1. Call to Order
Chair, Benjamin Domask-Ruh, called the meeting to order at:
2. Roll:
Present: Afton Benson, Benjamin Domask-Ruh, Ross Berenson, Jonathan Perry, Thayer Slichter, David Wilkins, Kaylin Meyers, Sam Graff, Biz, Martin Frost, Noel Yee, Mike Sullivan, Sofia Noethe, Jeffrey McLean, Gabe P.
Absent:, Michael Karas
Recorder: Sofia
3. Approval of Agenda
Motion: Jonathan
Second by: Biz
Discussion:
Vote: Passes unanimously.
4. Approval of Minutes:
Business Board Meeting (Business Meeting Agenda – 5/21/2026)
Motion: Sofia
Second: Jonathan
Discussion:
Vote: Passes unanimously
5. Reports
Please keep verbal reports to 5 min or less except for festival discussion.
2026 Festival Report (Noel Yee)
- Benjamin note: Fun to see sign ups rolling in after the deadline social post!
- Michael note: Noel, feel free to reach out to me (or just grab me at the fest) regarding ways in which I can be helpful logistically at the fest. Aside from minimal commitments, I’m mostly around Tuesday morning-Sunday morning. Afton (I think?) mentioned it would be useful for me to pick up some performers at the airport. I will have a car. Let me know.
Financial Report (Afton Benson)
As of May we’re -14k for the overall organization which is pretty standard this time of the year as the festival tends to make up the difference. The organization generally does not raise enough funds via memberships and donations alone to sustain the overall org costs.
My estimations for festival income/expenses are on track with my real time tracking for the festival itself.
Total for the investment account as of 6.17.26 $344,635.93 it’s gained around 3k since being invested.
Future Festival Site Report (Nick Hanson)
- Put out calls for 2029 and 2030 fest director applications
- 2031…let’s talk.
eJuggle Report (Eric Shibuya)
Membership and Volunteers (Marilyn Sullivan)
Membership Data
Discussion:
Marketing Report (Lisa Ellipse)IJA social media requests
Update on the marketing side of things:
World juggling day! 4 posts have gone out for Biz’s collab video request to make a pledge, the origjnal fully length video, and then my 2 cut down versions + still image. So I’m hoping there have been some submissions for that and Biz can create a lovely video with all the pledges!
IJA fest – posts ramping up in volume as we approach the pre reg deadline and lots of story reminders are going up as that’s where the clickable links are, lots of performer announcements which are great as they’re basically tricks videos so makes people watch and engage.
Discussion:
Kudos to Biz for his idea and effort
Graphic Design Report (Thayer Slichter)
-Profile frames are complete and sent over to the social media team!
-Made a shirt making process collab post with the IJA over on instagram, go check it out if you haven’t and you want to see what goes into making a shirt!
-Made five color palates for Ross to look over as possible ideas for the 80th
-Started on YJA graphics for the festival.
-Print on Demand research complete:
After looking through a BUNCH of different sites and options, these seem like the ones worth thinking over. I would love to hear people’s input on these (especially Afton since she knows more about the money/business side of things than I do)
If we aren’t happy with these options we can pick one to try for a year or so and I can continue the search.
Happy to help out whoever is currently managing the TeeSpring in transferring everything over to a new site.
Printful (better quality, more expensive)
-pretty solid, seems to have good quality ratings, less options for what to print on, a bit pricey.
-Has tech support, no phone call option to my knowledge but has a text box.
Printify (pretty decent, less expensive than other options)
-More options on what to print on, we can choose our exact print supplier (I think?), mixed reviews about print quality.
-Has tech support, no phone call option to my knowledge but has a text box.
Gelato (international logistics easier)
-seems like a solid option if we want to push more international sales, but if our primary source of income is the USA and we aren’t looking to expand our market I would go with another option.
-Has tech support, no phone call option to my knowledge but has a text box.
Tapstitch (higher quality, cuter clothes, more expensive)
-Higher quality blanks, we can do custom neck labels with our logo, less options when it comes to apparel stuff outside of clothing. A bit pricey IMO.
-Has tech support, no phone call option to my knowledge but has a text box.
IRC Report (Erin Stephens)
YJA Report (Benjamin Domask-Ruh)
- Planning underway! Still need performers/teachers for Library
- Reaching out to help with Club YJA. May be a wed-Fri event if Benjamin has to run Planting the Juggling Seed AND Club YJA
- Foregoing the curriculum this year and sending interested people to Dave Finnegan’s workshop series. (Would be redundant) Benjamin will submit workshops on topics people have expressed interest in.
- Juggling Pedagogy Book is gaining momentum again as editors’ busy schedules lighten up.
IJA Honorary Awards (Thom Wall)
OpsO Report (Ross Berenson)
Discussion:
IJA | Officers and Positions (Current 2026 – 2027)
- Things to note:
- Lisa is stepping down from Marketing Director and would like to be social Media Lead
- Erin Stephen’s Final Year
- Don Lewis and Martin Frost ready to hand off eNewsletter
- Benjamin’s final year as YJA director
- Email forwards for people were removed
– Need to create two email addresses for two individuals, then we’ll be complete. - Website content is coming along.
- EJA /IJA birthday video progress
6. Motions for Consideration
- Motion to Approve the 2030 IJA Festival in Rochester, MN July 15-21, 2030
Author: Afton Benson
Motion: Biz
Second: Jonathan
Discussion:
Please see the contracts and other relevant information here.
Overall synopsis:
- Entire convention center and theatre rental for $10,000 – we’ll be in the ballrooms vs the convention center which we were in for 2011.
- Majority hotel block for $169 a night at Kahler Grand, Kahler will run a shuttle 2 times a day at peak times to help with any distance concerns. 1065 rooms held 50% doubles 50% kings with a 1:40 comp room nights
- Hilton Garden has offered 265 rooms at $159 a night, discounted parking at $8 and 1:40 comp room nights
- Experience Rochester is offering:
- $4 parking at the Downtown city ramps
- $30 off a hotel rate for up to 100 rooms
- Extra signage and branding
- Marketing Grant of $20,000 – $5,000 per year starting in 2027
Michael note: I can’t attend the business meeting tonight (which I think means I can’t vote) but for what it’s worth, I’m in support of Rochester, MN in 2030. Thanks Afton for all your work on this location/bid.
Noel: great that there’s a local group to support, local support is helpful for general hype and festival operations.
Vote: Passes Unanimously
7. Varia:
Sam Graff – Skill that goes into juggling highlight the longstanding community. Next step: Board to review offline, will send a follow up to Sam by end of June.
8. Confirm Next Meeting
Next meetings will take place on…
July 2nd, 2026 at 6PM ET for the next vision meeting (VIZ)
July 16th, 2026 at 6PM ET next business meeting (BIZ)
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:24 pm ET