May 19, 2010

In this issue...

1)   2010 Educator's Conference, 9/17-19, Brattleboro, VT
2) “Setting The Stage” Campaign Receives $10,000 Challenge Grant
3)  Our New Website Is On Its Way
4)  Strategic Plan
5)  Member News
6)  Board Update
7)  Membership Changes
8)  Jobs
9)  Professional Development
10)  Circus Equipment For Sale
11)  News from the world of youth circus

AYCO 2010 Educators Conference
Friday, September 17 - Sunday, September 19th.
New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA)
Brattleboro, VT

Join youth circus coaches, directors, and administrators for a weekend of engaging workshops, discussions, and skill building. This year, along with opportunities to learn new teaching techniques and build your skills, we will be rallying our members to build AYCO’s strength for the next decade.  It’s a conference not to miss!

Conference opens Friday, September 17^th at 3:00pm.

Registration, lunch, social time 11:00am – 3:00pm

Conference ends Sunday, September 19^th at 2:00pm

 

Registration opens June 1^st at http://www.americanyouthcircus.org/edcon2010.html

Early Bird Registration by June 30: $200

After June 30: $250.00

Meal Passes: $75.00

Seeking Presenters to offer 90-minute workshops.

Presenters receive $50 discount off registration fee.

One discount per workshop/presentation

Applications due by June 25^th.

Seeking Programs in the following areas: coaching skills 101 in all areas of circus, risk management and safe practices, spotting techniques and skill progressions, creative fundraising for youth circus in a recession, promoting your programs, next steps for youth – guiding students into life after youth circus, show creation. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER? Download Presenters Application (PDF) ; Download Presenters Application (Word Doc);

EdCon website: http://www.americanyouthcircus.org/edcon2010.html

Questions? email David: david@americanyouthcircus.org


ALSO...

Pre-Conference Professional Trapeze Teacher Training Intensive
With NECCA Founders, Elsie and Serenity Smith
September 15 – 17th

In partnership with the New England Center for Circus Arts, AYCO is offering a two and a half day Professional Trapeze Teacher Training with NECCA Founders Elsie and Serenity Smith.  The workshop covers proper warm up and flexibility training, injury prevention, and beginning through intermediate level trapeze skills. 

17 Hours of Instruction.  Class limit: 12

The workshop runs from 9am – 5pm on Wed + Thurs. and 9am – 12pm, Friday

 

Early Bird Registration by June 30

 $300 plus + $50.00 for Carrie Heller's, Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual

After June 30: $350 + $50 for manual

Registration includes Educators Conference Weekend.

Does not include meals.

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“Setting The Stage” Campaign Receives $10,000 Challenge Grant

 

Great news!  Our campaign to strengthen AYCO is already in full swing. In May, AYCO launched a campaign to raise the money we need to strengthen our organization and prepare us for the next 10 years.  Our target is to raise $25,000 by August 31, allowing us to create a new website and hire professional staff to manage our operations.  With this structure in place we can move ahead with our plan to help youth circuses achieve a tenfold increase the number of youth they serve. 

 

Early in the campaign an unknown donor made a $10,000 challenge grant, meaning that for every dollar raised by our supporters, we get two.  To meet this challenge, we’re asking our supporting circuses to raise $5 per student towards this campaign.  Together, firm pledges and donations already total $3,230.  We have some way to go, but if you help us, we can meet this challenge.

 

In just two weeks, all these circuses have stepped up to contribute to this campaign. 

 ·     

• The kids at CircEsteem in Chicago, IL are setting aside earnings from gigs for AYCO.
• Circus Harmony, St Louis, MO will pass the hat at shows in August (after they finish with their own campaign to get to Israel this summer!)
• Circus Minimus, New York, NY will dedicate end-of-camp shows to AYCO
• Youth from The Circus Project in Portland, OR have committed their time to help with the campaign
• Hope St Circus, Los Angeles, CA is making thank you cards for AYCO
• My Nose Turns Red in Covington, KY is pledging $5 from each of its advanced troupe members
• Circus Arts Institute, Atlanta, GA is sending a portion of student fees
• One World Circus in Knoxville, TN is passing the hat at the Leaf Festival in NC and at the Reading Festival in Knoxville
• Stone Soup Circus, Princeton, NJ is asking students from their free classes to make a contribution and dedicating their end-of-camp show to AYCO
• CircusMecca, Mendocino, CA is donating the earnings from their gigs, and all the class proceeds for youth classes in May and June to AYCO
• Sailor Circus, Sarasota, FL is joining in through a letter campaign to reach their students
• Amazing Grace Circus, Nyack, NY has promised to find a way to help out
• Xelias Aerial Arts Studio, Minneapolis, MN is passing the hat and raising money at student showcases
• Philadelphia Circus School in PA will raise money from their youth programs

