ICS Post Storm Update - August 28, 2011

I hope this finds all of our ICSers safe and sound. While the storm did not turn out to be quite as bad as expected, it did cause a lot of damage in specific pockets of the Baltimore Metro Area. We still have power here in Perry Hall, but there are a lot of trees down and debris in the roadways. All in a all, I think canceling the meeting was a good call. We did not want to risk any members trying to make it to a meeting.

This is the first time we've been called for a hurricane. I always look forward to our monthly meeting. I don't know about everyone else, but after a month of working where our budget is cut, where micro-management seems to be the new ideal, and where managers don't know how to lead, I enjoy our monthly times together.

What we will be doing is moving Courtney's presentation on "MacBeth" to September (if Courtney can make it) and Dave Willard will fill in for Greg Mank with his presentation on the Peter Lorre film "M". We have some gaps open in our months ahead- if you'd like to sponsor a night, let Charlie Wittig know.

We will try to re-schedule Greg Mank for some time in the future. The Board will go over the upcoming months to see what we can do as far as scheduling. We will definitely try to get him for next October, if nothing else.

Now how come Summer goes so fast, but Winter drags??

Chairman Hendo

ICS Update - August 26, 2011 IMPORTANT: Hurricane Cancels Orson

Listening to the latest weather reports, it sounds like we are in for a heavy tropical storm, with the brunt of the storm  hitting around 5:00 p.m. Saturday and lasting into Sunday morning.

There seems to be no point in delaying it any more. We will be dealing with torrential rain, and high winds. It is not worth anyone taking a chance coming out to the meeting.

Therefore, we will not be having our meeting tomorrow night. The Board will let you know how we will schedule things for September

Everyone stay safe and stay dry, and we'll see you next month.

Hendo

P.S. You can always go to our FACEBOOK page and post photos of the storm from your neck of the woods if you like! 

ICS Update - August 24, 2011 (Good Night Irene)

I got this email from Charlie:
2. "Good Night Irene"...
Am I the only one concerned about the state of the weather on Saturday afternoon/evening?

I think we ought to send out a note asap to the rest of the ICS telling them to watch the weather reports and to check their email at 4pm.  If the weather is creating problems, the board can get together on the phone/email and make a decision on whether we will have a meeting.  A note can go out, and people will be prepared to check at 4pm.  For the Proveaux's of the world who do not have regular access to email, we can call.

What do you all think ?

Charlie is spot on. For those who may not have heard, a major hurricane is heading our way this weekend. What happens depends upon its course. If it veers out to sea, we'll have a lot of rain. If not, we'll have major winds and rain. Use common sense. Check your emails that day. We'll send out an email if there is good reason to cancel.

Hendo

ICS Update - August 1, 2011 (Short Update)

Hey group! We had a nice turnout for Pizza Night. 32 people showed up for the yearly event.

Mary Blackstock gave a presentation on THE EXORCIST. Believe it or not, John Weber had never seen it!

Next month, Courtney Spies will be doing the Orson Welles version of MAC BETH. One of my favorite Shakespearean plays.

Attached are a few photos from Pizza Night:
PIZZA NIGHT PICTURES - July 30, 2011
A longer update will come out in a few weeks. 
Hendo

ICS - Update July 23, 2011, Those lazy hazy crazy days of Summer!

Hot enough for you? I know that's a rhetorical question actually. 100+ degrees should be enough for anyone not lucky enough to have a pool or be at the beach! It's an old cliche, but to me it's the humidity. When you can't sit under a tree and read your kindle or a good book of  zombie stories (which is what I'm reading right now) without dripping on the display or the page, it's the humidity. Let me assure everyone that I will  get to the Hall early before the next meeting to turn on the A/C.

And the next meeting is PIZZA NIGHT!! Yes, our annual pizza night that is open to all members and guests. And to top it off, we'll be having MARY BLACKSTOCK showing that iconic film, THE EXORCIST!

Also I think we'll have time to see if anyone ventured forth with pocketfuls of cash and the mighty Cards of Plastic to see SHORE LEAVE! Plus there was some 2nd part of a movie finale that opened a short time back involving some young wizard who likes to play with evil destructive forces that I imagine one or two of our members have seen... 

Let's all be thankful that it wasn't this way LAST month when we had our outdoor JAWS screening! BTW, I left out a big "thank you" to GARY SVEHLA, whom I understand brought us the super-duper speakers. Thanks, Gary!

Speaking of books, for us antiquarians who still enjoy a good book, it comes as sad news that BORDERS Book Store is closing its doors. The longtime bookstore chain suffered from mismanagement and being slow on the technology curve (think Kindle and Nook). I went there early on Friday morning- good thing I did; I hear lines are like at Christmas now. I always liked BORDERS. The had a very nice history and poli sci section, a great Comic Book Trade Paperback section, and a good performing arts section. Plus they had a bohemian atmosphere that B&N doesn't have, except for maybe their Starbucks section. Anyway, I picked up a little of this and a little that- ok $100 worth of stuff. Unfortunately, they had taken all of their PCs out, so trying to find if something was in stock was hit or miss.

