Portage Northern Comes Next

The Forensics Season picks up speed as we get ready for the Menchinger Invitational at Portage -- it used to be the "Huskie" Invitational, but now bears the name of Portage Northern's great and now retired coach, James Menchinger. (Trivia: he was Ms P's supervising teacher back back back... well, back then).

So lets go to the details.

Transportation
This year we need to use car pool arrangements when we go to tournaments. The costs fo buses exceed our fund-raising abilities. Don't fret, however. We will be using buses for Regionals and for State.

Drivers this Saturday are Peterson, Harris, Groenler, and Creswell.


Schedule

• 6:30 a.m. -- Arrive at City
• 6:45 a.m. -- Leave City
• 7:45 a.m. -- Arive at Portage Northern. Register.
• 8:30 a.m. -- General Meeting (auditorium)
• 8:55 a.m. -- Round 1
• 12:30 p.m. -- 1:30 p.m. Lunch
• 5:30 p.m. -- Awards
• 6:30 p.m. --Leave Portage Northern.
• 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Supper and review scores
• 8:30 p.m. -- Arrive at City (we will phone ahead).

Food Costs
They will have a cafeteria line open for lunch. Many bring their own lunches. For supper we plan to stop at Fazolis or a Wendy's -- about $5 range.

So Who's Going?
We're taking 17 individual competitors, plus the Multiple is launching this weekend. As you can see, almost all are new:

• Broadcast -- Nathan Ritsema
• Extemp -- Catherine Khuu, Margaret Root
• Informative -- Riet Groenleer
• Oratory -- Esther Creswell, Daniel Hast, Manuel Garcia
• Sales -- Jenna Dean
• Impromptu 9/10 -- Walt Gilles, Christina Le
• Dramatic Interp -- Alissa Stone, Celeste Kessler
• Duo -- Max Gilles/Yefei Jin
• Multiple -- The Sweet Smell of Success (Keenan Foley, Edward Lofton, Will Hoyer, Anna VandenBerg, Anna Witte, Meagan Winegar)
• Poetry -- Sharon Hay
• Prose -- Emily Oxfford, Aja Kilgore
• Storytelling 9/10 -- Emily Witte

Ionia, Saturday November 17

Our next weekend Legislative session takes place Saturday at Ionia. This is bringing in teams from the east side as well as from west Michigan, and if the bills are any indication, it should be fun.

Time line
We don't really have one, but this is the best I can come up figure out

• 7:00 a.m. meet at City
• 7:15 a.m. leave
• 8:00 a.m. arrive at Ionia
• 8:30 a.m. general meeting
• 9:00 - 11:00 Session I
• 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. Session II
• Lunch -- we're on our own.
• 3:00 - 5:00 pm Super Session
• 5:30 p.m. Awards
• 7:00 p.m. Arrive at City

Speaking of Food
What passes for a strip is right out side the high school. We'll go and find fast food. (Or you can bring your own).

Location
Ionia High School
250 Tuttle Rd
Ionia, MI

Or, for those who like a map:


View Larger Map

Kalamazoo Central, Nov 14

We're off to the second meeting of the West Michigan Legislative Debate League. This time at Kalamazoo Central.

Who's Going?
Here is who I have signed up:

• Oana Damacus
• Catherine Khuu
• Christina Le
• Emily Riippa
• Abe Rinck
• Nathan Ritsema
• Evan VanderHoff

Schedule will be as follows:

• 2:30 Meet at City
• 3:45 Arrive at Kalamazoo
• 4:15 -- 6:15 Session Opens
• 6:30 Awards
• 8:00 Arrive at City (maybe a little earlier)

Here's the map (click for exact location):


View Larger Map

JCC Tournament More Details

Jackson Community College, Saturday October 6. (Leave at 6:15). The Schedule has been changed, slightly. There are now only two sessions.

New Time Line

• Leave City High: 6:15 am
• Arrive JCC: 8:15 am (includes coffee/breakfast break along way)
• Gen'l Meeting: 8:30 am (Potter Center)
• Session I: 8:45 - 12:00 (Burt Walker Hall)
• Lunch: 12:00 - 1:00 pm (Potter Center)
• Session II: 1:15 - 4:30 pm (Burt Walker Hall)
• Awards: ASAP
• Leave JCC: 5:00 pm
• Arrive City: 8:00 pm (with hour for dinner on way)

Tournament Procedure
With only nineteen students, there will not be a super session. The students will be evaluated by two judges in the first round and two in the second round. Scores will be combined from each session with the presiding officers‚ scores doubled from their session on the floor. Presiding officers will also receive recognition for their service. They will be giving away 10 speaker awards.

