Updates on the Constitution, our Fundraiser and more: 

Greetings Ring 17!

The Christmas season is upon us and some of you may already be in holiday mode. If so, enjoy. It’s a crazy time of year and I trust you’re all staying safe.
 
Big news! A special thank you to everyone involved in the annual HnR fundraiser this year - from performers to donors to editor and emcee. We surpassed the $10,000 mark on funds raised for the Daily Bread Food Bank. Wow! So amazing. They are thrilled. Thanks to a $3,500 donation from Magicana we crossed the line just yesterday. The board so appreciates their support.
 
A newly written and edited constitution has been posted online here. It’s been recommended and approved by the board, survived a town hall meeting where we had some excellent and robust conversation, edits have been made and now we’re waiting for your vote. Please also see the video of Ian Crawford giving us a few highlights.

TO VOTE: A simple email back to me at david@sochange.ca with a yes or no and a subject line reading “New Constitution Vote”, will suffice. We would be incredibly grateful if all of our active members would take a moment to share their vote. Thank you!
 
If you have a few minutes, be sure to head to the new club website. Thanks to Patrick Nemeth for the new design and be sure to have a listen to Under the Hat. It’s Ring 17’s new podcast. An interview with Lawrence Hass on his recent book about Eugene Burger and many other bits of business will soon be live.
 
Stephen Kirkegaard recently recommended I pick up Confessions of a Conjuror by Derren Brown. It’s a good read. Brown writes, “The single most valuable human trait, the one quality every school child and adult should be taught to nurture, is, quite simply, kindness.” It’s a thoughtful reminder. Days after finishing Brown’s book I read a lovely piece in the October Linking Ring and learned that kindness was a philosophy that complimented David Devant’s public and private life. He practiced it in spades, as John Fisher reminds us in the article All Done By Kindness. Devant redefined what was magically possible in his day and yet his technique went far beyond the theatre. His craft was informed by the practice of treating others with compassion and respect. Kindness will flow from that, and I’d like to think that Ring 17 is working within a similar worldview. I trust we can make it more of a part of what we do together as we serve our community.
 
As we move into the season, as uncertainty lies ahead for many about health, family and personal issues, of one kind or another, may we remember that paying it forward and working in kindness is an marvelous way to build relationships with each other as we do our best to get out of our own backyards.
 
I’ve been fortunate to do three live shows this month and was even able to work in a few new bits. I’ll admit that my pocket management has suffered significantly as a result of being away from the real world for so long, but it really was great to be back on stage.
 
At this holiday time of giving and receiving may we all remember to err on the side of generosity and continue to practice kindness, on and off the stage. 
 
Happy holidays.
 
David
 
P.S. Please vote now!