Aiken Standard, Aiken South Carolina
March 22, 2005
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
June 29, 2003
Everybody’s Business : Co-ops’ magician teaches electricity safety in schools
Leroy Donald
As Scott Davis shreds a morning newspaper, he tells his young audience: "Never climb trees or fly kites near power lines." Then, "Never stick anything other than a plug into an electrical outlet."
The youngsters are fascinated, then applaud as Davis dramatically opens the damaged newspaper revealing that it is whole again.
Magic! That’s what Davis does — magic tricks, but with an educational twist.
In addition to his weekend performances at the Maxwell Blade Theater in Hot Springs, Davis does his sleight of hand for elementary school students statewide as a way to promote the safe use of electricity for the Electric cooperatives of Arkansas.
"The cooperatives have provided safety demonstrations and programs for decades and this is a fresh and exciting way to do that," said Doug White, vice president of systems services for Little Rock-based Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Corp.
The magic tricks attract and hold the youngsters’ attention while the safety messages are delivered, added Rob Roedel, corporate communications manager for Arkansas Electric Cooperatives.
"Scott has a natural gift for communicating with kids," he said.
Roedel also says that the program, titled "Making Accidents Disappear," could be the first safety program in the nation using a magician.
"The program teaches that electricity, just like any other tool, should be used safely. Like any other tool, if it is misused, it can be dangerous," Roedel said.
The electric co-ops for years have had safety programs for junior-high and high school students and for adults.
"But the hole we had in our safety practices has been reaching small children," Roedel said.
Davis, a Benton native who has worked in advertising and in political campaigns, is a longtime Arkansas magician. He approached the cooperatives earlier this year about sponsoring the magic-safety program and they quickly agreed, Roedel said.
"This show we’re sponsoring reaches the ages of children we previously were missing," he said.
The program is 30-40 minutes long and is geared to kindergarten through fifth grade.
"Electrical safety is really an important subject, and schools don’t have the money to pay for these kinds of programs," White said. "The cooperatives’ commitment to electrical safety make them natural sponsors of such a program."
Davis has been weaving his magic for the children since spring and has performed before about 40,000 youngsters, Roedel said. So far, news of the magic show has been spread mostly by word of mouth, but brochures will be distributed to schools throughout the cooperatives’ service areas.
Awaiting them are tips such as "never use anything that operates on electricity in or around the bathtub," along with some pretty good magic.
The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas
May 7, 2003
Rural Arkansas Magazine
July 2003
