President's Corner
 

Seven weeks, that’s how long we have. TCA convention will be here in seven weeks from today (the 8^th).  Maybe if I keep saying that it will sink in.  I sure hope so there are so many things yet to do.

One of my to-do jobs is to ask all those who have not yet registered to please do so before the end of this month, the sooner the better, we are having trouble making final plans without knowing a total of people who are going to attend.  Along those same thoughts, if you are going to order a convention shirt keep in mind we are getting these off the internet and then the shirts have to be embroidered so it takes a couple of weeks to get them back after they are ordered, also if everyone waits till the last minuet to order the embroiderers wont have time to get everyone’s shirt done before the convention.  Please order and register now to give us time to make this the best convention yet.

Aside from the convention the Alley has a lot of end-of-the-year stuff coming up.  We cant forget elections are coming in a couple months we have a Christmas party to plan and awards to decide on, we’ve got a full plate folks!  There are a lot of elected posts on the board of directors that are going to be vacant this year, I hope everyone considers helping the alley and running for office.    

Alley 85 needs you…to help plan the Alley Christmas Party. Contact Buckle if you willbe willing to help.

Self Defense or CYCB (Cover your clown butt)

By Susan “Dubble Bubble” Keys

When you hear the words, self defense, many people think karate chops, leaps midair while kicking the assailant down, or jabbing the eyes of the attacker. But, Self defense is really about using your smarts.  It is a matter of life skills. Knowledge, awareness, appropriate behavior, and how to apply these things on the spot. Thinking on your feet.

There are many courses available locally for actually learning martial arts for self defense.  Attached are a couple of techniques, that if you practice them, and I stress practice they will be effective for you to escape from an attacker. The courses will give you a good feeling about taking care of yourself. There are web sites with a lot of info also. Check out www.nononsenselfdefence.com or http://users.birvary.netthomcat/self.html which is by the Nebraska Hapkido Assoc.

Now for outside the people world and into the clown world the techniques are different but similar. Try some clown foo. The most important thing to remember is defense. Prepare yourself for your gigs starting with the phone call. Let your client know that you are not a babysitter and you expect an adult to be present at all times.  If taking photos, always keep both your hands in view. For line control plan with the event coordinator on how they want to handle the end of the event.

My friend Lolly said you should just pinch the trouble makers!   I made up a saying so I could remember when I really fell like pinching them.

P is for Prevention--set up the event on the phone the way you as a professional with            your experience knows it should be set up (order of performance, location, etc)

Give the rules as you start the show. ie, I pick the children sitting on their bottoms..

I is for Involvement--involve the trouble makers/hecklers and even the adult talkers

N        ask Nicely for what you want  or need

C is for Chastising--you may need to step out of character when all else fails

H is for Halt the performance, and if you do, DO IT

 This is an ongoing and changing time for all of us. Have courage and stick to your beliefs. Share what has worked for you because believe me, one day we will all experience the same situations and can use some advice.

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DATE/TIME                   EVENT

Aug 20,  3:45-4:45p Camp Sol  Back to school event for surviving siblings of cancer victims, indoors at Scottish Rite Hospital.  Balloons & walkarounds

Sept 23, 8:30a   Dallas Heart Walk  The West End, Woodall Rogers Plaza, corner of McKinney and Houston, Dallas 

Sept 25-Nov 13  Clowning 101. UTA, Mondays from 7-9:30 pm.  See Susan Keys or alley web site for more info.

Sept 27-Oct 1  Texas Clown Association Convention, Irving, www.tca2006.8m.com

Nov 4, 9a  Walk For Wishes  Williams Square, Irving.  Fund raiser for North Texas Make a Wish.  Activities start at 8:30am, walk starts at 9am & has post walk activities.

Jan 14  '07   Clown Cruise www.deprimatravel.com

Feb 2-3  Joey To The World  Houston  www.joeytotheworld.org

Grenda “Poppins” Walton, a former member of our alley, is helping an “international pediatric AIDS corp” collect Beanie Babies and other small stuffed toys for children in Africa If you have any toys that you could donate, please bring them to the August meeting.