After reading the following article submitted by Joe Hardin I decided to make it this month's rant. It speaks directly to my rant last month and echoes my own ongoing question of, "What value is it to me personally to belong to this club?" Next month, Knowing your place in the Magic Food Chain. Remember, if you can't say something nice about someone at a meeting, come sit next to me. CR

A View from One of the Raccoons
by Joe Hardin

Do you ever wonder if belonging to a magic club has any real value? Any doubts fly through your magically inclined mind as you write out those membership dues checks? It's over $100 a year if you belong to both the major organizations at the local and national level. Do you view the money you are spending primarily as a magazine subscription or is it something more? I guess I'm in a reflective mood as I sit here wondering if I want to remain a 'Raccoon' or not.

You remember the Raccoon analogy I hope. Compeer Steve Corbitt wrote a piece a year or so ago analyzing his involvement in the world of the official magic fraternities and he used the literary devise of describing the magic world in terms of being a member in good standing with a group of fellow Raccoons. I've never forgotten the article and I have proudly described myself as being a Raccoon ever since.

However, the question of remaining a loyal Raccoon came to mind again recently as I tried to sort out the various issues currently confronting the two clubs at the local level and my involvement with the SAM at the national level. To be direct, the local IBM board recently decided to pull out of the Midwest Magic Auction; withdraw involvement with the St. Louis Magic Heritage Award; and decided that they had no interest in establishing a formal set of operating rules for the Midwest Magic Jubilee. This has led to some serious discussions of principle within both clubs. I'm also involved with the SAM at a National level and that isn't always a bed of roses either.

So, just as Steve was evaluating his involvement with the Raccoons, I'm in the process of evaluating my own. Since I currently serve as a board member of the SAM and member of the IBM, I thought I should share my thoughts with the membership and see how my fellow Raccoons are faring.

I guess I see my fellow Raccoons falling into several different groupings. All of which at one time or the other I too reside. Most of us are pretty content with having some place to go every couple of weeks or once a month and whatever happens at a meeting is great with us. We are easy to please and appreciate the socializing opportunity. If something involving magic happens at the meeting, so much the better. If asked we might be willing to perform a trick but usually we just want to come and hang out. We include all levels of magicians from beginners to seasoned pros.

Some of us Raccoons are more demanding. By golly the head Raccoon had better come up with something every meeting that really peaks our interest or we're not leaving the den. Some cookies or goodies sometime serve as enough bait to lure us out but don't expect us to get too involved, we're old time Raccoons and we've seen it all before. We never volunteer to help the head Raccoon but we're the first to demand improvements in the den. It never occurs to us that we could improve things by getting involved. And by the way, don't raise the dues, charge more than 1950's prices for a banquet or expect me to be for anything that requires me to do anything.

The last group of Raccoons are the leaders of the pack. These are the 'Alpha' members.

If you happen to be an 'Alpha' type Raccoon, you know, someone who wants to lead the pack, you risk being labeled as a member of 'the clique' by some of the Raccoons or too controlling by others. It's always tough at the top. Thankfully there are always a few Raccoons willing to take on the leadership role. Did you ever stop and consider what it takes to publish the newsletter; or how much work it takes to fill in the meeting dates with interesting material or the time and effort put in by the folks that organize the shows or come up with fundraising ideas?

I guess the ultimate point I'm trying to get to is I believe we all get back from these clubs something on a par with how much we give. Sometimes more and sometimes less, but at the best you have fun, improve your magic skills and enjoy being a practitioner of the magical arts.

Do we all have the same level of need with respect to club functions and meeting material? Obviously we do not. Is it necessary for every event sponsored by each organization to be endorsed by everyone? I don't believe it should be. Not everyone is going to want to work for nothing to put on a show or work a fundraiser like the auction or the Haunted Hayloft. I do believe, however, that if events are being conducted and have the support of the membership and they are successful by some demonstrable way, then they deserve to be continued. I also believe that when you are involved in working an event for the clubs, the Auction, the Jubilee, a show, you deserve to be recognized and acknowledged as a contributing Raccoon in good standing.

I really don't think the IBM Board started out to have a 'coon' hunt at their meeting. I hope they reconsider their actions and see where the membership stands before withdrawing their involvement in existing events and with respect to the Jubilee, try to find a way to add the needed structure where none exists. If their current actions stand, it makes any kind of planning, whether it be running the Auction or attempting to follow the direction of the Jubilee very difficult.

We have few enough Raccoons as it is. Let's not go out of our way to swerve off the road in an attempt to wipe out a few more.

As for me, I think I'm going to stay pretty close to my den for now.