The New Calliope – March/April 2016

For Members of Clowns of America International
March / April 2016
Volume 33 • Number 2

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
PO Box 632
Stayton, OR 97383
503.767.2503 (H)
503.949.3077(C)
molasses.clown@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
209 Obi Obi Road
Mapleton, Qld. 4560
Australia
+61 7 5445 7980
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 • March/April 2016

March / April 2016
Volume 33 • Number 2
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
May/June 2016—April 1
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
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,
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes
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Office Manager • Post Office Box 122,
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The New Calliope articles are protected
by U.S. copyright and international
treaties and may not be copied without
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Calliope editorial content and graphics
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© 2016 COAI
Clowns of America International, Inc.
COVER DESIGN BY
REGINA WOLLRABE AND RÉGIS SUDO
OUR COVER
4 Lifetime Achievement Award: Albert Alter Sarah Haines
7 Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom King Jessica King
HOW-TO
13 The Importance of a Pause Aurora “Bebop” Krause
17 Two-balloon Monkey Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell
25 When Business Equals Busy-ness By Dan “Fitzwilly” Langwell
INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
12 How I Reignited My Love of Clowning Jim “Soapy” Dixon
14 Junior Joeys Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe
15 The History of Clowns and Clowning Eileen “Silly Sally” Shafer
18 From Mess to Message Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
10 From the President Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger
11 Vice President’s Report Mike “Bonkers” Cox
20 Meet the Candidates 2016 Declarations
26 How to Vote Online
27 2016 Official Ballot
29 From the Membership Director Teresa “Blondi” Gretton
34 Alley Happenings
NEWS
33 Clown Calendar
35 The Last Walk-Around
37 Snapshots
38 COAI Annual Convention Registration
MISCELLANEOUS
2 Officers, Directors, and Committees
30 Our Good Cheer List
31 COAI Registration and Renewal Form
32 Formulario de Applicacion y Renovacion
34 Membership Gifters
39 Welcome, New Members
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 3
4
7
12
14
17

OUR COVER
Two outstanding COAI members will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2016 COAI Convention in Las Vegas,
Nevada. Albert “Clem” Alter, nominated by Angel Ocasio, and Tom “Tom E. Boy” King, nominated by Jeanne Woska, will
each receive the award, presented by President Glenn Kohlberger, during the Annual Banquet on Friday, April 8.
The Lifetime Achievement Award (LTA) is an acknowledgement of superior contributions to COAI and outstanding achievement
in the clown arts.
The goal of granting a COAI Lifetime Achievement Award is to highlight the tremendous accomplishments attained by COAI
members working within the scope of COAI’s organizational efforts and to ensure that they are more widely known by the membership
and the public at large. This is not an annual award. Given that opportunities to acknowledge a lifetime of achievements
are finite, up to two Lifetime Achievement Awards may be given in a single year.
To be eligible for this award, a candidate must be at least a twenty-year member of COAI with continuous good standing. The
nominee should be a member who continues to be a spokesperson for COAI and the art of clowning. Above all, the nominee
should support COAI through teaching the art of clowning at COAI Conventions or COAI-sponsored events, chairing a COAI
convention, and/or writing articles in The New Calliope.
Albert “Clem” Alter
By Sarah Haines
Albert Alter is a remarkable clown
with a great sense of character. His
strengths include his timing, slapstick,
and old-time classic vaudeville physical
comedy. He has served on the board of
Rose City Clowns many times, and was
the Regional Vice President for COAI.
He is a very caring person, and his
clowning work in hospitals is very important
to him.
4 The New Calliope • March/April 2016
He has enjoyed performing since he
was young and has performed in one way
or another throughout his life. His first
public appearance was in a first grade
play. “I was a very short Abe Lincoln,”
Albert recalls. A quote from Red Skelton
inspired him to direct his love of performing
into clowning: “I believe one of
the noblest professions is being a clown.”
Albert was born in Greeneville,
Tennessee. He began clowning in middle
school, performing with a friend.
They were a hobo/tramp duo, going by
the names “Ho” and “Bo.” Together they
performed in local fundraising shows,
such as “Gun Fire Follies,” to raise money
for the police and fire department, and
“Kiwanis Kapers,” raising funds for local
charities, women’s social clubs, and book
clubs. “We would do a short skit that
would involve verbal humor and sight
gags, and end with us doing a song and
dance routine,” Albert remembers. They
performed together through middle
school, but were not able to continue
into high school, as his partner went to a
private boarding high school.

The ever-charming Clem.
He attended the University of Notre
Dame and earned a degree in Chemical
Engineering. After working as a chemical
engineer, he applied to Ringling
Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown
College in 1974, but was rejected. sIn
1975, he moved to Portland, Oregon.
While there, he noticed that the local
Parks and Recreation Department was
offering a class in mime. Since one question
on the Clown College application
had asked about his mime skills, he took
the opportunity to develop his skills. It
turned out that the class was taught by
a woman who had studied with Étienne
Decroux, father of modern mime. He
studied mime with her, and in 1997 they
co-founded a physical theater company.
While with the theater, he performed
as several different types of characters.
Finally, after applying a total of four
times, he was accepted into the Ringling
Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown
College in 1981.
One of the moments he is proudest of
in his clowning career was when he was
finally accepted into the clown college.
After graduating from Ringling Bros.
and Barnum & Bailey Clown College,
he clowned with the Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Red Unit. “It was like
getting ‘The Good Clowning Stamp of
Approval’ in those days. It opened doors
for me,” Albert recalls. He was an assistant
director at the Ringing Brothers
Clown College in Japan and helped
to establish the first Clown College in
Tokyo, Japan. He was an influence on
many Joeys, including Japanese clowns
Roni and Gigi.
In 1982, he moved on to other things.
“I ran away from the circus to join the
suburbs,” Albert jokes. “I had fallen in
love with a woman in Portland, as I left
to tour with the circus. We were engaged
and in the fall of ’82 she broke it off and
suggested I stay in the circus. I decided
maybe if I returned to Portland she
would change her mind. So I left the
show, returned to Portland, and… she
still said, no.”
He met his wife of thirty years about
a year later, at a clown conference.
“Sometimes in life something may happen
and you will think it is the worst
thing that can happen in your life,” he
says, “but then later you will realize it
Albert shares smiles with a fan in Cambodia.
was a blessing, as you were saved for
something far better to happen in your
life.” He now clowns in a variety of
places, including theaters, colleges, art
centers, schools, and prisons. He also
does workshops on mime, clowning,
circus skills, and “science of the circus.”
He gets excited when young people are
enthusiastic about performing a theatre
piece that they have put a lot of time into
creating.
The driving force behind his clowning
is his love of life. He feels that clowning
has taken him to places that he never
would have been invited to otherwise,
and that clowning has opened doors for
him.
Many people have inspired Albert
and influenced him as a clown, including
Red Skelton and Lou Jacobs, and
his parents and family. He finds ways to
learn from almost anyone. “By observing
life and other performers, you can learn
what to do, and what not to do.” He considers
himself fortunate to live in an area
PHOTO BY ANGEL OCASIO
Left: At a Ringling reunion at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. Right: Susan and Albert had a clown wedding the day after their traditional ceremony.
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 5

where there are many clowns and other
circus performers, both young and old.
Albert is also an inspiration to people
around him. Regina Wollrabe saw
Albert perform when she was fifteen and
learning mime. She considers him one
of her mentors, and today they are good
friends. “I am a fan of Albert and his
work,” she says. “Mostly because of who
he is as a person. He has such a compassionate
heart and loves to bring humor
into any situation to lighten it up.”
Angel Ocasio, Albert’s longtime performing
partner, remembers: “When I
first saw Albert perform, I learned that
clowning was more than just circus skills;
it’s about life—and he lives it. He is one
of the few clowns I’ve seen who can wear
his heart on his nose.”
According to Albert, the key to spontaneous
humor is to be observant and in
the moment, but to think before speaking so that an attempt at humor doesn’t
make the audience feel bad. He also says that it helps to be prepared. “Feel free
to use a line or move you have used before,” he advises.
Albert is great with clown characters, and understands the importance of
developing a dynamic, growing clown. “Be your own clown—it is
the only one you have. The more you clown, the more experiences
you will have and more chances to
discover the clown that comes from you,”
he says. “Your clown character does not
come from perfect make-up, an expensive
costume, or a special nose, but
from deep inside of you. You
have to discover your clown
character, nurture it, and allow
it to grow.”
He has a heart for the next generation
of clowns. His advice to beginning clowns
is to, “Never underestimate the power of the
clown. Be open to growth and possibilities.
Risk saying yes to life and ‘scary opportunities,’
especially as you clown. You never know
where you will go until you are there. Be the
best clown you can be at that moment in your
life. Hopefully you are better than yesterday and
will improve tomorrow, but for the moment you are
the clown your audience sees, be it one child or five
hundred people. You represent all the clowns that have
come before you, all those clowning today, and all
those who will clown.”
Albert wants his audience to feel a wide range
of emotions. “I try to give people an opportunity
6 The New Calliope • March/April 2016
Above: In this 1960 photo, Albert
teams up with a school chum to form
the comedy team of Ho and Bo.
Right: Albert Alter walking tall in
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus.
Albert Alter and Angel Ocasio.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL FANT
to laugh and forget any troubles they might have
at the moment.”
Four times a month he clowns
at Randall Children’s Hospital,
both on the floors and in the
dedicated Children’s Emergency
Department. The clowning work
he does there and at other children’s
hospitals—and clowning in places
like Cuba, Vietnam, and Cambodia in
orphanages, hospitals, and churches—is
what he is most passionate about. “I
love the clowning I do in the hospital,”
Albert says. “I think it is the best
clowning I do—the most enjoyable and
rewarding for me. I love giving people an
opportunity to laugh and be transported
to another space.”
Through his work at the hospital,
Albert has the opportunity to develop
a unique relationship with some
of the children. “Many are treated
over a series of months or years for
cancer, or other critical issues. You
develop a bond, and sometimes you see

them years later after they have grown
up. But I also have experienced the loss
of some as well.”
Working with children in hospitals
leads to some special moments, little
things that stand out and are remembered
for years. Albert refers to these
experiences as “moments of grace,” a
term that he got from a retired minister,
who also was a clown. Albert had
visited him in the hospital after he had
surgery, and he later shared with Albert
that he started hospital clowning because
of his visit. He said that the visit
was “a moment of grace.”
“If I do a really great show and the
audience loves it, I say I was in ‘the
zone,’” Albert says. “But in the hospital,
I call them ‘moments of grace.’ I now
look for moments of grace in my daily
life. We all can receive and give these
moments in our lives, even when we are
not in costume.”
Sometimes these moments stand
out as they are happening, and Albert
will walk out of a room knowing that
he has made a difference. People who
were scared and in pain are smiling and
laughing—and not just the patient, but
their friends and families as well.
Sometimes, however, it’s not clear
at the time how special it was to the
patient and family. Many times, a visit
seemed routine to Albert, only to find
out later how much of a difference it
made. “There was a young patient in the
Children’s Emergency Department,”
he shares as an example. “And as I was
leaving, his mother said I had visited
him years ago in the pediatric unit. She
took out her smartphone and found a
picture of me with him from that time.”
Another example can be seen in a letter
he received from an eighteen-year-old
girl he met in the emergency room a little
while back. “You made me laugh so hard I
forgot my pain,” she writes. “I just wanted
to thank you for what you do…. You even
made my parents feel better and that is
amazing. There are not enough people in
the world like you.” TNC
Tom “Tom E. Boy” King
By Jessica King
In the twenty-five years of Tom “Tom
E. Boy” King’s clowning career, he has
been the author or subject of many articles.
At the notification of his Lifetime
Achievement Award, I thought about
what else could be said about him to
those that know him best—our clown
family. When this award was created as
recognition of a lifetime of clowning, education,
and dedication to the art, it was
obvious to me how much this described
Tom as far back as he can remember.
As his wife, clowning partner, and best
friend, I hope to add a little more personal
insight about him.
Many of you know Tom as a fixture
with Clowns of America International.
He has served as President, Mid-East
Regional Vice President, and Director
of Conventions. Some of you may know
that he also has served on the board of
directors for the Mid-Atlantic Clown
Association and Kanawha Klowns
(COAI Alley 24). He also started Tom
E’s Troop Clown Alley.
Tom’s clowning history includes top
ten placements in every competition
category, Bo Dino Scholarship awards,
and a Hometown Hero award. He has
owned and co-owned many conventions
and workshops across America. From
Branson Clown Jam, Clown Vegas, and
Family Entertainers Workshops to Tom
Tom “Tom E. Boy” King.
E. Boy’s Boot Camp on the Road and
Clown Jubilee, Tom has worked tirelessly
to bring clown arts education to
all clowns of the United States, Canada,
and Mexico.
Tom will turn seventy on April 28.
That’s seventy years of an amazingly
full roller coaster of a life. I’ve heard so
many stories of his childhood antics
with his brothers Dan and Buck. Tom
was well known in his hometown of
Point Pleasant, West Virginia. I’m lucky
to recently have attended his fifty-year
high school reunion. To say he was remembered
would be an understatement.
Classmates flocked to Tom that weekend.
Tall tales that I had heard so many
On the road as advance clown for Cole Bros. Circus. Left: Biloxi, Mississippi. Center: Cape Coral, Florida.
Right: When “Tom E. Boy” is on, he’s on!
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 7

