S.A.M. Assembly No. 59  
 Portland, Oregon

Welcome

Welcome to the S.A.M. Assembly 59 nerve center.  This site provides a primary up-to-date information resource for the 70+ members of our Assembly.  In fact, if you are here and not presently one of our members, we welcome you just the same.  This site is dedicated to all qualified magicians and to those folks who have a deep desire to learn the wonderful art of magic and earn the title of "magician" for themselves.

With this web site, we take advantage of the speed and flexibility that is offered by the Internet.  As the largest Assembly in the S.A.M. Northwest Region, our members deserve nothing less.  At the menu listing to the left, you will find current information about our assembly activities:  Meeting Schedule and Topics, Events and Lectures, Young Magicians, Membership, and other club related items.  Search as you will, the one thing you won't find here are magic secrets.  We keep our magic lessons for presentation at the scheduled meetings and other educational events.

To navigate this site, review the menu listing to the left, point at the item that interests you, and click on it.  You may return to this home page at any time or follow any of the links to other related sites.  We encourage you to bookmark this page now and come back at least every two weeks for updates.

Our Purpose

The purpose of our Society is to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art; to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic; and to maintain and improve ethical standards in the field of magic.  Our first mission is to become the premiere magic organization in the world as evidenced by:

• Being the organization to which professional and amateur magicians want to belong.

• The admiration and respect accorded to us by all those interested in magic.

• Worldwide recognition for its good works in the field of magical arts.    

Our Profile

The S.A.M. Assembly 59 was officially chartered with 13 members on November 6, 1954.  We celebrated our Golden Anniversary at our Annual Installation Banquet in January 2005.  Duane Duvall--now an Honorary Life Member of the S.A.M.--is the only charter member to remain continuously active in the Assembly.  Known around the world, Jerry Andrus also belongs to our Assembly and is the only other of our members to have achieved Honorary Life status.  In March 2007, Jerry Andrus was jointly honored by S.A.M. 59 and the Portland Society of Magicians (P.S.M.).  As an active and supporting member of both organizations for more than half a century, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in magic.  Unfortunately, Jerry passed away on August 26, 2007 and was subsequently honored with a wonderful memorial service that concluded with a Broken Wand Ceremony.

On the local level, Stan Greer was presented with S.A.M. 59 Honorary Life Member status in 2006.  Sadly, Stan passed away on January 31, 2008.  He had been an Assembly member for 46 years and served in nearly all officer and committee positions during his time.  In January 2007, we bestowed the same Honorary Life status on Leo Haglund who now has over 46 years of honorable service and participation in S.A.M. 59.  At our annual banquet in January 2008, Stan Kramien also received the honor after more than 70 years of professional magic and 32 years as a member of the S.A.M.

As noted earlier, we are the largest Assembly in the eight states that comprise the Northwest Region of the S.A.M.  Our diverse group of male and female members span the ages from mid-teens through retirement.  Their skill levels range from brand new beginner to full-time professional.  We actively seek members from all segments of our local area...the love of magic deserves to be free from artificial social boundaries.

During the year, our Assembly members gather for regular meetings once each month (except for July, August, and December) at the Friendship Masonic Lodge  in northeast Portland.  Our meeting night is the fourth Wednesday of the month.  The Assembly also conducts other events at times that are not regular meeting nights.  You will find the details of our activities as you navigate the site.  Here are some of the special and unique things that we do during the year:

• Annual Stan Kramien Excellence in Stage Magic Contest. (January)

• Annual Leo Haglund Most Entertaining Card Trick Contest. (March)

• Annual Family Picnic. (August)

• Annual Swap-Meet. (September)

• Annual Will Desmond Close-Up Magic Contest. (October)

• National Magic Week activities. (October)

• Annual Thanksgiving Show by our Society of Young Magicians Assembly.

• Weekly no-host luncheon at the Beaverton Elks Lodge.

Send mail to support@sam59portland.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Society of American Magicians Assembly 59
Last modified: March 06, 2009