INTERNATIONAL. This has been part of the name of the organization since the beginning. At this year's convention, Purchase 1983, there were people from at least eight countries, including Canada, Japan, Philippines, Australia, West Germany, France, Sweden, and the United States. We have a European Correspondent, and enjoy articles in Juggler's World from around the world.

 

JUGGLERS'. This of course is what the organization is all about. A great deal of material exists on this subject, much of it written, collected, performed, taught and filmed by IJA members. The word 'Jugglers' in the name of the organization indicates its orientation toward people.

 

Reference may be made, in regard to jugglers, and the world of juggling, to the collected issues of the IJA Newsletter August 1949 to June 1981 and the Juggler's World 1981 to the present, and to many other works including IJA member Karl-Heinz Ziethen's 4,000 Years of Juggling, Vol. 1 & 2, and "Notes Toward a History of Juggling" by Marcello Truzzi.

 

Jugglers are unique for many reasons, not the least of which is that what they do is both a sport and an art.

 

ASSOCIATION, INC. In 1947 eight men - Harry Lind, Bernard Joyce, Jack Greene, George Barvin, Eddie Johnson, F.R. Dunham, Art Jennings, and Roger Montandon formed the IJA in Pittsburgh, Penn. Four of these men are still alive and two of them, Bernard Joyce and George Barvin, were at this year's convention.

 

There are now about 2,200 members (and growing) in the IJA, Inc., living in all 50 states and 27 countries. From 1947 until 1976 the membership was less than 300, quite a bit less in the early years. In 1961 there were 173 members. From 1977 to 1979 the membership more than doubled to 997 people. By 1982 it had more than doubled again to above 2,000.

 

Attendance at the first convention, Jamestown, New York, in 1948 was 25 or more including wives and children. Attendance was usually in the 30-50 range until 1974. The first 'big' convention was in 1975, when 110 people were there. Since 1975, convention attendance has grown steadily. This year in Purchase there were between 700 and over 900 people at the convention.

 

In 1977 the IJA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation, and recently gained tax-exempt status.

 

The motto of the members of the IJA, Inc. is "Pledge to lend assistance to fellow jugglers." Indeed the purpose of the International Jugglers' Association, Inc. is "to lend assistance to fellow jugglers."