area11|11|05 Meeting Minutes
For it’s inaugural meeting, the Corduroy Appreciation Club convened on Friday, November 11, 2005 at The Back Room on the lower east side of Manhattan. Here is what transpired:
- Corduroy Club member Christina Stanley baked cookies that resembled corduroy and attendees ate them.
- Attendees registered, received membership cards and buttons.
- Corduroy Club Founder and President, Miles Rohan, called the meeting to order. He explained that the CAC is a social club for people who appreciate corduroy, and compared the structure of the club to other social clubs like the Elks Club, Shriners, and Rotary Club. He explained that social clubs often associate themselves with symbols and numerology. Rohan said that the whale is the club symbol and the number 11, because of its resemblance to corduroy, is the basis for a mysterious system of numerology. Rohan told the assemblage that the club is only just forming and has little to offer beyond membership cards and buttons, but that the bond of corduroy fellowship will always remain the club’s most valuable asset. Rohan mentioned that he would like to establish a philanthropic cause for the Corduroy Appreciation Club.
- The first speaker of the night was Betsy Franjola, Manager of Fabrics at Karl Lagerfeld. Betsy spoke about the history of Corduroy, the different types of Corduroy, popular misconceptions and the process by which the fabric is made.
- Christoper Lindland, founder and inventor of Cordarounds, horizontal corduroy clothing, delivered the keynote speech. Lindland explained that he believes corduroy was invented as a horizontally worn fabric, but an international conspiracy was hatched in the 1700s to make corduroy a vertical fabric. Lindland spoke about the origins of his company in San Francisco and urged all to go horizontal.
- Awards for Exemplary Usage of Corduroy were presented. The first award went to Vahram Mateosian from Mr. Ned Clothiers for his excellent usage of Corduroy as the head tailor in the film “The Royal Tenenbaums.” The second award was presented to keynote speaker and Cordarounds founder, Christopher Lindland, for “literally turning corduroy on its side.” Lindland was jubilant.
- During the open forum, several questions were asked about mixing and matching of wales. Betsy Franjola answered all that she could.
- Meeting adjourned.
1|11|06 Meeting Minutes
The Corduroy Appreciation Club convened at 7 p.m. on January 11, the date which second-most resembles Corduroy, at The Dove Parlor at 228 Thompson Street in Manhattan. It was a rainy night.
- President Rohan opened the meeting and welcomed the attendees, which numbered approximately 125. The evening’s keynote performer, Adrian “Raisin” Foster, kicked off the meeting. Raisin, a popular ???? in his own mind and Corduroy-crazed folk singer, is a regular on “The Late Show with Conan O’Brien.” Raisin sang a very humorous song about Corduroy. Members were purported to be laughing to the point of tears. After Raisin’s performance, he was presented with the Corduroy Appreciation Club’s illustrious award for Exemplary Appreciation of Corduroy. Raisin was surprised, but had prepared an acceptance speech in the form of an emotional letter to Corduroy. A partial quote:
“ Dear Corduroy, You are my best friend. My hanky made of you dries my tears. My vest of you hugs me warmly all day long. My shirt, sport coat, jacket, cape and blanket of you save me money on heating bills. My pillow made of you takes my dreams in its ridges and when I wake in the morning I have the lines of your corduroy kiss on my face. My swimsuit made of you makes people notice me at the pool. My socks made of you keep my little piggies warm. My underwear made of you makes me feel like royalty. My condom made of you—has never been used. I love you, I’m starting to cry. Thank you for drying my tears.”
Raisin, apparently overcome with emotion, then had to leave the meeting. - Rohan announced to the club that the CAC’s public image should be one of mystery and intrigue and that members should closely guard meeting occurrences. Rohan urged members to actively try to recruit honorable and true Corduroy appreciators. Rohan addressed the issue of defective membership cards and told members to try ironing the corduroy back onto the paper.
- Rohan spoke about the ban on taxi drivers wearing corduroy in East Anglia England, circulated a petition, and asked all members to sign.
- Members David Valazzi, Andrew Rosenstock, Jennifer Bonfante and Paul McMahon presented ideas for a club handshake.
