Conference 1999 Report
The 1st National SMILE Conference,
November 20-22, 1999, is now a memory, but the 50 people in attendance from
Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Texas, and Washington State learned,
laughed and shared with one another.
The setting was the beautiful Regal
Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The weather was "postcard
perfect" in the 70's and 80's during the day. The hotel
overlooks a small lake with majestic palm trees and cactus. What could be
nicer?
Genii Blue at the sailboat dock at the Regal Resort.
There was excitement even before the
conference officially began! On Friday night, Officer Scott Reed was
driving his unmarked Police car with S.M.I.L.E. President Mark Ruffennach,
Conference Chair Chris Vassal, Officer Dee Harmon (Houston PD) and Pam
"Sparky" Moody (Des Moines FD) from a restaurant to the hotel. A
drunk driver tried to run them off the road, and Officer Reed had to do a
traffic stop. The driver was arrested and taken into custody. Sparky
may never watch COPS the same way again!
The comment heard most often was
"there are so many incredible classes to attend, how do we decide which
one?" The conference was designed so registrants attended general
sessions together (at the lakeside pavilions overlooking the lake), then choose
from three break out sessions. The classes were great and everyone wished
they could have more time with each class!
At
left: Dr. Safe 'T with Hookem & Bookem.
At
right: Monique with Officer Billy Club and Misty Meanor
The instructors were top notch! Kenny
and Brenda Ahern, Earl Chaney and Dave Mitchell were our lead instructors.
Kenny Ahern is a former Ringling Brother/Barnum and Bailey Circus Clown and is
now a professional full-time clown. Brenda is also a former Ringling Clown
who now works as an Elementary School Teacher. She was able to give us the
perspective from a teacher and performer. Earl Chaney (AKA "Mr.
Clown") is a legend having performed in the Ringling Brothers/Barnum and
Baily Circus with such tramp clown legends as Emmet Kelly and Otto Griebling.
He was also a Ronald McDonald for 20 years. He resides in Las Vegas and
owns a magic store - Planet Mirth
Productions. Dave Mitchell is a professional
Magician and Ventriloquist who specializes in
school show entertainment. He also owns Jam Magic and manufactures many
silk screened magic tricks.
Earl Chaney, AKA Mr. Clown, pauses for a quick picture
at one of his sessions
We were fortunate enough to partner with
Terry Ricketts and the APS Volunteer Clown Troupe. Terry and his crew
taught make-up application and a class on clown history. We couldn't do
what we do without the help and support of APS!
Sparkles and Feathers from the APS Volunteer Clown
Troupe
There were also several local educational
entertainers that stopped by to instruct including Howard Munding from Messages
with Magic© and Barry Schor from Presto Magic Studio.
Finally, the SMILE Clowns were there to
share their expertise including President Mark Ruffennach, Vice President Bruce
Wall, Director of Humor Relations Hal Koozer, and Officer Scott Reed.
We set up a room as "Clown Fashion
Square" and were fortunate enough to have vendors from: Axtell
Expressions Puppets, COPTOOLS.COM, Jam
Magic, MAGIC...OFF THE WALL, Mardi Gras Costumes, Planet
Mirth Productions, Presto Magic, and
of course the S.M.I.L.E. Clowns had some t-shirts, patches hats, and the new
bound 1st Volume of the Put A S.M.I.L.E. On Your Face Newsletter for sale (if
you're interested, check out Billy's
Bargain Barn).
One of the highlights of the conference
was the Saturday night show by Kenny Ahern. We laughed from beginning to
end! It was a treat to see such a versatile entertainer perform!
On Sunday afternoon, there was a staff
make-up demonstration by Kenny Ahern and Earl Chaney. A few lucky
volunteers were able to have make up applied by a professional!
Kenny Ahern applies make-up to Pat Meagher during the
Staff Make-Up demo.
After that, everyone "clowned
up" for pictures and skits.
The
majority of the group in front of the lake at the Regal Resort
(Photo:
Bruce Wall)
Skits were presented by the Scottsdale
S.M.I.L.E. Clowns, Kawshun D'Safety
Clown, and the Denver Fire Department. A few clowns went to a block
party with Officer Scott Reed. They had a great time and their exploits
are now becoming legendary!
Left:
Kawshun D'Safety Clown showed how she reaches children
at
the classroom level! Right: Cinders (with new Axtell Chimp),
Sparky
and company from the Denver Fire Department.
Finally on Monday after the last classes
were over, we had a graduation ceremony that had a somber decorum (ya right!)
befitting a milestone of this significance (in other words, people were shooting
off "rocket" balloons with a distinctive sound effect)!
Every conference evaluation said that the
attendees want to return again next year!
To see the report from the other
Conferences, check out:
