence the name of the trick….) The magi shows both sides of the bill, to show that it is a normal dollar bill. Next, he folds the bill in half and then folds it in half again. The magi places the bill on a performance mat with one end of the folded bill facing down, as if he is going to pour something out of the folds of the bill. In fact, he then pours a quarter out of the folded bill. The magi opens the bill to show it empty on both sides. He folds the bill again, takes the quarter, and drops it into the folds of the bill. After a few seconds, he tries to pour the quarter out again, but this time nothing happens. The magi unfolds the bill and it is empty, no quarter to be found. The magi seems to be puzzled. Then a look of satisfaction crosses his face. “I know where the quarter is,” he says. “It is under the performance mat.” He lifts one end of the mat to show that indeed there is a quarter there. The magi takes the quarter and once again drops it into the folds of the bill, and just to prove that there is a quarter in the bill, he pours it out

He takes the four quarters and places them in a square on the mat. He takes the folded bill and places it on top of one of the quarters. When he uncovers the quarter, there are now two quarters lying on the mat. The magi places the folded bill on top of the second quarter in the square and when the bill is taken away, again there are two quarters lying on the mat where there was one. The magi does the same with the remaining two quarters and ends up with eight quarters lying on the mat. To finish, the magi unfolds the bill and shakes it to show that there is nothing in the bill and then folds it up once again. He picks up one corner of the mat to show that it is also empty. The magi picks up the folded bill for the last time and, wonder of wonders, produces a 3 inch quarter from the folds of the bill. This, then, is Bye George, a very visual effect and very entertaining as well. The fact that you see at all times that the bill has nothing in it is food for thought. This effect can be had at www.bobsolarimagic.com. It comes with a DVD explaining everything you need to know to do the effect. I hope you like it as much as I did when I saw the demo! To see the demo, go to Google and type in “Bye George magic trick.” Until we meet again, I remain yours in magic… The Count

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Your New 2016 - 17 Ring 280 Board of Directors

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Come Early to Our Meetings to Share Your Magic with the Club Kids As a fun way to give back to the Boys and Girls Club, please consider coming early to our monthly meetings. Arrive around 6:30pm and spend a half hour performing for the kids. They enjoy all kinds of magic, so bring something to share with them - it always puts smiles on their faces. Ring 280 Library One of the many advantages of being a member of Ring 280 is access to our extensive book and video library. Borrow for free at any time, but you must be a member of Ring 280. Visit http://www.ibmring280.com/library to view the collection. Email [email protected] to reserve an item. Ways to Earn Mark Wilson Bucks! Attending a meeting: $1

Volunteering: $15

Contributing an article to the newsletter:

$5

The Mark Wilson dollars are used at our end-of- year auction where you can use this scrip to bid on some free magic.

New < Ring 280 has a new a website on Shutterfly to share pictures with friends and family. We invite you to be a member of the site by signing up at https://ibmring280.shutterfly.com. Members can: 1) View photos from past meetings and events. 2) Post pictures from past meetings and events. 3) Download and print photos. 4) View the calendar. 5) Add comments to pictures, videos, and photo books posted on the site. 6) Post content such as pictures, videos, journal entries, news, etc. to the site. 7) Receive email notification when changes are made to the site. Now is the time to check it out at https://ibmring280.shutterfly.com. New! Download the free Share Sites iPhone App. Email Brian Hoffman at [email protected] for more information.

N

Road San Fernando

Jack-In The Box

ue Newhall Aven

99 c Store

Orchards Village Rd.

Lyons Ave.

Boys & Girls Club

Valley Street

Freeway #5 Golden State

(Map Not To Scale)

Dalbey Dr.

Going North on the Golden State Freeway (#5) take the LYONS Ave. off ramp. Turn right (east) onto Lyons and continue straight until you get to the signal at Newhall Ave. Turn left on Newhall Ave. (At the Jack-In-The-Box Restaurant) Continue several blocks north on Newhall Ave. and the Clubhouse will be on your left.

IBM Ring 280 “The Mark Wilson Ring”

… e u d r e v O w o n e r a Annual Dues