- The theme of the 1/11 meeting was corduroy inspired artwork. Seven works of art were presented and analyzed by renowned art historian Dr. Timothy Rohan. Rohan is the brother of CAC President Rohan. Dr. Rohan spoke about art created by Corduroy Appreciation Club Members Rene Santiago, Halle Cisco, Robert Lemon, Adie Russell, Russell Spina, and Oona Stern. Dr. Rohan, in a cavalier moment, called for an anti-denim movement. “Down with denim! Down with denim!” he chanted.
- Corduroy Appreciation Club Member Jennifer Bonfante presented the club with a Corduroy whale, which she had made. The plush, stuffed whale, it was said, would serve as club mascot. Rohan thanked Bonfante and asked for name nominations for the whale.
- CAC Members David Root and Jason Oranzo stormed the meeting podium and presented Rohan with a Corduroy-clad figure complete with membership button. The figure looked strangely like President Rohan.
- CAC Members Margaret Milnes, Geoffrey O’Donnell and Erin Hicks presented rousing Corduroy-inspired poems.
- A Levi’s television commercial entitled “Badger” was viewed. In the humorous spot, a badger, it is implied, thinks the Corduroy sound is a mating call and thus chases an unsuspecting Corduroy wearer around. Due to popular demand, the commercial was watched twice.
- The meeting was adjourned.
11|11|06 Meeting Minutes
The Corduroy Appreciation Club convened for its third meeting on November 11, 2006 at the Montauk Club in Brooklyn, N.Y. It was a Saturday night. Here is what transpired:
- A spirited social hour occurred before the meeting commenced at 8:11 p.m.
- Acting Secretary Jefferson Wilson called the meeting to order. With great flourish and form he read the minutes from the prior meeting, 1|11|06. He then announced and introduced President Rohan.
- Rohan spoke about the great progress that was made as a club in just one year: Membership had nearly reached a thousand people in places all over the world and the success of the CAC should be looked at as a triumph over rampant digitizing of our society. “Our club is not virtual, not made of pixels, it is not Myspace, Facebook or Friendster. It is not digital, not cold. It is the antithesis. It is real, textured, diverse, varied, warm, strong and, dare I say, cozy. Our fellowship is strong. We, my friends, and fellow members are the very embodiment of corduroy,” he said. Several chants of “Hail the Wale” occurred raucously and spontaneously throughout the address. Rohan used a gavel to bring order.
- The Official Corduroy Appreciation Club Handshake, conceived by member Andrew Rosenstock, was demonstrated, voted upon and approved by applause.
- The secret rituals occurred.
- The secret offering was made.
- The Chosen One was Chosen.
- Celebrated author, writer, boxer, humorist and raconteur Jonathan Ames was the keynote speaker of the Meeting. Introduced by Rohan, he received a deafening welcome. Ames read his famous story, “I Shat My Pants in the South of France.” Each time the word “pants” was read he inserted “Corduroy,” so that a sentence would read, “I shat my Corduroy pants in the South of France.” The crowd was in stitches.
- Corduroy Appreciation Club Art Historian, Dr.Timothy Rohan, spoke about the appearance of Corduroy in art and architecture.
- Fashion Editor Sandra Nygaard spoke very well about the year in Corduroy fashion. She exhibited numerous slides.
- Corduroy Appreciation Club Member Emily Gordon read an excellent Corduroy Poem.
- Phil Maguire, who traveled to Brooklyn all the way from Manchester, England, spoke about his efforts to open a chapter of the Corduroy Appreciation Club in England. His excellent presentation included the following:
- Presentation of The Award for Exemplary Usage of Corduroy to British Comedian Marcus Brigstock
- A Recording of The Copper Family of Rottingdean singing the old English Folk Song, “Corduroy”
- The Award for Exemplary Appreciation of Corduroy was presented to Jonathan Ames. Ames celebrated with his famous ”Hairy Call.”
- Cordarounds Horizontal Corduroy sponsored an award for the best dressed female and male members of the night. The prize, a Cordarounds item for each, was awarded to:
- Best Dressed Female: Raina Moore
- Best Dressed Male: David Valazzi
- The marathon meeting was adjourned at approximately 11 PM.
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