1. Call to Order
Chair, Benjamin Domask-Ruh, called the meeting to order at: 6:02pm
2. Roll: [Remember to include last names in the Roll listing]
Present: Benjamin Domask-Ruh, Biz Olbrisch, Michael Karas, Sofia Noethe, Kaylin Meyers, Nick Hanson, Mike Sullivan, David Wilkins, Martin Frost
Absent: Jonathan Perry, Afton Benson, Ross Berenson,
Recorder: Michael Karas
3. Approval of Agenda
Motion: Biz
Second by: Sofia
Discussion: N/A
Vote: Passes unanimously
4. Approval of Minutes:
Business Board Meeting (Business Meeting Agenda – 3/19/2026)
Motion: Biz
Second: Kaylin
Discussion: N/A
Vote: Passes unanimously
5. Reports
Please keep verbal reports to 5 min or less except for festival discussion.
Noel Yee joins at 6:13pm
2026 Festival Report (Noel Yee)
IJA Juggling Film Festival April Update.docx –
Volley club at IJA – Nicholas Strange! Nicklikesfire@gmail.com
Nick has a portable volley club set-up that he’s open to setting up in the IJA gym this summer.
Financial Report (Afton Benson)
Discussion: Thanks Afton! We love you Afton!
– Merrill Lynch’s online portal made it look like we combined all our money into one account, which wasn’t supposed to happen. Our rep said that wasn’t true so we got on a call this week and, it’s not true – however, our online portal doesn’t show both accounts. It does pull the proper statements though. They’re estimating we’ll earn about 19k this year (ESTIMATE – markets do what they want).
– Festival revenue is around 14k which we have 2 months left for registration but we’ll be getting scholarship offers out soon so that’ll help too.
– Everything is nearly up to date in Quickbooks online and I can see reports atm, Dennis is putting the final touches on!
Future Festival Site Report (Nick Hanson)
Discussion: More room-nights than average, but also expecting higher attendance due to location. Benjamin noticed enthusiasm at RIT festival regarding the Albany location. Thanks Nick and Mike for your hard work on gathering together everything for this exciting location!
Albany 2029 is in the books, all five contracts in and countersigned.
Albany 2029 deal summary sheet here.
We have capacity at three hotels for a total of 1,430 room-nights; we have been averaging 1,098 in the past 5 years,
This is 35% more room-nights than our 5-year average actual attainment, so we have significant upside for higher-than-average attendance but also significant risk if we don’t over-perform vs. 5-year average. We need to sell at least 1,119 rooms to make our attrition guarantees (not evenly distributed, Renaissance has the largest block/risk with 45% of all rooms).
Hotel deals breakdown is in the festival folder with all the details.
Nick and Mike are signed up to attend the Small Market Meetings Conference in El Paso, TX in October, and are investigating the TEAMS Conference in Birmingham, also in October. Prospecting for 2030 and 2031 are the top priorities now.
eJuggle Report (Eric Shibuya)
Discussion: General excitement about diversity of voices and new voices too!
Javier’s first article on juggling and exercise was published on 12 April, with future articles publishing biweekly starting 24 April. That’s getting some nice buzz.
As noted regarding the author asking for tickets to the shows at the convention as compensation, I am good with that, but I consider that coming out of the eJuggle budget in terms of funding and will handle it as such, even if we do not (yet) have a way to show that on the ledger (which may not be necessary, anyway). Also, I am counting the tickets’ face value, so 4 tickets at $20 each is an $80 payment as far as I’m concerned.
We published articles from 3 new authors (playing card juggling, lemniscate pattern, and juggling mystery solved), along with fest reviews from JoAnn, articles from Steve Rawlings, and our mainstays, David and Esteban.
We have also rejected at least one article submitted, sent it back with commentary, which was well received (at least as well as any rejection can be). I report that here just as a note because I think there’s a sense that eJuggle will publish anything that gets sent to us and while we always want new content, especially new writers, the articles have to meet standard.
Questions:
Will you send them $80 to spend at the festival to buy the tickets or get them comps and on a list? (Just curious!)
