1. Call to Order
Chair, Benjamin Domask-Ruh, called the meeting to order at: 6:03pm ET
2. Roll:
Present: Afton, Biz, Mike, Thayer, Kaylin, Jake, David W., Nick H., Ross, Sofia, Martin, Jeffrey, Thom
Absent: Jonathan Perry (late), Noel Yee, Michael Karas
Recorder: Afton
3. Approval of Agenda
Motion: Sofia
Second by: Biz
Discussion: Moved motions to the top
Vote: Passes unanimously
4. Approval of Minutes:
Business Board Meeting (Business Meeting Agenda – 12/18/2025 )
Motion: Sofia
Second: Biz
Discussion:
Vote: Passes unanimously
6. Motions for Consideration
- Motion for consideration: Motion to add the following phrase to the IRC rules: An individual can only compete in one IRC per year and only in one routine per IRC.
Motion: Kaylin
Second: Biz
Discussion:
Erin – A situation arose in 2025 where various competitors entered to compete in both the IRC in Ecuador and IRC in Colombia. The IRC team discussed the situation and agreed that it is best if each individual has one chance to compete each year – so that they don’t travel to various IRC and try to win several medals within the same year. Currently this is only an issue in South America – because we are starting to hold various competitions in South America annually.
The other issue that arose was that a competitor entered in two different team acts. Again it was discussed by the team and agreed that each competitor should have one chance to compete in any given IRC.
This gives each individual the equal opportunity of medaling in any given year.
Afton: you can compete in champs for individuals and teams, Martin: but IRC’s all compete against each other.
Kaylin: Do we compensate to travel? Afton: No.
Vote: Passes unanimously
5. Reports
Please keep verbal reports to 5 min or less except for festival discussion.
2026 Festival Report (Noel Yee)
Discussion:
David: Got the flyers for the beginner juggling thing, but they cancelled it. Going to try again in the spring. Going to see about getting the info out and help showcase jugging!
Financial Report (Afton Benson)
Discussion:
Working on getting the investment account funded it’s been a struggle. I am going to ensure we have total access and the ability to add or remove funds easily. Wrapping up year end numbers, and getting over to Quickbooks Online. Annual reminder that we always file an extension for our 990.
Kaylin Leaves at 6:21 pm ET
Future Festival Site Report (Jake Darrow)
Discussion: We have received contracts post-Afton questions and Mark-ups. We are still waiting on a discussion by Nick/Afton with The Egg Theater and the Fairfield Hotel’s contract updates (along with our rider). All other venues/hotels have complied and are in a holding pattern.
Although I have (Jake) have resigned this position…I will still be around for help; I just can’t be the Main person. Privately, I volunteered to Nick to lead him at the next SMMC conference (whenever that may be) as well as do a MOCK Site Visit with him at Fort Wayne this summer…to help show him how to perform one.
Nick is prepared to work in the lead role and is feeling up for it.
eJuggle Report (Eric Shibuya)
Discussion: General comments from the Board and eJuggle editorial team show a fairly universal sentiment against the use of AI generated images in our articles. As such, Naomi is going back to Javier to take those images out. This delays the publication of his series, but that’s not as much of an issue.
The added budget last year created great flexibility in gaining articles from some new writers (Steve Ward in particular) and will help with my negotiations with Javier on compensation. Also in discussion with Steve Rawlings (FB Page: Juggling for a Living) to get some writing from him. I may take some of his old posts, but I need to add images and also need to get a bio from him (I’ve said that to him and haven’t heard whether he has images he can give me). Work’s been a little hectic so I haven’t really had time to pursue this with Steve, but we’ll get there.
I plan to go to the Pocono Juggling Festival this February. JoAnn Ireland has gone in the past but if she is not there/writing a review I’m planning to do one.
Biz – someone at Madfest wants to do a survey on what people do to keep their hands in good shape for juggling.
Thayer – ejuggle moving to the new website is it going to have text to speech. Ross: no but it’ll have screen reader capability for those with limited vision.
