Opportunity

On Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, Normandale Community College in Bloomington is hosting a Twin Cities Forensics League College Speech tournament. Rounds are at 3:00, 4:15, and 6:30. This is an excellent opportunity for you to gain more exposure to speaking and perhaps steal topics/pieces (they're college, you're HS!).

Have fun!

Tournament Morning Procedure (For Novices)

Hey new speechers! It was brought to my attention you probably don't know the "protocol" for tournament mornings. You're handbook (which you should re-read before Saturday, by the way) starts with riding the bus. Well, where will that bus be?

The school building is locked on most Saturday mornings, so it is best to wait in your car until the bus has arrived (if you're early). The bus will pick us up in the UPPER PARKING LOT (the teacher lot), because then we have a shorter distance to walk from our cars to the bus (it's gonna be COLD!!!). To recap:
1. Be on time.
2. Wait in car so you don't freeze.
3. UPPER PARKING LOT
4. Call Heinis' cell (952-451-7976) BEFORE 10 PM FRIDAY OR AFTER 5 AM SATURDAY if you are not going to be on the bus.

Eden Prairie, Jan. 30

Roster of students attending:
Barrett, Abbie –OO only
Batz, Anna- Prose
Branch, Ashley- OO
Braun, Luke- Creative
Carson, Charlie- OO
Cole, Mike- Info
England-Sullivan, Christian- Humor
Heintze, Hannah- Disco
John, Leema- Extemp
Jones, Anesha- Humor
Keller, Joan- Disco
Kimmel, Kaitlyn- Great speech
Kunkel, Adam- Creative and OO
Lane, Audrey- Info
Marian, Evan- Great speeches
Monsalve, Diego- Creative
O'brien, Grace- Great speeches
Peton, Maddy- Poetry and Drama
Pospisil, Jenica- Drama
Roberts, Mallory- Drama
Ryan, Jack- Extemp
Schilz, Ashley- OO
Schrafft, Meagan- Prose
Slinger, Dylan- Extemp
Slinger, Samy- Infor
Steinkamp, Jeff- Storytelling
Sweere, Lisa- Info
Zeru, Meron- Disco

Leave time: 7:05
Draw time: 8:15

Awards are scheduled to start at 4:30, so we'll be headed back on the bus at about 5:15 (if all runs on time).

SEE YOU THEN! (See me with questions.)

TEAM WORKSHOP

In case anyone checks this before after school, it seems many have forgotten about our team workshop TODAY Friday, Jan. 15th from 3-8. This is in your handbook and on your schedule. PLEASE be here.

Disco Topic for 19 Jan

You are a team of NASA administrators who need to present to Congress a strategic roadmap for the future. Because funding is tight and the political will to explore space has weakened, your roadmap has to be compelling. For this presentation, you need to do two things. (1) You need to identify and outline big-picture changes that have taken place relative to space exploration and (2) identify possible partners that NASA could work with to develop further exploration activities.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1543/1

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/AWAIT122109.xml&headline=NASA%20Ponders%20Post-Shuttle%20Reorganization

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126135372896199409.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1537/1

Extemp Practice Times

Our normal practice schedule is Thurs and Friday at 6PM.

On Monday's I meet with the Disco peeps at 6PM and you are welcome to come to print/read/file during that time, but I don't have anything formally planned for Mondays.

Because of State Debate, we will practice only on Thursday the week of Jan 11.

Disco Practice for 11 January

You are a members of a blue-ribbon commission convened to evaluate NASA's quest to send a manned mission to Mars. Your goal is to answer this question: "Is it worth it?" In other words, are the benefits of a manned trip to Mars worth great enough to justify the costs. When considering costs, you should evaluate not only the overall expenditures for the mission, but how those funds might be better used and the impact this amount of spending would have on other NASA programs. You should directly answer this question and develop a list of justifications for your answer.

Have fun!

MSU Workshop-Jan. 23

To be clear, because the Marshall overnight tournament was cancelled and everyone will be going to EP, the MSU workshop is no longer required for anyone. The MSU workshop is 100% optional, but it would be very helpful, especially for novices, to attend. The workshop is entirely your responsibility as well: you must register, pay, and get yourself there. Registration is due Wednesday, Jan. 13th. Email MSU Asst. Director of Forensics, James Dimock at james.dimock@mnsu.edu to register.

Reminders

1. Several of you still need to get forms in. PLEASE DO SO IMMEDIATELY!!!
2. Don't forget that our first tournament (on Jan. 30) is also solo/ensemble. If you are in band/choir, you need to let me know you won't be at this tournament. Otherwise, you'll be charged the $20 drop fee.
3. Please, please, please don't use my cell phone number unless it's a real emergency. Three times over break people texted or called me without GOOD reason (they have already been spoken to :-)). If you can email me, do. If it can wait, wait. My cell number was given out for tournament day emergencies (ie-sick and not coming, 5 min. late to bus, etc.) ONLY!!! Plus, I do NOT have unlimited texting.