Tommy King, voted “Best Personality” in high
school.
times were actually verified. Yes, he was
a track star who was faster than lightning.
Yep, he was a football star until a
shoulder injury caused a sound that was
still talked about at the reunion. Sure,
he played baseball, and pretty much any
sport he had a chance to play. You can
spot him in numerous championship
photos lining the local pizza place.
The most interesting “Tommy King”
stories? How about the time he and his
friend Eddie re-painted the parking lot
of the school with lines for the buses
that went into a circle? Yep, imagine the
end of the yellow brick road. The parking
spots were altered to half the size
appropriate to fit an actual car. The next
morning they sat back laughing at the
melee until they were called to the principal’s
office! Then there was the night he
and some cohorts jokingly charged a toll
to oncoming cars crossing the bridge. Of
course in a small town, everyone knew it
was in fun and played along.
The truth and meaning of those stories
and how they relate to his clowning
career is shown in his spirit. Regardless
of his shenanigans, everyone around him
knows his intent is to make others laugh.
He shares his joy through being creative
and silly. He has a hilarious sense of
mischievousness.
At family reunions, where he is known
to be the quintessential entertainer, I
quickly discovered he looks like his dad,
but laughs and tells stories like his mom.
He always credits his mom for his clown
name of “Tom E. Boy,” but I don’t think
he has shared that she cried for joy when
he told her she was the inspiration. I
have heard the story of him packing up
his belongings in his baby carriage and
rolling it across the field. At the age of
five he had already mastered the art of
entertaining, declaring he was moving
and couldn’t be stopped. Of course, the
neighbors housed him until dinnertime.
His three wonderfully unique children,
Tom, Alia, and Rissie have all been
blessed with attributes of their dad. They
all carry a sense of humor and a fun
spirit that passes on to his many spirited
grandchildren. He has created a special
world of people who bring laughter,
creativity, entrepreneurship, and exploration
into the lives of many.
I remember the exact moment we
met. Before one word was spoken, one
thought flashed like a marquee in my
head. I don’t know how, but this man will
be important in my life. Honestly, at that
moment I never considered ten years
later I would be penning an article about
this man as my incredible husband. He
is the reason I have enjoyed such a rich
life of friends and adventures all over
the country. Undeniably he is my inspiration,
in both the art of clowning and
in perseverance. I’m sure that I am not
alone.
I spent hours studying him and his
performances. After work I would simply
go to his office and listen to him
talk of clowning with an intense look
in his eyes. His only words of caution?
“Don’t waste my time.” When sharing
his knowledge with other clowns, he
gives his all. He openly shares every trick
of the trade. In return, he only asks that
people use the information to move forward
in their clowning. The goal is to be
a better and more dedicated entertainer
and person.
Tom doesn’t just perform as a clown—
he lives his life as a clown. He takes the
life of clowning seriously. When he is on,
he is on! The energy expelled from this
man could power an entire city when he
Left: Tom E. Boy. Center: Jessica and Tom King. Right: Attending his fiftieth high school reunion. Turns out, all the stories are true!
8 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

Glimpses of the future Tom King in his high school yearbook as a leader
and prankster.
is on stage. And let’s be honest, the stage
follows him, not the other way around.
His ultimate goal in life is to be the
center of it all, living fully immersed in
enjoyment and sharing it with everyone
near and far.
The business of clowning is a subject
not to be taken lightly. Being late
is unacceptable. Being unprepared is
unacceptable. Pants are ironed, vest is
coordinated, and performing without a
hat is unimaginable. Training is on the
job. To Tom, the hardest work is behind
the scenes and the party time is, well,
his party time! There’s no reason not to
work.
Tom King: always ready to make people smile.
He taught me skills of scheduling,
keeping receipts, and following up with
every single client. He taught me to
value my worth, to carry myself as a professional,
and to expect to be treated as
one in return. However, he never forgets
the boss of the operation is the person
who does the hiring. Nothing works if
you don’t work for them!
As we all know, clowns experience
and portray a variety of emotions. We
are real, walking creatures of the earth
that exaggerate feelings and make our
characters larger than life. When we perform,
our primary goal is to make others
laugh. Real life shows us not every moment
is one for laughing. Throughout his
moments in life that don’t call for laughing,
he still shows the spirit of a clown.
He allows his emotions to shine through
as an example of perseverance and positive
attitude.
Every situation is a new opportunity to
share the art of clowning. After a major
fight with cancer in 2002, Tom actively
worked to develop a health and humor
program. Visiting a cancer support
group inspired him to teach patients to
think of themselves as survivors.
In 2012, he suffered a major stroke
that took some of his speech and language
centers in the brain. At first, he
could only say three words. After a year
of constant therapy visits and a monthlong
intensive, he is now even starting
a program to teach others with aphasia
how to clown. He teaches first responders
how to communicate and understand
others with aphasia, followed by a comedy
magic show.
In 2013, he spent a week in the hospital
during the COAI Convention in
Richmond, Virginia due to a sudden, serious
illness. The very day he left the hospital,
he insisted on being at the banquet
to celebrate the accolades of his fellow
Joeys. He doesn’t believe in giving up or
hiding his authentic self. He is, and will
always be, a symbol of the true American
clown and a constant devotee to Clowns
of America International. TNC
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 9

OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger
From the President
hope you are all packed and ready to fly, drive, pedal, or walk to Circus Circus, April
I 4-8, 2016. We have put together some of the greatest clown educators, entertainers,
competitions, and fun that we could find and stuck them all in the best atmosphere
that anyone—Elvis included—would love; Las Vegas! I hope to see you all there,
because this will be one convention you won’t want to miss. If you have not made your
reservation yet, there is still time to get on the phone and call 1-256-309-1153 or visit
our website at www.coai.org to check out all the fun. Or just knock on the door of
Circus Circus, April 4-8. It’s going to be a blast because it’s Vegas, baby!
We have come to that special time in our two-year term when we ask the members of
COAI to decide who they want running this fantastic organization for the next term,
2016-2018. I am very proud of the accomplishments the 2014-2016 Board of Directors
has achieved over the last two years. I would like to take this time to thank each one of
them for their time, energy, and consistent support to our membership and the future
of COAI. This board brought us into the twenty-first century not only financially, but
with a sharing of ideas, with eyes firmly on growing our membership, giving them a
true reason for being a member of this fine organization. Internet meetings—used by
our board, the Junior Joeys, and our Online Alley—were just the start. In the future, we
can bring lecturers into our conventions by reversing the process, while those lecturers
are sitting in their home or office. The possibilities are endless.
The COAI insurance is a value that our members have longed for through the years.
It has given our membership a fantastic insurance policy, at a great rate right here in our
own organization. It has been so effective that other organizations have now adopted
what our insurance policy has offered from day one—but COAI insurance still gives
you one full year no matter when you join, which the others cannot do!
This board unanimously approved the e-membership which allows all the rights of
a regular COAI membership, packaged in an electronic format. In other words, the
e-member receives everything (membership card, correspondence, voting privileges,
and even The New Calliope) electronically by e-mail or on our website (www.coai.org)
at a reduced price. This type of membership is open to everyone who desires to take
advantage of it.
Because of this board, we have offered more scholarships to more people during
this term than in any other recent year. The scholarships apply not just to convention
attendance, but through a board policy called Membership Scholarships, we have given
many people outside of North America the opportunity to become members of COAI
and experience it first-hand with all the benefits. We encourage them to continue with
us in the future—sort of a “try before you buy” theory. As a result, we have seen such
growth abroad that more than twelve countries outside of the United States will be
represented at our Thirty-first Annual Convention at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, April
4-8, 2016. Clowns of America International is living up to its name.
This is the first year that COAI has ever truly run our own convention. We have more
people registered to attend than we have seen in many years, and we are still a month
away. Once again, brought to you by our board.
Our Junior Joey program has grown by
leaps and bounds under the direction of
Regina Wollrabe, who was appointed by
our board. Now it is possible to have Junior
Joeys getting together in a meeting with
other Junior Joeys from within and beyond
the U.S. borders, rather than just at a local
alley meeting. This helps to nurture our
Junior Joey Program and also introduce
lifelong friends who might never have met
in any other scenario. This program was
also the pilot that developed the COAI
Online Alleys for adults who have no
local alley to attend. It gives COAI adult
members a chance to connect by Internet
with other COAI members worldwide
once a month from the comforts of their
living room. And that includes the monthly
lecturers as well!
I have been on many boards in the past,
but I want to take my clown hat off to
this group of board members for all that
they have accomplished, as well as their
willingness to remove most benefits of a
sitting board member over the last two
years. We are very lucky to have had such
a hard-working, selfless, and thoughtful
group on the board, and I can’t thank them
all enough.
As you can see on the ballot (pages
27-28), there is an Amendment section.
Amendments used to be only voted
on by those in attendance at a COAI
Convention, but that is no longer the
case. The Amendments will be discussed
in open forum at the convention, but the
opportunity to vote on them goes before
the entire membership on the voting
ballot. You can also find the ballot at
www.coai.org, and you can vote there.
Remember, only one ballot per member is
10 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

allowed. If someone tries to vote more than
once, all ballots will be rendered invalid.
Many of the board members have asked
for your vote to either stay in their position
or move to another position on the board.
But with every new board, there is always
the chance of some who decide not to
return. I would like to personally thank Jim
Caffrey (Director of Conventions), Pennie
Smith (Northwest RVP), and Lulu Mire
(South Central RVP) for their time, talent,
and friendship for the last few years. Each
has decided not to rerun for their position
on the board. You will all be missed,
but we wish you all good luck in your
next endeavors.
This leads us to me. I too will not rerun
at the end of this term. I have enjoyed
eight years on this board and the last four
years as your President. I have always said
that no president should serve more than
four consecutive years because with change
comes growth. So I intend to walk my talk
and have decided to step down and give
the next generation of officers the chance
to take this organization even further
down the path of success and prosperity. I
made a promise to our members in 2012 to
leave this organization in a better position
than when I took the office of President
four years ago. We are now financially
stronger, more successful, and have programs
in place to give our members the
best clown education. I could not ask for
more than that. I am thankful to have been
the first male President to have served
for more than one term, an honor I will
always cherish. As always, I thank you for
allowing me to serve as your President for
the last four years. I look forward to seeing
you all in Vegas, baby! TNC
2016 COAI Elections
Michael “Bonkers” Cox
The Vice President’s Report
The 2016 election will be held by a mail-in ballot included in this March/April
issue of The New Calliope or voting can be done electronically via the COAI website
(www.coai.org). Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked no later than June 7. If
your voting is done via www.coai.org, the ballot must be time stamped no later than
11:59 p.m. EST, June 7.
Please note:
•A majority vote is of the ballots returned for any particular office.
•Blank ballots do not count as a vote and do not affect the majority.
•Write-in votes will not be allowed.
•Your COAI membership number will be used instead of signature on ballot.
•Texas Mid-Cities Clown Alley #85 is COAI’s 2016 Election Coordinator. Ballots
will be counted by Alley #85. A big thank you goes out to Alley #85 for stepping up!
If you are mailing a ballot, send it to the following address:
Texas Mid-Cities Clowns
c/o Carrie Ray
413 East Ash Lane
Euless, Texas 76039
For this year’s elections, COAI has three vacant positions:
Northwest Regional Vice President
South Central Regional Vice President
North Central Regional Vice President
The COAI Bylaws state, “In the event that an office is not filled by an election, the
Board of Directors, at its first meeting after July, nominate and elect by majority ballot
the member to fill the offices which have not been elected at the regular election period.”
An “Open Call for Candidates” will be in the May/June issue of The New Calliope.
There are only two positions of the COAI Board being contested:
Northeast Regional Vice President
Southeast Regional Vice President
You can only vote for one of the above candidates if you live in that region. If you
have questions regarding which region you may live in, please refer to coai.org or contact
any officer (current officer’s name, phone numbers and email address is listed in each
issue of The New Calliope).
Most of all, please vote!
Michael Cox
COAI Executive Vice President
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 11

INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
How I Reignited
My Love of
By Jim “Soapy” Dixon
COAI Education Director
We all have or have
had mentors. As
the only thing that keeps what
we do alive in our common love call
clowning, mentors are the lifeblood
of entertainment.
Mentors teach us how to improve every time we perform. Without mentors, we as
clowns cannot continue to grow. I know, because I’ve been without a mentor for no less
than fifteen years. The man that taught and took me under his wing retired a decade ago.
Absent that consistent critiquing, I went from a fast path of improvement to what I can
only compare to trudging up stairs made of mud with concrete blocks tied to my feet.
A decade ago, I must admit, I was ready to enjoy some accolades instead of what
seemed to be the never-ending barrage of attacks. Now, after having been away from
working with my mentor, I can see his words were never attacks. They were this man’s
way of showing love for both me and the craft.
Today, I enjoy compliments and kind words from friends and future friends. They
are justification for the thousands of hours I’ve spent working so hard to hopefully be
what I’ve always wanted to be—a good entertainer. Kids are easy to entertain, they see
my act and take it as either funny or not funny. But that’s no reason to stop there and
that’s what I’ve done. I’ve stopped there.
Stagnation is a word we should all do our best to stay as far away from as we possibly
can. I am writing this because if it can happen to me it can happen to you. Having a
mentor is one of the best ways to escape the trap of stagnation. We may fall into this
trap by staying in our comfort zone, focusing on dollar signs, poor time management,
unwillingness to change, etc. But the root cause of stagnation is a lack of working with
a qualified mentor —someone who finds our deficits and points them out.
A mentor is the polish that will make our character shine. Without this polishing,
patina settles. No amount of compliments, awards, or praise can work that grime off
of our beautiful potential.
When a person is willing to talk to you in a way that makes you question your talent,
value that person with everything in you. They are gold, and those golden words of
critique need to be studied repeatedly without taking them to heart. Which is very
difficult to do, I admit.
So, after fifteen years of non-mentorship I met a lady with massive education and
experience who had the courage to tell me that I indeed have many areas I need
to improve upon. I must say that I feel
alive again! Having someone who isn’t
impressed by my work has lit a fire under
me like nothing I’ve done in a decade.
I labor in pain writing articles for this
publication and sometimes take weeks
to finish what is read in these pages, but
not this one. The fire is roaring and I’m
inspired again!
Don’t get me wrong, I have other mentors.
People who make suggestions and
criticize, but this person is brutal. I’ve given
her permission to hold nothing back, so
she doesn’t. Which brings me to another
point. You have to be ready to allow that
person the ability to be honest or you will
still be the potentially beautiful golden
vase covered with patina.
Listening without consideration is
worthless. Politics and religion are off
limits in so many circles because people
are unwilling to consider another person’s
point-of-view. Thus, there is no point for
a discussion. My advice is to ask for opinions,
listen, and consider the thoughts of
clowns you respect. You have nothing to
loose applying the wisdom of others to
your clowning.
Having a mentor is one of
the best ways to escape
the trap of stagnation.
In closing, if you are feeling comfortable
with what you do, I encourage you to seek
out a person better than you for honest
advice. People are usually more than willing
to help others improve if they can.
Not all fields of entertainment can boast
this, but the clowning world can. We are
some of the most kind, loving, and helpful
people in the world. Without exploring
mentorship I can guarantee you that at
one point you will fall into the dreaded
trap of stagnation.
Contact Jim Dixon at soapy@sillysoapy.
com or visit him at www.sillysoapy.com. TNC
12 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
The Importance
of a Pause
By Aurora “Bebop” Krause
Regardless of the size of your audience or the length of your show, well-placed
pauses in your presentation will make a tangible difference in the effectiveness of
your delivery. A pause is a moment of silence or hesitation. If you plan out your routines,
you’ll know where a pause will have the most effect, as well as how best to utilize
that moment. Catching your breath is certainly a good thing, but pauses offer more
than just a respiratory reprieve. Breaking up your flow allows you to insert a funny
facial expression, a subtle gesture, or even a ceremonious “Ta-Da!”. An intentional
pause works best when you’ve practiced your performance so that your pauses compliment
your pace and timing—but you also have to be in tune with your audience. You
can incorporate a pause to many different ends: for instance, transitioning, delivering
punchlines, or redirecting the audience’s attention to a particular person, place, or prop.
In clowning, whether you’re doing walk-arounds or a stage show, you should never
rush your routines. When you rush, the audience has no opportunity to laugh at
the punchlines. This lack of positive feedback in turn affects your performance energy.
A pause-less show can even tire out your audience as they struggle to keep up
with your quips and one-liners. When you provide a well-placed pause, complete
with funny expression or pose, you create an interaction that is both give and take.
When working with kids, it is especially
important to incorporate pauses into
your presentations. Small children lack
experience, and they don’t process what
they see very quickly. If you move too
rapidly from one routine to another they
will have difficulty keeping up, which
prevents them from enjoying the show.
Most of you are probably familiar with
the clown-in-trouble gimmick. This
pausing technique is particularly effective
for children’s shows. In this scenario,
the clown has trouble understanding the
difficult situation he or she is in. When
he or she pauses to think, the children
have the opportunity to acknowledge
the clown’s trouble and provide him
or her with directions or information
needed to help solve the problem.
Now that you see the importance of pauses,
the question becomes, how do you
incorporate them in your show? When
practicing your routine, determine where
an exaggerated bow or a flamboyant pose
fits best. Find your “Ta-Da!” moments.
For example, when the hat lands on your
head after the third try, pause to let the
peanut gallery feel good about your accomplishment.
If you’ve made a positive
connection with the audience, they will
always want you to succeed. So not only
will a pause here allow you to catch your
breath, but it will also give your crowd
the opportunity to ooo and ahh. These
are your “Ta-Da” moments, when the
audience has enjoyed your comedic
antics and you pause for the reward of
their acknowledgment and applause.
Whether in speaking, in acting, or in
music, there is always power in a pause.
Plan out your show with breaks placed
for maximum effectiveness. Practice
the routine with pauses in place, and
deliver them with as much precision
as you deliver your lines. When
shooting for positive audience reactions,
the importance is in the pause.
Bebop loves hearing from you! Visit her
at www.bebopsworld.com. TNC
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 13

INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
Junior Joeys
By Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe, Junior Joeys Chair
Hi, Junior Joeys!
I’m so excited about . . . you! Through our WebEx meetings, I
love seeing the progress our Junior Joeys are making. I’m looking
forward to seeing some of you at our COAI Convention and having
a week of clown fun together.
One of our outstanding Junior Joeys is Eileen “Silly
Sally”/“Harpa” Shafer from Jefferson City, Missouri. For a 4-H
project, she prepared a PowerPoint presentation on the history of clowning. She entered
a contest for delivering a Technology Assisted Speech and won first place!
Eileen credits Bruce “Charlie” Johnson for helping her with historical information
and topic ideas. This month’s column is based on her award-winning 4H presentation.
Before we get to her article, here’s a little bit about Eileen. She has been a clown
for four years. She plays the harp and drums, has done ballet for ten years, and loves
anything to do with clowning around.
Her mother, Marie, homeschools Eileen and got her involved in 4H around age
eight. Her sewing teacher, Kathy Nicholson, was a clown and inspired her to want to
be a clown at age nine. A year later, she went to a 4H workshop taught by a retired
circus clown named Mary Lee Gentry. Soon after, Eileen designed and sewed her first
clown costume. The name she almost picked for her clown character was “Jingle Bell
Jenny,” but after her mother mentioned she might get tired of hearing bells jingling on
her costume, she decided to name her clown character after her great-aunt Sally who
was very silly. So Eileen began developing the character, “Silly Sally.”
Eileen later convinced her mom to put on the grease paint and join her in her
clown adventures. So her mom became “Freckles.” Eileen has clowned at events like
the foster care program, her granddaddy’s seventy-fifth birthday, festivals, parades,
street fairs, and corporate events. She is a balloon twister, face painter, and performs
clown shows too. Eileen has another
character named “Harpa” who plays
the harp.
Besides her mom, there is only one
other clown in her town of 40,000.
Eileen says, “It’s neat to be a celebrity
in a child’s eyes, knowing that I will
be remembered for a lifetime.” When
she grows up she hopes to continue
clowning but also wants to be involved
in fashion—designing and sewing
clothes as well as clown costumes.
We are so proud of Eileen “Silly
Sally” Shafer and all of her accomplishments.
In learning about the
history of clowning, Eileen feels connected
to the history and tradition
of this age-old art and wants to help
carry it on to the next generation.
And now, here’s Eileen!
Above: Winning first place in the 4H
Technology-Assisted Speech category. Left:
Eileen as “Harpa.” Silly Sally.
14 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

The History of
Clowns and Clowning
By Eileen “Silly Sally” Shafer
Most people can go about their daily
lives and never take into the slightest
consideration how even the simplest of
things began. Just think, a whole lifetime
without asking yourself, “Who came up
with that anyway?” Being a thirteenyear-old
with a brain that doesn’t know
the difference between thinking time
and bedtime, I asked myself, “Where did
clowns originate?”
This was something I never would
have thought could keep me up half the
night wondering. In order to keep other
folks from facing the same fiasco, I will
get to the point of my writing: The history
of clowns and clowning.
Even from the earliest forms of civilization
(and well before) there was always
that one person who tried to brighten everyone’s
day. Over time this evolved into
a type of character, varying from place
to place and time to time. The earliest
records are of a pygmy who was court
fool in Egypt around the Fifth Dynasty
(approximately 2494–2345 B.C.). This
is certainly not the earliest clown by any
means, but obviously not the last.
Now let’s take a look over in North
America at the Native Indians. All tribes
had some form of clown which was typically
used in ceremonies throughout the
year. Most wore wooden masks painted
in red, black, white, and sometimes had
the natural color of the wood (sounds
familiar, does it not?). The Indians knew
that laughter is good for your health;
think about it, hundreds of years ago,
Native Americans knew about giggle
therapy while modern science is just now
figuring that out! What makes it even
more impressive is the fact they figured
out laughing opens willingness to learn.
I find that rather ingenious.
Digging to the other side of the earth,
in China we find the story of Yu Sze,
the court jester who saved the lives of
thousands of workers when he teased
the emperor out of white washing the
enemy side of the Great Wall of China.
An ancient clown having a major role
in the course of history is something I
never would have imagined. The Asian
people obviously had a sense of humor
considering that clowns and clown-like
characters were popular in puppetry.
Some of the characters are essential elements
to many other forms of theatre
throughout Asia even to this day.
Taking a step through time and space,
we find ourselves in Europe during the
Middle Ages—the peak time for court
jesters. The jester would not only add
comic relief to a royal court, but act as
a conscience in the kings (or emperors)
important decisions. Jesters could poke
fun at his majesty’s ideas or actions without
worry of being imprisoned, such as
Albert Fratellini, the first clown to don the iconic
red nose.
Top: Charlie Chaplin (right) in the 1914 Keystone film, Making a Living. Bottom: The Marx
brothers in their 1933 movie, Duck Soup. Left to right: Zeppo, Groucho, Chico, and Harpo.
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 15

