1. Call to Order
Benjamin Domask-Ruh, CHAIR, called the meeting to order at: 1:03pm 1:03 PM Central Time
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion: Aslynne Howes
Second by: Jonathan Perry
Discussion:
Vote: Passes Unanimously
3. Reports
2025 Festival Report (Afton Benson and Noel Yee)
Discussion: IJA 2025 Festival Report
Explained more about the youth aspect and how we’ll balance that with coming of age.
Financial Report (Afton Benson)
Discussion: IJA Jan-June Financial Report
How are we mitigating the potential loss from US elections. We’re playing it day by day!
eJuggle Report (Eric Shibuya)
Discussion: The new
eJuggle team is settling in since being appointed in November. Myself, Donnell Griffith, Christian Kloc, and Naomi Stager continue to work together to develop new ideas for expanding eJuggle. Regular writer Esteban Velez has also joined the editorial team as Spanish/Central/South American liaison.
The usual articles by David Cain and Esteban Velez continue to be our cornerstone on a regular basis, as do the amazing Tricks of the Month from Jorge Vilchis. Our podcasts of Drop Everything with Dan Holzman, Juggling Interviews with XavJuggles, and the 441 with Bailey Cichon provide great value to the juggling community, with the 441 publishing its first video episodes.
JoAnn Ireland has taken the unofficial position of roving fest reporter, providing festival recaps of several East Coast festivals in the last few months.
The team is especially proud of the Vivalla article published by noted circus historian Dr. Steve Ward.
While history has been our mainstay in terms of written articles, the team would like to see a more diverse look at aspects of juggling. We are hoping to see future articles on juggling and physical fitness, and the integration of computer hardware and software into juggling practice.
Other thoughts for future publications is a collection of pieces (a more “magazine” or digest format) curated from previous articles, perhaps around a theme. If there are those present hoping to write about aspects of the convention, I welcome such inquiries. I can compensate for pieces accepted for publication.
I am eager to consider new things for eJuggle. Anyone with ideas is encouraged to reach out to me at ejuggleeditor@juggle.org
Science of juggling Myles Ediun going to make a connection to Indiana University.
Scott Stieskal – Video stuff perhaps? Yes talk to Eric.
Future Festival Site Report (Mike Sullivan & Jake Darrow)
Discussion:
-New Civil Rights Contract Addendum Drafted for Future contracts (Due to Iowa/Kim Reynolds) every current contact signed it no problem. Jonathan mazer.
-Return to South Bend in 2028, with Increased Grant ($15k to $20k)
-Efforts to bring the festival to the east and west coast…having difficulty so far
-The consensus of allowing higher hotel rates in bidding process, if it allows for more favorable city locations, so far has not resulted in any prospects
– Recent dead-ends with Wilmington, DE; Vancouver, WA; Raleigh, NC; Muskegon, MI; Ames, IA; Dayton, OH; Richmond, VA; Eau Claire, WI; Wichita Falls, TX; Westchester County, NY; Macon, GA; Dubuque, IA; Charlottesville, VA – all this year.
– Current live leads: Sharonville (Cincinnati) OH; Albany, NY; Rochester, MN.
-Upcoming SMMC (small market meetings conference) in Buffalo; we will meet with 30-40 potential destinations eager to host us.
-How A Festival Site is chosen workshop, tomorrow at 10 am
Myles: How do we get locals to the shows etc? Kaylin M. We reach out to everyone to try to get press and collaborate with local businesses. Viveca: There’s a lot of folks who did come! Tell everyone about us when you’re here!
Membership (Marilyn Sullivan)
Membership Data
Discussion:
About 100 less folks this year vs last year.
IJA Juggling Championships (Viveca Gardiner and NeilFred Picciotto)
Discussion:
NeilFred: Successful Championships! Had Jrs on a different night back in 2018.
Viveca: The Championships are a program and it’s presented as a show, but the board is in charge of the rules and how it happens etc. We’ve been doing a good job increasing the diversity of the judges and it’s less “elite” and more varied. Had full comps in every division. They turned away folks cause not everyone can be on the stage.
Jim: How many prelims in each division this year? Viveca: Turned away 1 individual and 2 teams.
Donnelle: Should we have diabolo people as judges? Viveca: we use to do different specialities and it’s a bit irrelevant in the current model cause the judges don’t talk to each other.
Marketing Report (Lisa Ellipse & Kaylin Meyers)
Discussion: 2025 IJA Marketing Report
IRC Report (Erin Stephens)
Discussion: 2025 IRC Report
YJA Report (Benjamin Domask-Ruh)
Discussion:
Education:
Club YJA is in its second year with programs happening at MONDO juggling Festival and the Annual Festival. The goal is to create a guide to have affiliate programs happening at festivals around the world.
Curriculum certification workshop had a successful second year. Listened to feedback and instead of four 1-hour workshops, we held 2 2-hour workshops! This year we have 12 new certified members who learned the YJA juggling curriculum
- Current curriculum covers beginning toss juggling and balance
- Would LOVE to expand and make curriculums covering all props, reviving an idea from previous YJA team to create ‘First Hour’ curriculums to help give educators a framework to teach all the props from. 🙂
Planting the Juggling Seed was unable to happen this year but will be back in 2026! 🙂
Publishing:
Badge Books continue to reach new jugglers! Have been mailing them around the country. Thanks to generous support from funders for our initial run, every book sold brings in funds for future programming! 🙂
We are currently in the middle of the process for a new book called: Juggling Education in the 21st Century: Teaching to purpose without limiting possibility – A look into successful methodologies of juggling pedagogy.
- More than 30 submissions from 10 countries
- Accepter 17 Chapters
- Hired Madeline Hoak as editor to bring a cohesive voice and vision to the chapters
Additional Items:
Looking to absorb the Props2U program under the responsibilities of YJA to connect with juggling and circus groups needing props for young/newjugglers!
Activity pages, stickers, and graphics are being produced by YJA team member Thayer Slichter to bring fun activities to the community!
Other Odds and Ends (IJA Board Plus)
Discussion:
- Candidate Statements (Max 2 min)
Kaylin: Read aloud
Biz: Read aloud
All others read by the current board!
5. Open Forum: MAX 5 min total
6. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM Central Time