AFFILIATE REPORT

BY DEENA FROOMAN , IJA AFFILIATE COORDINATOR

 

The affiliates program is full of renewed vitality! Thanks to all affiliate leaders who are coming forward as the backbone of the organization. An organization is only as strong as its membership, and I am very pleased by the support .and involvement of the leaders and affiliates committee. Here are some of the things we've accomplished together:

 

1) The point-of-purchase IJA local information displays will be ready for distribution soon so that you can set them up in stores in your home town and spread the word on the IJA.

 

2) We're always trying to recruit new affiliates, and invite clubs to take the leap and become active affiliates. Call me for more information!

 

3) We are looking forward to the annual gathering of the affiliates at the lJA festival this summer, and will again set up an affiliates table to sell and/or trade leftover t-shirts and promotional material from regional festivals. The newest wrinkle in our activities is the ultraviolet light room party the first evening of the festival. It should be a lot of fun and could become a much-anticipated festival tradition for years in the future!

 

4) Remember the blood drive, Its the best drop you'll ever make! Send in reports on your personal donations so that we can compile a report on our success.

Become an active part of the affiliate movement yourself! Contact me at Charleston SC.

 

Monkey Business 95 Puts Jugglers on the Slopes

BY LAURI PETRIE

 

WHAT AN EVENT!

Skiers learning to juggle

Jugglers learning to ski

Making friends

And setting trends

And doing it with three!

 

On April 1, Monkey Business '95 brought something new to the worlds of jugglers and skiers. Held at Boyne Highlands, just north of Harbor Springs, Mich., Monkey Business was the creation of Tom Petrie (a.k.a. Tommy Tropic), a professional juggler-turned-ski instructor who has been combining the two since he first learned to ski three years ago.

 

Tom and I had the cooperation of Steve Kircher and his staff at Boyne Mountain in pulling the event together. It ended up attracting star jugglers Jay Gilligan, Tony Duncan, The Passing Zone and about 25 others aficionados for a weekend of fun on and off the slopes.

 

Events the first day included a slalom ski race requiring jugglers to maneuver through a tight course while cascading three clubs. It was a highly competitive event, with the top three finishers ending up just 1/2 second apart. Jon Wee took first with a time of 19.1. Tropic was second in 19.4 and Owen Morse took third in 19.5.

 

Morse won the freestyle by successfully juggling three clubs over a jump without a drop. (It only sounds easy!) Then the crew set an unofficial world record of six guys passing 18 clubs while descending a hill on skis. Meeting the challenge were Scott Slesnick, Jim Beals, Todd Hart, Tommy Tropic, Owen Morse and Jon Wee. A true Kodak moment... too bad no one got a picture of it!

 

The stage show that night was nothing short of incredible! Scott Slesnick opened with his trademark tennis ball and can routine. Jay Gilligan was next with his extremely polished display of talent and devotion. He juggled eight rings, four torches on a six-foot uni, and did some upside-down bounce juggling. For his show-stopper, he balanced a spinning ball on a mouthpiece, another on his left index finger, then twirled a ring around his left arm and juggled two more with his right hand. All while balanced on his unicycle! The glow balls... the drum/darkness routine... the flying water bottles... Jay Gilligan... Wow!