The New Calliope - May/June 2016

For Members of Clowns of America International 

May / June 2016 

Volume 33 • Number 3

Your COAI Officers 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

DIRECTORS 

President 

Glenn Kohlberger 

4155 Torres Circle 

West Palm Beach, FL 33409 

646.210.2238 (C) 

561.687.1126 (H) 

soundsfunny2me@aol.com 

Exec. Vice President 

Michael B. Cox 

9415 Alameda Ave. 

Richmond, VA 23294 

804.270.1165 (H) 

804.337.6143 (C) 

coaiexecvp@aol.com 

Secretary 

Dan Langwell 

54990 Ehman Lane 

Mishawaka, IN 46545 

574-904-9643 

laughingstockpro@yahoo.com 

Treasurer 

Paddee Embrey 

8387 South Carr Street 

Littleton, CO 80128 

503.949.3077 

coaitreasurer@gmail.com 

Sergeant-at-Arms 

Sandra Winstead 

11801 Riverpark Way 

Chesterfield, VA 23838 

804-350-3687 

strawberry.red1@yahoo.com 

Membership 

Teresa Gretton 

3411 Lisa Circle 

Waldorf, MD 20601 

301.843.8212 

gretton@verizon.net 

Education 

Jim Dixon 

5323 East Murdock 

Wichita, KS 67208 

316-871-6705 

jdixon2482@gmail.com 

Conventions 

Jim Caffrey 

PO Box 833 

Colona, IL 61241 

309.314.6026 

jclownus@yahoo.com 

Alley, Region Support 

Julie Varholdt 

4601 S Kachina Drive 

Tempe, AZ 85282 

480-838-7781 

lovelybuttons@cox.net 

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS 

Northeast 

Bill Le Blanc 

2 Dee Jay Road 

East Bridgewater, MA 02333 

508.378.1545 

bildabbles@aol.com 

North Central 

Judy Quest 

715 North 36th Street 

Omaha, NE 68131-1906 

402.551.4185 

dearheart@cox.net 

Northwest 

Pennie Smith 

6613 S. Prospect St. 

Tacoma, WA 98409 

253.241.1176 

penzfrmhvn@comcast.net 

Mideast 

Jessica King 

1017 6th Ave, Suite 2 

Huntington WV 25701 

304.542.6046 

gabbygayle2005@yahoo.com 

Midwest 

Georgia Morris 

4234 Woodworth 

Holt, MI 48842 

517.694.7100 

clownshananigans@comcast.net 

Southeast 

Dianna Hale 

1013 Way Thru The Woods 

Decatur, AL 35603 

256-309-1153 

dhale5@att.net 

South Central 

Lulu Mire 

946 Napoli Ct 

League city, TX 77573 

832-444-9959 

lucia555@gmail.com 

Southwest 

Lisa Ponce de Leon Terai 

710 Lukepane Avenue, #101 

Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 

808-271-4190 

lolly4upaint@gmail.com 

Canada 

Dale McKenzie 

867 Raynard Crescent SE 

Calgary, AB T2A 1X6 

403.273.9047 H 

403.606.7750 C 

funehappenings@shaw.ca 

Latin Countries 

Angel Morales 

24 RR5 Jardines de 

Caparra, Bayamon, 

PR 00959 

787.565.3205 

jobolin2008@aol.com 

International 

Ted White 

20 Maple Court 

Yandina, Qld. 4561 

Australia 

+61 7 5472 8018 

twaddles2014@hotmail.com 

STANDING COMMITTEES 

Audio Visual: Merilyn Barrett 407.844.2862 • klownkop@prodigy.net 

Budget Committee: Mike Cox, 804.337.6143 • coaiexecvp@aol.com 

Sandra Winstead 804.350.3687 • strawberry.red1@yahoo.com 

Paddee Embrey, Dan Langwell, Willy McGinnis, 

Dale McKenzie, Pennie Smith 

Bylaws and Rules: Mike Cox, 804.337.6143 • coaiexecvp@aol.com 

Cleon Babcock, Ted White, Jeanne Wosaka 

Clown Week: Bob Gretton, 301.843.8212 bunkytclown@comcast.net 

Competition: Cathy Mackey, (518) 784-2127 • ctots@aol.com, 

Pam Bacher, Bob Gretton, Cynthia Kella, John Kral, Bill Le Blanc, 

Walt Lee, Tim Laynor, Ann Sanders 

Ethics & Grievance: Paul Kleinberger 518.489.2680 

• fuddiduddy@aol.com Kent Sheets, Jeanne Woska 

Finance: Sandra Winstead, Chair, Paddee Embry, 

Dan Langwell, Mike Cox, Judy Quest 

Good Cheer: Fred Schlosshauer, 973.887.2617 • oscarboj@aol.com 

Historians: Walt Lee 410.551.7830 • wally788@verizon.net 

Teresa Gretton, Jeanne Woska 

International Ambassador Program: Bob Gretton, 301.843.8212 • 

bunkytclown@comcast.net 

Junior Joeys: Regina Wollrabe 503.807.2584 • 

coaijrjoeys@gmail.com, Kynisha Ducre, Paddee Embrey, 

Bob & Teresa Gretton, Willy McGinnis, Dale McKenzie, Cheri Venturi 

Membership: Teresa Gretton 301.843.8212 • gretton@verizon.net 

Willy McGinnis, Doug Munsell, Judy Quest 

Merchandise: Sandra Winstead 804.350.3687 • strawberry.red1@yahoo.com 

Parliamentary Procedure Advisor: Cleon Babcock 515.266.6530 • 

ccbabcock@aol.com 

Public Relations: Bonnie Love, 619.282.9668 • 

bonbonsandiego@yahoo.com 

Scholarship: Jim Dixon, 316.871.6705 • 

jdixon2482@gmail.com, Paddee Embrey, Judy Quest 

2 The New Calliope • May/June 2016

May / June 2016 

Volume 33 • Number 3 

Published by 

Clowns of America International 

The mission of Clowns of America 

International is to organize all members 

desiring to pursue the honorable 

profession or art of clowning and the 

dedication toward its advancement and 

the education of its members. 

COAI Business Office 

Post Office Box 122 

Eustis, Florida 32727 

Telephone: 

1-877-816-6941(toll-free) 

1-352-357-1676 

Hours: Monday-Friday 

9:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m. (EST) 

E-mail: coaioffice@aol.com 

Website: www.coai.org 

Magazine Production 

SPS Publications, Inc. 

Copy Editors 

Sarah Haines 

Beth Hammock 

Graphic Design 

Jessica Friend 

Bryan Conroy 

Creative Consultant 

Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe 

Publication Deadlines 

July/August 2016—June 1 

September/October 2016—August 1 

November/December 2016—October 1 

January/February 2017—December 1 

March/April 2017—February 1 

May/June 2017—April 1 

Send ads and articles to 

thenewcalliope@gmail.com. 

The New Calliope (ISSN 1072-1045) 

is published bi-monthly (January/ 

February, March/April, May/June, 

July/August, September/October, 

November/December) by COAI, Post 

Office Box 122, Eustis, Florida 32727. 

Periodicals Postage Paid at Eustis, 

Florida, and additional mailing offices. 

POSTMASTER: Send address changes 

to: The New Calliope, COAI Business 

Office Manager • Post Office Box 122, 

Eustis, Florida 32727. 

The New Calliope articles are protected 

by U.S. copyright and international 

treaties and may not be copied without 

the express permission of Clowns of 

America International, which reserves 

all rights. Re-use of any of The New 

Calliope editorial content and graphics 

online, in print or any other medium for 

any purpose is strictly prohibited. 

© 2016 COAI 

Clowns of America International, Inc. 

COVER DESIGN BY REGINA WOLLRABE 

PHOTO BY MERILYN BARRETT 

OUR COVER 

Group Photo of 2016 COAI Annual Convention 

HOW-TO 

7 Don’t Forget to Play Aurora “Bebop” Krause 

42 Balloon Art Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell 

46 How to String Your Clown Nose Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 

49 Get Organized with Miz Daisy Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke 

INSPIRATION AND HUMOR 

6 Circus History William “Peanut” Kauffman 

8 Junior Joeys Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe 

10 COAI Visits Children’s Hospital of Nevada 

Mike “Dr. Fun E. Bone” Bednarek 

40 First Parade Patricia “Pricilla Mooseburger” Manuel 

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

4 From the President Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger 

5 Open Appointment Officers Call Mike “Bonkers” Cox 

50 Alley Happenings Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 

NEWS 

11 2017 COAI Annual Convention 

12 More Fun Than Anyone Ought to Have Judy “Dearheart” Quest 

12 CHARLIE Award Winners Bob “Bunky” Gretton 

13 Outstanding Achievement Awards Photos by Merilyn Barrett 

14 People’s Choice Awards, 2016 Photos by Merilyn Barrett 

16 Convention Best in Clown Award Photos by Merilyn Barrett 

47 Clown Calendar 

53 The Last Walk-Around 

MISCELLANEOUS 

2 Officers, Directors, and Committees 

39 Our Good Cheer List 

51 COAI Registration and Renewal Form 

52 Formulario de Applicacion y Renovacion 

54 Membership Gifters 

54 Welcome, New Members 

Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 3 

6 

10 

16 

42 

46


Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger 

From the President 

am very proud to report to the membership of Clowns of America International 

I that our organization is on solid ground. We are in the black and continuing to 

move in a positive direction with new programs and projects—both implemented and 

on the horizon—that will continue to propel COAI forward, financially, educationally, 

and fraternally. 

We have successfully woven our web-based, Internet meeting software into the 

body of this organization with monthly meetings that truly are more productive than 

bi-annual face-to-face meetings of the past. This is saving thousands of dollars and 

keeping the direction of the board driven, focused, and forward-thinking. Using this 

same product we took the first steps into tomorrow with the Junior Joey program online, 

having them get together on a vehicle they are quite familiar with—the computer. 

(After all, just about every senior invites their grandkids over to fix that dang infernal 

computer, because that is their world, and the world of tomorrow.) Our Junior Joeys 

took to our Internet meetings like ducks to water. 

We also broadened that vision by bringing the first-ever Online Alley into existence. 

This prototype—COAI Alley #1000) has proven that people in areas that do not have 

a local alley or even one within a drivable distance, now have a place to go and share 

their love of clowning with like minds. The future of this type of alley is limitless. For 

example, International COAI Alleys could develop. Imagine sharing ideas with others 

from around the globe every month without a phone bill larger than our national debt! 

We are looking to broaden that vision, with alleys from countries around the world 

where they can speak to each other in their own language. 