Membership (Marilyn Sullivan)
Membership Data
Discussion: Small bump up in numbers from February. Let’s keep pushing for 2,000, Benjamin’s magical number!
Benjamin shouted out IJA membership in the RIT show as host. It was interesting to hear.
Biz mentions that there’s a persistent false myth that one must be *invited* to participate in IJA membership. Discussion about how to continue to promote the idea that IJA membership is open to anybody who wants to be a member of this awesome community. Everyone is invited! Join the party!
Kaylin mentions how many people feel they don’t want to join because they’re unable to attend the festival. Which is sad.
Discussion of perks of IJA membership outside of festival, including insurance.
Discussion of continuing to boost intersection with more communities – fire, flow, etc.
Marketing Report (Lisa Ellipse)IJA social media requests
Discussion: Mention of organizational structure and the importance of some print media moving forward.
IRC Report (Erin Stephens)
The IRC Sudamérica 2026 – Perú was a great success. The team from Chile who flew to organize it were given rave reviews by Branco, the Perú organizer, saying that they were incredibly professional, helpful and informative in the process. They simultaneously started the training of Branco, the Peruvian representative, to be able to organize the IRC on their own in the future. There were 8 total competitors from 4 countries, including Colombia, Chile, Perú and Ecuador.
Due to issues with Instagram and Facebook live streams cutting frequently due to music copyright – we did a trial YouTube livestream on the IJA channel. It went great and had a steady stream of 70-80 viewers throughout the competition, had strong comment engagement from people especially throughout Latin America and has received 1,100 views since being published following the livestream. We also worked out the kinks of how to get organizers connected to our YouTube, how to pre-schedule videos and have a link so we can share it on our social media, with our members and with competitors prior to the event, and tested to see if strong marketing can build a good audience on YouTube. It all went well.
The last two foreseen IRC for 2026 are going to be in Mexico and Argentina. A motion for the IRC Mexico is below. It is being proposed for June 20th in Ensenada, Mexico in Baja California. This will be the first time an IRC will be in the north of Mexico, which people seem to be quite excited about as it will give new jugglers an opportunity to compete. It is being proposed by the government – which also means it will have access to strong and professional organization, facilities and marketing. It is a quick turn around to get the entries open within the next week if the board approves the motion – but I am confident that we can do this and give a full month to receive entries. In a very cool “full circle” kind of way – this will be the 50th IRC, the first one of which took place June 17th, 2011 in Mexico. So that means we will be celebrating both the 15th anniversary (almost to the exact date) and the 50th IRC – in the country where the program was founded. Pretty awesome!
The final IRC is in Argentina, it has been approved by the board, and we will be working to get the announcement of the IRC launched within the next month as well.
UnnaMed has responded and confirmed a $5,000 donation to the IRC this year.
Discussion: Some discussion of future of IRC organizational structure.
YJA Report (Benjamin Domask-Ruh)
Discussion: Benjamin still locking down performers for the Juggling Seed show.
Benjamin has been busy in career life! Writing down plans to ramp up YJA planning in May.
Got good notes from some jugglers at RIT who grew up in the community and are now adults who are excited to see the youth work that is happening at IJA.
Have two teachers confirmed for Planting the Juggling Seed show
Graphic Design (Thayer Slichter)
Discussion: N/A
OpsO Report (Ross Berenson)
Discussion: Some discussion of trademark costs – maybe Ross can help explain in person at future meeting?
Department organization (in) progress
Trademark in progress
Virtual Workshop Status? Where are we with this? Is this happening?
It is happening! May 23. We are connecting Stacey with Lisa to get promotions out.
TIMES IN EDT (NYC)
Benjamin – Learn How to Juggle Three Balls (balls) – 11:00am EDT (10:00 Central Time)
Luther – Creativity Beyond the Cascade (balls) – 12:30 EDT (6:30 France time)
Kenzey – Three Hoop Manipulation and Juggling Essentials (hoops) – 2:00 EDT (1:00 Mountain Time)
Sara – Intro to Club Sequencing and Manipulation (clubs) – 3:30 EDT (12:30 Pacific Time)
Discussion: Same weekend there will be a new workshop in NYC – Excelsior Juggling Festival. Thank you to Benjamin for leading the 3 ball workshop!
