THE FUNNIES

Funny Business Newsletter
February 2007     Volume 17 Number 9
New! Meeting Place: American Legion Hall, 143 S. Lemon, Orange,
Click for map 
Next meeting Monday, February 12, 2007, 7:00 PM


Jeffrey in Stiches 

Jeffrey Briar has been a Yoga Teacher since 1976.  His greatest enthusiasm is for Hasya ("Laughter") Yoga, which he discovered in 2004.  He studied immediately with Sebastien Gendry (director of The American School of Laughter Yoga) in the Los Angeles area, completing their Leader Training in February of 2005.  Mr. Briar was so taken with the spirit and potential of Laughter Yoga that he soon attended the 7-Day "Certified Laughter Yoga Leader Training" with the founder and creator of Laughter Yoga, Dr. Madan Kataria ("The Laughing Doctor of Bombay").   Mr. Briar completed his Leadership Training in Switzerland in May of 2005.  He promptly started the Laguna Laughter Club; since June 21, 2005, more than 4,500 people have participated in laughter sessions.

A typical laughter session would include: easy stretches, breathing practices, and an assortment of intentional laughter techniques. These are simple to follow and very pleasant to perform.  The individual can choose their level of participation, from gentle to vigorous, and thus the experience is suitable for all ages and all levels of ability.  In addition to the numerous health benefits, laughing classmates tend to form caring, supportive friends
     When he was a teenager, Jeffrey Briar was a clown (and Assistant Ringmaster) in "Major Chumleigh's Amazing Traveling Cirus and Combined Pandemonium Shadow Shows" (California tour).  Later he was part of the Cock and Feathers troupe (somewhat-famous at the Renaissance Pleasure Faires, kind of  a "Renaissance Marx Brothers" act) and since then has done a lot of work recreating famous clown/actors Charlie Chaplin, Inspector Clouseau, and Stan Laurel.


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Wise Words from Wendy

We  have a great line up this year. Laughter Yoga is in Feb. thats free for members and 10 for guests. Members have to sign in and see if they are up to date. Guests must sign in before entering . Please tell friends about jeffrey Briar and his entertainer career and bringing laughter to  our  class , you dont want to miss this. look up www.lyinstitute.org and see what all he does. Thank you Paulette for the info on web site.  In March we have  Phillip Briggs who is a graduate from Duke Univ.Theater program and Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Clown College in 1988. His love for clowning has taken him around the globe. He, with his wife and performance partner Heide, is co founder of the Jumbo Shrimp Circus Academy which helps under-served youth of L.A. He is a director, actor, mime,  writer among other talents. Look up www.Jumboshrimpcircus.com and see more of his Bio. We will see a performance and he will teach us all something to better our clown skills.  Free to members only and 10 for guests. Let it shine, Wendy

 

THE BEARDED LADY?

Once a year my Sweet Arts of Orange County cake club sponsors an event at A & J’s Cake and Candy shop in Glendora.  They always have a theme.  My father “SNIKKERS” and myself began dressing in that theme.  Well, a clown has to be a “quick change artist” for any occasion.  This year the theme was NAUTICAL.  Since my father died a short while ago I am not in the “GUNG HO” mood so I decided to do something simple.  I would become a pirate.

A girlfriend and woman that I grew up with helped me with the beads in my hair and I made up a costume.  REMEMBER GOOD WILL!  I got a dark brown leather vest on a sale at Good Will for $3.79 + tax.  WOW!

And to those ladies who really want to make it “REAL” then do not buy a beard.  I brushed and brushed my hair and got lots of it into my hairbrush.  On the edge of my chin I put on the Jim Howell glue and waited for it to become clear.  I then took bits of the hair and “made a beard” out of it and stuck it onto the glue.  I then had to trim the bottom to get it even.  Well, it matched the hair on my head so the effect was REAL! 

On Saturday I had the beard up close to my lip.  It was hard to eat lunch and to eat at the banquet.  So when I “re-made” a new beard on Sunday for the same event, I left my hair down lower on my chin.  MY OWN HAIR made the pirate look very real.  But, WATCH OUT!  Randy in the club said, “Did you have a sex change operation”?

