Ruffennach Named "Champion of Children"

The Arizona Republic - Arizona's largest daily newspaper - proclaimed their fourth annual list of "Champions of Children" on December 25, 2001.  The list highlights the unsung heroes in Arizona that contribute to the lives of children.  This year's champions included our own President Mark Ruffennach!  The write up said:

"When Mark Ruffennach retires, the Scottsdale Police Department is going to have some big shoes to fill.

Really big shoes - the kind clowns wear.

A strapping 6-foot-2-inch, 250-pound cop, Ruffennach has a heart even bigger than those shoes.

Ruffennach, a k a Officer Billy Club, teaches kids about safety and violence prevention.

The painted face, wig and big shoes are all in the line of duty.

"By using magic, puppetry, clowning and even music, the kids are able to retain about 95 percent of the message vs. the traditional way," Ruffennach says. When a uniformed police officer simply talks to kids, they remember about 25 percent of what they hear, he says.

Ruffennach created SMILE, or Safety Magic In Law Enforcement, to reach kids. He and other clown cops take the show on the road and fill school auditoriums across the Valley with laughing, learning, children.

The 40-minute shows contain messages aimed at not only teaching kids, but leaving them feeling good about themselves.

"To be a great clown, it has to come from your heart," Ruffennach says. "You're reaching out to the children."

The article had a nice picture of Mark in costume performing a magic trick with Scooter.  (Posted 12/25/01)

Membership Renewals In The Mail

Membership renewal notices were included with the last newsletter for all S.M.I.L.E. Members excluding those who joined since October, or those who renewed at the Conference.

The S.M.I.L.E. Organization now has more than 100 members on three continents!  It is our goal to maintain all our current members for the 2002 year!  If you have any questions about renewals, please contact President Mark Ruffennach or Vice President Bruce Wall.  (Posted 12/12/01)

Clif McKenzie in Arizona Republic

S.M.I.L.E. Director of Curriculum - Clif Mckenzie - was profiled in the November 16, 2001 issue of the Arizona Republic in the Scottsdale Community section on page two.  The article is titled "Educator's Clowning Around is Serious Business."  The Republic is the largest daily newspaper for the Metro Phoenix area.

The article mentioned Clif's involvement with the S.M.I.L.E. Organization and his success as a principal and athlete.  Congratulations on a great article!  (Posted 11/22/01). 

Fall Newsletter is in the Mail!

The fall issue of the S.M.I.L.E. newsletter was given first to all attendees of the S.M.I.L.E. Conference and then mailed to the rest of the membership on November 21, 2001.  

Featured in this issue are great articles including:

(11/21/01)

S.M.I.L.E. Presents to ISCPP Symposium

Scott Reed, Mark Ruffennach and Bruce Wall presented on S.M.I.L.E. to the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners Symposium, October 31 to November 3, 2001 in Charlotte, NC.  The presentation was well received and we should have a picture or two shortly.  (Posted 11/5/01)

Ruffennach & Wall Profiled in Arizona Parenting

S.M.I.L.E. President Mark Ruffennach and Vice President Bruce Wall were profiled in the November, 2001 issue of Arizona Parenting Magazine as "People who make a difference for children and parents in Arizona."

The article is reproduced below.  Please be aware of a mistake in the article that Bruce is listed as a Police Officer.  He is a civilian employee.  (Posted 10/23/01)

Scottsdale S.M.I.L.E. Clowns Featured in Police Magazine

The "A Closer Look" column of the November, 2001 issue of Police - The Law Enforcement Magazine featured the Scottsdale (Arizona) Police Department.  The sub-title of the column was: "Scottsdale PD: Laughter is a Powerful Weapon".  

