Page 6 Summer 1993
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Watch
Your Language! The
article in the Winter issue on "A
Really Hot Act" was very informative, particularly in the
description and photos of Ray Wold's act.
However,
you should have rethought the title, "Torches Are For
Sissies," or had someone proofread the final draft. According
to the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Los Angeles, the
word "sissy" is an anti-gay, abusive word. The use of this
word in an entertainment industry matter is offensive to executives
and countless other performers, artists, etc.
Thank
you for the information on Ray Wold's act. No thank you for the
title. You can think of purposeful titles without being offensive or
awkward.
The
Curmudgeon Speaks In
my new found role as the IJA's grouch, it obviously falls to me to
point out that the IJA accounts published in the last Juggler's
World do not add up! The listed expenses for 1992 total $340,611 -
not $340,273 as stated. Also, according to page 29 of that issue,
the registration fee for the Vegas mini-festival was $50 and about
125 jugglers attended. That should be a gross income of over $6,000,
not $2,425. If this line is net rather than gross income, why is
there separate mini-festival expenses line?
I
salute the moral courage of Rich Chamberlin in citing financial
mismanagement in the IJA in his letter of resignation, and I wish I
could believe Norman Schneiderman's response that the IJA is now
properly managed.
On
a different subject, you published a letter from Victoria
Barclay responding in part to my
tirade from a couple of issues before. She seems to be under the
impression that, because I think there should be a big top for
impecunious jugglers to crash in, that she should be forced to sleep
in the same tent.
No, Victoria, bring your own tent, or stay at a hotel, since you can obviously afford it. I know many jugglers who cannot save all year for the festival because they are fulltime students or because they are paying their dues as performers working for barely enough to survive on. As for the argument that festivals cost a lot to put on, this does not seem to be the case the European conventions which are much cheaper to attend.
A final grumpy question before I go off to watch the wonderful M. Babache Diabolo Folies video one more time. Does the IJA board have any explanation for the decline in membership of the IJA, or any plan to reverse this trend apart from raising membership fees? Andrew Conway San Francisco, CA
Club
Needs To Regain True Spirit I
have been a member of a juggling club for four years, and in these
last two years this club has abandoned the true spirit of juggling.
There is an underlying emphasis on personal advancement that was not
present when I joined. No one is willing to share or teach new
tricks for fear of being shown up. Add to
that attacks on jugglers' personal lives and you have a very
unpleasant environment. I regret being associated with this club
these last two years and hope the next club I join is not as
discouraging as this one.
My
motive is to make other jugglers aware of this kind of behavior.
There is nothing wrong with trying to improve oneself, but remember
that other jugglers want to help and learn, not destroy or use. I
sincerely hope that the new president can turn this particular club
around.
CHAIRMAN'S
REPORT With
this issue, another year for the Board of Directors of the IJA ends.
In reviewing the past year, it is gratifying to know that the IJA has
been in the hands of such a devoted group of directors.
Our
employees have also once again proven themselves as excellent assets
to the organization. Throughout the year, Richard Dingman as
secretary/treasurer has kept the organization running smoothly on a
daily basis. Ginny Rose, our festival coordinator, has continued to
provide us with exciting, successful festivals in Montreal and Las
Vegas. Bill Giduz, our publications editor, keeps the entire
membership informed through Juggler's World. Bill's devotion to the
organization over the years will be acknowledged with the IJA
Extraordinary Service Award in Fargo.
Overall,
service to our membership has improved greatly. The changes
implemented last July in Montreal by the Board of Directors to reduce
costs and improve the efficient running of the IJA are working well.
The financial management of the IJA is much more efficient than in the
past, and we continue to review our financial policies and look for
ways to improve them. The Life Member Fund is being repaid gradually
and the policies developed by Norman Schneiderman will insure that the
IJA will continue to grow and expand in the years to come.
Lines
of communication between our membership and accessibility to the BOD
continues to improve. Reports on the business of the IJA and a letter
from the Chairman has been included in each issue of Juggler's World.
I want to thank the Board of Directors for their service this past year. Their work, help and advice has made the IJA a better organization. |