Jake leaves at 6:32 pm ET
Jonathan Perry joins at 6:32 pm ET
Membership (Marilyn Sullivan)
Membership Data
Discussion:
- New Membership Director call? Benjamin thinks Biz would be a good fit. No pressure.
- Additionally: Chief Teller – Marilyn isn’t looking to step back but we’re looking to ensure we have people who know what’s going on in all roles
- Make a list of all the members
- Make sure that is available to the chief tellers
- Creating a survey with nominees on it to send to all the members
- How many people count the ballots?
- Acceptable IDs
- How to spoil a ballot
- We will ask Marilyn to write some of these down.
Marketing Report (Lisa Ellipse)IJA social media requests
Discussion:
Folks are talking about how our marketing is looking really sharp and organized! YAY!
IRC Report (Erin Stephens)
Discussion:
The IRC Centroamérica 2026 in Nicaragua was a success – with Richi Fallas of Costa Rica becoming the first 3 time gold medalist of the IRC. Miguel Hernandez of Guatemala was the IRC representative, with Kelly Cal of Mexico present to receive her second training to become an IRC representative. The hosting festival, Berrinche Ambiental, was super professional and excellent to work with! We have now received all videos for the IRC from the videographer.
The IRC Sudamérica 2026 – Perú promotions launched yesterday and have already got great reaction, and the IRC UK & Ireland will launch today.
The IRC Team met last Monday and discussed feedback from the IRC representatives on improvements that can be made and things that need to be addressed. We will be meeting every Monday for the next month to make strong progress with outlining the future vision and plans for the program.
Videos accessible to marketing? Nothing in the shared drive yet.
YJA Report (Benjamin Domask-Ruh)
Discussion:
We are not doing a YJA event at MONDO Juggling Festival this year.
Started Working on ‘How to run a youth juggling event’ document
- Activity Book Update most likely in March
OpsO Report (Ross Berenson)
Discussion:
- Website dev in progress
- Investment in progress – update in Finance report
- Guidebook in progress (researching wiki platforms)
7. Varia:
- BJC Advertisements – BJC Advertisment Details
- Very affordable, would up our presence internationally. Maybe do the double page and put 2026 and 2027 festivals. Or one page for festivals (both?) and one for the organization overall. MakingContac folks feel invited to be part of the IJA and/or festival.
- Sounds like you folks are in. Biz if there are 200 people we have that at MONDO would we spend money there? Benjamin – Yes. Biz is up for working on language and Benjamin will collaborate on that. Benjamin Domask-Ruh Bill Biz Olbrisch
- Living Legend Fund
- Last year, the Sullivan’s organized folks to get some older folks to the festival. This is a personal project vs a IJA project. We’re talking about it cause we have tended not to share non IJA things in the newsletter.
- Jonathan – how is this different from scholarship & how are folks picked? Afton – unknown how they pick?
- Biz – is there any legality with sharing just hey look what members are doing? Afton – No.
- Spotlighting a member initiative: Clear language about who is running it and how the funds are not tax-deductible.
Nick leaves at 7:09pm ET
- Stacey IJA Virtual Fest/Workshops – Free for attendees
- Next Steps: Date and possible Compensation
- Benjamin proposes $100 compensation for teaching artists and see how it goes for three classes.
- March/April could be a good time? Thinking about possible attendees getting hooked and wanting to come to the summer festival. When do scholarships close?
- Sofia – minimal investment to see if it works, for it. Ross if we get a few attendees or 3 members it’d break even. Offer early bird reg code?
- Biz will teach a 3 ball workshop unless Stacey finds someone more glamorous
- Next Steps: Date and possible Compensation
- Awards committee status?
- Thom – working on it 2 confirmed looking for 5 people total. 2 former awardees and then he’ll send a list for approval. 2 hour commitment with one meeting and that will be where they pick. Ross – reminder we don’t need to do all the awards each year.
8. Confirm Next Meeting
Next meetings will take place on…
2/5/2026 AND 6:00pm ET for the next vision meeting
2/19/2026 AND 6:00pm ET next business meeting
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:26pm ET