Yu Sze. There were other types of early
clowns such as the Harlequin who originated
from the commedia dell’erta, the
Italian street theatre. Many other characters
have since gone by the wayside
such as Bagatino, Gauzzeto, Truffaldino,
Zaccagnino, Brighella, Pantaloon, and
Pedrolino who all gave contributions to
the modern clown. Pierrot was the first to
wear make-up instead of a mask. He also
set the standard for a clown’s zany attire.
By the time the nineteenth century
rolled around, it wasn’t so much the
characters that made their mark as it was
the individual performers themselves.
In 1805, Joseph Grimaldi developed the
clown similar to what we know today.
Grimaldi made such a lasting impression
on the art that to this day us clowns are
still referred to as “Joeys” in remembrance
of Joseph.
Clowns are still referred to as “Joeys” in remembrance of Joseph Grimaldi.
Hunter “Mr. Boots” Stevens, one of the founders
of COAI.
Come the 1920s, the world of clowning
was changed forever when Albert
Fratellini (one of the famous Fratellini
Brothers) become the first to don the
iconic red nose. Around the same time
Lou Jacobs started working for Ringling
Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Just a few years prior in 1914, Charlie
Chaplin made his debut in the movie
Making a Living.
While we are on the scene of old films,
let’s fast-forward a bit to some of the
most legendary movie makers ever—the
Marx Brothers. In 1929, they made their
first film, The Cocoanuts, and in 1933,
their biggest hit, Duck Soup.
Only five years before The Cocoanuts,
one of the founders of the Mid-West
Clown Association (MCA) and COAI,
Hunter “Mr. Boots” Stevens was born.
The founding of COAI and MCA has
been a gateway to knowledge about
our wonderful art for all of us to some
degree. (For example, I’ve learned since
joining that it is a bad idea to keep grease
paint in the refrigerator.)
It’s truly amazing to be in contact—
or even be friends—with some of the
greatest clowns of our day. What Toby
Sanders said in his book, How to Be a
Compleat Clown, remains true to this
day: “The contemporary clown is no longer
merely the conscience of a king but
has become the conscience of a whole
society.”
With that in mind, let’s go make some
history!
Bump a nose!
Eileen “Silly Sally”/“Harpa” Shafer is a
Junior Joey from Jefferson City, Missouri.
Her article is based on a PowerPoint presentation
she made through 4-H. Eileen
plays the harp and drums, has done ballet
for ten years, and loves anything to do with
clowning around. Special thanks to Bruce
“Charlie” Johnson for information and topic
ideas. TNC
GH
Get on our Junior Joeys e-mail list. To
join, send an e-mail to our Junior Joey
Chair, Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe, at
coaijrjoeys@gmail.com.
16 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

HOW-TO
TWO-BALLOON
MONKEY
By Patricia “Pockets” Bunnell
1
2
3
4
1. Inflate a light-colored 260, leaving a
6-inch tail. Form a 3-inch loop. Roll the
knot through the loop to prevent it from
untwisting. This will become an ear.
2. Inflate a dark-colored 260, leaving a
4-inch tail. Twist the nozzle in at the ear.
3. Twist two 4-inch bubbles with each
balloon.
4. Fold the balloons over and make two
more 4-inch bubbles and twist in at the
ear.
5. Make two 5-inch bubbles using each of
the balloons and fold them over the cluster
of 4-inch bubbles. Keep the light-colored
bubbles together to form the face,
and the dark for the back of the head. The
5-inch bubble should be in the center of
the three bubbles.
6. Twist one more 3-inch loop to form the
other ear. Deflate the remaining light
colored 260 and tie off. Using the dark
colored balloon make a 1-inch bubble
followed by a pinch twist.
7. Insert these two bubbles into the center
of the 6-bubble cluster between a dark
and a light 4-inch bubble.
8. Form a small bubble for the neck, followed
by a loop for the front legs, a small
bubble for the body, and another loop to
make the back legs. The remaining balloon
will become its tail.
9. Add artwork! TNC
5
6
7
8
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.
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 17

INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
By Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke
What would your clown space say
if it could talk? When you walk
into your clown space do your clown
toes tingle or do they feel trampled on by
too much “stuff ”? Does your space make
you feel creative, energized,
and ready to
work—or overwhelmed,
stuck,
and trapped in a
corner?
I have a great
space, but over the
years it’s turned
into a maze trying
to get to things. The
peanut that broke the
elephant’s back was
constantly not being
able to find my nose,
nose tape, or name tag
when getting ready for
a gig. I so wished I were
organized! I ran across a
blog that said, “Organizing is moving
things from place to place. Simplifying
is removing those items you don’t need,
want, or love.” Light bulb moment!
I’m a fantastic organizer, but a simplifier
I am not. It’s hard to let go. “I
may need it someday,” “I
spent a lot of money on
it,” or “So and so can
Before
use it” are a few of my reasons for
keeping things.
A friend recommended a book titled
The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by
Marie Kondo. Wow, it has changed the
way I view my things! I started the journey
in my normal living space first. This
was a good idea to get the hang of the
process before I moved into clown space.
18 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

After
As you handle each item, your measuring
stick to keep or discard the
item is: Does it spark joy? If it does,
keep it. If not, discard it. Instead
of looking to get rid of things, you
keep that which sparks joy. I like this
positive spin.
I wondered if this would work in my
clown world the way it did in my normal
world, and actually it did. I started with
my overflowing costume rack. Clothing
is first category—the idea being that
we’re less attached to clothes. Hmmm.
Some were easy and some I questioned.
Funny, though, when the questionable
items were put back on the rack with
the pieces I knew I
loved, they stuck out
like a sore thumb.
They almost spoke
to me, saying, “You
know I don’t belong.
Don’t make me stay
here and never be touched.” It was when
my head started to justify why or when
I could use it that I kept it. I don’t know
about you, but when I’m creative I can
justify keeping just about anything. But
I’m realizing I don’t want to spend time
on things I think I should do or learn
Does your space make you feel
creative, energized, and ready to
work—or overwhelmed, stuck,
and trapped in a corner?
but what I want to do or learn. I’m my
own clown.
It’s true that when I purchased some
items, they might have sparked joy at
that time. But maybe the joy produced at
the purchase was its only purpose. Now
that I got it home I can’t remember how
to use it, and I’ve filed it away for years
now. So now, (1) It brings me no joy, and
(2) It can’t be joyful either because it’s not
being used for its intended purpose. Yes,
I just gave feeling and life to an object.
But it helps me to let it go. Thank you
for the joy and excitement you brought
me when I bought you at convention.
Thanks for teaching
me that this is not
part of my character.
I’ll pass it along to
someone who can
use it.
I am not completely finished. It is a
journey and a spiritual one for me. But
I’ve gotten a taste of simplicity in my
space, and I want to keep it that way. So
the message my mess is teaching me is
to pay attention to what sparks joy in
me. It’s essential to finding out who I am
as a clown and where my journey will
take me.
You can say, “Does this spark joy?”
Or as my friend Julie Varholdt says,
“Does this make my clown toes tingle?”
My clown toes are starting to
tingle again.
Crissy “Miz Daisy” Melnitzke won the
COAI Convention’s “Best in Clown” for
2014. When she’s not tidying, you can reach
her by e-mail at crissy@mizdaisyentertainment.com.
TNC
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 19

Meet the
candidates
Instructions for voting online are found on page 26. You may also
vote using the ballot on page 27 and the Official COAI Ballot
Envelope included with this issue. For additional information about
this election, read “From the President” on page 10.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CANDIDATES
PRESIDENT
One candidate.
Michael “Bonkers” Cox
I would like to thank the membership
of COAI for their support, both past and
present, as I toss my clown nose into the
ring for the office of President of this
great organization.
Through the years, COAI has enjoyed
good times and endured bad ones, but in
the last four years we have made fantastic
strides to ensure
that our organization
is built on a
solid foundation.
We have worked
to make sure our
vision for COAI
will continue to
bring positive
success to our organization,
as well as future benefits to
our membership. It is my hope to continue
in my predecessor’s footsteps and
build upon what we have already accomplished
for our membership. My many
years of experience on the COAI Board
(as Mideast Regional Vice President,
Sergeant-at-Arms, and most recently as
a three-term Executive Vice President)
gives me an advantage to better understand
the inner workings of this organization.
I pledge to use this knowledge in
the best interest of you, our membership.
We have come a long way in the last few
years. I believe the next two years are
very important in this process, which is
why I am running.
I care about this organization and its
membership. I ask that you give me the
opportunity to guide COAI into the
future to ensure it remains the premier
clown organization that it is today. Your
vote is important. Please exercise your
right to vote.
EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT
One candidate.
Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt
I have a heart, I have a vision.
I am running for Vice President of the
Clowns of America International. I am
very passionate about this organization,
and I want to help it to become the best
clown organization there is. Bringing
this group into the future and striving
to keep it alive and thriving is a goal of
mine. I have been on this board for two
years, and I have helped in more ways
than I can or will
mention. Serving on
the board of another
organization for
seven years helped
give me the experience
I needed to
make a big difference
while serving as your Director of
Alley and Region Support.
The vision I see for this organization
as Vice President is going to take a good
team to keep it on track and thriving.
The future board of COAI is going to be
a team with heart and a vision. We will
make some wonderful ground-breaking
decisions in the next few years. Decisions
that will help us be strong and take us
places where no clown organization has
gone—to the future, and the future is
now.
If you want this organization to grow
and thrive and prosper, please take the
time to fill out your ballot and vote!
Without you this organization is nothing.
A vote works wonders. Please vote:
Julie Varholdt for Vice President.
SECRETARY
One candidate.
Dan “Fitzwilly” Langwell
Greetings, fellow Clowns! My name
is Dan “Fitzwilly” Langwell. The clown
community has been my family since
1988, and COAI since 1999 when I
became a Lifetime Member. I want
to thank you for allowing me to serve
on the board for the last two years as
Secretary. For many years, I have been a
regular contributor to The New Calliope,
usually writing on some of the business
aspects of clowning. As an administrative
assistant with a background in sales and
small business management, I believe
I will continue to benefit COAI in the
position of Secretary. Newer technology
allows us to communicate between the
board and the membership, giving us the
ability to respond more quickly to opportunities
and make decisions, with greater
access to information. This is a huge benefit
to COAI and each individual member
in a variety of ways. Working for a
communication company in both television
and radio,
I am continually
learning new ways
of recording and
maintaining critical
information.
These skills are directly
transferable
to the position of
Secretary as COAI continues to move
away from expensive in-person meetings
to inexpensive, regularly scheduled
20 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