Marketing – can we schedule a week-of post to help shout out the 5/23 Virtual Workshop?
Workshop is free and open to all, in the hopes to boost membership and festival attendance. Virtual festival will be held on Zoom.
Question: Will this Zoom Virtual Fest be in Webinar mode?
6. Motions for Consideration
A. Motion to Appoint Nick Hanson to Role of Future Festival Site Coordinator
Author: Benjamin Domask-Ruh
Motion: Kaylin
Second: Biz
Discussion:
Nick is ready to officially take on the role. This will compliment Mike’s Advisory Future Festival Site Coordinator role. Mike will complete Nick’s training and accompany him to the next industry convention. After which Nick will be prepared to handle the role’s responsibility with assistance from Mike as needed while Nick finds another support person for the role.
Vote:
B. Motion to Approve holding the IRC México 2026 at the Ensenada International Circus Festival on June 20th in Ensendada, México.
PROPOSAL
Budget:
Author: Erin Stephens
Motion:
Second:
Discussion:
Erin: I already wrote a large description in the IRC Report, so please review. This IRC will be funded by the local government of Ensenada, which historically has led to a very strong IRC. They are willing to contribute $400 towards prize money, and will meet all other requisites. They have a 3 ring circus tent, which is where the IRC will be held. I will be traveling from California to organize this – and IRC México Representative, Kelly Cal, will be present to do her final training to be ready to organize future IRC in Mexico. I am hoping Diego, the other IRC México Representative, will be able to be present to be trained also. They are also inviting 4 very strong international jugglers to perform, who will also act as 4 of the 5 judges for the IRC. I am excited for this opportunity and feel it is leaning in the direction that the IRC need to go for future sustainability and growth.
Vote:
Discussion: Welcome Nick! Excited for your new role, ask questions when needed.
B. Motion to Appoint Corey Hollinger as the 2028 Festival Director.
Author: Noel Yee
Motion: Noel
Second: Sofia
Discussion: Applications for Festival director put out for the 2028 Festival Corey was the only one who responded and applied. He is a good candidate because he is on the 2026 festival organizing team and is a resident of Indiana.
Noel mentions he already works in theater and is calm under pressure. Biz also mentions having great interactions with Corey.
Hollinger_2028 IJA Director Letter.pdf
Discussion: Slammin’ Andy is committed to help round out the festival handbook at this summer’s festival so it’s available for future directors.
Vote: Passes unanimously
Post-vote: Congrats to Corey!
7. Varia:
Approve a festival comp for Jerry Martin, IJA Life Member #12, IJA festival registrar for 15 years, Extraordinary Service Award honoree 2009, MC Juniors Competition 2012, many other contributions to the Association; he is the recipient of this year’s Living Legends sponsorship. Festival comps were granted last year to Bob & Lucy Nickerson in the inaugural year of LL initiative. (Submitted by Mike Sullivan & Laura Schub (Miz Tilly).
Not an IJA program and the organization hasn’t agreed to providing a comp.
Afton – Lucy was offered a comp because she was helping with vendors, Bob was not on any of the comp lists – it does show both Lucy and Bob were registered after the festival on 7/24/25. Neither pre-registered and I have no notes about giving Bob a comp in email.
Is this a festival director thing? – Noel WOULD grant Jerry Martin a comp.
If LL is to pay for all expenses, why wouldn’t the LL fund buy the package?
Doesn’t make sense to ask for a comp
Program was started to get someone who otherwise couldn’t attend the festival.
Outside the purview of the IJA and Board
Doesn’t seem like a good precedent to set
8. Confirm Next Meeting
Next meetings will take place on…
NOTE: COULD WE MOVE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ONE DAY EARLIER? Wednesday, May 6 at 6pm ET? for the next vision meeting
Works for me (Jonathan, Michael, Noel, Biz)
No go (Kaylen, Martin)
next business meeting: May 21 at 6pm ET
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:13pm ET