This is actually an excellent example of Tom Woodward's presentation on economics. Who says you don't learn something practical at an ICS Meeting? Here is the classic clip that Tom showed from "Other People's Money" that describes BORDERS' situation exactly: 

Larry the Liquidator

It's time to take the wraps off our new website! The AMAZING CHARLIE WITTIG (written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby) has done a great job with getting us a website set up in the first place.

However, our Chazz has been pulled in so many directions he wasn't always able to keep up with it.  A while back JUDY PENTZ, RICK ARNOLD and BETSY CHILDS came to the board and asked about trying to use the internet to publicize the club. They then offered to handle the website. And what a job they've done! You have got to give it a look-see. Just click the link to be whisked away to see it! And let us know what you think of it.

 ICS Page

So remember to attend the next meeting, after all:

Gee, I wonder what this linkee goes to?

Hendo

ICS Update - July 7, 2011

Greetings! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable July 4th holiday!

I must admit I had doubts. We'd been kicking around the idea of showing a movie outside for awhile, but I didn't think it would be dark enough. Plus there was the problem of mosquitoes and other bugs, as anyone who has ventured to the Bengies can tell you. But everyone was so enthusiastic over the idea. So it was decided to give it a try.

Well, thanks to Charlie (again), we had the dangest outdoor screen you could imagine. It was huge. And what's more- it worked perfectly! Wherever you got it Chazz, I suggest a ***** rating! Thanks to assistance from John Ward, Courtney Spies and Skip Phillips, it was up with a minimum of hassle.

After that, Courtney gave yours truly a hand with bringing out the beverages. And thanks to all the members who brought citronella candles, I for one, was only bitten once! I hope everyone else fared as well. And afterwards John, Skip, Courtney and I helped take it down and put it in it's convenient carrying case made of rich corinthian leather. And a big thank you to Nina, who before every meeting goes to the store to buy food and drinks.

And what a classic movie to see for a summer night- the first blockbuster- JAWS. After 36 years, it's still almost a perfect film IMHO.

And even though they won't be reading this, I'd like to thank the nearby camping Scouts who lent us their powerful LED flashlights when we took it all down. The one detail we overlooked!

So how do we top this? Why by having our Annual Pizza Night in July! And that night we will be having Marvelous Mary Blackstock doing that classic fright flick- THE EXORCIST! That will be on Saturday, July 30.

Just a reminder that SHORE LEAVE is going on this weekend. For more details, just go to: Shore Leave. And bring money. Lots of money. Lots and lots of money. Today's cons aren't cheap, and you're going to have to pay to get that matching set of Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman autographs (that's still one of my favorite episodes). And if you're there, talk up the ICS to anyone who seems interested and won't think you're some kind of stalker for doing so!

Til next time!

Hendo

ICS - Update June 15, 2011 IT'S SUMMER 1975 AGAIN . . .

, , , as the ICS takes on JAWS! We're going to take a look at the FIRST Summer Blockbuster Movie EVER (according to the film historians). This really waxes nostalgic for me, since I was an usher at the Senator Theater when JAWS was unleashed upon the world.

The meeting will be held on June 25. Now there are going to be some changes to our sh-ed-u-le for that evening because we're trying something a little different. We will be showing the movie OUTSIDE drive-in style (w/o the cars). Chazz Wittig has purchased a HUGE inflatable screen to show the movie on (see the ICS Facebook page for photos!  ICS Facebook Page ). Which means we'll have to wait until about 9 p.m. to start the movie. So here's the agenda:

As always, I will arrive there early to turn on the A/C.

• Anyone who wants to come early to socialize can certainly do so.
• At about 5:30 the board is going offsite for dinner and a business meeting. We'll return by 7.
• At 7, Chairman Hendo will be showing a power point (inside) that was YEARS in the making entitled- "A look back at JAWS". It'll be a nostalgic look back at the movie, including scenes from and behind the scenes shots of the movie, plus some commentary to boot.
• This will segue into a panel discussion on JAWS, led by John "You all know what I do fer a livin'" Ward and Nina "We're gonna need a bigger boat" Hawes. During this time, Charlie and I will be making final preparations outside for showing the movie.
• When the 9:00 hour nears, we will ask folks to kindly take their seats- outside this time- as we prepare to show our 36th Anniversary Celebration of JAWS.

Now- I would ask folks while you're running your daily errands over the next week and a half that if you're in a Walmart or Target, pick up skeeter repellent. Also if you can, bring a citronella candle (I picked up this flammable gel stuff today). We have a large area to cover, but if enough folks bring one candle, we might be able to keep the area relatively bug-free. My backup plan is to hide the bug spray from Regina, because she's a mosquito magnet.

Just kidding, Reg!

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for nice weather. Another update will come out before the meeting.

Your friendly neighborhood Chairman Hendo