We have given COAI members an insurance product that not only competes with 

others, but it has now become the leader where other organizations have recently 

had to change their product in order to compete with ours. But because ours is not a 

group aggregate, we can offer a full year of insurance beginning at any time during the 

year. Others only give a pro-rated or a partial year if you don’t join during one certain 

month of the year, because theirs is a group aggregate. Ours is not. 

We have a revitalized New Calliope, thanks to Sammy and Laurel 

Smith, that brings education, information, color, design, advertising, and 

just plain fun to the world around us—not only through the postal delivery 

system but now electronically as well, serving the world like never 

before. When in COAI history could a clown living outside the U.S. borders 

get delivery of The New Calliope the same day it hits the streets in the 

States? Yes, our e-membership has brought COAI into the twenty-first 

century, and this is only the beginning of what is coming next. 

We successfully put together and executed a COAI Board-run Annual 

Convention without the assistance or need of any external organizations 

or groups. In April at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, we brought in close to 

three hundred attendees, the highest attendance in years. 

Speaking of our convention, I would 

like to thank all the attendees—those 

who participated, competed, judged, or 

simply watched. We could not have had 

such a successful convention without all 

of you there. We have opened our doors 

to the world and have become truly international 

in more than just our name. 

A quick look around at the convention 

in Vegas revealed the diversity, a spectacular 

kaleidoscope of clowns from around 

the globe. Fifteen countries were represented, 

along with more than eighty 

first-timers. 

I would like to thank Angel Ocasio 

who put together our All Star Circus 

Revue on Thursday night. It truly was 

a cast of all stars, delivering lots of fun 

and laughs to our members. I would also 

like to thank Dave and Dana Hill for not 

only bringing the Bluzz Brothers to our 

convention Monday night but for emceeing 

the group skits, as well as helping 

us have a very successful auction, where 

we made $4,600 for our education fund. 

I would be remiss not to mention Mr. 

Joe Barney, who emceed not only the 

All Star Circus Revue and single skits but 

also brought Santa to Las Vegas. 

All the pieces of this puzzle did their 

part to make our convention great, but 

I need to thank the Board of Directors 

of COAI under the direction of Mr. Jim 

Caffrey (our Director of Conventions) for 


making this convention one we will not 

soon forget. We added People’s Choice 

Awards this year, which was enthusiastically 

embraced by our attendees and 

will be included in future conventions. 

(You can see the winners of the People’s 

Choice Awards on page 26. Please also 

read about the President’s Awards given 

to Sammy and Laurel Smith and to Jim 

Caffrey for all their work behind the 

scenes, helping continue to move COAI 

into the future. 

They say what happens in Vegas stays in 

Vegas. Well, I beg to differ, because what 

happened in Vegas will be remembered 

by all who attended. This convention was 

another cornerstone in the structure of 

the organization of tomorrow known as 

Clowns of America International. 

Programs such as e-memberships and 

membership scholarships—combined 

with hard-working international VPs 

like Ted White, Angel Morales, and 

Dale Mckenzie—has brought a true 

international flavor to the fiber of our 

organization. 

We have opened the door of tomorrow 

with each step we have taken today, and 

the fresh air that we are breathing is new, 

crisp, and exciting. I am proud to have 

been a part of it, and I am thankful that 

you gave me the chance to steer this ship 

for the last four years. One day I hope 

we look back on this time and space and 

see it as the beginning of the next generation 

of COAI. But even more important, 

I am truly looking forward to seeing 

what happens next. 

I have always believed that you should 

leave them while they are laughing. This 

job as President is like a relay race, not 

an individual marathon. I have run quite 

a few legs of this relay, and it has come to 

the time when I need to pass the baton 

to a fresh set of legs and let new ideas 

step forward. I have always stood as an 

advocate of change; it is time for change 

to occur once again. 

I personally have always believed that 

no President should ever serve more 

that two terms, and I have always tried 

to walk my talk. Ideas come from new 

places, members, and situations, and the 

more we hold on to what is, the more 

time passes us by. In the past, some 

Presidents would serve their terms and 

remain on the board for many years after. 

This is not what is best for an organization 

like ours. It tends to continue in 

the same direction, not evolve and grow. 

Board members look to the leader that 

was, rather than the leader who now 

sits in the presidential chair. Direction 

is important, but how the new board 

interprets that direction should be up 

to the new board. They are our future; 

they need to have their chance to fly 

on their own. Taking steps backward is 

never a path to the future. That being 

said, I’m sure my phone will ring, and I 

will always reply to my e-mail if asked. 

But tomorrow cannot begin unless and 

until today has come to an end. So we 

need to open our arms, our minds, and 

our hearts to tomorrow, because COAI 

is now firmly etched in that tomorrow, 

and all the future tomorrows. 

I will always be proud to say I am a 

Lifetime Member of the greatest clown 

organization in the world, COAI. And 

for the last time, I say, thank you, thank 

you all, for giving me the opportunity to 

serve for the last four years (two terms) 

as your President. Let’s lift a glass to 

the vision of the future that we all have 

made. TNC 

Open Appointment 

Officers Call 

By Mike Cox 

Executive Vice President 

COAI has three (3) offices declared 

vacant and up for appointment. These 

positions (offices) are: South Central 

Regional Vice President, North Central 

Regional Vice President, and Northwest 

Regional Vice President. These positions 

represent COAI within these geographical 

regions. Candidates for Regional Vice 

President (RVPs) must reside fulltime 

in the region they represent. RVPs work 

with existing alleys in planning, organizing, 

and staging of regional conventions; 

assist with membership concerns; and 

oversee the administration of all COAI 

programs. They are required to report regional 

activities to the board and the general 

membership, attend board meetings, 

and attend the annual convention. 

Term of office is set to begin the first 

day after appointment in 2016 and continues 

until June 31, 2018. If you are 

interested in filling this position, please 

send a declaration for office and a photo 

(in and out of clown). The process is similar 

to our current policy for nomination 

declarations. Include your qualifications 

and what you feel you can bring to the 

COAI Board. Declarations will be given 

to the new COAI President, and the new 

board will make the final appointment to 

fill this vacancy as soon as possible after 

July 1, 2016. 

Deadline to receive the declarations is 

July 1, 2016. 

E-mail declarations and photos 

(please put in subject line “Appointment 

Declaration”) to coaiexecvp@aol.com or 

mail your declaration and photo to: 

Mike Cox, ATTN: COAI Appointment 

Declaration • 9415 Alameda Avenue • 

Henrico, Virginia 23294 

If you have any questions, please feel 

free to contact me at coaiexecvp@aol.com 

or call me at 804-337-6143. TNC 

Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 5


Circus 

History 

By William Kauffman 

The modern circus came to life in the 1700s. In 1769, a gentleman named Philip 

Astley constructed a building in London, England and the first performance 

took place in 1770. The first acts consisted of Astley riding horses. He later added his 

wife for more entertainment value and excitement in the show. Now, some may argue 

that the first circus started somewhere around 1500 B.C. in Greece. Others may say 

the circus started perhaps ten-thousand years ago when modern man learned to juggle, 

make fire, and keep his family entertained. However, it takes more than one person 

to perform a circus as we know it now. Today’s circuses have performers in such roles 

as riders, clowns, jugglers, ringmasters, tight-rope walkers and so on. They perform 

simultaneously, making it impossible for a single person to accomplish. Thus, it takes 

a troupe to make a modern day circus work. 

Astley set up circus rings. Prior to this, a performer would ride past his audience 

as he performed a trick and have to turn around and ride back to perform his next 

trick. The rings would allow the performer to string together several tricks with no 

interruptions. They also had the advantage of creating centrifugal force to aid in the 

performance of tricks. Astley also created a covered grandstand to accommodate a 

larger audience as they would sit all around the performance area. 

The new form of family entertainment came across the Atlantic in April 1793 and 

the first complete circus program was presented in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 

John Bill Ricketts. Ricketts, a British 

equestrian, went on to present shows 

in New York, New York and Boston, 

Massachusetts. The show would continue 

under varying names through the first 

decade of the Nineteenth Century. The 

traveling shows were simple in comparison 

to what we know today, consisting of 

not much more than a few simple musical 

instruments, clowns, jugglers, and a few 

acrobats. The original shows would take 

up collections. They later began charging 

admission. The advent of improved tents 

and railways around the 1820s changed 

everything. Although riding acts were 

still the main attraction, the other acts 

added called for another addition to 

the modern day circus – the ringmaster. 

Today, the ringmaster is more of an announcer, 

but his original job was to keep 

the horses running correctly around the 

ring as a rider did his tricks. 

By the end of the Nineteenth Century 

the circus was an established and 

sought-after form of family entertainment. 

Many people, such as the famed 

P.T. Barnum, had added to the original 

simple form of entertainment and turned 

it into a grand production. In 1871, 

Barnum teamed up with W.C. Coup 

and produced a huge show in Brooklyn, 

New York advertised as “The Greatest 

Show on Earth.” Ten years after this, he 


would enter into a partnership with an 

outstanding business organizer by the 

name of James Bailey. This show was so 

huge it required three rings. 

Barnum would cash in on the popularity 

of circus animals and unusual or 

unique creatures. For example the famed 

world’s largest elephant, Jumbo, which 

was said to have cost Barnum a whopping 

thirty-thousand dollars. The famed 

Ringling brothers started their first circus 

in 1884 and subsequently bought 

several other shows including Barnum & 

Bailey’s in 1907 after the death of Bailey. 

In 1918, the first combined show of 

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey 

circus was performed. 

This circus brought us many greats in 

the art of clowning such as Lou Jacobs, 

Emmett Kelly, Glen “Frosty” Little, Otto 

Griebling, Barry “Grandma” Lubin, 

Mark Anthony, Karen Desanto, Leon 

“Buttons” McBride, Jim Howe, Earl 

Chaney, Jackie LeClare, and many more. 

Some of these legends we are blessed 

to still have around to help us learn as 

entertainers and clowns what the history 

of the circus meant to the world and the 

culture that needs to be remembered. So 

the next time you see a circus remember 

the rich history of the first circus to 

the new modern circus and the impact 

it made on the world. Help pass on this 

knowledge so as not to lose this exciting 

history. TNC 

William “Peanut” Kauffman is the COAI 

Northeast Ambassador. Contact him at 

impeanut@hotmail.com. 

Don’t 

Forget 

to 

PLAY 

By Aurora “Bebop” Krause 


Have you ever heard a child say, “Do you 

wanna play?” I love that invitation, and 

my answer is always “Yes!” Many times when 

someone sees a clown, that’s exactly what comes to 

mind—some silly and fun stuff is about to happen, 

and as clowns we don’t want to let them down. 

