IJA eNewsletter – October 2024

IJA logo
www.juggle.org		    IJA eNewsletter
   October 2024Editors: Don Lewis & Martin Frost
(ijanews@juggle.org)

CONTENTS

  • IJA Board Chair updates
  • Skillcircle – Creating a Better Way for Jugglers to Connect, Learn, and Commerce
  • YJA Badge Book
  • IJA Board meetings
  • Latest articles in eJuggle

 

 

IJA Board Chair updates  by Benjamin Domask-Ruh

Hello, IJA Community!

Benjamin Domask-RuhMy name is Benjamin Domask-Ruh, your new IJA Board Chair.  First of all, I’d like to extend a big thank-you to our previous board chairs, Ross Berenson and Aslynne Howes.  I had the honor of serving under each of them as a board member and now follow in their footsteps as Board Chair.  I’m inspired and have learned so much from their work and I am now ready to fill the role with their examples as a guide as we all go forward together.

Since this summer’s festival, times have been busy!  I’ve been warming up to the new position and learning all the ups and downs, ins and outs, throws and catches, balances and spins that come with the new responsibilities.  A lot goes into a nearly 80-year-old organization such as ours!

I fell in love with juggling at University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire (U.S.A.) where I started a juggling club.  A fellow club (and IJA) member introduced me to juggling festivals and that was that!  I was hooked.  After graduating with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Web Design, I headed off and became an international professional Circus artist.

After joining the board in 2021, I started learning a new juggling skill: administration.  I’ve been working and growing as a non-profit arts administrator by collaborating, supporting, and learning alongside organizations all across the world.  What I’ve learned these past few years is the importance of standards of procedures, clear communication with transparency and accountability, and the importance of fiscally-sound decision making.

How does that all apply to our community?  Looking forward, the Board, our officers, and I will continue serving the IJA in support of our shared mission: Rendering assistance to fellow jugglers.  In service of that mission, besides continuing our current programming, we’re looking to improve our digital offerings, enhance our annual events, and bolster our education and community outreach.  Additionally, we’re looking at new ways to connect with one another throughout the year.  (Stay tuned for what that will look like!)

As we look toward 2025, let’s ask ourselves what it means to be an IJA member.  Does the membership come with perks, such as discounts to our industry’s prop vendors?  Yes!  Does the membership give us access to exclusive juggling curricula through the YJA not available currently on the market?  You Betcha!  And does it give us bragging rights at regional festivals around the world?  Yes!  (For example, I’ve been an IJA member since 2013!  How about you?)

But let’s look at how we can support one another, too!  Our membership dollars go to not only making sure the IJA can operate on its yearly budget, but also to help us ask the question ‘How can we better serve our community?’ — and implement the response!

If you ever have any questions, ideas, thoughts, concerns about how the IJA can better serve the juggling community as an organization or want to know more about the programs we currently offer, please do not hesitate to reach out at: ija.chair@juggle.org!  As a member, you are ALWAYS welcome to attend our board meetings by sending me an email for a Zoom link.  Or you can see what the board discussed each month by reading the minutes.

Happy Juggling,
Benjamin Domask-Ruh
IJA Board Chair

 

 

Skillcircle – Creating a Better Way for Jugglers to Connect, Learn, and Commerce
by Kanoa Lindiwe (IJA Member)

Skillcircle seeks to address a common sentiment I’ve seen among jugglers: we need a better juggling app!  That’s not to say there aren’t some amazing apps available, but we lack a comprehensive platform that enhances the connection, learning, and commerce of the juggling community.  Think a mix of Chess.com, Duolingo, and YouTube, but focused on the juggling community.  If that sounds exciting to you, we have great news — you can help bring this vision to life!

We are looking for passionate individuals to join our small team and help build both an app and a vibrant community.  Since this project is in its early stages, team members will have the opportunity to shape the User Experience as it develops.  We welcome other roles but are specifically seeking a community manager and advocate, app developer and designer, instructional content planner, financial manager, and operations manager.  These positions are currently unpaid and do not offer equity, however, we aim to provide compensation in the future.  If you’re interested in being part of this exciting journey, please fill out this form or reach out at skillcircleprimary@gmail.com.

Skillcircle is a brainchild of the realization that existing social media platforms lack features tailored specifically for jugglers, and many skill-based platforms suffer from poor User Experience.  This presents a unique opportunity to develop an app that caters to the needs of jugglers.  With further thought, it became clear that many other communities face similar challenges — those that are too small to warrant a dedicated app yet share common interests.  For lack of a better term, two categories effectively describe these communities: object manipulation and performing arts.  This app will cater not only to jugglers but also to the various sub-communities encompassed by these terms.

These communities share many intersections, which form the basis of Skillcircle’s mission to enhance learning, foster connections, and empower commerce.  We aim to improve the learning approaches of practitioners and inspire a passion for lifelong learning.  We aim to encourage collaboration and skill-sharing among diverse communities.  We aim to facilitate the buying and selling of props while empowering entertainers to earn income.  Through these goals, we hope to improve these communities and promote skill development and creative play.

Thanks for reading 🙂

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to Kanoa at: skillcircleprimary@gmail.com.

 

 

YJA Badge BookThe Juggler's Badge Book

Did you know that the IJA’s Youth Juggling Academy has a book?  It does!

The Juggler's Badge Book

The Juggler’s Badge Book is the ultimate companion for aspiring jugglers of any age!  Track your progress, unlock achievements, and earn badges as you learn the art of juggling.  With its engaging format and rewarding sticker system, The Juggler’s Badge Book makes learning to juggle an exciting and fulfilling adventure.  Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned juggler, let The Juggler’s Badge Book be your guide to skillful juggling and a collection of well-earned accomplishments.  Start achieving your juggling journey today!

The Juggler’s Badge Book is $25 and makes a great gift!  Purchase yours today!  Proceeds go to supporting further YJA initiatives and advancing the IJA’s mission to render assistance to fellow jugglers.

Published by the International Jugglers’ Association in collaboration with Modern Vaudeville Press.

 

 

IJA Board meetingsIJA Board meetings

IJA Board meetings are open to all IJA members and are hosted on Zoom.  To find out the times of this month’s vision and business meetings, or to attend, please email ija.chair@juggle.org and say which meeting you’re interested in.

 

 

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Latest articles in eJuggle

 

 

 

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