Just Clowning Around (JCA) Monthly Meeting Reminder

JCA will meet next week on Monday, April 28th, 2014, at 7:30. It is time to pick our annual charity and elect the new JCA Officers. I am including our charity criteria below. If you would like to run for office, but cannot make the meeting, let me know and I will put your name on the ballots.

The Educational topic for this month’s meeting is Balloon Jam. We will also have our annual Clown Swap / Garage Sale. Please, try not to make too much of a mess and take pictures. All are welcome to come. We meet in the Parlor of the Vienna Baptist Church.

Education is an important event at each Alley meeting. This includes presentation, hands on sessions, and group discussion on topics related to being a clown and entertainer. JCA is a club where we all come together each month to share and learn from each other. New members are always welcome at any of our monthly meeting. The following are the currently proposed educational topics for the coming year. Schedule subject to change.

JCA Meeting Schedule

-== 2014 ==-

Monday, April 28, 2014	Balloon Jam and Clown Swap / Garage Sale
Monday, May 19, 2014	Share a Magic Trick for Critique
Monday, June 23, 2014	Let’s Make a Clown Video – Skits – Come in costume and makeup
Monday, July 28, 2014	Bubbles with Bingo
Monday, August 25, 2014	Marketing and Websites for Clowns
Monday, September 22, 2014	Mr Rainbow
Monday, October 27, 2014	Member Picnic
Monday, November 24, 2014	Designing a Clown Face – Makeup Help
Monday, December ??, 2014	Holiday Party

JCA Monthly Meetings
4th Monday of each month at 7:30 pm
Vienna Baptist Church
541 Marshall Rd SW
Vienna, VA 22180

Take I-66 to the Nutley Street exit heading north toward Vienna. Turn right at the first light onto Marshall Road. Drive approximately one-quarter mile to Ware Street and turn left. We meet in the Parlor. The door that is usually unlocked is around towards the back of the building.

—

Several members meet at the PanAm Family Restaurant in Vienna around 6:00 pm for dinner before the monthly JCA meeting.

PanAm Family Restaurant
3051 Nutley St.
Fairfax, VA 22031

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

JCA Charity Selection

For the past several years, we have selected SafePlaces, but some thought it might be nice if we consider a different group this year. The following are the JCA Charity Criteria:

As an incentive for members to clown for community service, JCA
receives fees for participating in various public events. These
funds not only support the education and functioning of JCA, but
also support a favorite charity. As a civic-minded group of
individual, dedicated to the Clown code of Ethics including, in
part bring joy and happiness to others, members of JCA annually
designate a favorite charity for the following purposes:

1. To provide an opportunity to establish a relationship
with another organization contributing, as does JCA, to
the improvement of the human condition.

2. To open additional opportunities for members to
perform/clown.

3. To give something back to the greater community that
utilizes JCA’s talent throughout the year.

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION (must meet at least 3 of the following):

1. The agency is a non-profit provider of services of
products to individuals in need.

2. If the charity does not have an identifiable clientele
that meets or gathers regularly to receive services, it
must provide an avenue for performance/clowning.

3. The climate served must be within a 50 mile radius of
Vienna, VA.

4. The recipient must not be funded by any government entity
such as state or local government, the U. S. Government or
any of its branches for over 50% of its revenue.

5. Must be willing to submit an operating budget including
government contributions.

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

World Clown Membership and Insurance

If you get your insurance through the World Clown Association, their
policy year ends on April 30th, 2014. It is time to renew your membership
and pay for another year of insurance.

New Members $40
Membership Renewal $35
Liability Insurance – $140

They do offer Additional Insurance for a client who requests being added
to your policy.

http://www.worldclown.com/

–==–==–

Be sure to evaluate your insurance needs and pick the coverage that is
right for you. Other companies that offer insurance include:

Specialty Insurance Agency
http://www.specialtyinsuranceagency.com/

K&K Insurance Group
http://www.kandkinsurance.com/Entertainment/Pages/Entertainers-Performers.aspx

Cossio Insurance Agency
http://entertainerinsurance.com/

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Clown College Auditions

Feld Entertainment has announced another date for their 2014 Clown College® Auditions. This time, they will be on Friday, May 23rd, 2014 in Hershey, PA. This is a once-in-a–lifetime opportunity to audition to become part of The World Famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Clown Alley.

Register to participate in the auditions at http://www.ringling.com/clownauditions/

Clown College Auditions
Hershey, PA
Friday, May 23rd
10:00am – 1:30pm
Giant Center
950 West Hersheypark Drive
Hershey, PA 17033

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Do you have clown news to share via the news updates or newsletters? Send your ideas and news to Sir Toony at SirToony@SirToonyVanDukes.com

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Requests for Clowns – Local Events and Parades

If you are interested in marching in one of the upcoming local parades, contact Sir Toony at SirToony@SirToonyVanDukes.com

NOTE: Starting in January 2013, we will review and critique all members before they may represent JCA at events as a clown. Clowns must also have paid their annual dues to both JCA and COAI to participate in events. Clowns from neighboring clown alleys are welcome to join JCA in parades without being required to pay dues to JCA.

