IJA Reports

Publicity Report  - Tom Dewart

Publicity for the convention was very extensive. Pre­convention, the Eugene Register-Guard, the Oregonian, the Oregon Times, and Eugene Magazine carried articles announcing the activities. Radio interviews with Tom Dewart and Larry Wakeman were broadcast, and public service announcements of the public show were made on radio stations throughout the state. Tom, Larry, Gary Calder and others were filmed by local TV stations, and Tom and Larry appeared on Good Morning Oregon.

During the course of the conventlop, many local newspapers featured articles and picture~ capturing the events. Highlighted by the Williamette Valley Observer, the Sunday Oregonian, and the Oregon Daily Emerald were the jugglers parade, Hovey Burgess and Andy Swan during the championships, and various convention attendees. Associated Press released a picture of the jugglers' parade which was published in newpapers throughout the world, including Florida and London. CBS­TV filmed various parts of the convention, including interviews with Lenny Mazel and Allan Jacobs, the Flying Karamazov Brothers passing clubs, and Steve Mills dramatically collapsing to the floor after breaking the IJA five club record. These segments were broadcast nationally on the six o'clock news program on Saturday, July 15.

Virtually every TV station in Oregon was also in attendance.

On Wednesday, August 23, ABC- TV's Good Morning America broadcast a three minute film of convention activities. Although the IJA was not specifically mentioned, the footage was subtitled "International Jugglers' Convention" and included some fine segments of convention activities.

Business Meeting Summary

On Saturday, July 15, the IJA Convention held its business meeting. The proceeding lasted two hours and forty minutes, and was conducted by Vice President Bill Barr, in the absence of President Dennis Soldati.

The 1977-78 slate of officers presented summaries of their year's activites. Dennis Soldati mailed in a description of his efforts to incorporate the IJA, and to copyrite the IJA emblem. Bill Barr offered a thought to fellow members: If you lose your way, remember that you're here to further juggling. Convention chairmen Tom Dewart and Larry Wakeman reported that some 300 jugglers were in attendance and that all was running smoothly. Roger Dollarhide informed the members of his progress to have past issues of the newsletter microfilmed. Carol Benge, Treasurer-Secretary, was absent, but a treasurer's report is printed elsewhere in this issue.

The results of the 1978 election of officers:

President-Bill Barr

VP- Tom Dewart

Secretary-Mary Wilkins Wisser

Treasurer-Rich Chamberlain

Historian-Dennis Soldati

Newsletter Editor-Donna DiMeo

Education Director-Dave Finnigan

Championships Director-Fred "Garbo" Garver

European Director-Linsay Leslie (Scotland)

Honorary Directors: Larry Wakeman, Carol Benge, Dave Walden

Foreign Correspondents-Karl-Heinz Zeithen, Lloyd Timberlake, Roland Weise

Publicity Director to be chosen by convention chairmen.

John Robertson and Eric Roberts of Massachusetts were selected as 1979 Convention Co-chairpersons. See their report elsewhere in this issue. Also presented was an excellent proposal for Atlanta, Georgia, sponsored by the IJA.

A motion was presented and approved that future con­ventions be extended to 5 days. The issue of charters and chapters of the IJA was also raised, but no action was voted. Also discussed were changes in the Championships Competitions. These proposed changes will be aired in the newsletter by newly appointed Director Gawo.

Roger Dollarhide was commended for his 10 years of service as Championships Director. Tom Dewart and Larry Wakeman were also applauded for an excellent job as convention organizers.

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