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NDT rounds sold...CEDA still for sale...

Early registration is at the Burkshire Marriott Hotel (10 West Burke Avenue, Towson, MD 21204) at the Bar just off the lobby from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on Thursday March 11th.  Campus parking passes will be available for those who want them although it will probably take you longer to drive and park on campus than to walk from the hotel.

Late registration is on the first floor of Psychology Hall on the Towson University campus (http://www.towson.edu/main/maps/) from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Friday March 12th.  If you will be late arriving please call Beth at 443-562-2269 to confirm your entry.

Hi, everyone!  Entries for Towson's JV/Novice Nationals are now closed.  If you have changes, please phone them or text them to me at 412-445-3957 (I volunteered for the easy duty in the hope that Christy and Mike will handle the tough stuff in the tab room).  Beth will be posting instructions regarding registration, etc.  Preferences are now open.  They will remain open until 9 am on Friday.  If you want judge preferences on Friday, please make sure to meet that deadline.  We are using a 6 category preference system.  There are 71 judges in JV, and you should do your preferences as indicated on the counter (12 in each of the first 5 categories, and 11 strikes).  Conflicts count as a 5.  There are 80 judges in Novice.  Please ignore the counter.  You should have 14 judges in each of the first two categories, and 13 in each of the remaining 4 categories.  As always, you're welcome to put more judges in a higher category.  If you have questions, please email (berchnorto@msn.com), call, or text.  Finally, while we're in decent (but not great) shape on judging, you can always do more to help improve your preferences.  Feel free to donate 1 or more rounds.  You can text me, or you can let us know at registration.  Looking forward to seeing all of you this weekend!--Neil (on behalf of Christy, Mike, and tournament director Beth).

Hi

I have three rounds for sale at the NDT and two at CEDA - will sell to the highest cash bidder. 

Garrett Abelkop

Just found a new deal at Dell: 2 netbooks for ~$400. http://dealspl.us/product/inspiron-mini-10v1

Please rank all judges in order.  Conflicts should be coded 999.   

Please complete the ordinal ranking of all judges no later than 4pm on Friday.  Rankings should be completed for teams in both JV and novice (there are 4 novice-only judges).

Let me know if you want them, sooner rather than later, since registration closes at 10pm

A couple of random thoughts about choosing a topic and resolution, not that anyone cares.

It seems like we are out of new ideas, and I say this knowing I am no better.  We have gotten some good areas recently, but I don't know if recycling old topic areas until they eventually win is the best way to go.  We just need more brain storming and we need more topic papers from a wide number of sources.  Do I have a solution to this problem?  No, of course I don't, but I think maybe we should step back and think of new structures that we can undertake to make topic papers easier to create, discuss and distribute earlier. 

While I don't envy the complicated process of resolution creation that the topic committee has to go through every year, I do have to say that it has been increasingly evident that the topics are indeed created by committee.  While there really is no recourse for a "bad" topic area, we have had some good topic areas go wrong because the topic committee has to cobble together something from a wide variety of "special interests" (like limiting the number of cases, potential CP ground, etc).  It seems in the attempt to worry about the potential cases that could be run before the topic is even created we have basically destroyed much of the innovation that was the impetus for creating a limited topic in the first place.  In essence, I am just asking if the pendulum has now swung too far the other direction.

It just seems that many of the topics are "gerrymandered" to try to please everyone.  It has created convoluted wordings, confusion and some incredibly long resolutions.  This year we even ended up with multiple dependent clauses.

I think that it might be time for the topic committee consider simplicity when trying to phrase the topic area.  I understand that simplicity and "special interests" are almost antithetical, so I am just suggesting that trying to predetermine the balance of the resolution in one weekend prior to the year even starting may be too much for anyone to do and it may be better to prioritize the value of having a "good" wording over having a "balanced" wording.

That all said, I have a huge amount of respect for the amount of work that the topic committee does prior to and during the meeting.  It is one of the most thankless jobs in debate, and I have absolutely no doubts about the quantity and quality of the work that goes into making a topic.  I applaud everyone that takes part in the process, and keep up the amazing work!

Here is our new website.

Dates will be determined soon.

http://calloftheloon.spheerix.com/

Thanks,

Jackie

Forward from NAUDL executive board:

The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues is working with the national executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to find and recruit the best talent for the role of the NAUDL's next Executive Director. We want to pursue all avenues that might lead us to qualified, diverse and motivated candidates, and in that regard, we'd appreciate your helping us by passing the particulars described below, as well as the complete Invitation to Apply, to your network of potential nominators and nominees. For more information, please direct people to 3996@imsearch.com.

The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (“NAUDL”), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for students in urban schools by encouraging debate as an effective means of scholastic achievement, is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as the NAUDL’s Executive Director, following the untimely death of its previous Executive Director in late 2009. By building, strengthening and networking Urban Debate Leagues (“UDLs”), the NAUDL expands opportunities for urban youth in pursuit of its simple and compelling mission to “facilitate participation in organized debate activities for as many urban students as possible.”

The NAUDL offers an outstanding opportunity for a leader who has the capacity to raise resources, forge a powerful alliance among education reformers and the organization’s existing supporters, and nurture the growth of urban debate as a means for tremendous scholastic achievement in cities across the nation. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience and acumen in organizational development and leadership, a passion for social justice and education reform to benefit urban youth, and superior communication skills. The next NAUDL Executive Director will have the opportunity and responsibility to promote and brand the NAUDL as an essential and valuable player in advancing the urban debate agenda, while respecting and collaborating with leaders in both the education community and the universe of fervent debate veterans, coaches and admirers to bring the substantial benefits of urban debate to students in America’s cities.

The NAUDL Board of Directors has engaged the national, executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, to help the Board and the NAUDL Search Committee with this important search. A description of the NAUDL and the challenges and opportunities that await its next Executive Director isavailable here. Applications, nominations and inquiries should be sent to the following electronic mailbox:3996@imsearch.com. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.

Appreciatively,

Lenny Gail
Chairman of the Board of Directors