April 17, 2018 | A weekly publication of the National Speech & Debate Association

Dear Coach,

Happy National Volunteer Week! As part of our celebration, we wanted to pause to recognize all of the extra time you volunteer to this activity. From long bus rides, to tabbing tournaments, to late night practices, to helping out a fellow coach, thank you for going above and beyond to give your students access to the live-changing benefits of speech and debate!

Rostrum Release

The latest issue of Rostrum magazine will hit mailboxes soon but you can get an advance look at the stories of service in the new issue! You don't want to miss the National Tournament details inside and our cover story on NSDA Board of Directors President Don Crabtree.

Application Open: Nats18 Financial Support

The William Woods Tate, Jr., Memorial Fund is designed to help schools and students attending the National Speech & Debate Tournament for the first time, as well as schools with demonstrated financial need. The deadline to apply for support is April 30. To access the online form, please click here.

Polls are Open: Vote by April 25!

Board of Directors » Voting is now open for the Board of Directors election, which will select four directors to serve a four-year term and establish an order for alternates. Each school shall vote for up to four candidates. Please note that each active school chapter will count as one vote. This is a change from the strength-based voting system of the past.

Your participation in this election is important! Learn more about the 13 candidates seeking election in the Feb/March issue of Rostrum magazine. When you're ready to vote, log in to your Account page and select 'NSDA Voting' from the left side menu.

Hall of Fame » Current Hall of Fame members and active coaches with three or more diamonds may vote online to select this year's inductees to the Hall of Fame. To vote, log in to your Account page and select 'NSDA Voting' from the left side menu.

The NSDA is Hiring!

We're ready to welcome a new Membership Specialist (starting with the 2018-2019 school year) and Marketing Communications Specialist (starting immediately upon offer) to our organization. Check out the job descriptions if you want to be part of our work to connect, support, and inspire our diverse community! We are excited by this opportunity to bring new perspective and talent to our team.

Webinar: Gender Identity and Inclusion

Join the 2017 LGBT+ Coaches' Caucus moderator tonight, April 17, for a discussion of gender and sexuality, pronoun usage, and best practices for designating gender-neutral bathrooms at tournaments. Join the conversation here at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Network and Learn: Register Today!

We can’t wait for you to join us at the 2018 NSDA National Conference July 28-31! It’s a chance to network and learn from other speech and debate educators in person—an opportunity that many don’t have access to throughout the year. Join us for a range of sessions that support our theme of Radiant Voices: Empowerment through Speech and Debate, including the spotlighted session below!

Original Oratory: From One Teacher to Another
Presented by Joe and Pam Wycoff of Apple Valley High School, MN

Every good coach begins and ends by being called a Good Teacher. The Good Teacher knows the value of both written and verbal communication, whether it involves personal or group connection, empathy and intellect, or motivation and message. This session will focus on empowering a student’s voice through Original Oratory. Oratory embodies sharing a truth. Attendees will leave this session with a better understanding of how to approach writing an original oration and practical strategies to help students create and shape their speeches. This session is designed to bring out the student’s voice so that the impact of the message will SHINE for all of the right reasons!

Deadlines and Reminders

USA Debate Team Applications » We are now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 USA Debate Team. Get your pens ready! Before they can complete their application, students must collect signatures from their Coach/Advisor as well as from their Parent/Guardian and Principal/Administrator. Your students can get started or learn more about the stages of the application here.

Middle School Nationals Registration » Entries for the 2018 Middle School National Tournament are due Tuesday, April 24. Remember, teams are permitted to enter four entries per event and list additional students for consideration on the wait list. Visit http://msnats.tabroom.com to register!

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