online board meetings, and we continue
to grow our digital membership resources.
I’m excited about clowning, COAI,
and the future. It will be an honor and
a privilege to continue serving as your
Secretary. Please vote for Dan “Fitzwilly”
Langwell.
TREASURER
One candidate.
Paddee “Molasses” Embrey
My experience with the board members
has been an absolute pleasure. With
your permission, I am asking for another
term. There are so many advantages to
my staying in office, but the biggest advantage
is the four years of experience I
have gained in handling COAI’s money.
I’m asking you to put your trust in me for
another term to be your Treasurer. My
journey continues to be challenging but
rewarding at the same time. I want to
use the experience I have gained over the
past four years to continue to be a part
of moving COAI
forward into fiscal
solvency. Our
current leadership
has made many
good decisions
that have contributed
to the
new growth of
our membership.
Inflation and decreasing interest rates on
our investments have continued, but our
organization is turning a corner to solvency
due to the aggressive decisions to
adjust our operating expenses. The Board
continues to make some hard decisions
to shore up this organization’s future. I
am proud to be a part of the team that
has had to look “outside the box” and
move COAI in a direction that will
allow us to continue to blossom into the
great clown organization that we are. I’d
like to continue this journey
I thank you for placing your trust and
support in me in the past. I ask that
you allow me to serve you again in the
2016-2018 term. I bring not only the
experience I’ve gained these past four
years, but also more than twenty years
of experience as a clown, my educational
background, board experience, and dedication
to the betterment of COAI and
the art of clowning. Again, thank you
for your past support. I look forward to
the opportunity of serving again as your
Treasurer.
DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
Alley Regional Support
One candidate.
Judy “Dear Heart” Quest
I am applying for the position of Alley
Coordinator. I feel
that COAI is in a
very strong position.
The recent additions
of insurance,
the virtual alley, and
a stronger financial
position are so
positive. Now it is
time to offer more
support and services to alleys. I would
like to be part of that effort. As Alley
Coordinator, I will assist the Regional
Vice Presidents in supporting the backbone
of COAI, which is our alleys.
Strong alleys will be showcased. Alleys
will be listened to as we try to make
COAI even stronger. I would appreciate
your vote.
Conventions
One candidate.
Sandra “Strawberry” Winstead
I, Sandra “Strawberry” Winstead would
like to submit my name for consideration
to the office of Director of Conventions.
I have been to ten national conventions.
The majority I attended not only to
learn and have fun but to study how to
run one. I have chaired two conventions
with my alley, VA Alley #3 in Richmond,
Virgina—one in
2008 and another
in 2013. Both of
those conventions
were financially
successful, and I
think that will be
important to recruit
alleys to host conventions who
may have concerns about losing money.
I have made many friends during this
time that I can use as resources to help
alleys in securing necessary people for
their conventions. I have negotiated
contracts with hotels, dealers, and lecturers,
so I am very comfortable and
capable of doing that as well. I am very
well versed in the COAI rules regarding
conventions and have a good working
relationship with the competition committee.
I have hosted and competed so I
have seen both sides. This is a significant
part of any convention and requires a lot
of time, attention, and cooperation from
both COAI and the hosting alley. We
have 2,500 members of COAI and generally
only 200 people attend national
conventions. One of my goals is to focus
on increasing attendance. This is our best
way to gather our members and increase
our ability to learn and share with each
other to ensure that this art form and our
organization continue.
Education
One candidate.
Jim “Soapy” Dixon
I, James Dixon, declare my candidacy
for the position of Education Director,
2016-2018. I seek your vote. Over the
last two years, I’ve worked very hard for
COAI. This includes all the scholarship
duties, convention work, virtual alley
creation and implementation,
and—my
pride and joy—the
creation of the membership
scholarship
which has seen the
organization grow
by ninety-one more
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 21

members, all of which are from outside
the U.S. This program will see income
return, and it costs us nothing because
everything is Internet-based. My goal
for the first term was to increase our international
presence, and it was achieved.
In a second term, I wish to focus more on
Canada and China/Asia. Article writing,
video teaching, and most importantly,
hundreds of hours of conversation with
other board members, enable me to hold
my head high and feel good about the
job I’ve done. Allow me another opportunity
to serve you.
Membership
One candidate.
Teresa “Blondi/Blinky” Gretton
One of my passions in life is communicating
with people. Another is clowning.
And another is Clowns of America
International. I have been so fortunate
for almost twenty years to serve on this
board with many lovely people.
Since 2010, as Membership Director, I
have been allowed the pleasure of working
with you in many capacities, i.e.,
phone conversations, e-mail communication,
conventions, written articles, and
board work.
I have been actively involved in the
processes of membership
through
recruitment, retention,
and renewals.
We have seen a
continual increase
in all three over
the past two years.
I am happy to see
the success of the
Gifting Program, and I will continue to
promote it and the insurance program to
retain members and increase the number
of new clowns.
I truly love this organization and the
people who make up the membership.
I have the sweet task of recognizing
members through the Awards Programs.
I oversee the newly established Awards
Advisory Council appointed by the
President and approved by the board.
Having the opportunity to work with
them to recommend for board-approval
nominations for these awards is such a
privilege.
If I am re-elected, I will continue
to work on new ideas, embellish old
ones, increase and retain membership,
and keep an open mind to any of your
suggestions.
Please support me with your vote.
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
Northeast
Two candidates.
William “Peanut D Clown” Kauffman
William “Peanut D Clown” Kauffman
is requesting your
vote for Northeast
Regional Vice
President. Peanut has
been clowning for
thirty-two years since
the age of fifteen. He
was self-taught for
several years before meeting another
clowning professional who introduced
him to both conventions and other learning
opportunities to further his knowledge.
He subsequently urged Peanut
to enter his first balloon competition,
held at Circus Magic in Williamsburg,
Virginia, where he placed second and
third in single and multiple balloon
competitions. Since then he has honed
his skills in teaching, clowning, and balloons.
He has earned numerous first place
awards in both single and multiple categories
for ballooning, including the first
place at the 2008 COAI Convention, for
multiple balloon sculpture. By attending
several conventions a year to share, learn,
and teach various classes—including,
“Beginning Balloons,” “Magic U Can
Make,” and “Santa: How to Become the
Man in Red”—he demonstrates his drive
to share knowledge gained. Peanut’s
continuing effort to increase interest and
teach with the intention of furthering
the craft of clowning, networking with
fellow balloon artists and clowns, would
be expanded by representing COAI
members in the Northeast region as
their RVP. He is outgoing, friendly, fun,
and most importantly willing to share
his knowledge to anyone who wants to
learn. Thank you for any consideration
of your vote in the upcoming COAI
election.
Bill “Dabbles” LeBlanc
I would like to declare myself as a
candidate for COAI Northeast Regional
Vice President for the upcoming 2016
election. I am currently serving in this
position and have done so for the past
several years. I also presently serve as
Co-director of Competitions for the
COAI International Convention.
I have been involved in clowning for
over twenty years in a variety of venues,
including leadership positions in my
local area. I have competed and been
very successful at both the local and international
level. I create my own foam
props and have enjoyed the opportunity
to teach this skill as well, for many alley
groups and also at the International convention.
I also
enjoy lecturing
on being a hobo/
tramp clown.
Each year I attend
conventions
and workshops to
continue to learn
and improve my skills and share with
others. I feel that there is always room
for new ideas. I am committed to serving
on the board of COAI and hope that my
fellow clowns in the Northeast Region
will continue to support me as I represent
them for the next two years.
Vote online
at www.coai.org
or use the ballot on pages 27-28.
22 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

Mideast
One candidate.
Jessica “Gabby” King
Hello to my friends in the Mideast
Region! I am announcing my candidacy
for Regional RVP. I was appointed
to this position between elections and
am prepared for the opportunity to be
your RVP again. My past history of
being fully supportive of COAI speaks
volumes. I have been a member for over
ten years and will
continue to do so
for my entire life.
I am a fulltime
working professional
clown and
wouldn’t have it
any other way. I
believe wholeheartedly in this organization
and becoming a larger, stronger, and
more united group of clowns and related
artists. I believe in future growth while
maintaining the strong relationships of
those who have benefited from our international
organization. Within the spirit
of forward motion, I have established a
Facebook group that has begun positive
interaction. We will begin having our
own region meetings and forming a network
of our amazing performers. (That’s
you!) I have worked tirelessly on having
a strong and fun convention in 2016
Vegas! I cannot wait to see as many of
you as possible enjoying the convention
our board has worked so hard to present
this year. I have reached out by phone to
many of you and look forward to talking
with you more about what we can do as a
group together to further grow our education
and continue to have great events,
articles and friendships. Please vote for
me, Jessica King, as our region’s Mideast
RVP!
Northwest
No candidates.
Southwest
One candidate.
Lisa “Lavender Lolly”
Ponce de Leon Terai
My name is Lisa Ponce de Leon Terai,
aka “Lavender Lolly,” and I am running
to continue serving on the COAI Board
of Directors as the Southwest Regional
Vice President. I have been a professional
clown in Honolulu for nine years. I
am also an accomplished
face
painter, stylist,
and award-winning
make-up
and hair designer
for various
prestigious
theaters on the
island. I believe
my knowledge
and experience
would be an asset for the board. Please
consider me when voting. I feel as
though I have a lot to offer if elected as
Southwest RVP. Mahalo, Lisa “Lavender
Lolly” Ponce de Leon Terai.
Southeast
Two candidates.
Dianna “Lil Smidgen” Hale
I am submitting a Declaration of
Candidacy for the Southeast Regional
Vice President in the upcoming 2016
COAI elections. It’s been a privilege to
serve the last two years as the Southeast
Regional Vice President. I have been
clowning since 1991. I retired from
nursing and went into full time clowning
in 1995.
I co-founded
my local clown
alley and have
served as president,
chaplain,
and secretary.
I’m currently the
secretary for Red
Nose Response. I strongly believe in education
and have attended various clown
programs, camps, and conventions. I
have had the privilege to teach classes in
the art of clowning at a number of clown
camps, workshops, and conventions. I
am a recipient of the COAI Excellence
in Clowning Award and the Clown of
the Year Bobby Williams Award for the
South East Clown Association. It was
my honor to be asked to serve as COAI’s
first state ambassador for Alabama. I
have won numerous awards for group,
ministry skits, paradeability, balloons,
and make-up competitions.
In the past ten years, I’ve served as
SECA’s chaplain, president-elect, past
president, and currently as treasurer. I
seek your support and vote in the upcoming
elections. It would be an honor
for me to serve on the COAI Board as
the Southeast Regional Vice President.
Caitrina “Simplicity” Monaco
My name is Caitrina “Simplicity”
Monaco, and I am seeking the Southeast
Regional Vice President position in the
2016 election. Presently, I am the second
vice president for the Toby the Clown
Foundation. I’m
also the director
and instructor of
Toby’s Junior Joey
program. As a retired
paralegal, I
will use my communication
and
analytical skills to
create new ideas
for COAI and encourage
membership growth.
My education and experience make
me a very competitive candidate. I successfully
revived Toby’s Junior Joeys
program through effective communication
and wrote and received grants for
the program. Likewise, l designed and
produced the Junior Joey Alley patch.
Periodically, I write articles for the alley
newsletter, Toby’s Times. I developed the
monthly Kudos award as an extension of
the annual Red Nose award. Aside from
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 23

