NDT Committee minutes, February 2nd, 2002
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

1) Present
District 1 John Bruscke (for Winebrenner)
District 2 Glen Frappier
District 3 Joel Rollins
District 4 Fred Sternhagen
District 5 Heidi Hamilton
District 6 Ross Smith
District 8 Dallas Perkins
District 9 Eric Mueller (for Matt Stannard)
Midwest Cate Palczewski (Chair)
South Ed Panetta
West Sarah Partlow
Eastern Gordon Mitchell

Absent
District 7 Warren Decker


2) Minutes from October 2001 meeting approved without changes

3) Report from NDT director: Parson not available for the meeting. The Committee unanimously wished him well on his end.

4) Committee Chair Report:

A) Amendment to judge eligibility.
To be discussed in new business.

B) Teams counting towards District bid allocations.

The Chair noted that the new rule in affect for 2002 allows only those teams with 18 rounds per member to count toward the number of teams competing in a District's process. However, the NDT rules are silent on the subject and it is up to each District as to whether an individual District can allow teams to enter into its District Selection Process with less than the required rounds. The Chair noted that Second Round At-Large invitations will perhaps be affected and the Committee may wish to consider these questions in the future.

C) Eligibility Forms and Report of the Parliamentarian

The Chair urged the NDT Committee members to inform others that the dates for eligibility are on the NDT home page. The Chair sadly noted that the dates listed are not in compliance with the rules. David Hingstman (Parliamentarian) handed to the members of the Committee the Report of the Parliamentarian. (see attached Report of the Parliamentarian)

Standing Rule II A 1 g (the real rule) reads that the eligibility form needs to reach the NDT Committee Chair by February 8th. However, the NDT Newsletter lists this date as March 4th. The Chair acknowledges that the changes to the rules have not been posted to the website. As such, the Chair suggests to the Committee that it follow the March 4th date but encourage program directors to abide by the February 8th date.

D) Shadow Tabroom procedures

The Chair noted that TC Winebrenner needs someone to read to him as he enters data. The Committee recommends that it needs to be someone from a school who does not have teams competing in the NDT.

The Chair noted that Parson suggests the need to keep the judge ratings/rankings secure. The Committee and audience members raised questions concerning the exact purpose of the shadow tab room. If the purpose is to run real time comparisons, then it needs to run the exact same data. Scott Deatherage noted that for pure comparison purposes that each need to use the same forms. He also raised questions as to whether using a different program might produce a different set of pairings.

The Chair asked that the following note be made to Terry: Note to Terry: Take NDT pairings and place judges.

Gordon Mitchell asked, "what is the research question?" The Chair, "Does Larson's program have a superior judge placement system? Are the judges more preferential? Ross Smith noted that the statistics have been done already.

The Committee noted the importance of keeping the results confidential until the report to the NDT Committee. It was also noted that "TC Winebrenner is not someone who would eat the stats and scurry away."

E) Web based submissions.

The Committee discussed the possibility of web based submissions of NDT tournaments, rankings, and interface for At-Large submissions. Members raised concerns over the security of the server. Bruscke remarked that such a system was possible on the Fullerton server with an auto entry link to the tournament. Individual tournaments could be uploaded from TRPC or STA. Is there a potential expense? Bruscke noted "zero". Fullerton acts as the server. Perkins raised the possibility of imbedding it into a larger, commercial, non-profit for maintenance. Perkins noted that he has a web developer very interested in this project. The Chair asked if there could be a report on generating At-Large applications out of such a system.. Bruscke agreed to report at the next NCA.

5) Board of Trustees Report.

Brett O'Donnell notes that the Newsletter needs to be updated on the fee schedule. The October Minutes were Correct but the estimate was reevaluated by the host. The correct fee schedule for the 2002 NDT is as follow:

Per Team: $200

Participant fees: $40 --includes the debaters plus 1.5 judges

Observer fees: $110

To clarify:

1 team and two judges: $200, $40, $40, $40, $40
2 teams and three judges: $400, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40
3 teams and five judges: $600, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40, $40,

O'Donnell noted the success of the badges. The Board did not lose money, nor did the host lose money at the 2001 NDT.

