APRIL NEWSLETTER POUNDS OF CLOWNS

`MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 292 Newton NH 03858
Next meeting:Monday, April 10 7:00pm at Shorty's Mexican Roadhouse Rte 101 Bedford NH (603) 472-3656 .	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 "Puzzled"Novak ------- 603-926-0558 SGT-AT-ARMS:--- Brian "Nutty" Hills -------------- 978-828-6174
THIS MONTH: Dave “Topper” Anderson has invited Pounds of Clowns to visit him at work! We have accepted. April's meeting will be held at Shorty’s Mexican Roadhouse in Bedford NH. on RTE 101 Phone: (603) 472-3656 . Please meet at the Epping Library at 6:30 to drive there together or we will see you there.	LAST MONTH: “Games Night” Mary regaled us with suggestions for entertaining all ages Case in point: 25 piece puzzles designed for ages 3-7 kept ten adults occupied and laughing for several minutes while they tried to assemble the puzzles with non-dominant hand and without touching any but the five pieces assigned to them.What a hoot!
Notes from the March meeting Regular Business Treasurer's report - Treasurer not present. A member suggested that he e-mail the report to the President when he knows he will be unable to attend. Secretary's report - accepted as read. Old Business Annual Report - President reported she has submitted Alley annual report to COAI. New member - Terry Cheek, introduced himself and said he had been sent to the alley by Judy Johnson with whom he works. Red Nose Relief - Members were reminded that this effort is available to clowns who are interested in assisting with disaster relief. (Ed. note: there is a write up in this month's "Calliope.") Clown Day - Remember the date: Saturday, June 24 at the Epping Library. New Business Alley basket contribution - Mary told the group that Judy Johnson was putting together a basket from the Northeast region that will be auctioned off at convention. Allen's comment: "A tisket, a tasket, the northeast will do a basket." Mary requested approval for an alley contribution to the basket. Approval was granted. It's a good thing because Mary had already purchased three adorable Melissa and Doug puppets - a fireman, policeman and doctor. Somersworth Children's Festival - The alley received notification that the festival will be held June 17th. Someone suggested that Milton might be interested in doing it. Sunshine Jay is recovering - again! Hi Jay, we hope you are doing better. Show & Tell Mary shared a fabulous "electric" light bulb that lights up with no apparent source of current. Alley-Oop showed his stickers and coloring pages. *Brian exhibited a huge bird and alligator that he is hoping to use as either puppets or costumes. He found them at Building 19.
DELIGHT’s Ringside chat Happy April to all the Pounds of Clowns members, clown families and friends of the Alley. We are in the season of growing. Everything I wanted to say for this month of planting has been said in an excellent way by Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Zen Master, in his book: Peace Is Every Step: "When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change." And from the pen of Mary “Delight” Sheehan, comes this one thought to “grow on”! Better people make better Clowns! See you at the Dave Anderson Invitational at Shorty’s in Bedford! Bump a Nose oxoxo Mary “DELIGHT” Sheehan
Did you know about these meetings?: Alley 54 2nd Tuesday First Baptist Church Salem MA 7:30 pm Hap’s Alley 1st Monday Bagnall School Groveland, MA 7:00 pm Granite State Clowns 4th Monday Salvation Army Nashua NH 7:00 pm The Society of American Magicians 1st Wed.First Baptist Church Salem MA 7:30 pm South Shore Joeys 1st and 3rd Mondays Abington First Baptist Church 7:30 pm	If you missed last month, don’t miss us again! If you are interested in magic, balloons, juggling, or clowning in general, Come on down to Epping We would love to see you there!