WBMA Meeting Minutes from 2025 Pittsburgh

The meeting was held at Giant Eagle Auditorium of Baker Hall on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University, workplace of Master of Ceremonies Adam Causgrove, in the very same building in which Artificial Intelligence was first postulated on the 3rd Floor.

After some audio-visual issues, the meeting started at 10:18 AM EDT and finished at 12:49 PM EDT.

Bryan Nelson, President of WBMA presided. No official secretary was named for the meeting. “DiGi” (Kristin DiGiacomo) of Steel City Beard and Moustache Club and Ally Echevarria of Austin Facial Hair Club served as vote talliers. The following minutes were written up by Chad Roberts the week following.

Attendance

The meeting was attended by the following members, several other guests, and unaffiliated competitors.

MEMBER CLUBS PRESENT 

Australia Bearded Villains New South Wales Chapter

England Sandgrown Beardsmen 

Germany Bart & Kulturclub “Belle Moustache”

USA Austin Facial Hair Club

The Beard and Moustache Club of North Carolina

Bearded Men Society of Ocean City Maryland

Cape Beard

Cincinnati Beard Barons

Derby City Whisker Club

Emerald City Beardos Facial Hair Club

Mad Viking Beard Club Pennsylvania

Mad Viking Maryland/Delaware

Minnesota Beard and Mustache Coalition

Modesto Beard and Mustache Coalition

Murder City Facial Hair Crew

Queen City Beard and Moustache Federation

Rocky Mountain Beard and Moustache Club

RVA Beard League

Spokane Beard and Mustache 

Talking Beards (the Club)

Steel City Beard & Mustache Club

MEMBER CLUBS VIRTUALLY PRESENT 

Canada Vancouver Facial Hair Club - Proxy by Chad Roberts

France Viking Normandie Barbe Moustache Club - Proxy by Chad Roberts

APOLOGIES WERE RECEIVED FROM

Germany Oberbayrischer Bart- und Schnauzerclub 1996eV - Proxy by Jürgen Burkhardt
BC Haddamshausen-Hermershausen 1980 - Jürgen Burkhardt
SchwäbischerBart- und Schnauzerclub Schömberg - Jürgen Burkhardt
Bartclub Steinau / Gruendau 1984 eV - Jürgen Burkhardt
1.Pforzheimer Club der Bartfreunde eV 1991 - Jürgen Burkhardt
1.Berliner Bart-Club 1996 eV - Jürgen Burkhardt
1.Höfener Bart- und Schnauzerclub 1985 eV - Jürgen Burkhardt
Mad Viking N. Germany - Jürgen Burkhardt
Gentlemen's Bart Club eV Geisa - Jürgen Burkhardt

New Zealand The Fellowship of the Beard NZ - Proxy by Bryan Nelson

USA South Central Alaska Beard & Moustache Club - Bryan Nelson

Discussion Topics 

2025 WBMC REVIEW

WBMA VP and Mad Viking Beard’s Jason Sealand started by answering questions about some of the timing issues for the 3 days, including 15 minute breaks that turned into 45 minutes, and specifically for the 3 hour and 45 minute delay on Saturday. The Saturday delay was due admittedly in part to the pacing of M.C. Adam Causgrove in his attempt to give each competitor their own time to enjoy the unique spotlight of competing in Worlds. Even-ing out the potential competitor counts per day by better balancing which categories are on which day will also help with schedule overruns.

It was agreed that no specific times for categories should be publicly published to avoid confusion as schedules naturally fluctuate. 

An eye on more diverse food options for vegetarians and vegans at the venue should be noted going forward.

It was mentioned that a review of categories and more detailed definitions would be useful for pre-judging and judging. The possibility of collapsing low-turnout categories (under 4 or 5 competitors) was discussed as well. The Board will take up work on both again in the coming months. 

With 474 competitors over the 3 days, the overall event was deemed a great time and a success as the second largest WBMC to have ever been held.

Current federal policies hindered many international competitors, but that was beyond the control of everyone.

Sandgrown Beardsmen President Brian Eva gave an update on the upcoming 2027 WBMC 2021 in Blackpool. The event website wbmc27.com is up, and Save the Date cards were distributed around the venue and distributed in each competitor's bag.

VOTING

It was mentioned by Bryan that the Bylaws specify that the Viking Normandie Barbe Moustache Club bid was technically inadmissible since the WBMC cannot be held on the same continent twice in a row.

Hosting presentations were made by Shawn Glander of Spokane Beard and Moustache, and Guillaume Renouf and Lionel Lebebar of Viking Normandie Barbe Moustache Club to host the 2029 World Championships in Spokane, Washington, and Caen, France, respectively.

Officers elected for the next 4 years were: President Chad Roberts, succeeding Bryan Nelson who chose not to run for re-election and who ran unopposed; and as Vice Presidents Jason Sealand, formerly 2025 WBMC Host Club VP, and Jürgen Burkhardt was re-elected. Drew McNaughton of the Beard and Moustache Club of North Carolina, and Guillaume Renouf of Viking Normandie Barbe Moustache Club were also in the running.

Spokane Beard and Moustache was voted in favor to host the 2029 WBMC, 25-9, with Shawn Glander joining the WBMA Board as a Host Club VP.

Making the 2025-2027 WBMA Board of Directors: 

President Chad Roberts

Vice President Jürgen Burkhardt

Vice President Aaron D. Johnston

Vice President Christine Hackman

Vice President Jason Sealand

Vice President Brian Eva (2027 Host Club)

Vice President Shawn Glander (2029 Host Club)

OPEN DISCUSSION

The distribution of a survey to competitors was discussed to get feedback from people on what worked well and what should be avoided. Jason can send out the email to the registered competitors and the results will be reviewed by the Board with an eye on 2027.

There was a proposal by Levi Harris, owner of Death Grip Wax, to introduce a new “American Handlebar” moustache category. We’ll review the definition, coordinate with The Handlebar Club in London and come upon an agreed definition for possible future inclusion.

The meeting was closed at 12:49 PM with congratulations to Spokane, and the hope we'll all meet again in Blackpool in 2027.