At the general meeting Friday, July 20, Treasurer Ginny Rose reported that 60 percent of the IJA's income is non-dues. Dues income about covers Juggler's World expense, she said. Dave Finnigan, education director, said he would like to see representatives from each affiliate serve on an education committee.

 

Rodger French, 1985 convention chairman, reported the event will be July 15-21 on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta. The juggling facility is a new athletic complex, air conditioned, 35,000 square feet, with seating for 3,000. The U.S. Nationals and Public Show will be held at Symphony Hall in downtown Atlanta. Only 300 dorm beds are air-conditioned, so early registration is advisable. The dorms are 200 yards from the gym.

 

Elections were held. New officers are:

President ­Bill Barr,

Vice President - Glenn Ceponis,

Secretary - Rich Chamberlin,

Treasurer - Ginny Rose,

Publications Editor - Bill Giduz,

Education Director - Dave Finnigan,

Championships Director - Holly Greeley,

Director - Kit Summers,

Director - Alan Howard.

 

A discussion of competitions among the new board of directors was held. Ideas included elimination of the five club and seven ball competitions in favor of

the numbers challenge, a performance championship judged by the audience, the need for prop guidelines, the lack of need for a women's division, qualification

via videotape and computerized scoring. A questionnaire on competitions, and other subjects, will be mailed to members as soon as possible.

 

PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON THE CONVENTION

The 37th Annual IJA Convention in Las Vegas was a success. So many people told me this was the best convention they had attended that I started keeping a list of spontaneous statements!

 

Juggling went on long into the night. The number of professional jugglers attending the convention was truly heartwarming.

 

The championships were the best ever, and very well run. Each competitor who took the stage was a winner. We all owe a vote of thanks to Greg Moss for his four years of wonderful service as championships director. He has exhibited qualities of broad  shoulders and a tender heart.

 

The level of competitors in the Juniors Championship was especially inspiring. The proficiency displayed by all ten competitors was consistently high. These young people have seen what is possible and have aspired to excel beyond it. They were truly doing remarkable things.

 

Welcome to Holly Greeley as the new championships director. She has previously served as a director, and was Greg Moss's assistant in running the championships this year. She was hard at work on next year's championships minutes after being

elected.

 

The workshops were highly attended and very well organized. Dave Finnigan does an excellent job and gets better every year. The vast pool of people with talent, coupled with the willingness to share it, is quite evident.

 

Special thanks to the people who contributed to the Benefit Show: David Deeble, Nowell Franco, Robert York, Mark Nizer and Edward Jackman, and members of the musical accompaniment: Rodger French, Toni Shifalo, Laura Green and Louis Zeller.  I have been involved with the Benefit Show since the first convention I attended, and I feel this was the best show we have produced. The Benefit Show is a particularly special aspect of each convention, and I hope the tradition continues.

 

Bill Giduz made an especially important contribution to this year's convention in the form of a 12-page Convention Program. It was so good we entered it in a professional contest. Bill was dedicated and diligent throughout the convention, interviewing here and taking pictures there. He was pleased to recruit the able-bodied assistance of Ro Lutz-Nagey and Laura Green. Laura Green (Tilly) is the new IJA art director, Ro becomes editor of Juggler's World, and Bill is now publisher. Ro put out a daily newsletter at the convention, produced late each night, that was informative and entertaining. He even had his own staff, K.C., doing the typing.

 

Rich Chamberlin, convention chairman, is to be congratulated by all. He ran a well-organized convention which allowed a great number of people to have an excellent time. with as little inconvenience as possible. Ginny Rose and Glenn Ceponis each contributed a great deal to the success of the convention as well. Glenn was a stalwart coordinator of the IJA booth. Ginny has given four years of service, making sure that registration goes well, and has set the standard for all to follow. Jim Neff was her constant assistant.

 

Barry and Sue Bakalor's thorough documentation of convention events on videotape has created a lasting library for jugglers to enjoy. This service will prove increasingly useful to jugglers in the future.

 

Kit Summers contributed immeasurably to the convention's success just by being himself. Kit was deservingly reelected as director.

 

Congratulations also to Alan Howard on his election as director. He took the time and interest to come to last year's winter business meeting, and we look forward to his participation as an official on the board.

 

We'd like to especially thank Steve Waldman of the Showboat Hotel and his able assistant Laura Haines for their contributions. The Showboat was truly an accommodating location to have the convention.

 

Next year's convention will be in Atlanta, hosted by the Atlanta Jugglers Association. I don't know why every juggler in the world doesn't plan to be there. The dates are July 15-21. The place is Emory University.

Bill Barr,  IJA President