teaching Junior Joeys, I help teach hobo
make-up in Toby’s adult clown classes
and have demonstrated those same skills
at convention level. I have coordinated
fellow clowns’ schedules for alley events,
and I’m an active mentor for new clowns.
l created my hobo character relative to
the authentic hobo history on which I
lecture at alleys, active train tours, depot
museums, and model train events.
I understand the position as Regional
Vice President is a significant responsibility.
I will support the values and
goals of COAI and serve the membership—the
reason and purpose of COAI’s
existence.
Midwest
One candidate.
Georgia “Shenanigans” Morris
I am declaring my candidacy for
re-election to the position of Midwest
Regional vice President.
Our COAI Board works as a team. I
am part of the team that for the first time
in years has truly
balanced the budget,
and we are
in the black and
making money
instead of losing
money. There is
still work to be
done, and I want
to be there to continue helping. Our
team did this for all of our membership:
acquired insurance; is building membership
nationally and internationally;
implemented WebEx meetings to keep
costs down for board meetings, committee
meetings, online alleys, and Junior
Joey online meetings; cut cost of $1,500
to $40,000 per meeting; have given out
scholarships to build membership.
As Midwest Regional Vice President,
I have promoted COAI at regional
conventions, alleys, balloon jams, FCM
conventions, and Shrine organizations,
with literature, Calliopes, and trifolds. I
have asked Ambassadors to get more involved.
I have also judged competitions
and lectured.
For the COAI Convention this year, I
am chairperson for the Theme Party and
Chairperson of the Decorations. Other
committees I am on include mentoring,
dealers, auction, and registration.
I would like your vote to continue to
help the COAI team.
North Central
No candidate.
South Central
No candidate.
Canada
One candidate.
Dale “Bumper” McKenzie
I have been clowning for more than
twenty years in the Calgary region, and
I am currently the incumbent COAI
Regional Vice President for Canada. My
previous terms were 2010–2012, 2012–
2014, and 2014–2016—proudly serving
the vast Canadian region. The wheels
are in motion to increase the number of
COAI Alleys in
Canada. With the
Canadian membership
assisting
me along the
way, and a strong
ambassador program,
I hope to
achieve that goal
one province at a
time. It takes a strong passion for the art
and a desire to get the job done to make
this happen. I have the passion and drive
to represent the members of the COAI
in Canada. In the term 2014–2016 I
was proudly a part of the existing board
that took a struggling COAI (in the red)
with a dim future and turned it around,
putting it in the black with a growing
future. This took a team effort, and I was
so proud to be a part of that team. COAI
membership is growing again. We have
insurance and great insurance it is. It is
not yet available in Canada, but we are
working on it. I’m asking you to support
me once again with your confidence and
your vote for another term.
Latin America
One candidate.
Angel L. “Jobolin” Morales
I would like to take your precious time
to inform my fellow clown friends that
I would like to have the opportunity to
run once again for
the Regional Vice
President of the
Latin America region.
I will commit
myself to helping
our fellow Latin
members in making
this one of
the best clown organizations
worldwide. So give me the
chance once more to serve on the COAI
board in making sound decisions to improve
our organization with your help
and suggestions. Let’s focus on making
COAI a great club to be in. Remember,
as a united group, the force will be with
us!
Quiero tomar su preciado tiempo para
informar a mis compañeros y amigos
Payasos que, quisiera tener la oportunidad
para correr una vez más como
Vicepresidente de las Regiones Latinas
y como su representante. Yo me comprometo
en ayudar a mis hermanos Latinos
de COAI. También hacer esta unas de las
mejores organizaciones mundialmente.
Dame la oportunidad de estar una vez
más con la Directiva de COAI y hacer
decisiones sanas para mejorar nuestra
organización con sus ayudas y sugerencias.
Vamos para delante y enfocar nos en
hacer este un gran club para ser parte de
él. Recuerda que nos hace falta la fuerza
y unidos si se puede hacer.
24 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

International
One candidate.
Ted ‘‘Twaddles” White
I am declaring myself as a candidate
in the upcoming 2016 COAI election
for the position of International Region
Vice President. I have been the COAI
International RVP since July 2014. I
have been an active volunteer Caring
Clown since 2006 and have been a
member of COAI (COAI #32656) since
November 2008.
I served on the Management
Committee of Coastal Caring Clowns
(our local alley) from July 2006 until June
2014. I have held the position of president
(twice), vice-president, activities
officer and committee member, as well
as being our bulletin editor from August
2007 until March 2015. Over the past
four years I have had many items that
I have submitted published in The New
Calliope.
I have always
tried to learn more
so that I can be the
best clown that I
can be, and I am
always available to
other clowns who
seek help to improve
their clowning. I am committed
to the development and advancement of
the art of clowning. Although I live in
Australia, I have a computer connected
to the Internet. I have the time and the
commitment to be able to make a contribution
to COAI.
I would be proud to continue as your
International representative.
Websites, social media, online ads,
postcards, brochures – the options for
advertising and marketing your business
seem to increase daily. This easily can become
overwhelming. We are entertainers,
not marketing gurus. But we need to
do something, right? After all, handing
out business cards and relying on wordof-mouth
aren’t enough anymore, are
they?
The honest answer is the old-fashioned
approach still might be best! But just
guessing isn’t going to work. You have to
ask yourself a few questions about your
goals. (And make sure to answer as well.)
The first step to developing an effective
marketing strategy – one that is
right for your business – is to determine
your objectives. Are you trying to reach
new customers? Increase repeat business
with current customers? Introduce a new
service you just learned? (Did you finally
learn to juggle flaming torches while
riding a six-foot unicycle blindfolded?)
Today’s marketing tools can be used for
a wide variety of marketing objectives.
Here are eight sample objectives to
jump-start your thinking. Once you have
nailed down your objectives, you can decide
what type of marketing to use to
help you meet those goals.
1. Increase Brand Awareness – Do
you want to make more people
aware of your business?
2. Improve Brand Perception – You
offer a quality service, right? Let
people know.
3. Generate New Customer Leads
– Many Facebook campaigns are
built around attracting new “likes”
and virally reaching friends in order
to find new customer leads. Even
When
Business
Equals
Busy-ness
By Dan “Fitzwilly” Langwell
HOW-TO
if your fans aren’t looking to hire a
clown now, you want to already be in
their minds when they are.
4. Increase Customer Retention –
Keep those customers coming back!
5. Drive Retail Purchases – Do you
offer balloon deliveries?
6. Drive Digital Purchases – Think
of balloon instructions as a digital
download.
7. Differentiate your Services and
Products – What makes you different
(and better) than the competition?
Is it your training? The awards
you’ve won? Pictures are worth a
thousand words here.
8. Gain Customer Insight – What
questions are you being asked over
and over?
Once you know your key objectives, you
can figure out the right marketing strategy
to fit. And once you have a strategy in
place, you can develop ways to measure
the responses to see if you are achieving
those objectives.
Without a clear vision for your business,
it is nearly impossible to create an
effective marketing plan, and any efforts
are bound to become unfocused and lack
impact. Plus, it will be nearly impossible
to measure results. Setting your objectives
at the start will ensure the time you spend
on digital media and on all your marketing
efforts will be a real investment and
return real value to your business.
Knowing where you want to go by having
a clear vision for your business will
not only help you develop a marketing
strategy, it will ease your mind, relieving
that constant feeling that you should be
doing the dreaded “something.” TNC
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 25

3 HOW TO VOTE ONLINE
Your vote is important! You have the option of tearing the ballot out of this issue of The New Calliope and mailing it to the address
on page 25—or voting online, saving a stamp, and keeping your magazine in perfect condition! Simply go to your computer and
follow the directions below:
• Go to www.coai.org.
• Sign in using your username and password. (If you do not know your username and password or do not have one yet, call the
COAI Business Office at 1-352-357-1676.)
• Click MEMBERSHIP on the top menu.
• Then click ELECTION BALLOT.
• Be sure to fill in your COAI number and Region in the places indicated. (Your number may be found on your membership
card and on the polybag in which this issue was mailed. If you do not know your COAI number or do not have access to it,
call the COAI Business Office at 1-352-357-1676.)
• Complete the form. (IMPORTANT: In the REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT (RVP) section of the ballot, you may only
vote for one RVP and only the RVP in your Region.)
• Double check your choices and then complete the Safety Code. (This is a simple math question, such as 1+1=___.)
• Click SUBMIT at the bottom of the page and you have voted!
There are FOUR rules that must be followed for your online vote to be valid:
1. You must put your COAI NUMBER and your REGION on the ballot.
2. Each COAI member may only vote once—either on the ballot in this issue of The New Calliope or online at www.coai.org. If
more than one ballot is received with the same COAI number, all ballots bearing that COAI number will be voided and will not
be counted.
3. You may not vote online on another person’s behalf. When you sign in on the Web site with your username and password, your
“footprint”—your registered COAI Web site information—is automatically imbedded in your ballot. It must match the COAI
number that you put on the ballot. If it does not,
your vote will not be valid and will not count. You
can only cast your vote on your ballot when you
sign in online. If you insert any other name or
COAI number on your ballot, all ballots with your
imbedded “footprint” will be voided and will not
count.
4. You may only vote for the RVP representing
the region in which you live. This is the address
at which you are registered on the Web site,
which should be the same address where your
copy of The New Calliope is delivered. For example:
if you live in Florida, you can only vote for the
Southeast RVP; if you live in Canada, you can only
vote for the CANADA RVP. See the map below to
be sure which is your region before you go online
to vote. Please do not cast a vote in any other region.
If you do your vote is not valid and will not
count.
Thank you for participating in the 2016 COAI
election. TNC
26 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

OFFICIAL COAI BALLOT, 2016 • BOLETO OFICIAL DE COAI, 2016
Must be received by Tuesday, June 7, 2016 • Debe ser recibido para el martes 7 de junio, 2016.
In order for your vote to be valid, you must enter your COAI Membership Number. Su boleto debe incluir su número de membrecía.
COAI MEMBER NUMBER (Número de membrecía de COAI) ___________________________________________________________________
PART ONE
VOTE FOR ONE
CANDIDATE IN
EACH BOX. Place
an “X” clearly in
the box of your
choice.
Executive Committee • Comité Ejecutivo
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENTE
o Michael
“Bonkers” Cox
EXECUTIVE VP
VICE
PRESIDENTE
EJECUTIVO
o Julie
“Lovely Buttons”
Varholdt
SECRETARY
SECRETARIA
o Dan “Fitzwilly”
Langwell
TREASURER
TESORERO
o Paddee “Molasses” Embrey
PARTE UNO
VOTE POR UN CANDIDA-
TO EN CADA BLOQUE.
Marque claramente con
una “X” en el candidato de
su predilección.
Directors • Directores
EDUCATION ALLEY, REGION SUPPORT
EDUCACIÓN APOYO REGIONAL/ALLEYS
o Jim o Judy
“Soapy” “Dear Heart” Quest
Dixon
CONVENTIONS
CONVENCIONES
o Sandra
“Strawberry”
Winstead
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBRECIA
o Teresa
“Blondi/Blinky”
Gretton
PART TWO VOTE ONLY IN ONE BOX: THE REGION IN WHICH YOU RESIDE. (Voting in more
than one box—or—voting in the WRONG region will disqualify this portion of the ballot.)
PARTE DOS
VOTE SÓLO EN
UN BLOQUE: LA
REGIÓN EN LA CUAL
USTED RESIDE. (Votar
en más de un bloque—o—votar
en la
región EQIVOCADA
descalificará esta parte
del boleto.)
Latin Countries
o Angel
L. “Jobolin”
Morales
International
o Ted
‘‘Twaddles”
White
Canada
o Dale
“Bumper”
McKenzie
Southwest
o Lisa
“Lavender
Lolly”
Ponce de
Leon Terai
Northwest
o No
Candidate
South Central
No
Candidate
North Central
o No
Candidate
Midwest
o Georgia
“Shenanigans”
Morris
Northeast
o William “Peanut D
Clown” Kauffman
o Bill “Dabbles” LeBlanc
Mideast
o Jessica
“Gabby” King
Southeast
o Dianna “Lil
Smidgen” Hale
o Caitrina
“Simplicity”
Monaco
Mail this ballot to:
Texas Mid-Cities Clown Alley • c/o Carrie Ray
413 East Ash Lane • Euless, Texas 76039.
Or, save a stamp and cast your vote online! See reverse
side Clowns of this of America sheet for International instructions. • Look www.coai.org for your membership
number on the label next to your
27
name.