THIS IS JUST TO REMIND YOU TO “THINK OUT OF THE BOX” and who knows what ideas you will come up with to enhance your clowning and such.          - Pam House -

 
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COAI News by Candy

Hello COAI Members!

I hope you are considering the next COAI convention in Springfield Missouri!  Fishbucket, the president of the MOStuff Alley that is hosting the convention has so many fun things going on!  If you are reading your New Calliopes, then you know just what is going on.  BUT if you aren’t reading them, let me give you a little heads up…he is running a contest for those who plan to attend, you will have to read the last New Calliope just to see what the rules are, I can tell you this, it involves money!  He also is having so many fun contests and excursions when you get to Springfield, it will make your head spin!!  So make sure you read your New Calliope to keep up with the latest fun for our next convention! 

Also, if anyone is thinking how wonderful a clown friend is who happens to be a COAI member and feel they should be honored for their achievements, now is the time to check out “Clown of the Year” requirements on the COAI website at  www.coai.org  and start getting it together!  It is due by September 1St and time does fly…Planning to do some fun things during International Clown Week?  Keep records and pictures and turn your books in by August 1st to be eligible for the “Charlie Award”! 

See you all at the next meeting!

Butterscotch

COAI SW Regional VP and Junior Joey Chair
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Clowning Around


The Great Clown Adventure Feb. 19 - 22, 2007 Las Vegas 320-963-6277 or 800-973-6277 Or http://mooseburger.com/greatclown/gov.html

Earl "Mr Clown" Chaney and Jim Howle, appearing in San Diego One Day Only Sat, Feb 24 2007Call 858-450-1533 or email LoMax@lomaxandtango.com $50.00 in advance $60.00 at door.

WCA is having a conference March 11-15 in Fairbanks AK. call Myron Jackson 801-967-0075    

COAI Conv. in Springfield, MO.-April 24-29,07, Clarion Hotel- will talk more at club.

 

           Logo Red Nose Response

WITH MORE & MORE DISASTERS HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD, RED NOSE RELIEF IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER.

People may now think that because hurricane Katrina is over that “ALL IS WELL” and back to normal in Lousiana.  Top restaurant critics are now discussing all of the TOP restaurants that are now back in operation and they are rating them once again and talking about how people are back eating there and such.  All seems well on the home front. 

People are not hearing about all of the poor and devastated areas outside of New Orleans.  There is STILL devastation and people still need assistance badly. The RED NOSE RESPONSE clowns are still there helping out.  Look in your area to assist also.  Some of us clowns assisted near the end of last year at a Red Cross shelter in North Long Beach where a wing of an apartment house burned down and people were homeless.

Volunteers are needed in the various areas to make RED NOSE RESPONSE an even better organization nationwide (and some are working at it overseas also).  The volunteer positions that are needed are as follows:  1. WEBMASTER
2. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR 3. E-ZINE EDITOR 4. CREATIVE DIRECTOR
5. MARKETING DIRECTOR 6. CONVENTION DIRECTOR 7. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN 8.  PUBLIC RELATIONS CO-ORDINATOR.

Contact Pam House for information if you are interested in assisting in any one of these areas or getting involved on a local level with RED NOSE RESPONSE and I will give you the specs on what is needed.  My vitals are as follows:  (562) 431-5785 / klassyklowns1@yahoo.com.

 

Your Funny Business Board and Associates:

Wendy Olson "Wendy" President/Treasurer
714/524-2897 dolson970@sbcglobal.net

Stacey Anderson "BooBoo" Vice President
(909)496-8393 clowns4ministry@yahoo.com

Jackie McDoniel "Sweetheart" Secretary
714-636-7966 jackiemc@socal.rr.com


Send all Articles by the last Monday in the previous month to:
Paulette "Pom-Pom" Rosen, Newsletter Editor
and Webdesigner and Webmaster for "Clown Pages" our Funny Business Website
714/539-4472 pom-pom@ pom-pomclown.com
Funny Business Website http://clownpages.com

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