—

The next parade we usually do is the City of Falls Church Memorial Day Parade.

33rd Annual Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 26, 2014
City of Falls Church
Additional Details Pending

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Upcoming Clown Events

–==—

Magi-Whirl 2014
April 25 – 26, 2014
Bishop Ireton High School
201 Cambridge Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
http://magi-whirl.org/

–==—

Clowns of America International (COAI) Annual Convention 2014
April 29th – May 4th, 2014
Lake Buena Vista Resorts
1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
http://www.coaiconvention2014.com/

—==—

FABAIC Face and Body Art International Convention
May 21-25th, 2014
The Bonaventure Resort and Spa
250 Racquet Club Road,
Ft. Lauderdale/Weston,
Florida, USA 33326
http://www.fabaic.com/

–==—

California Clown Campin
July 21 – 27, 2014
Ayres Hotel and Suites
Ontario Convention Center
1945 E. Holt Boulevard
Ontario, CA 91761
http://www.californiaclowncampin.org/

–==—

Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp
July 29 – August 3, 2014
Christ the King Retreat Center
621 First Ave. South
Buffalo MN 55313
http://mooseburger.com/camp/

Mooseburger Camp is the clown school created by Tricia Manuel from world famous Pricilla Mooseburger Originals. Celebrate International Clown Week with your clown friends at Moose Camp.

–==—

Find more upcoming events on Just For Clowns:
http://www.justforclowns.com/calendar-of-events/

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

The Circus is Coming to Town

Ringling Gold Tour – Super Circus Heroes
Thursday, May 1 – Sunday, May 4, 2014
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, VA

—

Cirque du Soleil – Amaluna
July 31 – August 24, 2014
The Plateau at National Harbor

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

The Clown Network and Just For Clowns

Mike Becvar runs two websites for professional clowns, The Clown Network (http://www.theclownnetwork.com/) and Just for Clowns (http://www.justforclowns.com/). The Clown Network is the older of the two and has links to various clown organizations and vendors as well as to websites related to magic, juggling, and Santa. Just For Clowns is a newer website and run as a blog with links to news and videos that might be of interest to clowns. Mike also started a video series he calls, “News For Clowns of All Ages” which he had published several episodes on YouTube and links to the videos can be found on the Just For Clowns website.

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Bee Jokes:

Q: Why did the bee cross the road?
A: Just bee-cause!

Q: What sort of car does a bee drive?
A: A Bee-mer.

Q: Why did the bee go to the dermatologist?
A: Because it had hives.

Q: Who is the bees favorite singer?
A: Sting.

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Chantilly Face Painting and Balloon Jam

Each month, Mike Becvar hosts a face painting and balloon jam at the Cici’s Pizza in Chantilly. It is normally on the 2nd Monday of the month.

Mike tries to arrive between 6:00 and 6:30 and grab some food from the buffet. The actual jam portion of the night begins at 7:00 and continues until Cici’s closes at 9:00pm. You can come as early or late as you like. The manager lets anyone who comes to do balloons or face painting eat the buffet for free. The jam is open to face painters and balloon twisters of all skill levels. You may ask for tips, but you cannot set a price for the balloons or face painting.

Chantilly Face Painting and Balloon Jam
2nd Monday of each Month
Buffet from 6:00 – 7:00
Jam from 7:00 – Close

CiCi’s Pizza Buffet
14392 Chantilly Crossing Lane
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-961-9100

There are several other face painting and balloon jams in the area. Contact Mike Becvar aka Sir Toony for

information about the other jams.

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Northern Virginia S.A.M. Assembly 252 Meetings
3rd Thursday of each month
7:30pm until 9:00pm
http://www.sam252.com/

The Knights of Columbus Hall
behind St. Leo’s Catholic Church
3700 Old Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22030

(go totally through church parking lot, make a right at baseball field, then a left, Knights of Columbus

Hall is on the right)

Note: Youth meet 1/2 hour earlier at 7:00pm

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–

Fairfax Jugglers
Key Intermediate Cafeteria
Every Thursday * when school is in session
Thursdays, 7:30-10 PM

Key Intermediate School
6402 Franconia Road
Springfield, VA 22150

Contact bsperling@cox.net to get on their email list.

Enter the parking lot opposite Japonica Street, turn RIGHT at the front of the school and drive around to the far back and the end of the parking lot. Enter the cafeteria at entrance #6 (visible past the dumpster), along a sidewalk, and this may be the best way in (if you arrive first please prop open this door). Alternately, check the Handicapped Student’s Gym by Entrance #9 or use entrance #5 and turn left at the first cross-hall, then look for the cafeteria on the left. OR: check the handicapped student’s gym by Entrance #9 after your first left turn.

-=-

The CIRCUS CLUB also meets at Key Intermediate School on Thursdays, but in the Handicapped Student’s Gym by

Entrance #9. They teach many circus skills to children and perform in parades and other venues. If you know of a child or teenager who would be interested in learning or developing those kinds of skills then contact them at Circusclub@yahoo.com

–==–==–==– –==–==–==– –==–==–==–