<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Dear
Coaches,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">I hope this
email finds you well!<span> </span>I want to update
you on the First/Second Year State Championships this weekend at Carrollton High School, as well as the Varsity
State Tournament in late March.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Who May Participate in
this Saturday’s Tournament?</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">In order to
attend this tournament and the Varsity Tournament in March, schools must be
paid members of the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association.<span> </span>I have attached a list of member
schools.<span> </span>NOTE: Southwest Dekalb
High School is a paid
member and does not appear on the list.<span>
</span>If you have any questions about membership dues, please contact John
McClellan, GFCA Treasurer, at <span><a href="mailto:JOHN.MCCLELLAN@hcbe.net" target="_blank">JOHN.MCCLELLAN@hcbe.net</a>. Dues may be
paid at registration: please let me know if you will be doing so BEFORE
THURSDAY.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">GFCA First/Second Year
Championships and Varsity Championships-</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">The
distinction between the two tournaments seems to be confusing some.<span> </span>The tournament this weekend is for first- and
second-year competitors ONLY.<span> </span>If a
student has competitive debate experience of ANY kind before this year, they
MUST be entered in the JV division of their event.<span> </span>This was decided at the GFCA Fall Meeting by
coaches in attendance.<span> </span>Please make
necessary adjustments as soon as possible.<span>
</span>Students who actually compete in an incorrect division risk
disqualification.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Additionally,
students may compete in both tournaments provided they have met tournament
requirements: <b><u>FIRST/SECOND YEAR STATE:</u></b> Two Georgia tournaments; <b><u>VARSITY</u></b><b><u> STATE:
</u></b>Two Georgia tournaments in the SPECIFIC event PLUS placing a Georgia
tournament in that event.<span> </span>If you are
unsure whether a student has fully qualified to State, please email either
Mario Herrera at <a href="mailto:rioherrera@gmail.com" target="_blank">rioherrera@gmail.com</a>,
or GFCA Secretary Jeff Miller at <span><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:jmill126@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmill126@gmail.com</a>.
</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">Novice Policy Evidence</span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black">The Novice policy debate packet update was sent
by Vice-President Adam Smiley in early January.<span>
</span>I have also included that update.<span>
</span>If you have questions about the update, please email Adam at <a href="mailto:smiley@fultonschools.org" target="_blank">smiley@fultonschools.org</a>. </span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Collapsing Divisions</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">At this
point, some IE divisions will collapse into one division.<span> </span>State Championships will still be awarded in
all divisions and will be counted for Sweepstakes..<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Judging
Requirements/Qualifications</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Schools may
utilize juniors and seniors from their schools to meet judge requirements;
however, I prefer only college students or older for the JV divisions,
particularly in debate events.<span> </span>This is a
State Championship and as such having quality judges is important. If you are
using current students from your school, please indicate so in the “Comments”
section of the “Judges” tab on Joy of Tournaments.<span> </span>NO ERRORS IN THE STATUS OF JUDGES WILL BE
TOLERATED.<span> </span>IF YOU ARE UTILIZING STUDENT
JUDGES, INDICATE SO ON JOY OF TOURNAMENTS.<span>
</span>This State Tournament is only as good as our judge pool.<span> </span>Let’s provide these students with the best
and brightest in our community.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Prose/Poetry Rules</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Regarding
Prose/Poetry:<span> </span>Plays may NOT be used in
this event!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Public Forum and LD
Topics</span></i></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">The January/February
NFL topic for LD, <span> </span>the JANUARY topic for
Public Forum.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Policy Debate Elimination Rounds</span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Policy debate entry numbers call for an Octofinals
round.<span> </span>I am currently looking at the
schedule to determine the best way to accomplish this.<span> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Ballots/Tabulation</span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">We will have a room for ballots at the tournament.<span> </span>As soon as ballots are tabulated we will
distribute them in the ballot room.<span> </span>As
soon as all ballots in a given event are tabulated, we will post the tabulation
in that ballot room.<span> </span>This is to provide
transparency for tabulation and to catch any errors that may occur.<span> </span>Additionally, as possible, we will have a “Coaches
Challenge” at the tournament.<span> </span>This is a
time before elimination rounds are announced for coaches to triple-check
elimination round entries.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Checks/Payment</span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Checks should be made to: GFCA.<span> </span>If your schools is requiring additional
information about the organization, please contact John McClellan.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">NFL/CFL/Literary <span> </span>Information</span></i></b></span><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">In no way does qualification/membership with NFL/CFL connect
with our State Tournaments; those are separate organizations.<span> </span>While the CFL qualifier was in fact a State
Qualifier for the GFCA, neither of the NFL District Tournaments will serve as
such.<span> </span>Also, the Literary competition is
NOT associated with the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association.<span> </span>Any questions regarding that competition
should be addressed to Athletic Directors at your high school: Literary is a
GHSA sponsored competition.<span> </span>Additionally,
membership in the GFCA does not preclude other state championships and
membership in other forensic organizations.<span>
</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Special Note</span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">A very special thanks to Richard Bracknell of Carrollton High School for hosting this tournament!<span> </span>I know his students, parents and colleagues
are planning to provide a wonderful experience. Also, a BIG thanks to Claude
Robinson for his enormous work on the trophies for this tournament.<span> </span>He has spent a lot of time researching and
creating wonderful trophies. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><span> </span><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Finally, thanks to all of you for your continued support.<span> </span>The GFCA officers will soon start work on the
invite for the Varsity Tournament.<span>
</span>Registration should be up and running by the first week in March.<span> </span>Don’t forget that there are a few more
opportunities to qualify to Varsity State:<span>
</span>Alpharetta and Lee
County having their
rescheduled tournament on February 19<sup>th</sup>, and the Area Tournaments
are being planned.<span> </span>Also, we still need
to vote on electronic devices policies for that tournament.<span> </span>At times we have experienced challenges, but
this makes sense to me:<span> </span>we are forensics
coaches; engaging in such discourse is part of who we are.<span> </span>These upcoming tournaments may also lead to
discussion and questions.<span> </span>Remember that
this process is new to all of us, and there are always unexpected challenges
when new adventures are pursued.<span> </span>I will
do what I can to make things as smooth and fair for all competitors.<span> </span>With your help and diligence, I believe that
our activity will continue to be strong, competitive and fulfilling.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions you may have.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Mario Herrera</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">President</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Georgia</span></span><span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">
Forensic Coaches Association</span></span></p>