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I'm working on rejuvenating the local IBM ring which has fallen into a rut. They seem to have lost focus and many members seem apethetic. Another problem is there are no young people in the club. 90% are over 60yrs old and only 2-3 are in their 20's. I have a few ideas, but I'm looking into the resources in which to carry them out. I thought I'd post a few of my ideas and see if I can get any suggestions.

1. I'd like to formalize the meetings and membership somewhat to make member feel that it is special to belong. To do this I thought of coming up with lapel pins that symbolize the type of magic they do and the level. I'm relating this to my martial arts experience in that peer levels tend to group together and it is easily identifiable to whom to ask particular questions. To translate this for the IBM circle, lapel pins with different symbols. For example:

Beginner card magic: cards pin
Advanced card magic: ace of spades pin
Guest: white rabbit pin
professional magician: top hat pin
Members of the board: white dove pin

You get the point. My questions are, is this a good idea? Where would I be able to get the pins?

I also would like to have more formal ceremonies for when a guest formally becomes a member to welcome him into the group.

2. I would like to see each old hat take on one beginner apprentice. I think this would be beneficial to both student and teacher. I think this will help attract the younger magicians as they will learn something at each meeting.

3. I would like to get the group involved in working public events. I've been talking to the local movie theaters to allow magicians to perform for audiences to see magic movies (i.e., Harry Potter, Chronicals of Narnia, etc) Also there are community events to help charities and salvation army work. This gives magicians an opportunity to perform for the public and in some cases get paid. In other cases asked to perform for payment at other functions. Also it will possibly attract new members.

4. I would like to develop a "mission statement" so that the organization as a whole is progressing towards something. I would like to develop the organizational motivation to attend the meetings and participate.


I'd love to hear your thoughts or how other meetings are conducted and what you like best in your meetings that I can "steal". I really would like to get this ring rejuvenated before it falls apart from lack of interest.

Archimage

I think you have some great ideas there, the pin idea sounds good and the tutor + apprentice is great. I wish there was somthing like that where I live, as I don't know anyone who does magic that can help me with my magical learning journey.

For the pins try:

http://www.pinsource.com/

archimage wrote:I'm working on rejuvenating the local IBM ring which has fallen into a rut. They seem to have lost focus and many members seem apethetic.

Well done. I wish you good luck.

1. I'd like to formalize the meetings and membership somewhat to make member feel that it is special to belong. To do this I thought of coming up with lapel pins that symbolize the type of magic they do and the level. I'm relating this to my martial arts experience in that peer levels tend to group together and it is easily identifiable to whom to ask particular questions. To translate this for the IBM circle, lapel pins with different symbols. For example:

Beginner card magic: cards pin
Advanced card magic: ace of spades pin
Guest: white rabbit pin
professional magician: top hat pin
Members of the board: white dove pin

You get the point. My questions are, is this a good idea? Where would I be able to get the pins?

Having a pin for any society isn't a bad thing. We at the Ipswich Magical Society introduced a society pin a few years back and it went down very well. I am proud to wear mine.

Having so many may not be practical though. They cost is much cheaper deopending on how many you purchase, so by having so many different types could prove costly. If you found some you like already designed though, that may be a different issue.

Trying to work out who deserves to wear what pins and then persuading the members to wear them may be a problem though. I am not sure I would want too many on my own jacket.

It is a nice idea, I am just not sure it would work.

I also would like to have more formal ceremonies for when a guest formally becomes a member to welcome him into the group.

That could work - depending on how strict your entrance auditions are. I would say though that in England we are trying to get a little bit away from the Freemason type of feel to magic societies and to make them more accesible to more people. In the past one of the more common complaints was that it was all very cliquey and you had to be in the the in crowd to even be considered a member.

I accept that there are people around that would still prefer societies to be run that way, but my guess is now that they should be friendlier and more accesible. That is not saying that we let just anyone in, after all there are still secrets to protect, but I personally feel that anyone that shows a genuine interest should be considered. As I said. A lot of teh pomp and circumstance seems to be disappearing from many societies.

2. I would like to see each old hat take on one beginner apprentice. I think this would be beneficial to both student and teacher. I think this will help attract the younger magicians as they will learn something at each meeting.

It would certainly attract young members. Crickey, how good would that be. However finding magicians with the time to take on an apprentice may not be so easy. But if the scheme works - great

3. I would like to get the group involved in working public events. I've been talking to the local movie theaters to allow magicians to perform for audiences to see magic movies (i.e., Harry Potter, Chronicals of Narnia, etc) Also there are community events to help charities and salvation army work. This gives magicians an opportunity to perform for the public and in some cases get paid. In other cases asked to perform for payment at other functions. Also it will possibly attract new members.

Many UK societies have what is commonly called "At Home" events. This is were members of the society will go out and perform and the society gets paid not the magicians.

My own Society will do 2 or 3 of these a year, normally for a village hall that puts on the show to raise money for a chrity or even the village itself.

The cost is normally vastly reduced from what each magician would normally charge, but everyone benifits. The society gets money, some of the newer members get good real world experience, and the village gets a great night out.

Other places to consider are charity events (fetes etc) and old peoples homes...

4. I would like to develop a "mission statement" so that the organization as a whole is progressing towards something. I would like to develop the organizational motivation to attend the meetings and participate.

That can only be a good thing.

I wish you well in your quest and you may find that there is more interest that you imagined. There may be a whole new community of young magicians and to be honest, some may be better than some of the older members.