JUGHEADS
Youth Juggling Company, LLC
5905 Concord Avenue
Edina, MN 55424
jugheads@comcast.net
or 952.926.0896

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May 2003

"24 Sets of Siblings; 135 bonded kids"

I'm a statistical guy. On my 34th birthday, I calculated (just for fun) that I've breathed the air for 12,418 days thus far. For JUGHEADS, I often monitor statistics because the question is posed to me by gape-jawed onlookers...and it's fun to count. This year, we topped out at 135 kids enrolled in JUGHEADS, 116 of whom performed in Juggle Jam V. Remarkably, we've had 24 sets of siblings this year: Davilas, de Hoogs, Deaseys, Hahnemans, Harrs, Hugheses, Joneses, Kaisers, Kissell/ Rutledge, Kulstads, LaVercombes, Lenselinks, McTigues, Morrises, Neesers, Olsons, Orbisons, Petersons, Spences, Swensons, Wagners, Wallen-Friedmans, Watsons and Yings. This list doesn't even include Jugheads who have a "retired" sibling, or the Curry/LeVoir/Tremmel trio, three first cousins (their moms are three sisters).

Now, I'll admit that I feel a certain tinge of pride when I can say that our program nearly doubled in just two years, or that our age range now solidly spans nine grades (3rd-11th). However, the numerical fact is that we peaked this year, as all clubs (except H.S. Club) were full and I can't (read: won't) add another club to our week. Far from being sad news, this is much like a family: when a biological family stops having babies, they've peaked numerically, but they never stop growing.

Likewise, I believe that we've only begun to see JUGHEADS develop as an extended family. Mentorship, dextrous skills and personal character are areas with virtually limitless growth potential, and regardless of whether we plateau or even reduce our enrollment, the best is yet to come. I invite kids to return in the fall to continue our tradition of excellence, but also to be innovative and expectant for what we can become as a program. Our 24 sets of siblings has a double meaning: JUGHEADS can house kids even as diverse as familial siblings, and any Jughead who really invests in this program becomes part of something bigger, something familial, something unique, something reliable. Thank you for making Wendy and me part of your family. Thank you for the bond that transcends achievements and petty conditions. As we look ahead, I aim to perpetuate those values, and continue JUGHEADS as a special oasis for youth.