The Blackstoneian 
The official newsletter of I.B.M. Ring 200
Volume 4, No. 8, August, 2008 Editor, Eugene Raymond Soucek
SECOND ANNUAL POOL PARTY/PICNIC
SUMMER POOL PARTY/PICNIC
This month we are having our second annual pool party/picnic instead of our regular monthly meeting. It is being held, as it was last year, on our regular meeting night, and it will be hosted by Gene and Kathy Soucek at their home in Edison. All members in good standing are invited. Please bring your bathing suit and a towel. The pool is a heated pool, so even if the weather should happen to be cool, the water will be very pleasantly warm. Food will be typical cook-out BBQ food and will be provided by Ring 200. Starting time will be the normal 6:30 p.m., but for anyone who may wish to come early, you are welcome to arrive as early as 5:00 p.m. Since we are meeting at a private residence, we do not have to close up shop by 10:00 p.m. as we do when we are at the Community Center, therefore we can have our “coffee and”, right there instead of going to the diner. We can hang out as long as we like, and swim, eat, play, chat, and share as much magic as we can handle. This event will be held rain or shine. Last year it was rainy and cold but that did not stop the hardier members from spending a few hours in the pool.
DIRECTIONS TO THE SOUCEK HOME:
Address is 92 Leo Street in Edison. If you have a GPS you can skip these directions.
If you are coming from anywhere north of the Raritan River:
Take Route 1 South. Stay in the right lane and watch for the Edison Diner. Take the U-turn AFTER the Edison Diner. This will take you under the Morris Goodkind Bridge. As you come up from under the bridge there will be a Honda Dealer on your right. Make a right turn immediately past the Honda dealer by the U-Haul. That is Leo Street. My house is the big white colonial two blocks in on the right hand side at the end of the block.
If you are coming from south of the Raritan River:
Take Route 1 North. Stay in the right lane as you go over the Morris Goodkind Bridge. As you come off the bridge the Honda dealer and the U-haul will be be at the foot of the bridge. Make an immediate right onto Leo Street and follow directions to my house as given above.
If you are using the NJ Turnpike, take Exit 9 and follow directions above for Route 1 North.
Mapquest or Google Maps will also provide you with directions.
IBM-SAM CONVENTION
Last month the first combined IBM-SAM Magic Convention in 35 years was held in Louisville, Kentucky. The convention ran from July 21 through July 26. Some of Ring 200’s members were fortunate enough to be able to attend and I am very happy to say that I was one of them. Words alone cannot describe how great this convention was. There were 2000 magicians from all over the world in attendance. Everything was first class. The magic was to die for, and every show and competition provided mind boggling, awe-inspiring performances that made you sure that nothing else could top what you had just seen, and then it was.
The list of magicians in attendance included just about everyone who was someone in the world of magic, and at the risk of being called a name-dropper, let me mention some of the magicians that we either knew or were introduced to, or at least got to see in some capacity. The following is by no means a comprehensive list, but just some of the names that come to me right At this moment, and they are in no particular order either: Ali Bongo, Michael Finney, Michael Ammar, Max Maven, Mac King, Meir Yedid, Charles Gauchi, Bruce Kalver (SAM President for 2008), Jim Pace, Dave Williamson, Shawn Farquar, Denny Haney, Bob Little, Howard Schwarzman, Richard Kaufman; Norm Nielsen; Marcus and Angelique Steelgrave; Losander; Stan Alan; Simon Lovell; Wayne Dobson; Terry Seabr5ooke; Topas & Roxanne; Jim Steinmeyer; Silly Billy; Mike Caveney; Voronin; and many, many, more. If you are new to magic or just do not recognize some of the names, I highly suggest that you look them up on the Internet and learn about them. An informed magician is a good magician.
New Jersey was well represented by many members of both IBM and SAM local clubs. Some familiar Faces seen wandering around were, Dennis James, a.k.a. Coco the clown, Scott Leavitt, Dave Sharlin, Joe Sagarese, Norman Rosen, Doug Thornton, and of course, me! I know there were many more from Jersey but I was so overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of magicians in attendance that I can hardly remember who I saw there.
It was also a truly International Convention. Here is just a small list of countries that were represented by attendees and/or entrants in the competitions for close-up and stage: South Africa; Israel; South Korea; Japan; Germany; Hungary; Spain; Argentina; Hong Kong; China; Portugal; Switzerland; Mexico; England; Canada; USA; India; Hoboken.
Please contact Gene Soucek or Joe Sagarese if you would like a copy of the photos taken in Louisville.
SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR 2008
August 19th Picnic swim party at Gene’s house
September 16th - Magic Jeopardy
October 21st - Jim Angelo Card and Mentalism Competition - Show us your best card or mentalist effect or routine
November 18th - Lecture TBA / Nomination of Officers
December 16th - Holiday Party / Initiation Performances
We meet at: The Stelton CommunitWe Community Center, 328 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, NJ; on the third Tuesday of every month; doors open at 6:30 p.m. – Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to join us for coffee at the local diner after the meeting.