The article described in great detail the community programs of the Scottsdale Police Department and featured a great picture of the Scottsdale S.M.I.L.E. Clowns Officer Billy Club, Captain Careful and Misty Meanor in costume and with puppets!  (Posted 10/22/01)

Luv Clowns Hold Great Training

Six S.M.I.L.E. Clowns attended the "Festival of Clowning" presented by the Luv Clowns of Mesa on September 28-30, 2001.  The event featured Marcela Murad AKA "Momma Clown" and Oscar Flores AKA "Timmy Bond," as well as some incredible local clowns such as Terry Ricketts and Debbie Henry.

Mama Clown is a professional clown from Florida.  She specializes in face painting, story-telling and clown magic.  Timmy Bond is a professional clown from Mexican.  He shared his talents as a unicyclist, juggler, and physical comedian.

Mama Clown (right) Leads the "Farcal Skit" with Patty Meagher and Scott Reed 

(Photo by Bruce Wall)

One of the highlights of the training was an open mic show followed by an instructor show on Saturday night.  The finale was a  very emotional singing of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" that Momma Clown and Timmy led, with S.M.I.L.E. Clowns Scott Reed and Bruce Wall holding an American flag!

The S.M.I.L.E. Clowns with the Lead Instructors at the Festival of Clowns

Top Row (L to R) Scooter, Little Billy, Bucky

Bottom Row (L to R) Odessy, Mama Clown, Timmy Bond, Patty O'Patches, Sunflower

(Photo by Bruce Wall)

Congratulations to Patty Meagher, the Luv Clowns President, for running an incredible Festival!  (Posted 9/30/01) 

3rd Quarterly Training A Lot of Fun!

The third Quarterly S.M.I.L.E. Training was held on September 25, 2001 at the Glendale Police Department.  The training was called "M&M: Magic and Music."  There were more than 30 people in attendance - many were guests attending for the first time!

A demonstration of magic tricks was offered and then Fire Fighter Matt Bender from the Glendale (Arizona) Fire Department gave a demonstration of some excellent homemade magic that he has been working on. 

This was followed by some time to work on skits using magic and safety.  Music was then introduced with several selections and resources shared.  

We look forward to the next training! (Posted 9/26/01)

Article on S.M.I.L.E. Published in Funny Paper!

S.M.I.L.E. was nominated by President Mark Ruffennach.  It was one of 15 nominees and was selected as one of five finalists in the category.  The nomination recognizes the joint effort between the Police Departments from the cities of Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale and APS - the Arizona public utility that supports S.M.I.L.E.!  (Posted 6/21/01)

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D.A.R.E. Day in Glendale

There were cheerleaders, tigers and clowns (oh my) at the 2001 edition of D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Day at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona on April 20, 2001.  D.A.R.E. Day celebrates 5,000 6th grade students graduating from the D.A.R.E. Program in Glendale and all over the State of Arizona.

Since 1999, the Glendale Police Department has invited the clowns from S.M.I.L.E. to perform and pump up the crowd.  This included Willy Whistles and Scooter from the Scottsdale Police Department, Hookem and Bookem from the Peoria Police Department, Patches, Flaco and Steamer from the Glendale Fire Department, and the grand first appearance by Bucky (Buck L. Upp's younger brother) from the Glendale Police Department.  Another guest this year was a tiger who was nice enough to pose for the picture below.

(Posted 5/11/01)

Incredible Clown Training In Phoenix

APS hosted an incredible clown training at the APS training facility at Arizona State University Downtown Campus on Saturday, April 7, 2001.  The training featured:

The following day, we were invited to perform in face at the "Sunday On Central" celebration that was sponsored by APS.  Our instructors were the stars of the show!  Kenny Ahern did his incredible act with ladders and clowning fun!  Earl Chaney wowed the audience with his clown antics and magic.  Terry Devolt did his cowboy act that was awesome!  Finally, Joel Heidtman showed his incredible juggling skills!  

Thanks to Terry and the APS Volunteer Clown Troupe for putting on another incredible training!  (Posted 4/9/01)

S.M.I.L.E. 1st Quarterly Training in Glendale!

