ALLEY OFFICERS FOR 2005 - 2006

PRESIDENT:------Mary Ellen "Delight" Sheehan - 603-772-0029
VICE PRES:------- Alan "Alley-oop" Flagg --------- 978-454-5991
TREASURER:----- Dave "TOPPER" - Anderson -- 603-382-4426
SECRETARY:----- Barbara Novak ------------------     603-926-0558
SGT-AT-ARMS:--- Brian "Nutty" Hills --------------   978-828-6174

THIS MONTH
Christmas Party

with Yankee Swap

If you would like to participate

bring a $10 wrapped clown-related gift.

Please see note at end of Delight's Ringside Chat.

Holiday Routines

& Balloons

Great demos by attendees with learning opportunities for all.

Seasons Greetings:

to Pounds of Clowns, Clown Families and Friends of the Alley.

May your holiday traditions be filled with grace and laughter.

Some years getting to grace and laughter is more difficult than others. Life is filled with change. Some change is good; some is totally unwanted.  We all hope to accept change with grace and laughter.  When I look back on the transformation I have been through in the last few years, one of the things that clowning has really helped me to overcome is the sadness I used to feel during the holiday season. I just hated the holidays.  My family had changed so much, my kids were grown, all the holiday stuff just made me tired.

As I grew in clowning, I began reading the Christmas story at a local day care as Mrs. Claus and was hired as Delight to twist balloons at holiday events. I became a part of other people’s holiday celebrations and I found my way back to the wonder of my own holiday.  Clowns and Christmas characters help renew the hopes and dreams of the people around us by being the larger than life players that stand for laughter in world!  It is awesome!

Now I love the holidays, the music, the shopping, the lights, the parties, the sappy Christmas movies, even the Visa bill.  It is all okay and wonderful.  My family and friends are the lights in the cold dark winter sky.

May life’s changes bring grace and laughter to each of you.

Bump a nose,

Mary “Delight” Sheehan  

*********************************************************************

About the Yankee Swap:

(If there is any grace and laughter left after a Yankee swap it probably means we did it wrong. We have had some hilarious Yankee swaps in the past at Pounds of Clowns. No one is under any obligation to take part in the Yankee Swap, but if you would like to take part and cannot afford a $10 clown-related gift, please let me know and one will be provided for you.)

1. Delight and Topper reminded everyone that on December 17th there will be a Christmas party for the children of Air National Guard families who have a loved one deployed.  The party will be at the Portsmouth VFW at noon and will have a circus theme.  In light of that theme, as many members as possible from Pounds of Clowns are encouraged to attend in clown or suitable seasonal attire.  Santa Claus will be the STAR of this party.

2. There was much discussion about getting talent to present at our monthly meetings.  The following suggestions (among others) were offered:

*Royal- his birthday show as soon as his schedule permits
* Charlie Fogarty - balloon lecture - January 2006
* Sandy Snay - those who attended her recent workshop attested to how much you can learn 
* Eddie Gardiner - take a busload to Peabody - February?
* Wayne from Maine
* Cheerio told us that Granite State will be having Mr. Rainbow and Mama Clown at their     alley in the fall and will probably make the meeting available to other alleys.    

3. Alan Flagg reported that he had played Dame Edna in a benefit for children infected with or affected by AIDS.

4. Charlie Fogarty said that seeing Topper perform magic at Alley 54 was "mind blowing."

Alley 54
meets 2nd Tuesday
First Baptist Church, Salem MA 7:30 pm
Hap’s Alley
meets 1st Monday
Bagnall School, Groveland, MA 7:00 pm
Granite State Clowns
meets 4th Monday
 Salvation Army, Nashua NH 7:00 pm
The Society of American Magicians
meets 1st Wed.
First Baptist Church, Salem MA. 7:30 pm
South Shore Joeys
1st and 3rd Monday
Abington First Baptist Church 7:30 pm

Links to these Alley's  web sites
are on our site under LINKS
Why not visit a new alley and represent us!

If you are interested in 
magic, balloons, juggling, or clowning in general, 
Come on down to Epping
We would love to see you there!