We may feel like there’s always more we need to 

learn: a new magic trick, adding another ball or 

club to our juggling, taking our balloon twisting 

or face painting to the next level, and on 

and on. If this is true about you, then join the 

crowd! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with 

continuing to learn more skills and forms of presentation. However, we mustn’t forget 

one very important thing, which is noticing the opportunities to just play when we’re 

clowning. That’s right—play. I went to the old trusted dictionary, and here’s what I 

found as a definition for the word play: amusement, as the spontaneous activity of children. 

Hey, we can do that! I know it’s important to learn skills that entertain, and 

we should have confidence and presentation skills for sure. But our clown character 

should always look for opportunities of spontaneous activity and play. 

In a formal setting individuals like to be entertained. They like to sit back and 

enjoy a structured performance. We, as clowns, can do that if the situation calls for it. 

However, in an informal setting such as a family party, festival grounds, walk-arounds, 

or even in a hospital room, a clown can be an invitation to play. Regardless of age or 

setting, when individuals are in the presence of a clown they expect lively conversation 

and some silly, fun stuff to take place. Use your sense of play to focus positive attention 

on the audience around you. 

People like to be acknowledged by a friendly, approachable clown. Take time to 

interact and create a playful environment. Give your actions your full attention. Notice 

what’s around to play with, such as a mirror, a musical card, a hat with a little bling, or 

even just a little music. It makes no difference what the fun object, silly conversation, 

or comedy antics are. It’s our playful approach and our character’s expressions and 

reactions that communicate to those around us, “Do you wanna play?” TNC 

I enjoy hearing from you! Write to me at bebopclown@hotmail.com or visit www. 

bebopworld.com. 



Junior Joeys 

By Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe, Junior Joeys Chair 

Hello Junior Joeys—and Teen Joeys, too! 

The other day I picked up my new sunglasses and thought I need 

a joke for the eye doctor. We can always clown around 

whether we are in costume or not, and trying out new 

material on people in everyday life helps us get a feel for 

how a joke might work before trying it in a show. After 

Googling “jokes glasses” this is what I found. 

“Doctor, doctor! I need glasses!” 

“You certainly do, ma’am. This is a barber shop.” I shared it with the 

doctor and immediately got a laugh! 

Here’s a little report on the 2016 Junior Joey program at the Las Vegas 

convention. We had four Junior Joeys who attended, and they were at various 

levels in their growth as clowns. Trudi Sang, a children’s pastor, friend, and 

mentor of mine from Portland, Oregon, assisted me with her scheduling skills 

as well as her wealth of knowledge in the art of clowning. 

Joining us was an experienced twelve-year-old, Savannah Canales, from Houston 

Texas; a young and experienced eight-year-old, Nia Phillips from Barbados; and 

two children just learning the foundations of clowning and jumping in to get their 

clown feet wet—eight-year-old Alyssa Chidsey and her little brother Ean who are 

the grandchildren of our COAI Treasurer Paddee Embrey from Colorado. We kept 

the younger ones together attending a few classes and worked on clown skills in our 

assigned spacious Junior Joey room, while Savannah went to classes with her parents 

and competed in the adult competitions. Savannah’s favorite class was Mime. The other 

Junior Joeys enjoyed classes by Jeffrey Potts, Gene Cordova’s puppet classes, and being 

the models for the face-painting classes taught by Donna Hofstee. They also spent 

time watching competitions and learning how people are judged, and they got to vote 

for the People’s Choice Awards. 

The Junior Joeys also attended the Second Annual Junior Joey Kids Clown Workshop, 

where we invite children from the community for a three-hour workshop. We had twelve 

attendees and their parents from the hotel join our Junior Joeys, and everyone had 

a lot of fun. Sammy Smith 

taught magic, and the kids 

had a great time getting up 

in front of our group to perform 

their new tricks. Jeffery 

Potts gave a talk on what it 

means to be a clown. He 

also invited Huel Speight, 

the professional clown from 

Circus Circus, who ended our 

workshop with a fun juggling 

routine performance. 

Did the Junior Joeys have a 

good time at the convention? 

Here is what Savannah Canales wrote 

about her experience: 

This was my first time attending a COAI 

Convention. I was excited to see so many 

clowns from all over the world. 

I was also excited to see some of my old friends 

from the Texas Clown Association. I made so 

many new friends, and I’m keeping up with 

them now through social media. I wish more 

young clowns would attend the conventions 

so I could have a group of my peers to hang 

out with. 

The different styles of costumes and makeup 

techniques keep my mind busy with all the 

different possibilities for my own costumes 

and the characters that I develop for my skits. 

I enjoy the competitions, and I’m a little sad 

when I don’t win. Once I get over the sadness 

I start plotting my comeback. I know I won’t 

win all the time, but I always do my best. 


My dad, U-Jean, helps me come up with skits 

and paradeability ideas. And I like to join 

forces with him in group skits. 

At this year’s 

COAI, I competed 

in just about 

everything. I did 

Single Balloon, 

Cheek Art, 

Make-up, Group 

Skit, and Single 

Paradeability. 

I placed Top Ten in three events: 

Make-up (Bag Lady), Group Skit, and 

Cheek Art. I came up with my Bag Lady 

costume using things from around my house 

the night before we boarded the plane. I 

wanted to try something new. At this time 

I have a white-face character, a Lite Auguste, 

and now, my Bag Lady. 

As the only Junior Joey in my 

Cheerful Clown Alley 166, I have a 

huge support system. They encourage 

me, they mentor me, and they comfort 

me. Even though they are all adults, 

I consider them my closest friends, and 

I love being a part of the clowning 

community. —Savannah “Nannah 

Banana” Canales 

The younger Junior Joeys really 

looked up to Savannah and were 

so excited to see her every time 

she competed. Keep up the good 

work, Savannah! I hope to see you 

and more of our Teen Joeys next year in 

Kansas City, Missouri. 

I wanted to share a little about Nia 

“Ballooney Tunes” Phillips. She is eight 

years old and has been getting into clown 

with her mom since she was about three. 

She introduces her mom in shows and 

plays with the children at events. She 

has a sparkle in her eyes and a magnetic, 

teachable spirit. Nia and her mother came 

all the way from Barbados, which is a 

little Island in the Caribbean Sea between 

Puerto Rico and Venezuela. I am so proud 

of her and all that she learned during convention, 

including how to make a balloon 

dog, mime, skits, juggling scarves, and face 

painting. She 

also had the opportunity 

to be 

a clown flower 

girl in the clown 

wedding that 

happened during 

our convention. 

I know there 

are other Junior 

Joeys like Nia all 

over the world 

who love to help 

people have fun 

and clown with 

their parents or grandparents—and to you 

I want to say, “Thank you for making our 

world a happier place.” You have been 

given a special gift in the early years of 

your life that will touch many people as 

you share your love and joy through the 

art of clowning. 

Announcements! We will be starting 

a Teen Joey Online Alley in June. Marie 

Shafer and her daughter Eileen are helping 

to jumpstart this alley. You may contact 

Marie by e-mail at clovercrusaders@yahoo. 

com if you are a teen who wants to join 

this online alley. 

At next year’s convention, we will also 

be having our First Annual Graduation 

Ceremony for Junior Joeys who are turning 

sixteen between April 1, 2016 and 

April 1, 2017. Any teenagers between the 

ages of sixteen and nineteen who were 

Junior Joeys as young children that would 

like to be in this first graduation ceremony, 

please contact me at coaijrjoeys@gmail.com. 

We really want to meet each and every 

one of you in person and hope you will 

consider coming to Kansas City, Missouri. 

Upon turning sixteen, you will have voting 

rights in COAI, and we encourage you to 

compete and come join the educational 

fun at your convention. Thank you, Marie 

and Eileen Shafer, for this great idea of a 

graduation ceremony! TNC 


NEWS 

COAI Convention-goers Visit 

Children’s Hospital of Nevada 

By Mike “Dr. Fun E. Bone” Bednarek 

“The role of a clown and a physician are the same—it’s to elevate the possible and to relieve 

suffering.” —Patch Adams 

During the recent COAI Convention in Las Vegas, four participants clowned at the 

Children’s Hospital of Nevada. The service project was planned to benefit young 

patients, their families, and hospital staff, as well as to give some of the hospital clowns 

attending the convention the chance to take their therapeutic clown skills out into the 

Las Vegas community. 

Several months before the convention, I pitched the idea to the COAI Board of 

Directors, and they liked it. After several weeks of e-mail communication with the 

hospital, they invited a maximum of five visitors from the convention. 

On the morning of Friday, April 8, a team of four clown doctors—Kosuke “K” Omune 

from Japan, Judy “Reddy” Conner from Indiana, Barbara “Dr. Nose-a-Lot” Bird from 

New York, and Mike “Dr. Fun E. Bone” Bednarek from Oregon—loaded into a cab for 

the ten-minute ride to the Children’s Hospital of Nevada at University Medical Center. 

After checking in, the first stop was the PEDS Playroom for some one-on-one with 

about eight children, along with family and staff, who were able to leave their rooms. 

Next, the team split into two pairs, with K and Dr. Fun E. Bone visiting PEDS and the 

Pediatric ICU, and Dr. Nose-a-Lot and Reddy visiting the adult oncology unit. The 

hospital assigned staff members as “handlers” for the two teams to navigate the large 

facility, introduce the clown doctors to hospital staff, and determine appropriate rooms 

and patients to visit. 

The reception was welcoming, every interaction was heartwarming, expressions of 

gratitude were effusive, and the time flew by. 

The only real bump in the road was a fruitless hour-long wait for a taxi 

for the return trip, resulting in a missed group photo at the convention. A 

very thoughtful gentleman, hearing our plight, ultimately offered us a ride 

back to the hotel. 

After the visit, the Children’s Hospital of Nevada posted a picture and 

these comments on its Facebook page: 

“Our patients enjoyed clowning around this morning with a visit from 

specially trained clown doctors. Dr. Fun E. Bone, Reddy the Clown, Dr. 

Nose-a-Lot, and Clown “K” spend a lot of their time visiting both kids 

and adults in hospitals to help lift their moods through hope and humor. 

Clown doctors use techniques such as magic, music, storytelling, and other 

skills to help distract the patients from the loneliness and boredom that a 

hospital stay can bring. Laughter and humor help to reduce stress and anxiety 

which aids in the healing process. The staff at our Children’s Hospital 

of Nevada at UMC are very welcoming and appreciative of visitors such 

as this due to the countless benefits they bring to both patients and staff!” 

That Facebook post was followed up by these notes of appreciation: 

“Thank you all very much for coming and visiting with our littlest patients. 

After you left it was all they could talk about. Domo arigato.” Danny 

Romero, Strategic Development and Marketing 

10 The New Calliope • May/June 2016 

“Good Morning! Thank you again for 

coming to visit our Children’s Hospital 

of Nevada here at UMC as well as 

our Oncology Department. These visits 

are very special to our patients and 

yes, laughter is the best medicine. We 

would love to have you back. If you have 

plans to be in Las Vegas in the future, 

please reach out so we can schedule another 

visit. Keep making a difference!” 

