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Pages from a convention notebook

The Magic Maiersons, young Eric and his brother Ryan from Houston, TX, talked their parents into bringing them to the convention.

The pair worked juggling into their magic act two years ago. Last year they went to a magic convention; this year was their first juggling convention. After just two days, dad was saying, "I think we'll stick with juggling!"

Talk about a predicament! The gymnasium elevator trapped Paul Neupert from Tonawonda, NY, between floors shortly after he arrived and began helping with registration. When he used the emergency phone to call for help, he realized he didn't even know what campus building he was in! However, between his cool head and the operator's, firemen were able to plot his location and extricate him.

Mike Hirschback from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, applied to the Canadian government Bureau of Cultural Affairs for a grant to defray convention expenses, and was granted more than $400 toward his trip!

Santa Barbara was the 15th IJA convention in a row for Roger Dollarhide, IJA photographer from Hartford, CT. The former master of a six ball shower, now sidelined with injuries, said he couldn't imagine ever missing the annual gathering. Besides attending more conventions than anyone else, Dollarhide has also held more IJA offices than anyone, including service as president, newsletter editor and convention chairman twice. He's done almost everything but be in the competitions, explaining, "That'd be too nerve wracking for me!" He's obviously talked to many who've been there!

Among the conventioneers from outside the United States were people from Canada, Japan, England, France, Australia and Germany. Two Germans were Heinrich Dreesen, a psychologist from Bremen, and his wife. A recent discoverer of juggling, Dreesen plans to teach the skill to prominent educators and doctors attending an upcoming conference on the psychological, biological and medical aspects of learning in sports at the University of Heidelburg.

Another man with a teaching plan is Allen Tilove of Seattle, W A. Tilove, a graduate student in community health and a gymnastics coach, is presenting gymnastics training courses to school teachers under the sponsorship of McDonalds restaurants. He will present juggling as part of that program, and hopes to introduce it to Washington state physical education teachers at their upcoming convention as well.

The Passing Fancy Jugglers from Eugene, OR, have worked their way up to a 13 club line passing formation. Larry Wakeman, in the center of the pattern, begins with four clubs and passes over his shoulder to Tom Dewart, the back man in the line who holds five clubs at the start. Ron Rourke, facing Wakeman and Dewart, takes throws from Dewart and feeds Wakeman.

The group worked three years to get a 12 club line going, and uses that formation to warm up for 13. "With 13 we throw all triple spins," Wakeman said. "We toss them real high, and feel like it's visually a very appealing formation." Patterns that complex do not generally last, however, so don't ask them to hold it long. Their best run has been 20 throws.

Daniel Rosen wore an Ice Capades jacket to the convention, proud of having recently signed a contract to work with the Continental unit beginning in September. "I've wanted it a long time," he said. "I've been working with a skating coach for three years working up to it. "

Skating speed makes tricks difficult. "It's windy. I have to toss them way in front of me," he said. For obvious reasons, he juggles fire clubs only while skating backwards! Possibly the most terrifying part of the act sees Rosen riding a spike-wheel unicycle while wearing ice skates.

Young David Lee, has followed his brother Albert Lucas onto the ice and now juggles with another Ice Capades unit, the Continental.

A juggling car salesman? No, it won't be just a sideline job for Dale Jones of St. Louis, MO. Beginning in November, he will juggle full time in live promotions of General Motors products at eight major auto shows around the country. The high paying job arose primarily from Jones' ability to write material tailored to a specific occasion or product.

"I always wanted to use my voice as a master of ceremonies or salesman, " Jones said. "When I began juggling, I found that I could get a lot more jobs by writing material specifically for the event. I want to do more work with juggling advertisements, and I predict we'll see more of it generally. Juggling is a great way to sell a product because of its instant visual attraction. "

1983 convention site selected

Members voted to hold next year's convention July 19 - 24 on the campus of the University of New York/Purchase in Hamson, NY. The IJA's 36th convention there will coincide with the university's seven-week "Summerfare" performing arts festival.. According to convention cochairpersons Gene Jones and Rich Chamberlin, it is the largest performing arts university in the country.

A gymnasium and associated physical fitness facilities will be available to registered jugglers during the week. Dormitory and eating halls are close by, including a health food restaurant inside the gymnasium building. Competitions and performances will take place in four theatres around campus.

A "Warm Up for Purchase" mini-convention was announced for the weekend before the IJA 's annual fling, July 15 - 17 in Burlington, VT.

The event was planned and organized in Santa Barbara by Henry Lappen of Burlington, who had proposed the University of Vermont in that town to the membership as the '83 summer convention site. Narrowly defeated in the business meeting vote, Lappen decided, "If you can't beat 'em,join 'em!" and invited everyone who wants to begin convention week a few days earlier to come to Burlington.

Burlington is located 275 miles due north of Harrison, NY. Harrison is tucked between 195 and the Boston Post Road just 19 miles northeast of New York City's Port Authority bus terminal and Grand Central Station.