It seems the Southern California contingent of Clay Aiken fans is relentless when it comes to celebrating their idol. They don’t need a CD Release date to do it—they’ve been partying all year long to share in their devotion to Clay, which also ends up supporting the charitable endeavors that the talented star is affiliated with.
Since I am a SoCal girl myself, I thought it was about time I attended one of these love-fests. No worries. Nothing sordid goes on here—actually, anything but. The gatherings are indeed what good old fashioned love is about—love for Aiken, for our fellow man, and for one other.
As everyone looks ahead to the biggest Clay bash of the year—Aiken’s sophomore album CD Release Party—it seemed appropriate to gather for a preliminary event that involved many different kinds of love. It’s just what Clay himself talked about when he recently described the songs and the theme for his new album:
"This is an album of love songs," he explains, "but they are about all different kinds of love. Romantic love, Friendship, Unconditional love. There are a thousand different kinds of love; a thousand different ways to tell someone you love them. And, on top of that, since so many of these songs are covers, it's realistic to say that many of them have been or could be sung a thousand different ways."
On this particular day, there were a thousand different ways to express love at Richard and Joanie Mason’s home in West Los Angeles. The Aiken fans who gathered certainly never seemed to be at a loss for showing what was in their hearts. One big way they showed their devotion was to raise funds for Clay’s Foundation— Bubel/Aiken—an organization whose mission it is to promote inclusion for special needs kids.
Close to seventy fans showed up that day--some driving from Palm Springs and San Diego in order to attend. Mason was very “well organized”, she proclaimed, because she had lots of help.
Really, it was a family affair—her husband Richard, son Buddy and his girlfriend Alpa, and mom Marily, all took part to oversee various tables and areas at the party venue. Friends Ellen Hawkins, Linda and Jennifer Castillo, Margi De Luca, Jeanne Jernegan, and Marilee and Jim Russell were on hand to work the silent auction, greet guests, handle sign-ins, sell “BeadforLife” beads and help with the raffle. These people worked tirelessly for Clay Aiken that day but never once called it work. Instead, they called it joy.
When asked about her “Clay fandom”, Joanie responded with enthusiasm. Although many of the fans told their own stories at the party (and a scrapbook was assembled with the attending fans’ testaments about how they are affected by Aiken), the hostess was representative of the kind of devotee one often sees paying homage to the pop star. Joanie’s comments are similar to how so many of them feel:
How long have you been a Clay fan?
Since the beginning—since American Idol.
And how has your family responded to your involvement in the Clay world?
They probably thought I was a little overboard, obsessed, at first. But I was real proud of the obsession. And now, they get it. Especially my husband—he’s really come around. Richard came around for Clay, because he was so innocent, he was so humble. And the voice! And then you learn what he’s about--UNICEF and all. He’s amazing. And that’s why we do this, because he’s a good person. It’s why we’re here. He brings out the goodness in us. He makes us better human beings. At least he’s done that for me.
Have you gained friendships from being a fan?
Oh, absolutely. Ellen--who’s taking care of the bead table—she and I met because of Clay and American Idol, and my husband Richard ended up becoming a minister and marrying Ellen and her fiancée!
Wow! And what church was that?
It’s a non-denominational internet church.
(Laughing) OK—the Church of Clay!
(Laughing as well) Exactly—Church of Clay!
A natural hostess, Mason is free-spirited, warm, energetic and enterprising. She moved through the crowd with glee and graciousness and talked a lot about her fantastic husband, fabulous family, and the talent and wonder contained in the heart of a young man with a great voice who inspired her.
The family provided a tasty array of lunch munchies for everyone—their generous gift to all the fellow fan-friends. And in return, the entire group spent time raising money for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation by bidding on Clay related memorabilia in a silent auction and buying raffle tickets for the same. An organization called BeadforLife was also featured to raise funds for poverty stricken and AIDS affected women in Uganda.
Oh, and another pastime that day was talking about Clay Aiken—everything from his upcoming new album of love songs entitled “A Thousand Different Ways”, due out September 19th, to just about every hair on his new-do head. It’s just how they are about him—their passions run deep.
Behold the numbers for the fundraising that was done when a group of 66 Claymates/Clay fans got together one Sunday afternoon for a few hours. A drum roll is in order, I believe:
BeadforLife: $1,500
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation: $2,500
Not bad, I’d say! From what I hear, these kinds of celebrations go on all the time. It looks like Clay fans are raising some pretty good coin for some worthy causes while getting together to spread the “Clay love.”
Aiken’s got to be proud. What better way could there be to use one’s celebrity?
Special Mementos and Memories:
This was the poignant and poetic message Joanie Mason wrote as a parting thought for her guests that was part of the theme for the gathering:
In an Overpopulated World
It is easy to underestimate the significance of ONE
There are so many people who have so many Gifts
so many skills
Who are already doing so many Things
Things that are so Important
Who Needs Me??
What can I as One Individual Contribute to the Overwhelming
Needs of Our World??
But the Truth is, You are You
The Only You in All our World
You Can Make a Difference
“USE YOUR VOICE”
Thank you for joining us in our home for that Special Day of Caring. . .
-Joanie and Richard
I’ll leave you with a comment from Richard Mason regarding the family dog, Valentino, who attended the party as well. As you read the story, realize that the banner slogan “Use Your Voice” is the rallying cry for the Bubel/Aiken Foundation. Here’s the story:
One last comment about Valentino (dog). We got him about 8 and 1/2 years ago.He was a stray at one of my facilities. We could not locate the owner so we ended up adopting this wonderful animal. The vet guessed his age then at around 6 months. He turned out to be a very loving, amazingly smart animal who is able to carry out a series of tricks-- all the standard ones plus some. The one thing that I never taught him was to 'speak'. He just wasn't getting it and I finally gave up.
Just recently-- over the last 6 months or so-- I took it upon myself to try again without success. ‘SPEAK, SPEAK BOY’, just wasn't happening. Then Joanie came into the picture and said, ‘don't teach him to speak-- teach him to 'USE HIS VOICE'..........dang-- that did the trick and he has been ‘using his voice’ ever since !!!
It was wild. Every time one of the Masons would say “Use Your Voice!” that dog would bark back at them with zeal!
I guess Valentino didn’t want us to forget the message that day.