 

What can your circus do?  However you can help, let us know your plans.  E-mail zoe@americanyouthcircus.org

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Our New Website Is On Its Way

 

Our designer, Todd Reichart, is busy working with WT McRae of Fools Academy on the new site. We plan to launch the site in September.  We would like to include any expertise, commentary, papers, teaching guides or discussion ideas that you would like to share with members.  Next month, we’ll publish a wish list of items.  In the meantime, if you have any ideas for what should be included or material you’d like to share, please send them to zoe@americanyouthcircus.org.

 

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Strategic Plan

 

At the start of April, the AYCO Board of Directors endorsed a new, five year strategic plan.  This represents a roadmap for an exciting new stage in AYCO’s life.  The plan is the product of several months of work by the AYCO Strategic Planning Committee.  The plan calls for:

• A major upgrade to the AYCO website
  
• Enhanced service offering to members, through the website, events and advocacy
• Growth in membership across the whole youth circus sector
  
• Creation of two staff positions, Executive Director and Operations Director
  

Read a summary of the plan. AYCO members may request access to a copy of the full plan from zoe@americanyouthcircus.org

 

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Member News

 

Sailor Circus and Circus Juventas have become the latest circuses to join as AYCO Partners.  Welcome!

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Board Update

 

Jonathan Deull, Zip Zap Circus and Nick Harden, SANCA have both joined the AYCO Safety Committee, chaired by Chuck Johnson.

 

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Membership Changes

 

From June 1, AYCO will have new rates and levels for membership.  You can still join at the old rate until May 31.  If you join or renew membership before then, you will receive 18 months membership for the price of 12, entitling you to a discount on AYCO annual events for the next two years.

 

From June 1, rates will be as follows:

 

Type	Description of Benefits	Price
Youth	Discounts at festivals and access to our services, but no public listing or promotion of activities	$25
Associate	Discounts at festivals and access to our services, but no public listing or promotion of activities	$50
Full	Discounts at festivals, access to AYCO services, public listing and promotion of activities	$70
Organization	Discounts at festivals and access to AYCO services for up to 5 people.  Public listing and promotion of activities.	$200
Partner	Discounts at festivals and access to AYCO services for up to 15 people.  Public listing and promotion of activities.  Acknowledgement at events and on website.	$500
Sponsor	Organizations donating more than $1,000 receive partner benefits	$1,000 and up
Vendor	Public listing only	$25

 

More details about the services offered to members are available on our website.

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Jobs

 

Summer in Afghanistan? 

The Afghan Mobil Mini Circus is looking for someone who can teach juggling and acrobatics this summer. Expenses plus $800 stipend for 40 days work. Unbeatable experience. Serious enquiries only to Berit and David, MMCC Co-Directors e-mail: circus@afghanmmcc.org
www.AfghanMMCC.org.  Follow this link for a full job description.

 

Cirque du Monde in the South Bronx, NY

Job opening at THE POINT CDC in the South Bronx, coordinating the Cirque du Monde program in NYC.   The deadline for application is Wednesday May 26th.  For the job description, follow this link.  Interested applicants should send their cover letter and resume to Human Resources at  iperez@thepoint.org. You can visit www.thepoint.org to learn more about the area, the community center and the program.

Circus Teacher
The Palestinian Circus School - PCS - is looking for a full time female circus trainer for 1 year
from September 2010 till August 31, 2010.  If you are interested, send a motivation letter, your CV in English, and eventual video links to your work, before June 1 to Palestinian.circus@gmail.com

 

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Professional Development

 

The Circus Arts Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, announces a date change to the first Circus Arts Therapy training.  Training dates are now July 4^th to 10^th.   For more information about this training, go to: http://www.circusartsinstitute.com/circus-arts-therapy-training.html   

 

 

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Equipment For Sale

Want to buy a 3 ring circus? AYCO is selling a treasure trove of used circus equipment including 3 x 40 foot box style ring curbs, some Star blocks and tackle and Quartz lighting. See pictures of what’s available. The equipment is currently stored in Miami, Florida and transportation will be the responsibility of the buyer.  Everything must go!  Interested parties should contact zoe@americanyouthcircus.org for prices.

 

 

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