6) 2002 NDT (Southwest Missouri State) Tournament Host Report

John Fritch, the tournament host, said that badges would once again be enforced. He begged the Districts to do the following:
Begin taking pictures of participants at the District tournaments! He said that you could email or send him the pictures. He will have his children tape and glue the pictures to the badges.

Sodhexo Marriott will be supplying the following food services:
Banquet: Friday and Tuesday
Lunch: Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Lunch and Reception: Thursday

Tell him how many participants and observers will be coming from your school as soon as possible.

Tell him how many vegans and vegetarians will be in your party.

Travel time to campus from the Clarion is 10-15 minutes. He notes that the airline rates may have dropped for flying into Springfield.

7) Ad Hoc Committee on Hosts

Deatherage met with the committee via email and in Atlanta. Two outcomes of the meetings:
A) trying to keep an eye open for regional proximity to CEDA Nationals cite.
B) Had productive brainstorming session. Board should explore cites until 2006.

Various committee members noted the following:
SDSU may be interested in hosting mid 2000's.
West Virginia can't do it in 2003
Catholic may be interested in 2004.
Perkins raised questions about hosting document: Is on campus Lexis really a hosting requirement? Are we interested if a host can supply 42-43 rooms for only 2 days? Must the host really supply 4 banquet assistants? Perkins noted that if the Committee were more flexible on the hosting document that he was "guardedly optimistic" that we could secure hosts for the future. Smith noted that we should not be trapped into the model schedule as it currently exists.

Karla Leeper asked the Committee to have the NDT and NIET committee to get contacts for corporate sponsors to her. She will try to build a list of names for fund raising and development and will make contacts.

The Chair noted that is was the Board's purview to do fund raising. She asked Brett O'Donnell about Southworth's notion that NDT alums "tithe". Perkins noted that Southworth raised the possibility of hitting up alums for $100 a year. Concerned were raised as to whether this may interfere with individual programs raising cash.

O'Donnell noted that the fund for the 21st Century Campaign started but went awry. Some were not happy if the NDT siphoned money off that would be going to an individual school's program.

Deatherage recommended that this committee should make a recommendation to the Board of trustees that it make of strategy for endowing the tournament.

The Chair noted that in 2003 we still have no host for the NDT. Panetta said that he checked out Decatur High School, but that the dates were not compliant. Agnes Scott is willing to host, but the dates are not compliant, falling on March 14-17. Panetta wants to know if we want to pursue on complying options or should they check out non-complying dates as well.

Bill Newnam of Emory brought up two potential proposals, and noted that Emory money is tied up in bureaucratic regulations: Proposal (1): Non-compliant date alternative on Emory Campus, March 14-17. They are hopeful that renovations will be completed to Old Cox Hall, but they regret that they would not be able to serve lunches. Proposal (2) Date compliant alternative. Emory Conference Hall Center and Inn. Hotel Facility nice but very expensive.$150 per room in Conference Center, $109 per room in Emory Inn. Only 190 hotel rooms available in both locations, only 110 of those are doubles. O'Donnell noted that if we go with proposal (2) that the NDT will have to sign a contract saying that we will by all rooms and that if the committee goes with Proposal (20 that is would require that each school must reserve two rooms in the hotel. Deatherage noted that the facility is well suited for the NDT. Issue, should the Committee entertain a non-compliant date for tournament bids? He noted that the non-compliant dates fell directly on quarter system school's exams, particularly Northwestern's and Dartmouth's. Most of the Committee seemed pleased by this news.

The Committee Recommended that Newnam and the Ad-hoc committee explore the options in this order: (1) the conference center; (2) compliant dates campus; (3) non-compliant dates campus; (4) non-compliant Agnes Scott College.

8) Standing Committee Reports

A) Judge Philosophy Book Committee: The Chair noted that the Committee was not in compliance by having only Mike Berry on his committee. Frappier and Rollins were added.
B) District Bid Allocation Committee: Partlow was added to the committee already consisting of Hamilton and Palczewski.