Lunch Included
Lunches were ordered for everyone.


The Bills
At this point, they are still accepting new legislation. Here are the nine to date:

• Bill: Alternative Fuel Tax
• Bill: Junk Food Tax
• Resolution: Punish flag burners
• Bill: Smoking Ban on College Campuses
• Bill: Imported Goods Safety
• Resolution: End the Korean War
• Bill: Cell Phone Recycling
• Resolution: End Canadian Seal Hunt
• Bill: Establish Metric System in US

Congressional Debate Kicks Off in Jackson

Jackson Community College is hosting the kick-off Congressional Debate Season with the first Jets Invitational Congress Tournament. The tournament is hosted by Paige Beauchene.

Word about Travel
We'll be traveling by car, and so the early registration means leaving City around 6:15 a.m. If you're planning on this, get your rest.

And food?
Food will be provided on site.


Jackson Community College is located south of the city of Jackson at 2111 Emmons Rd., Jackson, MI 49201.


View Larger Map

Off to Portage

This Saturday is our second meet of the Invitational season: Portage Northern.
Like other years, this will be big: there are 22 schools registered! Generally the rounds tend to be large with 6 or so per round. This makes for a long round. Be ready with some bottled water and snacks to keep you going through the first three rounds.

Speaking of Food
There will be some breakfast food available when you arrive. Lunch is offered in the Cafeteria after the third round. The food is a mixture of items (pizza, yogurt, fruit, etc.), all reasonably priced. After the Invitational we will stop for a bite and review our scores. At Portage Northern, this usually has meant going to Fazolis.

Our Schedule
6:30 a.m. -- Arrive at City
7:00 a.m. -- Leave City
8:00 a.m. -- Arrive at Portage Northern
8:30 a.m. -- General Meeting
8:55 a.m. -- Round I begins
5:30 p.m. -- Awards
6:30 p.m. -- Stop for Dinner (Fazoli's or something). Review scorees
7:30 p.m. -- Leave Portage/Kalamazoo
8:30 p.m. -- Arrive at City. Still in time for the auction!


Who's Going?
Here is who we have going (* first time):

• Broadcast -- Nathan Ritsema
• Extemp -- Michael Schafer,Yefei Jin
• Impromptu -- Sara Oliai, Christina Le
• Informative -- Colin Tokarek, Riet Groenleer
• Oratory -- Casandra Caceres
• Poetry -- Jessica Miller
• Prose -- Zoe Ashmead
• D. I.-- Alisa Stone
• D.I. 9/10 -- Celeste Kessler
• Storytelling -- Julia Stuart, Katie Barber *, Emily Witte *
• Duo -- Reames / Kleinschmidt, Wilson / Quinn
• Multiple -- Jekyll & Hyde

First Up: Christian High

Forensics season starts for Grand Rapids City High this Saturday, March 3.

It's an all day affair, with three preliminary rounds then semi-finals, and finals. We ask that all performers stay the day. You get the chance to see and learn from other pieces.


Here's the basic schedule:

• 8:00 -- Arrive at Christian High (map) Meet in the theatre lobby on Plymouth.
• 8:30 -- General meeting in the auditorium
• 8:55 -- Round 1
• 10:30 -- Round 2 (time is proximate)
• 12:00 -- Round 3 (time is proximate)
• 12:30 -- 1:30 lunch (roughly)
• 5:30 -- Awards in Auditorium

Parents! if you are coming and would like to see your student perform, or just poke in on performances, contact Mr H, or come to Christian High and go to the Tab Room (it's on the second floor, by the teacher's lounge).

Who's Going?

