Dear Speech and Debate Coaches:
You are cordially invited to the 2010 Forensic League of
Arizona’s Coaches Convention on September 10, 2010.
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.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the FLA will be sponsoring a
Welcome Tournament for coaches, judges and students at Horizon High School. 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/az.
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.
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, 2010. 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:
Forensic League of Arizona
c/o Kevin Berlat
4525 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85012
New Coaches
Taking on the role of a Speech and Debate coach can be
challenging. Therefore, during the general meeting, we will 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 2010-2011 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 30, 2010 so that they may be placed on the Joy of
Tournaments website for everyone to view.
Coach, Judge and Student Workshop
On September 25, 2010, The FLA will host a day of workshops
and competition at Horizon high School. 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. 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.
Sincerely,
Kevin J. Berlat
President, Forensic League of Arizona
Chair, AIA SSDAC
Central High School Speech and Debate
berlat@phxhs.k12.az.us
Work phone – 602-764-7623
Cell Phone – 480-330-3430