November 2015 |A monthly publication of the National Speech & Debate Association
Dear District Leader,
There’s a lot to be thankful for this November, including our great district leaders!
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Ordering District Awards » District chairs, this is the second year the National Speech & Debate Association is offering a full slate of district-level awards to honor outstanding contributions by participants and supporters of the speech and debate community at the district level. Please use this form to indicate which district awards you plan to give out this year so we can include them in your district tournament box.
Winter Online Institute » Be sure to tell the coaches in your area about the online institutes for PF and LD this winter! PF will be held December 27, and LD will be held December 28-29. The sessions will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT and are a great opportunity, at an affordable rate, for students to gain specific instruction on the January/February topics! If you'd like more information, visit www.speechanddebate.org/onlineinstitute or email steve.schappaugh@speechanddebate.org.
REMINDERS
Tell Your Story; Help Our Cause » Telling your story is the best way to advocate for speech and debate. Please consider participating in this coach survey, which will be used in the dissertation research of three-diamond coach J. Scott Baker. The results will be shared with our organization to help us advocate for speech and debate activities! If you have someone spearheading communications or alumni efforts at the district level (or if you’re doing this yourself), please consider an official district “call to action” to coaches and alumni to encourage their response to the surveys, which are open through November 20. This is a great opportunity to use your district logo or newsletter template to engage coaches and alumni in something that matters to all of us. Please encourage your alumni to take the companion survey, as well!
School-Based Memberships »To best serve our students, strengthen the creation and sustainability of programs, and establish continuity from middle school to high school, the Board of Directors voted at the Fall Board Meeting to require school affiliation for all memberships beginning with the 2016-2017 school year. Any high school, middle school, home school, or virtual school recognized as an accredited public or private school by the state in which those schools compete may join the National Speech & Debate Association. All current non-school-based clubs and organizations are encouraged to work with the Association and area school districts to create speech and debate programs through their students' schools. Students who are currently Association members through their area non-school-based clubs and organizations may request to have their memberships transferred at any time to their accredited public and private schools by contacting info@speechanddebate.org.
ACCESS YOUR RESOURCES
District Leader Webinar Series » Thanks to Mary Gormley, New Jersey district chair, for leading our latest webinar in the district leader series! Chairs and committee members can view a recording of the webinar entitled "Preparing for Your District Tournament" by clicking here.
Chairs and committee members with a role in running the district tournament can sign up for the next round of webinars entitled “District Tournament: Operating Essentials,” which will cover setting up Joy of Tournaments, pairing reminders, and the audit review process. Sessions will be offered November 30 and December 4.
November Congress Docket » Visit www.speechanddebate.org/topics to access the November Congressional Debate Docket. This can be used to supplement dockets lacking in sufficient legislation or could be used for a final round.
