Happenings from the September Meeting!

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m., with 17 clowns in attendance. Ace introduced our newest member/visitor, Darcee Doodles, and they created a short skit for social media welcoming Darcee to the alley. Welcome, Darcee!

Stand and Share

Bonita took her grandchildren to Ringling Bros. Circus and saw Bello Nock perform! She shared that the circus has moved away from traditional clowns, featuring three characters who were more clown-like, complete with clown-inspired names.

Cinde celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary the day before the meeting, and she and Dal are going to Hawaii on vacation. Congratulations!

Darcee "Doodles" shared about her first solo event at a senior living facility on Saturday, September 12. She entertained with balloon twisting and laughter yoga. Congratulations on your first solo event!

Tricia shared a character routine, "Bertha," featuring a humorous story about getting pulled over by a police officer. Her passenger explains that the officer stopped them because they were the only ones he could catch! When asked, "Have you been drinking?" the response was, "Only if you're buying!" Tricia performed the bit alongside Susan Keys.

Approval of Minutes

Susan made a motion to approve the previous meeting's minutes. Posey seconded the motion.

Treasurer's Report

The convention account collected more than $5,000 and paid out more than $9,000. The main account has more than $3,000 remaining, with all recent financial activity occurring in the convention account. The donation amount for Hope for Kids has not yet been finalized.

No old business was reported.

New Business and Announcements

River Legacy Fall Festival: Coming up October 10. We need volunteers to make balloons because we get paid per balloon as an alley fundraiser.

COAI Convention: The convention will be held in North Carolina in April 2027.

Upcoming alley programs: Programs are needed for October and November. There will be no December meeting due to our holiday commitments. During December we will volunteer at two children's cancer events at Glen Eagles Country Club in Plano. The organization will be counting on us even more this year because there will not be a toy store, and multiple shows may be needed.

Officer and Award Nominations: Nominations are coming up, so start thinking about members you would like to recognize or nominate for leadership positions.

Dues Reminder: Annual dues are $15 for individuals and $25 for families.

TCA Cruise: Don't forget the upcoming Texas Clown Association cruise! Make your reservations now with Dale DePrima – www.dreamytravel.com

Ed Gunsalus and Martha Warren perform “Swan Lake”

GLOW

Ed Gunsalus and Martha Warren shared a skit called Swan Lake.

Maggie Clauder performs her dinosaur-themed library show.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:03pm.

September Program

Thank you to Margaret Clauder for an amazing program on how to structure a school or library show with theming, activities, props, and logistics. She entertained with the show she created this summer for the Texas Library theme "Unearth a Book."

A Word from Our Clown in Chief

Here in Texas October is still a warm month, but we're very thankful we finally got out of the 100s and received a little rain! Overall, October will slowly show us some cooler weather, colorful leaves, community festivals, and great opportunities to gather with family and friends. It's great seeing pumpkin patches, hayrides, craft fairs, football games, and outdoor celebrations bring people together to enjoy the heart of the fall season.

It is also a busy time for entertainers, with school carnivals, church festivals, fall fundraisers, and neighborhood events creating chances to share smiles, balloons, face painting, magic, puppets, and laughter. Our Alley is having two events this week covering fall events: Georgia Farrow Rec Center in Irving and River Legacy Fall Festival in Arlington. On Monday at our next meeting, we would enjoy hearing what you have to say about the event you helped with!

The month also highlights meaningful causes and observances. October is widely recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to encourage screenings, support, and hope. October is also the month of promoting fire safety, bullying prevention, mental health awareness, and appreciation for teachers and first responders. Another special day of this month happens on the day of our meeting: Columbus Day, October 12!

Of course, October ends with Halloween on Saturday, October 31. Costumes, trunk-or-treats, parties, and trick-or-treating make the final days of the month especially festive. Whether we are performing at an event, supporting an important cause, or simply enjoying the season, October gives us many ways to connect with our community, make happy memories, and spread a little extra joy.

— President Tricia "Jolly" / "Hanky" Gregory

Volunteer Opportunity: Children's Holiday Celebrations

Each year, our alley volunteers at two special Children's Holiday Celebrations. This year they will be at:

Gleneagles Country Club 5401 West Park Blvd, Plano, Texas

Children's Cancer Fund Monday, December 7, 2026 6–8 PM

Children's Sickle Cell Program Monday, December 14, 2026 6–8 PM

Volunteers Needed! Balloon artists • Face painters • Magicians • Stilt walkers • Costume characters • Walk-around entertainment

Come in your favorite holiday attire (elf, clown, or simply holiday colors) and have fun with the families! Volunteers receive a meal and T-shirt as a thank-you for your service!

Please let Susan Keys know if you plan to attend: 972-986-7388 | merrymakers1@juno.com

Keeping It in the Air: Juggling Before the Big Top

What do an Egyptian tomb, a riding school, and an egg on somebody's head have in common? Juggling! Before we toss around tips and tricks, let's meet a few people who kept things interesting…and airborne…long before us.