Erica Nansen, Volunteer Program and 

Community Relations Supervisor 

The four “clown doctor” team members 

want to thank COAI leadership 

for their encouragement and support 

for setting up this field trip and service 

project. We would love to see this kind 

of outreach project become a regular feature 

at future COAI Conventions. And 

we also send out a huge red nose thanks 

to the Children’s Hospital of Nevada for 

hosting us. TNC 

Contact Mike Bednark by e-mail at 

bustertheclown@comcast.net. 

The COAI “Clown Doctor” Team: Mike “Buster” Bednarek, 

Judy “Reddy” Conner, Barbara “Dr. Nose-a-Lot” Bird, and 

Kosuke “K” Omune.


NEWS 

More Fun Than Anyone Ought to Have 

Las Vegas Convention 2016 

Reported by Judy “Dearheart” Quest, North Central Regional Vice President 

In the universe of conventions, the recent COAI Convention in Las Vegas was a true shining star! This was the first convention 

totally run by the COAI Board of Directors—quite an amazing accomplishment, considering that none of us live in Las Vegas 

and we come from all over the world. Among the many contributors were Jim Caffrey as convention director, Dianna Hale with 

registrations, Teresa Gretton with mentors, Jessica King with vendors, Bill LeBlanc with competitions, Georgia Morris with decorations, 

and Jim Dixon with education. The rest of us were working all the time to make the convention a great learning experience 

and a fun time for everybody! 

The numbers at the convention were great—more than we have had for many years. Among the numbers were attendees from 

seventeen different countries! We were all so impressed with the Asian clowns. They gave us all a run for our money and took away 

many of the honors. Of course, our friends from Puerto Rico and Mexico were outstanding as usual. This was the first truly global 

convention. Another noteworthy mention is the seventy first-time convention attendees! We hope that, as mentors, we took good 

care of these folks and that our convention will become an event they will attend again and again! 

A huge highlight for many of us was the All-star Show, put together by Angel Ocasio. As a many-time convention goer, I can 

honestly say that I have not seen this kind of talent in a show for a long time. Not only was it a truly great time, but it was such a 

good example for everyone in attendance of what a good skit looks like and how years of practice pay off in a polished performance. 

Thanks also to Dave Hill for the opening night Blues Brothers rendition that was first class as well! 

The theme party was circus, but not clown. As is the case with COAI Conventions, we love to dress up, and not just as clowns. 

Bearded ladies, animals, ringmasters, and strongmen provided a laugh at every table, not to mention the great full dinner provided 

this year. Of course there were classes and excellent instructors, midnight jams, and a great dealer room, but I have not mentioned 

the thing I like best. That is meeting friends, seeing what new things they are up to, and sharing many laughs. These are my people, 

my “clown tribe” that comes together each year to share the joy of our art. It’s more fun than anyone ought to have! 

If this sounds good to you, you will have a great opportunity to join in all the fun next April in Kansas City. The theme is cartoons! 

If you would like to have your registration paid for, just contact Education Director Jim Dixon to apply for a scholarship. 

The Northland Clowns put on a fabulous convention in 2012, so there is no doubt that we are in for a wonderful convention. See 

you there! TNC 

CHARLIE Award Winners 

By Bob “Bunky” Gretton, International Clown Week Chair 

Congratulations to the 2015 CHARLIE (Clowns Have A Real Love In Everyone) Award winners! The Alley Winner was 

announced at the Annual Banquet at Circus Circus on Friday, April 8. For their combined efforts, the award went to the Erie 

Jolly Jesters (COAI Alley #65) and The ERIEsistible Clowns (COAI Alley #420). Their submission was presented in the form 

of a hardback book full of pictures taken during events promoting Clown Week. The book was accompanied by newspaper articles, 

thank you notes, and proclamations. They are honored with the keeping of the infamous CHARLIE shoe for one year. Check the 

COAI website (www.coai.org/awards/Charlie) to learn more. 

The Individual CHARLIE Award went to Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke from Winter Haven, Florida. Her scrapbook was 

jam-packed with pictures, stories, notes, and proclamations. Miz Daisy was hard at work from morning till night visiting every type 

of store and establishment, spreading the word on the art of clowning during International Clown Week. 

What makes the difference with these winners is that their photos depicted actual Clown Week participation through signage 

or dates and actual “working” photos. Of course, proclamations were a big factor too. Our thanks goes out to all the alleys and 

individuals who submitted entries. 

I hope you and/or your alley are planning to document your Clown Week activities for 2016, August 1–7. Take plenty of pictures 

each day, keep any letters of support or articles telling of your involvement, and don’t forget the proclamation(s). Have a great Clown 

Week! TNC 


OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT 

AWARDS 

AT ANNUAL BANQUET 

In addition to recognition for winners of the 2016 

COAI Competitions, other special awards were 

presented during the Annual Banquet. 

Regina Wollrabe receives the 

2016 Clown of the Year plaque 

from Bob “Bunky” Gretton who 

nominated her for the award. 

Recipients of the President’s 

Award: Jim Caffrey, Laurel 

Smith, and Sammy Smith. 

President Glenn Kohlberger presented Presidential Awards to Jim 

Caffrey and Laurel and Sammy Smith for their contributions to COAI. 

Tom “Tom E. Boy” King and Albert “Clem” Alter received plaques 

for the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe was honored as the 2016 Clown of the 

Year. 

The convention’s Best in Clown Award went to Liu Yao Feng—also 

known as “Balloon Cha Cha”—from Taipei, Taiwan. 

The individual CHARLIE Award for 2015 Clown Week went to 

Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke. 

The Alley CHARLIE Award went to the Erie Jolly Jesters (COAI 

Alley #65) and The ERIEsistible Clowns (COAI Alley #420) for their 

combined efforts. 

Aurora “Bebop” Krause won the Editor’s Choice Award for her 

consistent contributions to The New Calliope. Education Director Jim 

“Soapy” Dixon received the award on her behalf. 

San Diego All Star Clowns, COAI Alley 56, won the 2016 Best of 

Press Award for their outstanding alley publication, The Clown Crier, 

edited by Banjo Belly, and other electronic communications handled by 

Bonita “Bon Bon” Love. 

Photographer Merilyn Barrett was recognized during the Annual 

Banquet for her tireless efforts in documenting the convention. 

The Ring of Honor—COAI’s posthumous award for those who have 

contributed to the advancement of the organization and to clowning— 

was awarded to Hunter “Mr. Boots” Stevens, who was nominated by Teresa “Blondi” Gretton. An 

article about Hunter Stevens appeared in the September/October 2015 issue of The New Calliope. 

Convention Best in Clown 

Award went to Liu Yao Feng. 

Photographer Merilyn Barrett. 

Left: President Glenn Kohlberger, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Albert “Clem” Alter, and nominator Angel Ocasio. Middle: President Glenn Kohlberger, 

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom “Tom E. Boy” King, and nominator Jeanne Woska. Right: Receiving the Alley CHARLIE Award for Erie Jolly Jesters 

(COAI Alley #65) and the ERIEsistible Clowns (COAI Alley #420). 


People’s Choice Awards 

People’s Choice Awards were introduced this year in three 

categories: Group Skit, Single Skit, and Theme Party Costumes. 

1 st Place Group Skit, People’s Choice Award 

“The Matinee” Phil Reigelsperger, Dianna Hale, 

Terry Knight, and Kent Sheets. 

2nd Place Group Skit, 

People’s Choice 

“Hash Tag Gray” Lorelei 

Jacobs and Patti Ummel. 

3rd Place Group Skit, People’s Choice 

“Old People Movers” Judy Cornett, 

Pam Blacklock, Patsy McMillan, Paul 

DeBee, and MaryJane Debee. 

Single Skit, People’s Choice Award 

1 st Place, Michelle Musser (center); 

2 nd Place, Juan Carlos Vargas Galindo 

(right); 3 rd Place, Mario Vargas (left). 

Theme Party, People’s Choice 

1 st Place, Gloria Sterrett and Judy Conner – Siamese 

Twins (right); 2 nd Place, Dianna Hale – Strong Man; 

3 rd Place, Dale McKenzie – Bearded Lady. 

COAI Competition Committee. Left to right: John 

Kral, Cindy Kella, Walt Lee, Shirley Lee, Tim Laynor, 

Ann Sanders, Paula LeBlanc, and Bill LeBlanc. 


SHOW A FOLDER WITH A COLORFUL 

PICTURE of a farm house and barnyard. 

Open it up, and YIKES! The farmer is still 

asleep, the alarm clock is broken, and the cranky old 

rooster is nowhere to be found! All of the other farm 

animals are waiting to be fed, but the farmer is 

snoozing away, and the rooster will have to come 

back to wake him up. 

What happened to the rooster? Show the animal 

cards—cow, lamb, duck, pig, dog, and the rooster—all 

in bright colors on heavy-duty, glossy cards. 

The rooster decides to take a day off and vanishes 

completely! Will he come back? Yes! When the 

Samuel Patrick Smith 

On Stage! 

rooster pops out from behind the farmhouse folder, 

unknown to you, it’s the famous look-don’t-see 

formula in living color! The kids will be wild with 

delight as the rooster peeks over the top, hides 

again, and peeps out from side to side. 

We guarantee it’s everything it’s quacked up to be. 

There’ll be no beef about it, and the kids will howl 

with glee. You never sausage a trick because we 

made it just for ewe! It’s something to crow about! 

• Hilarious kidshow 

comedy! 

• Beautiful artwork 

by Selina 

Frederick! 

• Full color, highly 

visible cards 

measure 

• 8 x 10½ inches! $45 

Bringing Out the Better Performer in You 

Learn formulas for becoming an outstanding performer, based on the advice 

and techniques of some of the finest entertainers in magic. This book helps you 

profit from their experience. This book will help you capitalize on your strengths 

and develop your latent talents. 

Only $45 

A terrific educational effect which promotes 

reading and creates hysteria among 

children! 

The performer shows a folder with a picture 

of a library on the front. Inside the “library” 

are books, a table and lamp for reading, and... 

and... and...oops—no Bob the Book Worm! 

Maybe he’s hiding behind some books. 

Meantime, the folder is laid aside, and the 

performer shows five giant cards depicting 

different kinds of books and stories you 

can find at the library—fairy tales, history, 

adventure, geography, how-to books, and— 

wait!—here he is!—Bob the Book Worm! 

But Bob is a tricky fellow, and before you 

know it, he has disappeared and his card 

is completely blank! Where is he? The kids 

guess, you guess, but nobody can find him 

until he makes his surprise reappearance 

which leaves children hoarse and gasping 

as you and Bob the Book Worm take a bow. 


