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Officers approve new IJA legislation The
following is a report of matters discussed and decided upon by
IJA officers meeting February 28. 1981, in Buffalo. NY. Prices
of convention activities proposed by the convention chairperson must
be approved by executive officers.
The
general public will be admitted to all convention activities, but only
parades, championships and public shows will be advertised. All
convention championships contestants must
be IJA members. The
name of the senior championships will be
changed to "IJA U.S. National Championships". Nationals competitors will be allowed five minute performances. Twenty-five competitors only will be selected to compete on a first-registered, first-accepted basis. Exceptions will be anyone who has previously placed first, second, or third in seniors competitions or first in juniors. These people are automatically eligible, but must pay a late fee if they do not file registration by the announced deadline. Competition
entry fees will be $3 per event except for the three joggling races,
which count as one total event. Written
presidential approval will be necessary to use video film and
equipment on the convention site. The
IJA executive officers will be the president, vice-president,
secretary/treasurer, convention chairperson and Newsletter editor. The
executive officers will move at the Cleveland convention to make a
winter business meeting a regular function of the IJA, with a budgeted
amount in the treasury for officers' travel expenses. Executive
officers will be reimbursed travel expenses to the 1981 Buffalo
meeting (total of about $450). All
officers expecting to spend money on behalf of the IJA must submit a
proposed budget at the winter business meeting or the to secretary/
treasurer by March 1 each year. The
official fiscal year of the IJA will be Jan. 1 to
Dec. 31. Executive
officers are eligible for honorarium compensation annually, to be
decided at the annual summer business meeting of executive officers
and approved by membership. To be eligible, officers must attend the
convention, unless extenuating circumstances prevent this. IJA
stationery may be used only by officers. The
Newsletter publication schedule for the next
year will be: May, June, August, September (roster), December, March. Official
job descriptions for executive officers were established, along with
procedures for filling vacancies. Several
changes in by-laws were made to facilitate
achievement of tax-exempt status. The
initiation fee was raised to $3. People
present at the meeting were: Rich Chamberlin-Secretary /Treasurer, John Robinson-Correspondence Sec., Terry Butler-Convention Chairperson, Ginny Rose-Asst. Secretary/Treasurer, Bill Giduz-Newsletter Editor, Gene Jones-President, Greg Moss-Championships Director, Paul Kois, Barbara Canazzi, Jim Neff, Karen and Jack Pericak.
On
Feb. 28, 1981, a significant event in IJA history took place in Although
few objects were juggled. much was accomplished in the seven-hour
meeting. Since a thorough report appears above. I will deal with the
implications of the For
the last few months. numerous issues and situations have arisen that
needed prompt attention. Decisions on these could not properly be made
by only one person since they required considerable discussion. The
By-Laws have been in need of revision for a while, and this was
accentuated by our application for tax-exempt status. After
numerous long distance calls between officers. it was unanimously
decided that a business meeting in a central location was the only
solution. Presiding
over the meeting was a pleasure. It
was reassuring to find that although everyone present truly would
rather have been juggling instead of discussing business. they still
demonstrated a concerned and realistic attitude toward the issues at
hand. In
looking back at what was accomplished. I hope we have established a
solid framework for future functions of the IJA that will cover a wide
area of operations. The changes and additions were created from the
desire for efficiency and clarification. No decisions were made to
impose limitations on anyone or discourage new ideas. Hopefully,
this first Winter Business Meeting establishes a precedent of cohesive
and realistic management for the IJA. The mood of all those present was
progress with a smile. If our members keep smiling, then we will know we
are making progress! One
other piece of news I would like to relate is that the Cleveland Indians
have enthusiastically responded to an IJA proposal that jugglers
participate in the pre-game festivities at the baseball game in
Cleveland Stadium on Thursday, July 16 during our convention week. We
will organize and plan details during the first two days of the
convention. The Cleveland Indians have generously offered complimentary
tickets to the game for all jugglers who would like to stay and
watch...so practice up juggling those baseball bats! While on the subject of the convention... I would like to urge all people interested in juggling to come. The annual convention is what the IJA is all about. It is the one event that is totally dedicated to the endeavor of juggling in all its dimensions. For those interested in making new friends, it is a place to meet jugglers from all over the world. For those interested in learning new tricks and skills, there will be numerous workshops. For those wishing to compete or perform, there will be professionally staged competitions and a public show staged in a beautiful theatre.
Attendance
at the annual convention, regardless of the motivation, is an important
sign of support for this resurgent art form. On behalf of all the
executive officers... we look forward to seeing you in
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