From: nextug@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: rec.juggling
Subject: Rec.juggling and the IJA
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:52:18 GMT
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dear rec.juggling netters,

	Over the past year, as IJA Publications Director, I've been acting as the unofficial
Board of Directors eyes,  ears and mouth on rec.juggling. As the only director with
Usenet access I've fielded a whole series of questions and comments viz-a-viz the IJA
from netters, have passed on information from the Board to the net and have tried to 
keep the Board, in turn, up to date on some of the threads happening on here. On a
number of issues discussed I've compiled some of your postings and have circulated
them to the entire Board to keep them appraised of what your thoughts on the Kapell
system were, what you felt about the issues of plagarism, stealing of material, etc. 
were.
	
This year, because of other time commitments and obligations, I did not re-offer to run
as a Director of the IJA. I plan, however, to stay very actively involved in the 
organization. Although none of the current Board members are on Usenet, Juggler's
World editor Bill Giduz is and I'm sure he'll be here to answer questions and post 
information.
	
Some parting thoughts as an IJA director for those of you, both IJA members and not:
	
First of all, if you're not a member -- join. The IJA is an outstanding organization, 
well worth belonging to. Moreover, it has power only to the extent that you support it. The 
more people, from all manner of juggling persuations and from all parts of the world, 
belong the more the organization can do and the broader the voice it can speak with. 
The IJA motto is "to render assistance to fellow jugglers" and the more of you who are 
involved the greater will be its ability.
	
If you are a member, remember that the IJA is *your* organization. If you want to see 
something done, if you think something is being done wrong P don't just carp P get in 
there and make it happen or change the way it happens. The IJA isn't a bureauocracy -- 
its just a group of people like you and me. Make suggestions, come up with ideas, lobby 
your Directors, help find money for the organization to undertake more activities. It really 
is up to you.
	
In the brief report I made to the membership at the business meeting in Montreal I 
mentioned what I felt was one of the important challenges for the IJA in the future, 
namely expanding our membership base and living up to the 'International' part of our 
name. Even amongst the amateur, recreational sector of jugglers, where we have made 
our strongest inroads in terms of membership, there are still many serious jugglers (I'm 
sure all of you know some personally) who are not IJA members. What do we need to 
do to get these people to join and become involved?
	
Moreover I think that it is important that we expand our base beyond this constituency. 
In the past we have had little success in attracting many professional jugglers (from 
circus, nightclub or theatrical traditions)  to join our ranks and in some senses we 
represent their interests rather poorly. Despite the 'I' in our name we are still largely a 
North American organization and we represent the interests of European, former East 
Bloc and third world jugglers rather little. What can we do as an organization to "render 
assistance to our fellow jugglers" in these parts of the world? How can the IJA become 
truly international?
	
For those of you with ideas, contact your IJA Board members. Let them know what you 
think. And best of all, offer to help. The past decade has seen a phenomenal growth in 
the IJA, however in my view we have reached a certain plateau. It's now time to 
consider what we can do to make the next decade an equally exciting one for our 
organization.
	
	Keep throwing stuff up!
	
	Christopher Majka
	Departing IJA Publications Director