Awards were presented in fourteen 

categories during the 31st 

Annual COAI Convention in Las 

Vegas, Nevada. Recipients were recognized 

at the banquet on Friday, 

April 8, held at the Circus Circus 

Hotel and Casino. The official presentation 

of awards was accompanied 

by enthusiastic applause and lots of 

flash photography! 

Five qualified judges scored each 

entry as competitions were held over 

three days. Awards were made for the 

top ten contestants in each category; 

however, the scoring did not always 

result in awards for all ten positions. 

In categories with five or fewer competitors, 

placement is based on percentile 

achievements. Contestants 

may also tie for placement. 

“I couldn’t believe that 

I got the convention’s 

Best in Clown award. 

I jumped to the roof!” 

COMPETITION PHOTOS by Merilyn Barrett 

LAYOUT AND DESIGN by Bryan Conroy and 

Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe 

PHOTO BY ANGEL OCASIO 

For the second year in a row—and the second time in COAI’s history—the convention’s 

“Best in Clown” award went to a member who resides outside of the United 

States. President Glenn Kohlberger commented, “This once again proves that Clowns 

of America International is truly a global community.” Liu Yao Feng—also known as 

“Balloon Cha Cha”—received the award from President Kohlberger at the Annual 

Banquet on Friday, April 8, for achieving the highest combined score in competitions. 

Balloon Cha Cha, who makes his home in Taipei, Taiwan, competed in Character/ 

Make-up, Single Skit, Single Balloon, Multiple Balloon, and Balloon Arrangement. 

On his return home, he was interviewed by the Liberty Times newspaper. (Thanks, 

Bonita “Bon Bon” Love, for the press release!) We asked Liu Yao Feng to tell us about 

his background in clowning and experience in winning the convention’s Best in Clown 

award for 2016. His answers were charming, surprising, and touching. 


Hello, everyone. My name is 

Balloon Cha Cha. Not just Cha Cha. 

This name came to me when I was at 

a saxophone performance. I always introduce 

myself as Balloon Cha Cha at 

every performance. I want my name to 

be meaningful and special but also easy 

to remember. So, please call me Balloon 

Cha Cha. 

I don’t have any partners or apprentices, 

so I complete my jobs on my own most of 

the time. I didn’t have any experience of 

being a clown until two years ago. In 2014, 

my very first contact with “the clown” was 

learning make-up from Shan Shan. 

My first clown performance gave me 

an extremely different experience and 

feeling. I discovered I didn’t need any 

props to make the audience happy—just 

expressions and gestures. The interactions 

with spectators, the laughter, and the 

sense of happiness gave me a big sense 

of accomplishment. 

In 2015, I decided to embrace a bigger 

world by going abroad to see other clowns 

with Shan Shan. We attended the COAI 

Convention in Erie, Pennsylvania. I made 

a lot of friends there, not only among the 

attendees but also with the staff. Everyone 

helped me so much even though I can’t 

speak English well. I would like to take 

this chance to thank everyone in COAI. 

I now truly understand what it means to 

be a clown because of all of you. 

I really appreciate the opportunity of 

being one of the attendees again at the 

2016 COAI Convention in Las Vegas. 

I met many good friends, and I made 

even more this time! As I mentioned, 

my English is not very strong, but at the 

COAI President Glenn Kohlberger presents Lieu Yao Feng (“Balloon Cha Cha”) with the 2016 Convention 

Best in Clown Award. 

awards ceremony, I just knew that I needed to go up to the stage when my name was 

called. I was very excited and happy because they called my name again and again. I 

couldn’t believe that I got the convention’s Best in Clown award. I jumped to the roof! 

That’s also the first time to know I can jump so high! I burst into tears when I got 

the trophy. 

Now I am back in Taiwan, and I want to introduce the clown art to more people. The 

credit is all to COAI. I am proud to say that I love clowns and I want to be a clown. I 

am a clown from the bottom of my heart. I am not acting—I am a clown from inside 

out! Thank you all, and thank you, COAI. TNC 


Comedy Whiteface 

1 st 2 nd 3 rd 

Mario Vargas-Nava Asia Espinal Yessica Aguilar 

4 th 5 th 

Maria Nunez 


Wanda Jennings

1 st 

Auguste 

1 st 2 nd 

2 nd 

3 rd 

2 nd Yip Man Yui 

Hector Bautista 

Julian Delgadillo 

5 th 6 th 

4 th Liu Yen Ting 

10 th 

Ya Yu Chiang 

Jennyloo Rodriguez 


Auguste 

8 th 

1 st 

7 th 1 st 

Chung Wan Yun 

Bonnie-Jean Brown 

9 th 10 th 

10 th 

1 st 

Nicholas Reed 

5 th 

Roger Brakebill 

Kimberley Eve 

Dennis Porter 


2 nd 

Lite Auguste 

4 th 

3 rd 

Kong Ching Shan 

Judy Conner 

Brennon Spikes 

6 th 7 th 8 th 

Kimberly Rickman 

Jorge Adorno 

Jane Welch-Sprague 


Tramp/hobo 

tramp/hobo 

1 st 2 nd 3 rd 

Liu Yao Feng 

Kent Sheets 

John Kral 

4 th 6 th 

5 th 

Reynaldo Canales 


Dale Woods 

Savannah Canales

Character 

1 st 2 nd 

Matthew Spraggins 

Tseng Ying Chen 

3 rd 4 th 5 th 

Karl Krohne 

Patsy McMillan 

Sheng-Yu Huang 


1 st 

senior 

1 st 3 rd 

2 nd 

Gloria Sterrett 

Judy Johnson 

Dawn Pearson 

8 th 

7 th 

Peg Davis 


Fran Etzkorn


Tom King 

Janet Haines 

Agustin Torres-Rosa 

Contestants who are 55 years of age or older may elect to 

be judged in the Seniors Division rather than other makeup 

and costume categories. All types of clowns will be 

judged in this category, using the criteria set for the various 

types of clowns. Contestants who elect to be judged in the 

Seniors Division may only enter one category. 

Register today for the 2017 COAI 

Convention in Kansas City, Missouri! 

www.coai.org 


single 

skit 

Skit 

1 st 2 nd 

2 nd 3 rd 

Ballooning 

Mario Vargas-Nava 

Comical Magic 

Juan Carlos Vargas Galindo 

Let It Go 

Liu Yao Feng 

7 th 8 th 

8 th 

9 th 

Tight Rope Walker 

Patricia Gaudreau 

Mail 

Dennis Porter 

Prom 

Barbara Foster 



6 th 

P... U... 

Judy Johnson 

Heart Condition 


El Maestro 

Karen Sawyer 

10 th 10 th 

10 th 

COAI COMPETITION SCORING 

Awards are made for the top 

ten contestants in each category; 

however, scoring does 

not always result in awards for 

all ten positions. In categories 

with five or fewer competitors, 

placement is based on percentile 

achievements. Contestants 

may also tie for placement. 

TV Dream 


A Surgical Cure 

Nicholas Reed 


Group group skit 

Skit 

1 st 

2 nd 

1 st 10 th 

Kent Sheets,Terry Knight-Kohlberger, Dianna Hale, and Phil 

Reigelsperger 

5 th 6 th 

9 th 

Chapstick? 

Mary Junco & Patricia Gaudreau 

9 th The Matinee 

Got to Move 

Maryjane DeBee, Pam Blacklock, Judy Cornett, 

Paul DeBee, and Patsy McMillian 

10 th 

T.V. Painting 101 

Lorene Stadig & Fran Etzkorn 

Bake a Pie 

Julian Delgadillo & Yessica Aguilar 

The Radio 

Wilfredo Hernandez & Jose Merchan 


3 rd 4 th 

4 th 

Stop in the Name of the Law 

Front: Hector Bautista, Benjamin Crespo Cabrera, Jorge Adorno, 

Angel Morales Back: Julio Capacetti, Agustin Rosa, Maria Nunez, 

Bernardo Hernandez, Jennyloo Rodriguez, and Nelsie Lopez 

7 th 8 th 

8 th 

El Dentista 

Ivan Mendez-Ortiz & Dennis Porter 

Breaking News 

Peg Davis & Kathleen Dhingra 

Magic 

Reynaldo Canales & Savannah Canales 

Congratulations to everyone 

who competed at the 2016 

COAI Convention in Las Vegas! 


Single 

single 

1 st 

Paradeability 

2 nd 

Weather Forcast 

Ivan Mendez-Ortiz 

Roadside Assistance 


Mime C 

Dennis 

6 th 7 th 

Lady 

Judy Cornett 

iPhone 7.5 

Nestor Mora 

Att 

Patricia G 


himes 

Porter 

3 rd 4 th 

5 th 

8 th 9 th Ice Cream Licks 

Jim DeWilde 

5 th Free Shoe Shines 

Phil Reigelsperger 

10 th 

ack 

audreau 

Walking on Sunshine 


Pop Goes the Weasel 

Nena Quiros 


1 st 

Group Paradeability 

2 nd 

Mobile Dentist 

Nicholas Reed & Richard Smith 

Stop in the Name of the Law 

Front: Julio Capacetti, Benjamin Crespo Cabrera, Jorge Adorno Back: Angel Morales, Maria Nunez, 

Jennyloo Rodriguez, Hector Bautista, Bernardo Hernandez, and Nelsie Lopez 


3 rd 

Talkin 

Maryjane DeBee, Paul DeBee, Patsy McMillan, and Pam Blacklock 

4 th 

Jelly Fish 

Dawn Pearson & Mary Burmeister 


facepainting 

cheek Cheek 

Lisa Ponce De Leon Terai 

1 st 

2 nd 3 rd 4 th 

4 th 

Yessica Aguilar Reynaldo Canales Susan Wald 


Patti Ummel 

Judy Johnson 

8 th 9 th 10 th 

Mary Ann Changg 

10 th 

Savannah Canales 

Karen Sawyer 

Julian Delgadillo 


facepainting 

Full full face 

Mathew Spraggins 

1 st 


Yessica Aguilar Asia Espinal Desiree Seibl 


Lisa Ponce De Leon Terai 

Patti Ummel 

8 th 9 th 10 th 

Mary Ann Changg 

Karen Sawyer 


Kimberley Eve 


single 

Balloon 

1 st 



Liu Yao Feng 

John Kral 




Hau Yun Wun 

Yip Man Yui 

8 th 9 th 10 th 

Liu Yen Ting Chiang Ya Yu Chung Wan Yun 


Balloon 

1 st 

arrangement 

Arrangement 


2 nd 3 rd 

4 th 

4 th 

Liu Yao Feng 

Chia-chiao Lin 

Judy Johnson 


Mathew Spraggins 


8 th 9 th 10 th 

Yip Man Yui 

Chiang Ya Yu 


Chung Wan Yun 


multiple 

Balloon 

1 st 

Liu Yen Ting 

2 nd 4 th 

3 rd 

4 th 


Man Yui Yip 

Matthew Spraggins 

5 th 7 th 

6 th 

Chiang Ya Yu 

Chia-chiao Lin 

8 th 9 th 10 th 

Liu Yao Feng 

Hau Yun Wun 

Chung Wan Yun 



Our Good Cheer List 

Please take a moment to spread a few 

words of good cheer with a card or 

note to one of these members. 

