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Dear Speech and Debate Coaches:
You are cordially invited to the 2009 Forensic League of Arizona’s Coaches Convention on September 11th and 12th, 2009.
Please plan on attending Friday’s important meeting so you will have the latest information on the upcoming season, receive tournament invitations, register for directory information and vote on issues such as conference representatives. This day is recommended for those who are serving as the contracted coaches for their team. Plus, this year we will be offering state recertification credit for teachers who attend. In addition, Lennie Pippin from Simply Functional will visit us and tell us about some very exciting fundraising opportunities. Given the current financial climate, we could use all of the fundraising we can get.
On Saturday, September 12, 2009, the FLA will be sponsoring a day of workshops for coaches, judges and students at Brophy College Preparatory. There will be sessions for new coaches and judges, and workshops for students of all skill levels. Details for this will be found on www.joyoftournaments.com.
Location and Directions
Once again, we are fortunate to hold our Friday Business Convention on the campus of Metro Tech High School in the Culinary Arts Dining Room at 1900 West Thomas Road. To get there, head onto the I-17 and exit on Thomas Road. Next, go east to 19th Ave. The parking lot is just west of 19th Ave. Head toward the center of campus to find the Culinary Arts Building.
Registration
To register for this meeting, go on-line to www.joyoftournaments.com/az. Once at the site, follow the directions given, fill out all of your information in detail, and print out any copies of any invoices that you will need. Please register before attending the meeting so that we can get an accurate count. If you do not have access to a computer, you can fax the attached registration sheet and invoice to:
Kevin Berlat at fax number 602-271-2385.
Registration will begin at 7:30 AM for all coaches. We will plan to finish the general meeting at 2:00 PM.
Cost
The charge for our Friday meeting will be $25.00 per attending person. That covers a continental breakfast in the morning and a lunch buffet in the afternoon.
FLA Dues
It is necessary that you pay your $30.00 FLA dues by check at the time of registration. If you cannot attend this meeting, payment of dues must be received no later than October 3, 2009. These dues go to pay for the annual meeting, scholarships for state winners, the use of the computer programs, and the Winter Trophy Tournaments.
Payment
Please make all checks out to: Forensic League of Arizona
Send these checks to: Scott Stonebraker, FLA Treasurer Mesa High School. 1630 E. Southern Ave. Mesa, AZ, 85 204
New Coaches
Taking on the role of a Speech and Debate coach can be challenging. Therefore, during the general meeting, we will hold a seminar to help with any questions you may have. Plus, we will discuss how to build a forensics program, go over the rules for competitions and provide helpful literature.
Rule Changes
During our meeting, we will discuss State Tournament Rulebook changes for the 2009-2010 season. The AIA tournament rulebook can be found at the official AIA website: www.aiaonline.org. Look under the Activities Section for Speech and Debate. This year’s convention has been specially designated for the review of Student Congress rules and procedures. Specific proposals will be posted on www.joyoftournaments/az under the convention invitation. Please review these before you attend.
Calendar
On the Joy of Tournaments website you will find a revised calendar of tournament dates and locations. Please bring a copy of this with you in order to make any changes announced at the meeting. Also, please notice that several tournaments may need site hosts. If you would like to volunteer your school for the honor of hosting a Championship Tournament, please check with your administration prior to attending this meeting to get the official clearance.
Agenda
Enclosed, you will find an agenda for the meeting. If there are any issues of immediate importance that you wish to submit, please submit them to me by August 28, 2009 so that they may be placed on the Joy of Tournaments website for everyone to view.
Coach, Judge and Student Workshop
On September 12, 2009, Brophy College Prep will host a day of workshops sponsored by the FLA. Everyone is encouraged to attend. New coaches will receive more information on how to sponsor a team. Judges will receive instruction in what to expect and how to fill out ballots. Students can explore new events, or go in-depth in what they may already know. There will not be any additional cost for these workshops. Lunch will be on your own. Specific sessions, a schedule, and session registration will be placed on www.joyoftournaments.com/az.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you in September.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Berlat President, Forensic League of Arizona Chair, AIA SSDAC Central High School Speech and Debate Work phone – 602-764-7623 Cell Phone – 480-330-3430
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