INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for April 2005]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
President: Ken Kern
Secretary: Paul Harnishfeger
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

Assembly 31 co-hosted Bill Abbott lecture with I.B.M. Ring 10. Effects included Mind Control, Buddha Paper Mystery, The Thing, Flash, sponge balls, and Chico the Minder Reader. This was an excellent lecture showing updated versions some great classics of magic.

The theme for Aprilâ??s regular meeting was â??Sucker Magic.â?? Bob Vasileff opened the evening of magic with Two Card Monte. Harold Barnes continued, assisted by Dee Saul, with a George Hample Bill Switch trick. Chris Henderson came forward with Nick Trostâ??s Australian Aces. Harry Riser, assisted by Bob Vasileff, then showed his working of Charlie Millerâ??s Dunbury Delusion and continued with Riserâ??s Spectator Shuffled Poker Hand. Ken Kern, assisted by Don Kuhn and Chris Henderson, performed a comedy Foo Can Funnel routine. Ken continued, assisted by Harold Barnes, with another comedy Silks to Shorts effect. Chris Henderson concluded the evening of magic with his rendition of T. A. Watersâ?? Pholder.

Bob Vasileff, Scribe

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for March 2005]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
President: Ken Kern
Secretary: Paul Harnishfeger
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

During the month of February, I.B.M. Ring 10 celebrated their 60th anniversary with a gala banquet and magic show. Assembly 31 wishes to extend our sincere congratulations to Ring 10 for this memorable event. Ron Trippel and the officers of the Gene Keeney Ring did an excellent job of organizing the event. Tom Jones and Rachel Wild provided the magic for all.

The theme for our March meeting was â??Patter.â?? Before the discussion began, guest David Ford was introduced. Members present included; Joe Fuller, Paul Harnishfeger, Chris Henderson, Ken Kern, Taylor Martin, George Notaras, Harry Riser, Dee Saul, Steve Spence, and Bob Vasileff. Many good discussion points came up during the discussion. I will attempt to capture and summarize these points and the member's performances will, in many cases, reinforce them. Patter can often be used to cover a secret move. Selecting a character to play while performing can be an asset to help produce the necessary patter. If one portrays a period character, a storyteller, a comic, an all knowing sage, or any other character, then this can be a big help in performing. Allowing ones imagination to run freely can also be a way to generate patter for a trick.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for March 2005]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
President: Ken Kern
Secretary: Paul Harnishfeger
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

Ken Kern called our January meeting to order. Guests Joe Fuller, Jeff Harmon, and Ron Trippel, President of I.B.M. Gene Keeney Ring 10, were introduced. Mr. Trippel shared Ring 10 plans to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

The theme for this meeting is Magic Expectations for 2005. A round table discussion followed with the following participants; Phil Dubbs, Joe Fuller, Jeff Harmon, Paul Harnishfeger, Chris Henderson, Ken Kern, Dee Saul, Steve Spence, Ron Trippel, and Bob Vasileff. The following is a summary of points discussed: putting a show together - reduce unused magic â?? inventory magic - focus on shows - group inventoried magic by category - continue to over come performance fears - look for mentoring opportunities - improve performance skills - improve movement from one effect to another - look for better ways to present an effect - improve concealing skills learned as a magician - learn Cups & Balls - become proficient with a Card Assembly effect - find better places to buy magic - be more selective in purchases - develop better patter to accompany an effect - explore the value of silent versus talking shows.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for March 2005]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
President: Ken Kern
Secretary: Paul Harnishfeger
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

For December, Assembly 31, I.B.M. Ring 10, and local S.Y.M. members sponsored our Christmas Banquet and Magic Show. Thanks to All Souls Unitarian Church, Chef Cheryl Kern, producer Harry Riser, and stagehand Bob Vasileff. Emcee Harry Riser opened with a comedy card trick where he predicted the selected card. Shawn Hull then excited the guys and gals with a juggling routine where each had to respond at the right time. Shawn borrowed a ring, caused it to vanish, and then it appeared on a plastic hand. Shawn ended with a lovely sponge ball trick where a mom and daughter complemented each other as sponge balls appeared and disappeared. Harry Riser then performed Acey-Deucey where twos, placed into a glass, are converted to Aces. Jerry Cassel then changed a silk into a cane, performed a comedy Lota Bowl, and then did Chinese Sticks and Sympathetic Silks. Jerry removed silks from a 24 inch tube, returned them, and then produced a 32 foot silk streamer. Cassel concluded by placing a red silk into a gun and magically sending it to an empty glass. Riser returned with a clever jumbo card trick where he divined the selected card.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for March 2005]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
President: Ken Kern
Secretary: Paul Harnishfeger
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

In November we hosted Aldo Columbini, who suggested that simple magic combined with selected moves provides effects that make for an excellent show. He opened with Joker Dilemma and continued with an assortment of great magic.

Bob Vasileff, Scribe

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA [Assembly Report for March 2005]
Harry Riser Assembly No. 31
President: Ken Kern
Secretary: Paul Harnishfeger
Meets the first Monday, 7 PM at Mystic Tai Lodge, SE corner of Illinois & North St.

We would like to congratulate Harry Riser for the honor bestowed upon him and Johnny Thompson by 31 Faces North for 2004. In September Assembly 31 hosted Carl Andrews for an installation banquet and show. Pres., Ken Kern; Vice Pres. Harry Riser; Treas. Dee Saul; Sec. Paul Harnishfeger; Sgt. at Arms, Bill Branson Jr., and Scribe, Robert Vasileff were installed. Thanks to Cheryl Kern for the banquet. Carl and Joanie Andrews entertained for about 40 minutes with effects that included a comedy Restored Newspaper, Cards Across, Cut and Restored rope, comedy Egg Bag, a Second Sight presentation, Bill in Orange, Watch Steal, Rocky Raccoon and Vanishing Bandana (Banana).