Dr. Dave “Sneezer” Hoffner 

13728 Greenwood Ave. N, #012 

Seattle, WA 98133 

Miriam “Senorita Soto” Kleinberger 

2 Maple Lane North 

Loudonville, NY 12211 

Paul “Daddy-O” Kleinberger 

919 Slate Hill Road 

Sharon Springs, NY 13459 

Charlie “Charlie Chuckles” Meranda 

369 Herron Road 

North Ft Myers, FL 33903-2748 

Good Cheer Chairman: 

Fred Schlosshauer 

8 Alanon Street 

Whippany, NJ 07981 

973-887-2617 

oscarboj@aol.com 


HOW-TO 

By Tricia “Pricilla Mooseburger”Manuel 

Parades are a great way to introduce 

kids to clowning. In fact, that’s how 

I got started! The clowning bug bit me 

when I got volunteered to clown in a 

Fourth of July parade back in 1980. 

Little did I know that saying yes to 

something so crazy would change my 

life! Before I knew it I was applying to 

Ringling’s Clown College, spending a 

summer on tour in California clowning 

at fairs and festivals, then on to a career 

with Ringling Bros. Circus, Disneyland, 

and my own costume business and clown 

camp. Whew! 

Where will a parade take you? Bringing 

kids along to clown around with you at 

parades is a great way to spend time with 

family. Nothing is cuter than a kiddo in 

a clown costume and make-up. Here are 

a few tips to keep it fun! 

Clown Make-up for Kids 

Because I like to keep things simple with 

children, let’s talk about make-up. Some 

The people who joined me 

for the Saturday evening parade 

had never dreamed of 

clowning at all, let alone with 

their kids. 

folks get too serious when it comes to kids 

and clowning. A well-meaning parent or 

club member can demand that children 

be held to competition standards. That’s 

not necessary. I regularly talk people out of 

putting their kids in full whiteface. First, it 

takes too long to put on. Second, it takes 

too much effort to get all the white off of 

their little faces. Take a look at the kids in 

The Clown Arounds. CUTE, right? Plus 

their parents can clean them up quickly 

with a wet wipe. Bonus! 

Props and Bits 

We had a grand time. I like low stress 

events. I put make-up on almost everyone 

and used costumes from my rental 

shop. You can start your own collection 

by saving your own old clown costumes 

in a tote. They come in handy for 

last-minute clowns. 

Two of the children had performed with 

me before. The rest were inexperienced 

volunteers and their parents. So what was 

an easy parade bit for these first-timers? 

ANSWER: “Bubble Baths.” 

I purchased bottles of bubbles at the 

dollar store. We printed colorful signs 

on the computer that said “Free Bubble 

Baths.” I slipped them in clear page protectors 

and pinned the signs to the backs 

of the clowns. We went along giving free 

bubble baths to folks on the parade route. 

It was a breeze for the kids to come up 

with funny things to say to go along with 

blowing their bubbles. “Hey it’s Saturday 

night — time for your bubble bath!” We 

blew the bubbles and let folks pretend 

to scrub up and get “Squeaky Clean!” 

Sometimes I would spin around with 

my bubble wand and say “Look — I’m a 

Jacuzzi!” That was always good for a laugh. 

Easy Does It 

The “Bubble Bath” idea was cheap, 

quick, and did not require any practice 

beforehand. That is something to keep in 

mind with a child’s first parade. 

Go easy on them and let them enjoy it 

without having to worry about memorizing 

a routine or how to work a complicated 

prop. If they get hooked on clowning (and 

they probably will), there will be plenty 

of opportunities to work with them on 

developing their own walk-around for 

the next parade. 

You will want to immerse them in the 

full clown experience, but resist the urge. 

You don’t want them in over their head; 

instead, just dip a toe in first. 

These people who joined me for the 

Saturday evening parade had never 


dreamed of clowning at all, let alone with 

their kids. When it was all said and done 

they had a great time and the crowd loved 

us. Their response was “We had a ball as 

a family and it didn’t cost us anything!” 

Getting the Word Out 

How do you advertise to let families 

know about joining your club for a parade? 

You can’t beat social media, like Facebook, 

but there are other options as well. You 

could work with your local community 

education office for a one-time summer 

“class” for free. Put an announcement in 

your school bulletin or take-home envelopes. 

Ask a local daycare if a clown could 

visit and then hand out the invitations to 

the parents. 

Offering something free like this would 

not only be a good deed for your clown club 

and help shine a positive light on clowns in 

general, but it might also lead to increasing 

your membership. Junior Joeys bring a lot 

of life to your average clown meeting. It’s a 

win-win situation! 

Kodak Moments 

Our group also had a grandpa and his 

two grandkids. Their mother followed 

along with a camera to capture the 

moment. Next year she wants to join in 

the fun. 

Having your own paparazzi is a great 

idea! They do not have to be in costume; 

just a friend, parent, or volunteer who 

might not be ready to jump into the act. 

They can feel a part of the group by wearing 

a badge that says, “CLOWN: PLAIN 

CLOTHES DIVISION.” 

Remember to share your pictures and 

your experiences with each other after 

the event. Take advantage of those photo 

websites where you can put together a 

photo album that everyone in your group 

can look at online. 

One Thing to Consider 

It is always nice to have someone along 

as a “Plain Clothes Clown,” especially with 

kids in tow. That way you have an extra set 

Their response was “We had 

a ball as a family and it didn’t 

cost us anything!” 

of eyes to keep everyone safe and together. 

These “undercover clowns” work out best 

if it is someone who is hesitant about performing 

and would rather just wave to the 

crowd from the middle of the street. They 

can pull a wagon with everyone’s wallets, 

cell phones, water bottles, sunscreen, and 

extra bottles of bubbles. 

Fun for All 

We ordered pizza at the end of the 

parade route and it was just coming out 

of the oven as we arrived back in our 

hometown. Perfect timing! I like having 

a little party after our parades. It gives us 

a chance to share our experiences of our 

performance with each other. Clowning 

should be fun. Sometimes we lose sight 

of this. You’re making memories that will 

last a lifetime. 

As a thirty-year veteran of performing 

and teaching clown arts, I get my batteries 

charged by these outings with volunteers 

and kids. It brings me back to my roots and 

lets me see the joy in the faces of others 

who are putting on the fool’s cap for the 

first time. It is a good life. 

GH 

Tricia Manuel is “Pricilla Mooseburger” 

and a longtime member of COAI. She has 

been operating Mooseburger Clown Arts 

Camp and Pricilla Mooseburger Originals 

since 1989. Free newsletter sign-up and more 

clown education can be found at her blog: 

www.mooseburger.com. TNC 


HOW-TO 

BALLOON ART 

By Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell 

Balloon twisters often ask about my artwork. In this article, I will show 

how to draw eyes, noses, mouths, and a few extras to make your balloons 

go from ordinary to extraordinary! 

These drawings depict my most basic artwork. I use these when I’m twisting 

at restaurants or doing line work. Sometimes when I have a short line 

(which is rare), I add details such as highlights in the eyes. I may give the 

creation color in the iris, red lips, or blush on the cheeks, face, and ears. I do 

not draw copyrighted art, such as characters from animated films. 

Keep in mind that I made the drawings in this article using a program on 

my computer. Drawing them freehand on a balloon produces very different 

results! I would love to have you think I’m an expert at drawing, but it would 

be unfair to you. The artwork on my balloons is far from perfect. 

The best way for you to learn is to use a 360 white or blush balloon so you 

get used to drawing on them instead of paper. 

When you get ready to take pictures of your work for your website, balloon 

forums, delivery pieces, etc., you will want the artwork to be polished and 

professional. I will describe a few ways that will help you accomplish this. 

TIPS 

• I use 99% rubbing alcohol to remove permanent 

marker on the balloon if it needs adjusting. 

• I use the cheapest powdered blush I can for 

adding cheeks and color to my balloons. (Try a 

dollar store.) I prefer the color to be the darkest 

pink I can find. (If you can find a red blush, that 

is great, but it is hard to track down and may be 

expensive.) 

• It’s strange—blush will stain on a balloon but 

eye shadow will not. 

• I get my inspiration for drawing from books, 

TV, and the Internet. But most of my inspiration 

comes from experimenting. Have fun! 

EYES 

1 2 3 4 5 

Oval Eyes 

1. Using a marker, start by making an oval. 

2. Next to the oval make another one but smaller. Try to keep it within the same margins as the first. 

3. Slowly fill in the smaller oval, gradually making it larger. Constantly compare it to the first oval. Compare height, shape, 

and size. It’s easier to get them the same if you go slowly. 

4. Stop when they are the same height, size, and shape. 

5. Fill in the first oval, being careful to not go outside of the original margins. You should have two ovals fairly similar. 

(It’s impossible to make them perfect.) 

11.1 11.2 11.3 


“22” Eyes 

11. One day when I was making 

a pair of “66” eyes, my marker 

missed the oval. It made a brand 

new eye shape that instantly became 

a favorite! Add eyebrows 

and/or eyelashes.

“66” Eyes 

6 7 8 9 10 

6. To add detail, draw two ovals that are the same size. Make an elongated arch that looks like a cane. 

7. Arches that are drawn going the same direction make the eyes look left or right. (In this example, the eyes are looking to 

your right.) 

8. When the arches are drawn in the opposite directions, the eyes appear to be looking straight ahead. 

9. For female eyes, draw a couple of curved lines—one a little larger than the other—to create eyelashes. Two eyelashes 

seem to be the perfect number, and it’s fast. 

10. Notice how the placement of the eyelashes gives the eyes a different expression. 

12.1 12.2 12.3 

Adding Light 

12. Use a white paint marker to add dots inside the eyes. I prefer a brand called Edding 750, 

which you can order online. When adding the dots, make sure that they are in the same place 

on both eyes. For example, if you put them at two o’clock on the left eye make sure you do it 

at two o’clock on the right eye. 

13.1 13.2 13.3 

13. If you have time, you can add color around the pupil. It is tricky, but practice makes perfect. 


NOSES 

14. I draw two types of noses. 

The first is an upside-down U. 

It’s cute for little boys or girls 

up to about twelve years old. 

After that, I make an L shape, 

more angular for men and 

more rounded for women. 