• Broadcast: Andrew Hopewell, Nathan Ritsema
• Impromptu: Sara Oliai, Christina Le
• Informative: Riet Groenleer, Jesse Holwerda
• Oratory: Robby Saldaña
• Sales 9/10: Gerald Polanco
• Duo: Reames/Kleinschmidt, Gilles/Vandenberg
• Multiple: Jekyll & Hyde
• Poetry: Jessica Miller, Jacinda Bowman
• Prose: Zoe Ashmead, Audrey Harrington, Brandon Newton
• Storytelling: Julia Stuart
• DI 9/10: Celeste Kessler, Leanna Morris

Date Set for State

MIFA has just announced the site for the first State Congressional Debate Tournament. We will be going to Western High School, in Parma, Michigan on Saturday, April 14. Grand Rapids City High School should take a nice contingent -- best guess will be eight, but we could be more.

Remember if you want to go, you do need to compete in at least one other tournament (see Schedule, post).

Handbook and Contract Available

The 2007 Handbook with the Forensics Contract is now available in Ms P's room. Stop in and pick it up. Let us know what event or events you would like to compete in.

This should be a great season.

And be sure to set aside Friday, February 23. That's the date for our Kick Off Pot Luck. More on that, later.

Schedule

Here are the dates. Mark your Calendar (these are also in the 2007 Handbook)
February 17, 2006
Legislative Debate Tournament,
City High School
All day. Arrive at City at 8:30 a.m.

February 21, 2007
West Michigan Legislative Debate,
Grand Ledge HS car pool
After School. Arrive at City at 2:00

February 24, 2007
MCCIE Tournament, Mason County Central HS
Scottsville, MI car pool
All Day. Arrive at City 6:30

February 27, 2007
OK Festival Grandville HS
Grandville, MI car pool
After School. Arrive at City 2:30

March 3, 2007
Eagle Invitational
Grand Rapids Christian HS
Grand Rapids, HS Self
All day. Arrive at Christian: 8:00

March 10, 2007
James Menchinger Huskie Invitational
Portage Northern HS
Portage, MI Bus or car pool
All Day. Arrive at City: 6:45 am

March 14, 2007
West Michigan Legislative Debate, Western HS
Parma, MI Car pool
After school. Arrive at City 2:00

March 17, 2007
WOHO Invitational, Holland High School
Holland, MI car pool
All Day. Arrive at City at 7:00 am

March 17, 2007
Gaylord Invitational, GaylordHigh School
Gaylord MI car pool
All day. Arrive at City Friday 4:00 pm

March 24, 2007
Mattawan Wildcat IE Tournament
Mattawan High School
Mattawan, MI Bus or car pool
All day. Arrive at City 6:30 am

March 27, 2007
Districts, South Christian HS
Grand Rapids, HS self
After school. Arrive at City 2:30 pm

March 29, 2007
MSCI Novice States
Dexter High School
Dexter, MI Bus or car pool
After School. Arrive at City 2:00 pm

April 14, 2007
Legislative Debate State Tournament"
Site TBD Bus or car pool
All Day. Arrive at City 7:00 am.

April 14, 2007
OK Conference Tournament, City High School
Grand Rapids self
All Day. Arrive at City 8:00 a.m.

April 21, 2007
MIFA Middle Level IE Tournament
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI car pool
All Day. Arrive at City 7:00 am

April 28, 2007
NFL Districts Qualifying
Location TBA car pool


April 24.2007
MIFA Regionals Tournament
Alma College
Alma, MI coach
All Day. Arrive at City 7:30 am

May 4 - 5, 2007
MIFA IE State Finals
Central Michigan University
Mt Pleasant, MI coach
Two Days. Arrive at City 8:00 am May 4.

June 16 -23, 2007
NFL Finals
Witchita, KS air

Two Meets in December for Legislative Debate

The year closes with two final meets this week.

Wednesday, December 13,
Grand Rapids City High School entertains the West Michigan Legislative Debate League.
Meet begins at 4:30
Finishes at 6:30.

City High Students: be here by 4:00. That way we can arrange everything and welcome our guests.

Saturday, December 16
Tournament at Western High School outside Jackson. That's about an hour and a half away. They have 17 bills submitted from five different high schools, including Portage Central. This should be a great deal of fun. Here's the schedule:

• 6:30 am leave City (ugh)
• 8:30 am Register
• 8:45 – 9:00 General meeting
• 9:00 – 9:15 Attendance, nominations for Presiding Officer
• 9:15 – 9:30 Set the docket of the day
• 9:30 – 12:00 Debate
• 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
• 1:00 – 3:30 Debate
• 3:30 Judges and Parliamentarian tabulation
• 4:00 Awards
• 7:00 pm arrive at City (at the latest)