Hi, I'd like to introduce myself to the membership. I'm Jon Hughett and I'm your new vice-president of Ring 41. Thank you for electing me.

One of my duties as vice-president will be selecting the monthly themes for our meetings and setting the groundwork for getting our lectures together for the upcoming year.

I would like to put forth an open invitation to all of you, If you feel we've neglected a branch of magic you enjoy, let me know. If you would like to see a specific performer lecture for Ring 41, please let me know. I will do my best to accommodate you as a part of the membership at large. I make no guarantees, but I will place every recommendation before the board. Thanks again for your trust an electing me to one of the finest magic clubs around. I hope to hear from you soon.

And now our August meeting will be ...

—Dan Stapleton Lecture—

Mostly for the stage or parlor magician (although included are some very unusual card tricks), Dan has received rave reviews for his lecture. These notes are from his 2 hour lecture and is for those magicians who actually look for something they can USE....and they will. His candor concerning body language, using old "standard" jokes in ones routine (its OK sometimes), making sense of the tricks you perform (don’t stress over it), "projecting" when not using a microphone and how to entertain the whole room when performing close-up is a "must read"

...And lots of tricks to be learned and performed:

• *Impromptu Dancing Cane* Dan has used his method for 30 years and a fun story of how it was developed.
• *Plates* A card trick performed by members of the audience assisted by the magician standing at the far side of the room.
• *Stars of the Mind* Novel Mentalism with a diabolical method you will want to make up.
• *The 25 cent Flashpot* Developed for the Miss Florida Pageant and a magical way to open almost anywhere you perform.
• *Sweet Transfer* An "invisible" way to pass salt or sugar from one hand to the next
• *Flash Card Stab* An invention of Russ Walsh, Dans favorite, and a most theatrical way to present a card stab.
• *Ball to Silk* For the manipulator....visual and very pretty magic.
• *Silk & Rope routine* 4-Tricks in one with a silk and a rope
• and many more....

One of the effects is called Mass Communication. It is a Think of a Number effect elevated from a one on one effect to an effect used on a large envelope. This effect was published in The Linking Ring and is very clever! I personally attended this lecture in Branson this past Spring and thoroughly enjoyed it! Come and enjoy Dan’s presentation and learn something new you can use! 

As always, lectures are FREE to members of Ring 41. Cost to non-members is just $15. Remember, Ring 41 presents three or four lectures each year. Our local dues are just $12 (plus membership in the I.B.M. National). That means you get all of our great lectures for just $12 per/year. There is no better deal for magic lectures in the State of Wisconsin. So, if you're not a member, think about joining our merry band of magical entertainers ASAP.

Jon Hughett — Vice-President