14.1 14.2 14.3 

MOUTHS 

Female Mouth 

For girl mouths, draw three little circles with a red permanent 

marker. Connect the dots on the two sides. Once you fill 

it in, it becomes a heart! 

Draw a slightly curved line with a U shape on the top for 

both sides. If you do it on one side it changes from a smile to 

more of a smirk. 

Male Mouth 

15. Drawing a mouth for a 

male needs to be very simple. 

They are more angular when 

compared to a female mouth. 

Silly Mouth 

16.1 16.2 16.3 

16. Draw a half smile. Next 

draw a slanted U shape for the 

bottom of its mouth. Fill in 

the opening of its mouth with 

black—or you can draw a red 

tongue first and then fill above 

and around it with black. TNC 

Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell is an award-winning balloon artist from the Portland, Oregon area. You may 

reach her by e-mail at oddballoon@gmail.com or visit her website at www.myfriendandiproductions.com. 


Bebop’s Alley 

Workshops 

Spotlight on clowning 

Bebop offers Clown Alley workshops to 

meet the needs of your Alley Members. 

Her workshops are entertaining and 

educational. She is an experienced instructor, 

performer and workshop leader. 

References available at your request. Visit 

Bebop’s world at 

www.bebopsworld.com 


How to… 

String Your 

Clown Nose 

1 2 

3 4 5 

6 7 8 

By Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 


To string or not to string, that is the 

question. I’m a very physical clown, and 

I was always nervous that one day my 

nose would fly off during a performance. 

Also, I do a lot of hospital clowning, and 

sometimes when my nose adhesive would 

get moist from the occasional tears, my 

nose would not stay on. So, years ago I 

figured out how to add “string” to my 

clown nose. Now I no longer have to worry 

about it falling off. I would like to share 

my process with you. 

SUPPLIES: 

1 ProKNOWS clown nose 

5mm elastic jewelry cord 

1 sewing needle with an eye big enough 

for the string to go through 

Hot glue or Super Glue 

Photo 1. You can find clear elastic jewelry 

cord at Michaels or Hobby Lobby or 

online. I use 5mm because it is not very 

visible but is still quite strong. (If you use 

a larger size than this, the string will be 

noticeable.) 

Cut off a piece of cord that will fit 

around your head and add three inches. 

Photo 2. Tie several knots in one end 

of the cord. This cord unravels very easily 

so be patient and try to overlap each knot 

onto itself. 

Photo 3. Thread the cord through the 

needle and leave about four inches hanging 

off one side of the needle. Don’t use too big 

of a needle because it will leave a big hole 

in the nose and your cord might not stay 

securely. Put your nose on to determine 

a spot that the cord will go through. Not 

too low or the nose will flip over when you 

put it on. Not too high or the nose will 

pop up when you’re wearing it. 

Photo 4. Now poke the needle through 

the nose and pull the cord until the knot 

rests on the inside of the nose. Don’t 

pull too tightly because the knot may 

come undone. 

Photo 5. Poke the needle though the 

front of the nose exactly opposite the first 

hole. Pull your needle though the nose 

until the lose part of the thread emerges 

through the hole. 

Photo 6. Now very carefully take the 

needle off the elastic cord. Be careful not 

to pull the cord back through the hole. Put 

the nose on and very gently pull the cord 

until your nose fits snugly and comfortably. 

Carefully take it off. 

Photo 7. Tie several knots in the cord 

where it felt secure when you tried it on. 

You don’t need to cut the string yet if it’s 

too long. Sometimes it’s easier to leave it 

until you’re completely done. Carefully 

try the nose on to make sure your cord is 

the correct length. If it’s too tight or loose 

adjust the knots to the proper area. 

Now you will need to glue the knots in 

place. I use hot glue. But you have to be 

sure the glue is not too hot or it will melt 

the cord and you’ll have to start all over. 

Flatten the glue while it is still warm. Try 

not to make the glue too thick or lumpy. 

Your nose won’t fit right if you apply too 

much glue. Or you can try Super Glue 

if you want. I’ve never used Super Glue 

so I’m not quite sure how strong it is. 

Theoretically, it should work. 

Photo 8. If there is any excess cord you 

can now cut that off. Try your nose on and 

make sure it’s comfortable. If it is, then 

you’re done! Ta da! 

I’ll share a little secret. When I go 

clowning, I put a dot of nose glue on the 

inside of the corners of the clown nose to 

hold it in place. Since I have a large nose 

my clown nose will move if I don’t put a 

bit of glue on it. 

Now go do some somersaults and jumping 

jacks and have some fun! 

Want to get in touch with Julie “Lovely 

Buttons” Varholdt? Reach her by e-mail at 

lovelybuttons@cox.net or visit her online at 

www.lovelybuttons.com. TNC 

CLOWN 

CALENDAR 

July 2–5, 2016 

International Brotherhood of Magicians 

Convention 

San Antonio, Texas 

www.magician.org 


Discover Santa 

Branson, Missouri 

www.discoversanta2016.com 


Fellowship of Christian Magicians 

Nashville, Tennessee 

www.fcm.org 


Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp 

Buffalo, Minnesota 

www.mooseburger.com/moosecamp 

August 1–7 , 2016 

International Clown Week 

August 8–12, 2016 

KIDabra 25th Anniversary Convention 

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 

www.kidabra.org 

August 22–26, 2016 

American Clown Academy 

Newark, Ohio 

www.americanclownacademy.com 

September 7–11, 2016 

South East Clown Association Convention 

Altamonte Springs, Florida 

www.southeastclownassoc.org 

September 21–25 

Texas Clown Association Convention 

San Angelo, Texas 

www.texasclownassociation.com 

November 6–10, 2016 

Western Region Clown 

Association Convention 

Las Vegas, Nevada 

www.wrcaconvention.org 

April 25–30, 2017 

COAI Convention 

Kansas City, Missouri 

www.coai.org 

GH 

NEWS 

Send event information to 

thenewcalliope@gmail.com with 

Clown Calendar in the subject line. 


Library Shows 

Check ’Em Out! 

BY SAMUEL PATRICK SMITH 

Summer reading programs at public libraries provide a fun venue for clowns and other 

entertainers. Parents frequently accompany their children, which creates a built-in 

measure of crowd control. The shows are usually performed indoors in a pleasant setting. 

Typical fees for such shows are on a level with school performances. 

Because many children’s librarians plan well ahead, it’s not too early to begin contacting 

them for appearances during their summer reading programs. 

Here are some tips for successful library performances. 

• Send a press release, an 8" x 10" photo, and posters to the librarian when you 

send in your show agreement. The point of booking a guest performer is to draw 

children to the library, so providing the proper promotional material makes the 

librarian’s life easier. Newspapers frequently run press releases word-for-word, so 

make it good! 

• Posters add a professional touch to the performance. Sometimes librarians forget 

to put up the posters, but they frequently do use them. As Fetaque Sanders always 

said, the show begins when the posters go up. This advertising material gets the children 

and their parents ready for you. It’s kind of a warm-up routine! 

• During the show, emphasize what the library means to you. I do this by talking 

about what I learned from books when I was growing up. I frequently mention the 

magic of books and reading during the show. Over and over, I encourage the children 

to read. 

• Demonstrate a clown routine, skit, or magic trick you learned directly from a 

library book. 

• Arrive early to have quiet time to set up the show. 

• Even in a small room, set up a sound system. A room can become packed with 

children who arrive minutes before show time. Having good sound gives you control. 

I’ve sometimes regretted not setting it up, but I’ve never regretted having it 

available even if I didn’t use it. 

• Respect the patrons. A show in a small library may be located in a room where 

people are reading and researching. First, I see if another location is available. If 

not, I do the show pretty much as I would otherwise, but with less volume than I 

would use in a separate meeting room. Those who know me will laugh, wondering 

how I could make myself any calmer. But even if you’re relatively quiet already, an 

occasional reference to the people in 

the library, and a softer tone of voice 

lets them know that you, the performer, 

respect their space. On the 

other hand, I do not try to hold back 

any of the kids’ reactions. Let ’em 

roar. That’s their noise, not yours! 

• Encourage the librarians to pull 

the clowning, magic, and puppetry 

books and display them on a table. 

Draw attention to them at the end 

of your show so the children will 

check them out. 

Don’t worry about the size of the audience. 

I’ve done library shows for five kids 

and for hundreds. At one library show, 

held off campus in a community center, 

I arrived, set up the show, and waited for 

people to arrive. There were no kids and 

no library personnel around. Finally two 

children arrived with their mothers. I 

said, “You’re in luck! You have your choice of 

the front row OR the back row! Take your 

pick.” I started the show, and eventually a 

few other families drifted in. Regardless, 

I would have been fine with having two 

kids in the audience. If I make a positive 

impact on even one child, it’s been a day 

well spent. 

Include everyone. At one show, a boy 

in a wheelchair appeared to be 90% incapacitated. 

He could not move any of 

his limbs. Frequently in my show, I have 

Continued on page 53 


Get Organized 

with Miz Daisy 

HOW-TO 

By Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke 

THE MAGNETIC BOARD 

If you read my article, “From Mess to Message,” in the March/April issue, you 

know I’ve been on a journey to tidy my clown space and get my clown toes tingling 

again. One of the main reasons I started that journey was because every time I was 

ready to head to an event I couldn’t find my nose, tape, or nametag. I thought I was 

going to organize my clown space, but it turned out that simplifying (removing!) what 

I no longer needed, used, wanted, or “sparked joy” was the answer. In an earlier attempt 

to get organized I started using magnets on my nametags. When I ran across 

a magnetic board in my hoards of 

stuff, an idea came to mind. Not only did I magnetize my nametags, but I did 

that with my noses and some other accessories as well. I remember Aurora 

“BeBop” Krause sharing that her event wasn’t finished until everything was put 

away when she arrived home. I have adopted that practice. I let my family know 

that I need thirty minutes when I get home to unpack and put my tools away, 

and then I can be wife and mom again. I am fortunate to be able to enter my 

clown space directly from the garage, so it’s much easier to make that practice a 

habit. My board is in plain sight, so my nose, nametag, and other accessories are 

immediately returned to their proper place. 

I like to save money when I can, so discovering this board that I had picked 

up at a yard sale worked out perfectly. You can purchase one, but first see what 

you have lying around. You could use a cookie sheet or another metal pan that 

would attract your magnets. 

Speaking of magnets, they are not all created equal. I’ve found the best magnets 

at Lowe’s. They are heavy duty compared to a crafting magnet you’d find 

at Joann’s. I use Super Glue to attach them, and they hold up great. Now every 

time I see this board I feel accomplished—and that sparks joy! TNC 

Nametags, noses, and accessories are attached to a 

magnetic board for easy access. 