The first quarterly training of the year was held in Glendale, Arizona on February 28 and March 1, 2001.  This was a two day training where we took the lessons learned from the S.M.I.L.E. Conference last November and applied them!  The group rehearsed a show then presented it 4 times at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help private school in Glendale.

(Posted 6/1/01)

S.M.I.L.E. Keynotes at Louisiana Clowning For Safety Conference!

Scott Reed, Mark Ruffennach and Bruce Wall from the S.M.I.L.E. Organization were the keynote speakers of the Louisiana Clowning For Safety Conference, February 21-23, 2001 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  The Conference was presented by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of EMS and coordinated locally by the Lake Charles Fire Department.

There were more than 30 people in attendance at the second annual Louisiana Clowning For Safety Conference.  A unique aspect to the Conference was the number of Emergency Room Nurses in attendance that use clowning for their safety education.  Everyone shared and learned to promote safety education.  FM Radio!  (In-joke, you had to be there)

The S.M.I.L.E. Clowns taught for four hours one day about safety clowning, magic, juggling and so much more!  Everyone in attendance learned how to juggle scarves.  For some reason, the attendees had the mistaken impression that Mark Ruffennach created and maintained this website.  EVERYONE knows that Bruce does the website.  This error was repeatedly pointed out, but for some reason, the myth persisted!

A special highlight for the S.M.I.L.E. guests was the proximity to Mardi Gras that began on February 27th!  The Conference was "raided" during it's final banquet by the famous Buccaneer Krewe from Lake Charles.  After the banquet, we all said our goodbyes, and everyone is now looking forward to next year's Conference in Alexandria, Louisiana!  

Special thanks to Mike Parent, Lloyd Miller, Bobbie Champagine and Christina Gallusser from the planning committee for teaching us "Southwesterners" what Southern hospitality is all about!  (Posted 2/26/01)

Presto Magic Now Exclusively Carries the S.M.I.L.E. Bound Newsletter

Barry Schor, the proprietor of Presto Magic Studio in Tempe, Arizona has become the exclusive Magic Dealer selling the first and second bound volumes of the S.M.I.L.E. Newsletter "Put A S.M.I.L.E. On Your Face."  The only other place where you can buy these highly sought after booklets is from Billy's Bargain Barn.

Barry has been a true friend to S.M.I.L.E. by helping with lectures at Conferences and trainings, tours of his shop during the last Quarterly training of 2000 and great advise to S.M.I.L.E. members who shop at his store.  

Presto Magic is also one of the finest used magic stores in the country!  If you sign up for his e-mail catalogs and used magic lists, you can get a lot of information on items you may be looking for!

Barry can be reached at pressmagic@earthlink.net.  (Posted 1/14/01)

UPDATE: There are currently less than 4 copies of each of the Bound first and second editions of the S.M.I.L.E. Newsletter.  There are no plans to reprint these editions until the 5th year bound edition!  So don't delay, if you want a copy, order it from Barry or Billy's Bargain Barn today!! (Posted 6/2/01)

Axtell Expressions Offers Third Model of Chimp Puppet

Axtell Expressions released it's new full color catalog for 2001.  The catalog features the professional (32") chimp puppet ($399) that has been a favorite of both Mark Ruffennach (Flower the Chimp) and Bruce Wall (Louie the Monkey) of the S.M.I.L.E. Organization.

Last year, Axtell Expressions introduced a smaller (24") chimp that sells for only $69.95.  This puppet was well received at the 1999 S.M.I.L.E. Conference where it sold out in 2 hours!  

Now Axtell Expressions has offered a new third model called the vinyl 32" that is in between the professional version and the smaller chimp.  It has less detail than the professional model.  Also added are an orangutan and a gorilla!  You can have your choice of species for only $149.95 each.  For more information on the chimps, go to the Axtell Expressions web site.  

(Posted 1/13/01)

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