PART III / PARTE III
AMENDMENT 1 / MODIFICACIÓN 1
o YES / SÎ o NO / NO
Section 1. Definition / Artículo 1. Definición
Proposed 2016 Bylaw Amendments / Propuesta de Modificación de los Estatutos 2016
ARTICLE VIII / SECCIÓN VIII
CLOWN ALLEYS / (CLUB DE PAYASOS)
a. COAI Junior Joeys may organize alleys exclusively for COAI members ages (add) for juniors aged 8–15 years old. Any five
COAI Junior Joey Members, plus two adult COAI members in good standing as mentors may form an alley for the purpose
of cultivating youth interests in the clown arts, fostering good citizenship, and building youth leadership skills. Each Junior
Alley must have a set of Bylaws and slate of officers who are at least ten years old.
a. Junior Joeys de COAI podrán constituir alleys exclusivamente para las edades de los miembros de COAI (agréguese) para
jóvenes de entre 8 y 15 años. Cinco miembros Junior Joey, junto con dos miembros mayores de edad, como mentores, con la
membresía al día, podrán formar un alley a los efectos de cultivar el interés de los jóvenes en las artes del payaso, fomentar
la buena ciudadanía y desarrollar las habilidades de liderazgo juvenil. Cada Junior Alley deberá establecer sus estatutos y
una lista de funcionarios con un mínimo de diez años de edad.
RATIONALE: This will enable the alleys to cultivate youth interest in the clown arts by getting juniors interested and active,
then encourage membership in COAI instead of demanding that they join COAI before they have any idea of what it is really
all about.
FUNDAMENTO: Permitir que los alleys cultiven el interés de los jóvenes en las artes del payaso por medio de jóvenes
interesados y activos, y fomentar la membresía en COAI, en lugar de exigirles que se afilien a COIA antes de que tengan
conocimiento sobre de qué se trata.
AMENDMENT 2 / MODIFICACIÓN 2
o YES / SÎ o NO / NO
ARTICLE VIII / SECCIÓN VIII
CLOWN ALLEYS / (CLUB DE PAYASOS)
Section 4. Reports / Artículo 4. Informes
By the first (1st) day of March each and every year, a chartered Clown Alley must submit to the COAI Alley Coordinator a
complete listing of all names and address of the members and officers of the Clown Alley. All members of a COAI Chartered
alley must be members in good standing (ADD) should be encouraged to be members of COAI.
El primer día del mes de marzo de cada año, todo alley autorizado a actuar como tal deberá presentarle al Coordinador de
Alleys de COIA una lista completa con los nombres y las direcciones de los miembros y funcionarios de dicho alley. Todos los
miembros del alley autorizado deberán tener la membresía al día (agréguese) serán incentivados a afiliarse a COAI.
RATIONALE: To enable alleys to remain COAI affiliated, or be able to become affiliated with COAI, and still keep in their
ranks those wonderful, hardworking, stalwarts of the group who are only really interested in the local alley and local events,
as well as those who genuinely cannot afford to be members of COAI.
FUNDAMENTO: Permitir que los alleys continúen afiliados a COAI, o sean capaces de afiliarse a COAI, y mantengan a
aquellos miembros excelentes, diligentes e incondicionales del grupo de trabajo que, realmente, les interesa el alley y los
eventos locales, así como también, a aquellos que, verdaderamente, no pueden abonar la membresía de COAI.
AMENDMENT 3 / MODIFICACIÓN 3
o YES / SÎ o NO / NO
ARTICLE IV / SECCIÓN IV
OFFICERS / FUNCIONARIOS
Section 8. Directors at Large / Artículo 8. Directores Generales
There shall be four (4) (ADD) five (5) Directors at Large. The Membership, Education, Conventions and Alley/Region
Support Directors shall be elected in the regular election for officers. A Junior Joey Director will be appointed by the Board.
Se designarán cuatro (4) (agréguese) cinco (5) Directores Generales. Los directores de las oficinas de Membresía, Educación,
Convenciones y Soporte a Región/Alley se elegirán en las elecciones ordinarias de funcionarios. Un Director Junior Joey será
nombrado por el Directorio.
ARTICLE VI / SECCIÓN VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS / DIRECTORIO
Section 2. Membership / Artículo 2. Composición
The membership of the Board…and four (4) (ADD) five (5) Directors at Large.
RATIONALE: There is a growing feeling that the Junior Joey Chair should be on the Board of Directors.
28 El The Directorio New Calliope estará • compuesto March/April por…y 2016cuatro (4) (agréguese) cinco (5) Directores Generales.
FUNDAMENTO: Se considera, cada vez más, que el Director Joey Junior forme parte del Directorio.

OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Teresa “Blondi” Gretton
From the
Membership Director
Congratulations to Tom “Tom-E-Boy” King and Albert “Clem” Alter who have
given many years of service to COAI and will be honored at the convention
banquet for Lifetime Achievement. Each has served for years on the COAI Board
of Directors. They have actively involved themselves in their local alleys as well as
community events. They both exemplify the true art form of clowning. They join eight
other distinguished individuals for Lifetime Achievement recognition: Betty Cash,
Walt Lee, Keith Stokes, Merilyn Barrett, Cheri Venturi, Ann Sanders, Pat Roeser,
and Bob Gretton.
Speaking of happy times, I am beaming to announce the birth of our daughter’s
second child and our second granddaughter. Her name is Teresa (I like that name!)
Ellen Dallas. Born on January 29 and weighing in at 6 lbs., 15 oz., she is a beauty!
I was able to fly to Massachusetts and stay with her for a few days to help, so I
can tell you she is one gorgeous baby! My daughter quickly chose her clown name
as “Bundles” (because she is a bundle of joy)! She is now the sister to her sixteenmonth-old
brother, Ronnie, who, incidentally, won the Vermont Teddy Bear Contest
with the most votes last year, thanks to many of you who supported him in the
baby contest.
The Las Vegas convention is fast approaching, and the board has been busy working
on all the last-minute details to create a fun and lively convention. We will have
great instructors and classes to choose from in the areas that best suit your clowning
needs. Also, the “Clown Alley” will be buzzing with opportunities to stock your
clown room with the tools and wares of the trade. The theme, as you’ve seen in the
convention ads, is “Run Away with us to the Circus.” One of the highlights is an All-
Star Circus Revue directed by Angel Ocasio. We couldn’t think of a cooler place to
host a circus-themed convention than Circus Circus in Las Vegas. Can’t wait to meet
you there!
Speaking of the convention, I hope any of our newcomers (both to clowning and
to the convention) attend the mentor meeting on Tuesday morning at 9:30 in The Big
Top room where you will be welcomed and orientated to the convention. It’s a great
time to meet new people, new clowns, and the mentors who will answer any questions
you have during the week. Check in at the registration desk and make sure you let
them know you are a newcomer.
Over the next few months, the Awards Advisory Council will be rewriting and updating
the criteria of Clown of the Year and Lifetime Achievement programs. If you
plan to nominate an outstanding individual for either of these awards, please check
the criteria before sending your package into the Membership Director. The Council
plans to work on an easier process in submitting nominations. In the past, I have
emphasized paying close attention to mandatory requirements of the criteria. We
have seen quite an improvement in the nominations we receive. Now we are working
to make sure the letters of support are specific and detailed in explaining the reasons
for the nominations. We receive letters of support saying, “He is the most awesome
clown and does great work.” The Council’s questions are: Why do you say this? Why
is he so awesome? What great work does she do? Why was she/he so much fun to
watch? The Council looks at these points
very closely in determining who deserves
the award. The Clown of the Year should
be exemplary, especially within the past
year or so. The award is not given for all
of the past history of that clown’s work.
It’s helpful to know what they have
done in years past, but it does not weigh
heavily on decision making. On the
other hand, the Lifetime Achievement
Award is weighed on the past history
and dedication to COAI and the work
done as a clown. Please read the criteria
carefully before beginning your
quest for the nomination, and consider
that the person this most affects will be
the nominee. TNC
CLOWNS OF AMERICA
INTERNATIONAL
Annual Membership
Individual Members—$40
Seniors (65+)—$30
Junior Joey—$30
Family Membership—$20
Lifetime Membership—$1,000
E-Membership—$30
International E-Membership—$20
$20 of the COAI membership includes
a one-year subscription to The New
Calliope magazine. Subscriptions
are not a benefit of the family
memberships. (Only the Individual
Membership in the household receives
The New Calliope.)
Send membership dues to:
Clowns of America International, Inc.
Post Office Box 122 •
Eustis, FL 32727
Make all checks payable to COAI.
Join or renew by calling
352-357-1676
or visit www.coai.org
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 29

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
Eric RECYCLE Seidel
1437 Sandbag Terrace
Midlothian, VA 23113
Good Cheer Chairman:
Fred Schlosshauer
8 Alanon Street
Whippany, NJ 07981
973-887-2617
oscarboj@aol.com
30 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 31

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.
32 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

NEWS
CLOWN
CALENDAR
April 4–8, 2016
COAI Convention
Las Vegas, Nevada
www.coai.org
July 2–5, 2016
International Brotherhood of Magicians
Convention
San Antonio, Texas
www.magician.org
July 6–10, 2016
Discover Santa
Branson, Missouri
www.discoversanta2016.com
July 25–29, 2016
Fellowship of Christian Magicians
Nashville, Tennessee
www.fcm.org
July 26–31, 2016
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
GH
Send event information to
thenewcalliope@gmail.com with
Clown Calendar in the subject line.
Support Our
Advertisers!
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 33

OFFICIAL BUSINESS
Julie “Lovely Buttons” Varholdt
Alley Happenings
The times are changing and so are my duties as Alley/Regional Director. By the
time this issue comes out, I will be cleaning off my desk and emptying my file
cabinets to make room for a different position in COAI. Everything will be going
into the very capable hands of someone special who will do an amazing job.
But until that time comes, I’m still here helping the alleys and trying to help the
organization grow stronger and bigger.
I want to welcome our newest COAI Alley—the Red Hot Clowns of Surprise,
Arizona. They are a fun and feisty alley located in a senior community. These guys are
young at heart with some wonderful talent to boot. So, a big clown welcome to you all!
In the last issue I talked about trying to get alleys whose numbers are declining to
think about adding a Clown School to their yearly fun. I was hoping to hear from
a few alleys that have a clown school each year. Alas, no one came forward to share
ideas. But don’t despair! I will contact a few alleys that I know put clown schools on
each year and see if they would be willing to share some of their materials with COAI
Alleys.
Our updated Clowning Basics book is available to COAI members to help them
hone their clown skills. To order, call Laurel at the COAI Office: 352-357-1676. This
is a wonderful resource to help new clowns learn the basics of clowning. It’s especially
useful if your alley is hosting a clown school. If you order five or more books, for
each book you buy, you can receive a $5
discount toward your students’ new COAI
memberships, which includes the digital
edition of The New Calliope. And free
shipping when it goes to the same address.
That’s a great way to get your clown school
up and running!
Remember, alley updates need to be sent
in around May of each year. There is no
charge to be a COAI Alley, but you are
required to have five current COAI members
to remain a COAI Alley. I’ll send out
reminders to the current alley presidents,
but sometimes the alley contacts change
and no one takes care of the paperwork. If
this happens, simply go to www.coai.org,
click on the Alley tab, then click on Alley
Renewal Form or the Printable Alley
Renewal Form. Fill it out and it will go to
the current Alley Director. If you have any
questions, call the number on the contact
page or send an e-mail. We will do our
best to help you.
Until next time, remember to be the best
person you can be. Mad clown love to you
all! TNC
BLACK & WHITE Full 1/2 1/4 1/8
OPEN $375 $220 $150 $85
3X Contract $350 $205 $135 $75
6X Contract $330 $195 $125 $70
4 COLOR
OPEN $470 $275 $190 $110
3X Contract $440 $260 $170 $95
6X Contract $420 $245 $160 $90
ADVERTISING RATES
SPECIAL PAGES (4 Color ONLY)
Outside Back Cover: $550
Inside Front & Inside Back: $500 (full) - $300 (1/2)
All Alleys who have 100% COAI Membership may purchase
ads at the lowest rate available less 10%. Deadlines are the first
of the month prior to the starting cover date. For example, the
deadline for the January/February issue is December 1. Send
ads, space reservations, and questions to thenewcalliope@gmail.
com or contact the COAI Business Office at 1-877-816-6941 or
352-357-1676.
GH
A big thank you to those who have
recently gifted memberships to COAI!
Membership Gifters
Carol Milne
Jim Caffrey
Michael Terletzky
SUBMITTING PHOTOS TO ‘THE NEW CALLIOPE’?
When submitting photos for publication,
please include people’s names and other
details about when and where the picture
was taken. Include clown names, too. For
example: Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger.
Thank you!
34 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