I hope this has inspired you in some way. I look forward to hearing about your 

organizing ideas and successes. E-mail me at crissy@mizdaisyentertainment.com. 

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SPECIAL PAGES (4 Color ONLY) 

Outside Back Cover: $550 

Inside Front & Inside Back: $500 (full) - $300 (1/2) 



Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt 

Alley Happenings 

Alleys are a wonderful part of COAI. We need alleys because that’s where clowns 

grow and learn and then pass on what they know to the next generation. I don’t 

know where I would be without the people in my alley who took me under their wings 

twenty-four years ago. They showed me the right way to put on make-up. (Turns out 

you have to powder!) They taught me fun new comedy bits (“Open, open, open…”) 

and gave me the love and nurturing to help get me on the road to success. 

March has come and gone, and it turns out Alley Renewal forms were due in 

March. I’ve sent out several mass group e-mails to all the contact people I have on 

file, along with the new renewal form. If you’re not sure if your alley has renewed for 

2016, please take the time to give the Alley Director a call or shoot an e-mail. It only 

takes a minute to ask. This is how we keep in touch with you, so please take a minute 

to do the right thing. 

We have had four alleys close down in the past year. That is sooooooo sad, and it 

makes me even sadder to think of all that amazing talent not being passed on. Please 

take care of your alleys and share what you know with the younger generation. If you 

have a clown school in your alley, yay for you! If you don’t, then think about adding 

one to your yearly schedule. There are many alleys that put on incredible clown 

schools each year and bring in many, many new clowns from the community. This is 

how our art is passed on, this is how our art survives, this is how we all grow. 

One of the best and most successful 

alleys running a clown school every year 

is Toby’s Clown Alley in Lake Placid, 

Florida. I’ve been there several times and 

each time I am blown away by this alley. 

One of our Convention Best in Clowns, 

Crissy Melnitzke, came from that alley. 

The contact person to e-mail is Al Pelski 

at sanda3334@embarqmail.com if you 

would like to chat with him about what it 

is they do and how you too can keep your 

alley thriving. 

Remember, we are here for you guys. 

And it only takes a minute to pick up the 

phone and ask a question. The new Alley 

Director’s contact information will be in 

the front cover of the July/August issue 

when and if you need her. I’m signing off 

as your Alley Director for the last time. It 

has been an honor and a pleasure being 

here to help you all and to try to keep the 

alleys thriving and prosperous. If you need 

me, I’m still here—just doing a different 

job for COAI. Cyber hugs to you all, and 

I’m passing on some Mad Clown Love! 

TNC 



CLOWNS OF AMERICA INTERNATIONAL 

SOLICITUD DE INICIACION Y RENOVACION 

Nombre 

Apellidos 

_________________________________________________ 

Dirección: 

_________________________________________________ 

Ciudad: Estado: Código Postal: País: 

_________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________ 

_________________________________________________ 

Número de Teléfono: 

E-mail: 

_________________________________________________ 

Fecha de Nacimiento: 

Edad: Masculino/Femenino: 

_________________________________________________ 

Nombre de Payaso/a: 

Afiliación: Nombre del alley 

_________________________________________________ 

Número de COAI (renovación): 

_________________________________________________ 

Recomendado por: Numero de COAI del Recomendando: 

Regale Una Membresía 

o Por favor regale la membresía a la persona indicada en esta solicitud 

o Deseo permanecer anónimo. 

o Deseo que usted me identifique al recipiente. 

o Deseo escribir una nota. 

________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________ 

Por favor dénos su nombre y número de teléfono para poder ponernos en 

contacto con usted si es necesario. Si usted desea quedarse anónimo, 

marque la casilla indicada arriba y no revelaremos su identidad. 

_________________________________________________ 

Nombre 

#Teléfono 

Cuotas Anuales de Socios 

o Membresía Individual: ..........................................$40 

r Membresía oIndividual: Membresía . . Mayor . . . de . . edad . . .(65 . .$40 +): ................................$30 

r Membresía De por vida: . . . . . . . . . $1,000 

r Membresía oMayor Membresía de edad Junior (65 +): Joey . . (jóvenes . . . .$30 8-15): r .............................$30 

Membrecia E Nacional: . . . . . . . . . $30.00 

r Membresía oJunior Membresía Joey (jóvenes Familia: 8-15): ...........................................$20 

. . .$30 r Membrecia E Internacional: . . . . . . . $20.00 

r Membresía oFamilia: *en dólar Americano 

Membresía . . . De . . por . . vida: . . ...................................... . . .$20 

$1,000 

• Los mayores de edad deben tener 65 años o más durante el año de renovación o la inscripción. 

Los Junior Joeys deben tener 8 a 15 años en el año de inscripción. 

• Los niños de la edad de 8 a 15 pueden unirse como Miembro de Familia o Junior Joey. Los 

miembros de familia pueden ser de cualquier edad. 

• Socios De por vida reciben la revista The New Calliope. Socios de Familia no reciben una copia 

de la revista The New Calliope. 

Método de Pago 

o Cheque a nombre de: _________ 

o Visa 

Firma y Teléfono: (Se requiere para las tarjetas de crédito) Número de Teléfono: ___________________ 

o MasterCard Número de Tarjeta de Crédito _______________________________________________________ 

o Discover Fecha de Expiración : _________________ Código de Verificación (3 dígitos) ___________________ 

___________________________________________ 

Firma 

Clasificación de Membresía 

Enviar solicitud a: 

Clowns of America, International, Inc. (COAI), P.O. Box 122, Eustis, FL 32727 USA 

Teléfono 1-877-816-6941 • Fax 352-357-7166 • Página Web: www.coai.org 

Todas las membresías en COAI son anuales. 


Eric Stephen Seidel 

“Recycle the Clown” 

z LAST 

WALK-AROUND 

l 

Eric Stephen Seidel, 73, of Midlothian, Virginia, 

who brought joy to so many as Recycle the 

Clown, passed away Saturday, May 7, 2016 after a 

battle with cancer. His final days included poignant 

visits with family and friends, much laughter and many tears, but also the distribution of 

many red noses and the occasional making of balloon swords. He was born in Montgomery 

County, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 1943. His father, Stephen Seidel, immigrated from 

Germany through Ellis Island, and his mother, Emily Lisius, the daughter of Lithuanian 

immigrants, moved to Richmond when he was a young child. Eric was an alumnus of 

Benedictine High School, Malvern Prep School in Pennsylvania, and the former Frederick 

College. He was a proud U.S. Marine veteran. Eric taught school and later became a 

route salesman, where he made many friends of people and pooches. He became involved 

in clowning in the early 

1990s. Bill Lohman and 

Bob Brown captured the 

essence of this unique man 

in their Richmond Times 

Dispatch article: “Facing 

the end of life with a smile 

and green wig.” He is survived 

by his wife of thirty-two 

years, Nancy Scott 

Nelson Seidel; daughters 

Robin Seidel Rennells 

and her husband Darryl of 

Raleigh, North Carolina, 

and Shani Seidel and her 

husband Steve Pike of Ashburn, Virginia; grandchildren Hope and Faith Rennells and 

Chaz Allison; Nancy’s two children, Jan Brett Smith and her husband Berny of Louisa, 

Virginia, and Hutt Williams and his wife Teresa of Warsaw, Virginia; grandchildren of 

the heart, Cheryl, Dana, Brette, Brandon, Jordon, Forrest, Lexy, and Tory. Eric’s extended 

families included Virginia Clown Alley #3, Camera Club, and the Lifelong Learning 

Institute. A celebration of Eric’s life was held in April so he could enjoy it with his friends 

and family. Submitted by Mike “Bonkers” Cox TNC 

NEWS 

Library Shows, Continued from page 48 

children clap their hands or throw magic 

“woofle dust” to make things happen. In 

this performance, I did that a few times, 

but about half the time, I had everyone 

blink instead, which was something I 

found the boy in the wheelchair could 

do. After the show, his mother came up 

and thanked me for including him. She 

said, “I knew what you were doing, and 

I appreciate that more than you know.” 

Promote the next event. It’s easy to 

find out before the show when their next 

program will take place. Frequently, 

libraries prepare flyers listing all of the 

programs for the summer. At the end of 

the show, I tell the children (and their 

parents) to be sure to come back next 

Tuesday, same time, same place, for the 

special program they’re having. This 

helps fulfill the reason they hired me 

in the first place: to attract children to 

the library, not just once, but again and 

again. 

Consider whether you are right for 

this market. If you don’t care for books 

or reading, don’t like children, are uncomfortable 

with the parent/child mix in 

library show audiences, or have a show 

too large or inappropriate for the limited 

space you may find at some libraries, 

then by all means, try a different market. 

Everyone has unique talents, or a 

unique combination of abilities. I have 

found that library shows are perfect for 

me. I love books, my show is appropriate 

for children and also for adults, and 

my material can be easily adapted to the 

rooms and limited facilities libraries have 

available. On the other hand, I’ve found 

that I am not very good at outdoor festivals 

or trade shows, so I decline offers to 

perform at those events. The secret is to 

find a venue that matches your gifts and 

personality. Once you do that, the rest is 

pure magic. TNC 

Send obituaries, tributes, and photos for “The Last Walk-Around” to 

thenewcalliope@gmail.com. 

Samuel Patrick Smith is the author of nine 

books and the co-author of two children. He 

makes his home in Eustis, Florida, with his 

wife Laurel—your cheerful and dedicated 

COAI Business Office manager! Contact 

Sammy by e-mail at sammy@spsmagic.com. 


Welcome, 

NEW MEMBERS! 

Jel “Jelly Skittles” Aga FL 

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Matthew “Bugaboo” Roach OH 

Janis “Mayor Clancey” Roberts GA 

Jerriely “AlgarabÃ a” Rodriguez Puerto Rico 

Danny Rodriguez Morales Puerto Rico 

Hector Alejandro “Bimbo” Roman Arroyo Puerto Rico 

Julia “Payasa Lolalina” Rosado Puerto Rico 

Maria A. “Mary Kuchy” Rosado Crespo Puerto Rico 

Gabriella “Floppy Shoes” Schuldenfrei ID 

Judith “Judy Tudy” Seidel PA 

Colleen Smith US 

Lorene “Banjo and Huckleberry” Stadig CO 

Costakis “Cosmo Hardy” Stephanides United Kingdom 

Staci “Trixie” Wight FL 

Christina “Happy Tea Clown” Williams US 

Ian “Smartii Pants ” Williams Scotland 


GH 

A big thank you to those who have 

recently gifted memberships to COAI! 

Membership Gifters 

Doris Lane 

Terri Vavak 

Shelly Smith


2016 

CONVENTION 

CIRCUS CIRCUS • LAS VEGAS

The New Calliope - May/June 2016

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