BHS MASTERS' TOURNAMENT
January 21, 2012 

Dear Forensic Coach: 

WELCOME:  We cordially invite you to our Buffalo Masters’ Tournament to be held Feb. 24th and 25th, 2012.  Please read through the entire invitation.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me at 307.684.2269 ex 42.

REGISTRATION/DOUBLING:  We will again be registering online at http://www.joyoftournaments.com The process is fairly simple and will allow you to make unlimited changes until the cutoff time.  The form below lists the events offered, judging requirements and the pattern they will be in.  Doubling will NOT be allowed within the pattern, but you may double across the pattern.  Judges will be instructed that students will not be doubling in the same conflict pattern and therefore should not ask to leave early. 

ENTRY LIMITS:   At the start we will allow 24 entries that you may split up as you wish (except for debate - see entry form).  CX, PF, and Duet will count as ONE entry. ** Additional entries will be accepted this year only as we have room and on a 1st come 1st served basis.  So please use the wait-list option when registering.  We are normally able to take a number of the wait-list names.

Please note that we are going to once again offer CX debate at the Buffalo Masters' tournament.

TOPICS/CONGRESS BILLS:  The LD topic used will be the NFL March/April choice.  Be Careful Here – Yes, we are in February but it will benefit the kids more if they run the new topic.  The PF topic used will be the NFL March choice (same warning).   The CX topic will be the 2011-12 national NFL topic.  Student Congress participants will need to have 30 copies of a correctly formatted and typed bill for each house they participate in.  Congress participants can double in both houses if they wish, but once again, may not double within the pattern. 

WHO GETS AWARDS:  Awards will be given to the top six places in all IE's.  In congress, the top nominated speakers will receive awards.  The top four debate teams will receive awards.  Sweepstakes trophies will be given for the top three places in 4A, 3A, and 1A/2A.  Entry fees will be $7.50 per entry, even for the CX, PF and DU teams.

DEADLINES:  Please complete your preliminary registration online by 5 P.M. Wednesday, February 15th.   Any changes to these preliminary entries due by 5 P.M. on February 22nd.  It is very important that you visit the website frequently to confirm and update your entries as needed.  Final billing will be calculated at 5 P.M. on the 22nd.  After that time only drops will be accepted with no refunds for the dropped entries.  Drops at registration are $25.00 each + entry fee.  Avoid this fee by calling in drops to the number above by 10am on Friday the 24th.  Unfortunately, there will be no refunds/credits for entry fees, even for schools that choose drop their entire team, after 5 P.M. on February 22nd.  

FOOD & COACH JUDGING:  We have a great concessions stand that features friendly, happy, people.  Vouchers will be accepted.  Our judges/coaches lounge treats everyone as an invited guest and we plan to feed you accordingly.  Our judging pool is typically well trained, have judged for years, and really excited about helping out.  We do not plan to use coaches as our sole means of covering rounds.  But please know that a few rounds may need to be covered here and there.  We will ask for help with CX judging if you bring CX teams.  It is our plan that this will be a nice, relaxing, stress free weekend.

DECORUM & GENERAL JUDGING:  Once again, we will be asking for your help with monitoring your teams in the commons, and --(as a last resort)--  with judging.  We are asking the each school that enters CX debate bring one full time CX judge for every two teams that they enter.  Schools can "buy out" of CX judging obligations at a rate of $50.00 per uncovered team.  But in all honesty we would rather have the bodies rather than the money...  Please, only personal stereos with headphones.  We have a very conservative community that only knows of speech through what they see during this weekend.  We ask that all students be on their best behavior during the entire tournament, including down time between rounds.  Remember, inappropriate behavior not only reflects badly on your team, it reflects badly on our team and the entire Wyoming Forensic Association as well.  Therefore, we respectfully request that you leave the toys, skateboards, drums, guitars, X-boxes, juggling equipment, pets, wooden guns, light sabers, squeaky balloon type things, etc. at home.

We look forward to seeing you,

Walter and Emily