z LAST
WALK-AROUND
Franz “Señor Tihany” Czeisler
l
Franz Czeisler, known as “Señor Tihany,” founder of the Tihany Circus Spectacular,
passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at age 99. With his wife, Ilona Czeisler, he
created a circus enterprise that entertained thirty-five million people over fifty years. He
was born on June 29, 1916, in Ketegy Haza, Hungary to Ludwig
and Maria Czeisler (nee Deutch) and had been a Las Vegas resident
since 1985.
After escaping from the Nazis during World War II, he traveled
to South America. In 1955 he founded his Circo Tihany in
Brazil. The Tihany Circus became one of the most successful and
extravagant circuses in the world.
Franz was preceded in death by his parents who survived
the Holocaust; his wife; and his brother Bela, who died in the
Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He is survived by son, Ludwig (Carmen) Czeisler of
Henderson, Nevada; two grandchildren, Alejandro (Sandra Silva) Czeisler of Las Vegas
and Catherine ( Jose) Ortero of Columbus, Ohio; four great-grandchildren, Diego,
Monica, Aaron, and David; and nephew Tibor (Mirela) Fridman of Haifa, Israel.
A Holocaust survivor, Franz was designated as the International Ambassador of the
Arts by the Hungarian Parliament in May 2015. He received the keys to the Cities
of Sao Paulo and Las Vegas and was named Circus Ambassador of the Fédération
Mondiale du Cirque on the occasion of the celebration of his ninety-third birthday. He
presided as head juror at the Budapest Circus Festival, the International Circus Festival
of Monte Carlo, and the Beijing Circus Festival. He was a member of the Circus Hall
of Fame in Sarasota, Florida.
Gene “Cousin Otto” Lee
Eugene “Gene” Francis Lee, 95, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Tuesday,
January 12, 2016. Gene was born on February 22, 1920, in Milwaukee, the son of Frank
J. and Eleanor (Pust) Lee. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force
during World War II, and after returning, worked as the advertising
manager for the Whitewater Register.
Professional known as Cousin Otto, he was Wisconsin’s first
Clown Hall of Fame inductee. His clowning career included circus
appearances in the Cole Bros., Cole Bros.-Clyde Beatty, and
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circuses.
His mentor, the famous Otto Griebling, helped
choose Lee’s clown name, “Cousin Otto,” because
he seemed like one of the family. Known as “America’s Favorite
Relative,” Cousin Otto created the role of the Red Dot Potato Chip
Company clown, and was one of the early Ronald McDonalds. He
appeared on television and at state and county fairs.
In later years, Gene taught clowning on college campuses and was
one of the original instructors for the first year at the University of
PHOTO BY MERILYN
BARRETT
Wisconsin Clown Camp in LaCrosse, in
1981. Gene was also one of the founders
of Clown Alley #22, the first clown club
in Wisconsin. In addition, he edited two
monthly national clown publications (including
The Three Ring News) and was display
director for the Clown Hall of Fame.
Gene was a member of the
Congregational United Church of Christ,
the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion,
and the Forty and Eight. Surviving are his
wife of sixty-seven years, Jeanette Kitzman;
children, Kay (Dean) Amhaus of Grafton;
Richard (Laurie) Lee of Winthrop Harbor,
Illinois; Robert (Kathleen) Lee of St.
Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, Rena,
Andrew, Christopher and Nicholas; and
great-grandchildren, Doran and Adara.
Memorial contributions may be made to
the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Duane “Morgan the
Clown” Wilhite
Duane M. Wilhite, 66, of San Antonio,
Texas died December 20, 2015 in
Sweetwater, Texas while traveling to his
eldest granddaughter’s wedding. Using the
stage name “Morgan the Clown,” he performed
throughout the United States. He
loved to perform Red Skelton’s rendition
of the Pledge of Allegiance. He attended
Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit,
Pennsylvania, and joined the U.S. Air Force
in 1975. He served for twenty-four years.
Survivors include daughter
Barbie (Dan) Reynolds
of Lubbock, Texas;
son Duane (Shellee)
Wilhite II of Nayoro,
Hokkaido, Japan; stepson
David McMahon
of Cambridge, United
Kingdom; step-daughter Melissa (Henry)
Campa of San Antonio; brother Dennis
(Marlene) Wilhite of Clarks Summit,
Pennsylvania; brother Steve Wilhite of
Mount Rainier, Maryland; sister Mary
(Tom) Haberkorn of York, Pennsylvania;
brother Ron (Debbie) Wilhite of Houston,
Texas; fifteen grandchildren; and numerous
nieces and nephews. In recent years, he
traveled everywhere with his trusted service
dog, Hero. A military burial was held at
Fort Sam Houston Cemetery, San Antonio,
Texas.
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 35

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
36 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

Now in their thirty-first year, the Thunder Bay Clown
Club, Alley 200, is bigger and busier than ever entertaining
around the city. The alley, based in Thunder Bay, Ontario,
Canada, participated in many events this winter, including the
Rotary Club Christmas Parade, Parade of Lights (a fund raiser
for Special Olympics, Therapeutic Riding, George Jeffrey
Treatment Centre, and the Thunder Bay Autism Society),
Salvation Army Kettle Kick-off, and “Some Kinda Christmas,”
a fundraiser for the Christmas Cheer Fund, held at the Thunder
Bay Community Auditorium.
Snapshots
Thunder Bay clowns helping with the Salvation Army
Kettle Kick-off take a break to read The New Calliope.
Left to right: Mary “Twinkles” Jarrett, Dan “Daffy” Baxter,
Amy “Jingles” Rusak, Ed “Patches” Miettinen, Linda
“Lulu” Loveday, Dianne “Dottie T. Clown” McNicol with
Mr. Tickles.
Adding fun to the Rotary Twenty-fifth Anniversary
Christmas Parade. Left to right: Bill “Toffee” Jarrett,
Linda “Lulu” Loveday, Dianne “Dottie T. Clown” McNicol,
Judy “JJ La Chouette” Barrette, Darlene “Darby”
Laboucane, Mary “Twinkles” Jarrett, Ed “Patches”
Miettinen, and Melissa “Sparkles” Girardin.
In the green room at the Thunder Bay Community
Auditorium, prior to going on stage to entertain hundreds
of children and their families at the “Some Kinda
Christmas” show. Left to right: Mary “Twinkles” Jarrett,
Dan “Daffy” Baxter, Darlene “Darby” Laboucane, Amy
“Jingles” Rusak, Wendy “Pirouette” Taylor, Santa, Dianne
“Dottie T. Clown” McNicol, Ed “Patches” Miettinen.
Thunder Bay Clown Club participates in the Parade of
Lights. Left to right: Mary “Twinkles” Jarrett, Cy “Silly
Cy” Zurba, Mina “Silly Willy” Hodder, Dianne “Dottie
T. Clown” McNicol, Darlene “Darby” Laboucane, Ed
“Patches” Miettinen, and Dan “Daffy” Baxter.
To submit photos, e-mail thenewcalliope@gmail.com with the
word Snapshots in the subject line. Photo should be at the highest
resolution possible.
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 37

Now for something completely different!
Clowns of America International Convention at
Circus Circus • Las Vegas, Nevada
Monday, April 4—Friday April 8, 2016
COAI Registration Form
Name ___________________________________________ Clown name ___________________________________
Address _________________________________________ City __________________________________________
State _____________ Zip code ____________________ Country __________________________________________
Phone ___________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________
First Time COAI Convention? ______Yes ______No • COAI Membership Number _____________________________
By Oct. 30, 2015 = $170 __________ By Mar 17, 2016 = $190 __________ Jr. Joey = $150 ___________
Parent/Guardian of Jr. Joey $150 _______ At the door = $230 __________
Daily Rate = $55 _________ (No meals included) Extra Banquet Ticket _________ $60 each
Credit Card Number_________________________________________________ Exp. Date ____________________
CCV/CVV2 Code __________________ Type of Card‚ (circle one)
Check # __________________________Total Amount Enclosed $_________________
$25 processing fee for cancellations before 3/25/16. No refunds after that date.
Mail completed registration form to: Dianna Hale 1013 Way Thru The Woods, Decatur, Alabama 35603-1283
For questions about the convention, call Diana at 1-256-309-1153 or e-mail her at dhale5@att.net.
Credit card payments may also be paid directly by calling Dianna at 1-256-309-1153.
Hotel Information: Circus Circus Hotel & Casino • Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 • 1-800-634-3450 or 1-702-691-5950
Run Away with us to the Circus…Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nevada, 2016!
38 The New Calliope • March/April 2016

Welcome, NEW MEMBERS!
Miosotis Rivera “Peposita” Albino PR
Michael “Buddy” Baer NJ
Sean “Amazing Sean” Breslin FL
Mary “Tooter” Burmeister CA
Josephine “JOJO” Campisano NJ
Ean Chidsey CO
Daniel Coast OK
Deliz Cruz Rivera PR
Lewis “Hobolouie” Dowell TX
Patricia “Pat-T-Kake” Dunn TN
Theresa Ensing MI
Juan Carlos “Balam” Galindo Mexico
Margaret “Lady Bug” Gallwey Australia
Lindsey “Lindsey Lou Who” Gaughan TX
Kerry “Kerry Bell” Gaughan TX
Zhang Qile Guangzhou China
Marta “Bee Happy Balloons” Hoburg AZ
Mary Ellen Hostak NJ
Abbigail Kiaunis MI
Andrew Kiaunis MI
Yvonne “Nissa of LaFete” Larson CO
Daniel Cardona “Payaso Chamo” Lopez US
Ramona “Bom Bomcita Dulce” Lugoluciano PR
Dave “Dave the Magic Man” Lutz ID
Ron “Salty” Marable OR
Lou “Mac-a-doo” McCann MA
Diana “Buttons” McCurtain-Talbert TX
Amanda “Mandy” Miles TX
Patrick “Jellybean aka Wild Thang” Munn TN
Zhang Ning China
Waleska Quinones “Lovely” Nunez PR
Renee “Glowie” Osborn NE
Rommane “Mi Nena” Perez Lopez PR
Ramon A. “Tum Tlin” Perez Torres PR
AnnaM “Skipper” Pohl OH
Angelica M. “Kuchy Mary” Resado Crespo PR
Merletta “Henrietta” Roberts WA
Cesar O. “Vashatym” Rodriguez Cepeda PR
Hector Alejandro “Bimbo” Roman Arroyo PR
Gerald “B-Bop” Shade NM
Robert Smith MD
Astrid Nahir “Fresita” Soto Martinez PR
Judy “Nosey” Stone NJ
Ashley “Cherry” Terletzky NY
James “Spunky” Thompson MN
Takiyah Thompson PA
Douglas “Boomer” Thomson Canada
Susan “Susie” Thomson Canada
Richard “Professor Magic” Triemer MI
Amy “Zig Zag” Turner FL
David “Hobo Jolly” VanBlaricom FL
Luis E. “Yanyi” Vargas Mirarcla PR
Emmanuel Bonzilla “Bolao” Vega PR
Peter Wang China
Hou Yi China
Huang Yumeng China
Su Zhenhai China
Melanie “JOY zee Clown” Zinser OH
Clowns of America International • www.coai.org 39

40 The New Calliope • March/April 2016