Our first stop is Egypt, about 4,000 years ago. A painting in Tomb 15 at Beni Hasan shows women juggling balls. One has her arms crossed, apparently unimpressed by the difficulty! Juggling historian Erik Aberg identifies this as the oldest known depiction of juggling. We don't know who invented it, but we do know women were already in the picture.

Now trot forward to London in 1768. Philip Astley and his wife Patty opened a riding school, presenting equestrian tricks. Astley later added jugglers, clowns, and other entertainers. The modern circus was taking shape! Even the familiar 42-foot ring suited trick riding. Next time you step into a circus ring, remember: the horses had a hoof in the planning.

By the late nineteenth century, gentleman jugglers were bringing household objects into their acts. Kara could make quite a show of breakfast, as described by fellow performer Horace Morton Lorette. Kara would juggle an egg, a plate, and an egg cup. The egg landed safely in the cup, then on the plate. After another toss, the assistant got in the way and the egg broke on his head for a laugh. Now, there is something a clown can work with!

Before shopping for another prop, look around your own kitchen. You might spot the beginnings of a routine. Just discuss the egg situation with your assistant first.

"I have mastered the three-ball drop. Next week, I'm adding catches."

This concludes Part One of Six. Part Two will be "Your Brain on Juggling."

— Juliana and Tony Winiecki

Everything I've Learned About Performing I've Learned from Professional Wrestling!

Using the Audience – Part 1 of 6 — Matty McFun

Professional wrestling and clowning??? Love it or hate it, it doesn't matter. Professional wrestling is a multi-million dollar industry that entertains audiences around the world. It IS ENTERTAINMENT. It uses many strategies that are guaranteed to work every time. Not just for them, but for performers like you and me.

Using the Audience

There are typically two types of wrestlers: the Babyface (good guy) and the Heel (bad guy). Both use the audience to their advantage. They get the audience to love them OR hate them. Say good things about the city the audience lives in, and they cheer you!! Say bad things about their city or sports teams, or insult them as individuals, and they boo you!!! The more they cheer or boo you, the more popular you are.

If you have a kids show, then you really want the audience to react. The more they react, the better time they're having. That's a fact. A quiet audience is a boring audience! More reactions = more fun.

Some entertainers go by the rule "NEVER tell your audience what to do or how to feel." For example: "When I say ____, you say ____." That is not the audience reacting to you. That is the audience doing what you told them to do. Yes, there is a place for this in some shows. But you'll get A LOT MORE from genuine reactions. It's just more fun for kids!!!

Genuine reactions come naturally, and there are some guaranteed ways to get reactions. No, it doesn't involve insulting them. But it does involve you playing ignorant and letting them feel smart. Kids LOVE thinking they're SMART! Here are a few guaranteed reaction getters that will get kids to point, yell, and laugh like crazy:

Pretend to NOT see something you are looking for, but they can clearly see it
Make the same mistake over and over (like dropping something)
Get hit by something unexpectedly
React to your mistakes (movement and facial expressions are funny)
Forget something (their name or where you just put something)
Deny something that is obviously true (insisting yellow is blue, telling them it's not funny when they laugh at you)

These actions work EVERY TIME. If you can include these in your show (put them in every bit you do), you'll get FUN and INTERACTION: yelling, pointing, laughing. It will impress the parents because their kids have had a great time. They know their kids had a great time because they saw and heard them yelling, pointing, and laughing constantly during your show. You got them to react, and they had a lot of fun. Get the audience to react.

It Is Time to Step Up and Take a Leadership Role with the Clowns "R" Us Alley

Duties of the Officers

President — Presides over meetings, provides leadership, coordinates the board, and helps guide the alley's activities and goals.

Vice President — Assists the President and assumes the President's duties when the President is unavailable; coordinates the meeting programs and special projects.

Secretary — Keeps meeting minutes, maintains official records, handles correspondence, and helps maintain the membership roster/communications.

Treasurer — Maintains the alley's financial records, receives and disburses funds, presents financial reports, and helps manage dues.

Sergeant at Arms — Helps maintain order during meetings, assists with meeting setup/security, and may be responsible for welcoming members and visitors or other duties assigned by the board.

Past President — Provides continuity and historical perspective and serves as a resource to the new leadership.

Board Members — Participate in board decisions, support alley activities and committees, and take on special projects as needed.

Which office do you want?

45 Years of Cowtown Clowns!

October 2026 marks a very special milestone for Cowtown Clowns: 45 years of bringing laughter, fun, and service to the DFW community! To celebrate, Cowtown Clowns are gathering on:

Monday, October 26 6:00pm El Chico Restaurant 7621 Baker Blvd., Richland Hills, Texas

Whether you are a current Cowtown Clown, a former member, a longtime friend, or someone who would love to become part of the fun, you are invited! Come celebrate the memories, the friendships, and 45 years of making a difference in our community.

And, of course, come in clown! We will be taking a special group clown photo to commemorate this incredible anniversary, so grab your makeup, costume, and biggest smile and join us for the fun.

There will also be a special commemorative book, so if you have any stories or photos you want to submit for the memories, please email them to klown3824@charter.net.

The Clown Chronicles: October ‘26