There are some rituals that have a comfortable feeling to them—especially if they are missing a few times. This was the case with Ring 21’s yearly banquet and installation of new officers. The Ring managed to continue having one each year (in spite of COVID and other interruptions) but the location had to be moved several times and it just didn’t feel the same. So it was with a good sense of comfort that members were informed that our familiar restaurant Taix was re-opening and happy to book our banquet for this year.
So on the first Thursday in October a group (almost fifty in number) met at this familiar (to most of us) French bistro to socialize, eat, watch some great magic, and meet those chosen to lead the Ring for another year.
Once we had all been served and all stomachs were satiated, our performer of the evening—the very funny and multi-award winning Robert Baxt provided a great show of some Classics and a few surprises. Those of us who are long-time members recognized some of Robert’s popular routines: including his version of the torn and restored newspaper, his rope routine, a charming version of the Professor’s Nightmare—only told with a story of the three children in a family, and his always hilarious version of Poe’s “Raven” —but aptly timed to a Linking Ring routine. Though I’m certain Mr. Poe spins rapidly in his grave as Robert recites his version, this viewer always finds it totally hilarious. And getting members of his audience to do some plate spinning is something only Baxt can get away with.
Robert (as is our ritual) did the installation of our new officers. Bob Weiss will be the new president, David Martinez will be VP, the name Gerry Schiller will ring a few bells as he continues (for who knows how long!) as secretary, Bob Thomas returning as treasurer, Wendy Sobel as “past president” and Louis Lave as Sgt. at Arms. Members at Large will be John Kowalcyk, Eric Fritts, Rachel Slocombe, Ellen Stein, and Manny Gonzale
s.
Once again Bob Thomas had produced some exciting raffle prizes (some courtesy of the late Don Kenney) and many of us went home with some prized “loot.”
And so we begin a new year, with many new members eager to meet the challenge of membership and to participate in a Ring that looks very different from what many of us “old timers” remember from many, many years ago.
It’s a future that looks very bright indeed.
-Gerry Schiller