NovDec_2012

Members on the Move!
Rita "Dottie Dot"
Reardon, a member
of Kapitol Klowns
Alley #6, receives
a Certificate of
International
Ambassadorship for
her trip to Mexico
from (left) Bob
Gretton, Chairman
of the International
Ambassador program
and COAI President,
Glenn Kohlberger.
Kudos to John
“Splash” Sullivan
who did
something every
day of Clown
Week. He won the
2011 Charlie Award.
John has a talent for
twisting balloons
into all shapes
of animals,
flower and
hats.
We recently received news that Donna, my bride of many years, has
advanced breast cancer. A few days later - still in shock, angry, scared,
and depressed - I knew we needed a temporary distraction and a quick
cheering up.
Enter good old Cheerful Clown Alley #166 … Along with the regular
monthly meeting there would be a guest presenting “Laughter Yoga”. So
I dragged Donna along for her first meeting. Our yoga instructor had 30
or so clowns up and laughing in no time, even asked for volunteers to
try not laughing, all unsuccessful.
As you can imagine, we were not in a laughing mood, but the
atmosphere was contagious, so it was impossible not to have our
spirits lifted by a room full of clowns making faces while laughing at
themselves. No problems were solved that night, but we are grateful for
the brief respite and forgot about our own troubles for a few minutes.
I know as clowns this is our goal with hospital and nursing home visits,
but I never thought we would be on the receiving end of it in such
a dramatic way. Whether they knew it or not, everyone present was
a “caring clown” that night. In addition, another good memory was
deposited in the “bank” to be withdrawn and enjoyed in the months
and years to come. Everyone had welcomed my wife warmly like they
would any guest, but as we left, one gracious host said “Look forward
to seeing you again” to which she replied “We’ll see”. I hope it didn’t
seem rude since there’s no way she could have known about our recent
developments, but the end of this story is yet to be written.
So, thanks to all. Don’t underestimate your small kindnesses to others, they
are bigger than you think!
Joe Lucie
Jon “J” Hubbard, President, and Bruce “Broosalooney” Lawson, Secretary Alley 54
Greater Boston Clowns of America, officially present Cory Plasmon with his Big Red
Nose. Cory Plasmon is the alley's newest member. Cory had met alley member,
Bruce Lawson, in the hot tub of the local YMCA. Bruce mentioned that he was
active in clowning. Cory said that his late grandmother, Barbara Plasmon, had been
a clown. In fact Barbara was a past member of Alley 54.
This chance meeting piqued Cory’s interest. He said it seemed like a message from
his grandmother. He found her musty old trunk of costumes and props, which
miraculously had not been thrown out, and Ducky the Clown was born.
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The New Calliope