Heidi Hamilton released the following dates for the 2002 NDT process:

Tuesday February 12, 2002: Declaration of Intent to Attend Districts---by 5:00 PM CST
Sphamilton@augustana.edu
309-794-7717
Announcement of district bids February 13, 2002

Feb 15-17: 1st District Weekend by 5:00 PM Saturday

Sphamilton@augustana.edu
563-386-7941 (home): If Heidi is not home, leave a message. No announcement concerning redistribution of bids will occur until after the second weekend of District Tournaments.

February 22-24: Second District Weekend by start of round 1.
District Chairs will not be able to email this information.
309-794-7717 (Friday morning, still in her office)
563-343-8770 (cell for daytime--she warned it may be turned off if judging)
309-454-4070 (Best Western at night)
She said that she will post to the listserve on Saturday abut any redistribution that were necessary.
**She needs contact information from everyone, in case someone forgets to call.

C) Appeals Committee: Frappier and Rollins were added to a committee already with Partlow, Smith and Perkins.
D) Tournament Procedure Committee: no news.

Committee Recessed at 1:00 PM and reconvened at 1:45

9) Old Business

Hingstman noted that Idaho State University followed the procedure for a district change. Mueller for Stannard said that Stannard supports the move. Frappier prefers that an individual school exemption be granted. Partlow shows a map with proposed redistricted lines.
Perkins moves that the lines be redrawn as requested; Frappier second. Passed unanimously, the change goes into effect next year.

10) New Business

A) NDT Representative to the CEDA Topic Committee

The person sleeted will need to be active for this summer. The standing rules still have the old topic procedures within it. O'Donnell stresses that we not expunge those old rules. O'Donnell also noted that the NDT Board would pay reasonable expenses for a NDT representative to attend CEDA Topic Meetings (transportation, hotel, meals).

Ross Smith moved and Perkins seconded the following motion to make Rule VIII A 3 c:
The Director of the Topic Selection Committee shall serve as NDT representative to the CEDA Topic Selection Committee in cases where such a position is made available by CEDA.

The Rule passed with Rollins and Frappier abstaining.

The Chair noted that she will email the listserve asking for nominations to the Topic Committee.

B) Judging Qualifications:

Cate Palczewski (Chair) noted that for the sake of clarity the Committee may wish to amend "Rule III: National Tournament Judges". Sarah Partlow offered the following clarification to Rule III a 1, seconded by Bruscke,
1. must hold a baccalaureate degree, or be willing to waive eligibility for participation at the NDT in the future, or have no remaining eligibility.
Perkins disagreed with the motion at first but relented when he found that Andy Ryan would not be eligible to judge at th2 2002 NDT and perhaps be eligible to debate again. Perkins moved to vote, seconded by Bruscke, The Committee passed the change unanimously.

C) Point Proposal

Jim Hanson (not in attendance) proposed some changes in the NDT point system for next year. O'Donnell noted that the last time the system changed was at the Utah NDT. The Chair requested that O'Donnell send to Hansen and the Committee the most updated collection of the rules.

Ross Smith moved that Change One be adopted: Frappier Seconded. The Vote was Unanimous.

Change One: official reports should be issued December 15 and April 15 instead of November, February and April.

The Chair asks for a report back on Change Two.

Sternhagen moved that Change Three be adopted. Smith seconds. It was accepted with Rollins and Perkins voting no.

Change Three: the first elimination round that qualifies for points for all of the participating teams must consist of no more than half of the teams in that division of the tournament. If an elimination round consists of more than half of the participating teams, points for that elimination round will only be counted for teams that were among the top half of the prelim round contestants (e.g. teams 1 through 30 of a bi-octas round in a 60 team division.

D) The High School Question

Panetta wants to solicit from the districts input on making rule IV F 7 more restrictive, so that High School students would not be coerced into working for college programs at the NDT and thereby missing high school classes. Many thought that this should be a parental and school issue. O'Donnell noted that High Schoolers created the greatest problem in badge enforcement.

All agreed to put this on the agenda for the next meeting.

E) The Chair reminded the Committee of the need to solicit nominations for the NDT Topic Committee. She threatened to send rude emails if nominations were not forthcoming.

F) Adjourned at 2:50 PM

Submitted by Joel Rollins, NDT Secretary, February 6, 2002.