Committee Chair John Fritch called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. John Katsulas serving as acting Secretary for Frank Harrison. David Hingtsman serving as Parliamentarian. Present: David Damos as proxy for District One, Kelly McDonald as proxy for District Two, Joel Rollins for District Three, Heather Aldridge for District Four, Steve Mancuso for District Five, Edward Panetta for District Six, Michael Berry for District Seven, Scott Thomson for District Eight, Doyle Srader for District Nine, Ken Strange as AFA Eastern Representative, Ross Smith as AFA Southern Representative, Heidi Hamilton as AFA Central Representative, and Matt Taylor as AFA Western Representative

The minutes from the Utah NDT committee meeting were not available. Hence, they were not approved.

Fritch announced that no host has been found for the 2000 NDT. However, he reported that there are on-going discussions with Linda Collier of UMKC as a possible host for 2000.

the Chair announced that the American Forensic Association is seeking papers for the 1999 NCA Convention in Chicago. In celebration of the50th anniversary of the AFA, papers pertaining to the history of the organization or the work of landmark researchers are especially encouraged for submission. Proposals should be sent to Karla Leeper of Baylor University, P.O. Box 97368, Waco, TX, 76798.

A discussion took place about whether the NDT should sponsor a public relations campaign to promote NDT debate. It was reported that CEDA is planning on organizing a public relations campaign to publicize its organization. Fritch and John Gossett asked for the names of alumnus who could supply pro bono assistance for conducting a public relations campaign.

The dates for the 1999 NDT tournament at Wayne State in Detroit were announced as March 25th to March 29th, with registration and a banquet occurring on March 25th. For those schools arriving earlier, a public debate will be held sometime on Wednesday evening.

The tournament hotel will be the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan. the room rate was announced as $95 per night

Gossett proposed lowering the entry fees to $250 per team. George Ziegelmueller's ability to attract outside funding to subsidize the costs of holding the tournament is the reason for lowering the entry fees for the1999 tournament

It was announced that Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe will be available at the NDT. Approximately 60 stations will be devoted exclusively for the use of debaters. questions were raised about the availability of printing stations. It was suggested that this matter should be referred to George Ziggelmueller.

the NDT Committee unanimously approved the $250 dollar per team entry fee for 1999 NDT.

Due to a scheduling conflict, Ziegelmueller was not present Gossett reported information about the 1999 NDT at Wayne State.

Donn Parson was not present A written report from Parson was distributed to the committee. Parson made the following announcements: (1)the tournament hotel has over 400 rooms with excellent facilities for the elimination rounds on Monday, which will be held all on one floor in adjacent rooms; (2) debates at Wayne State will be held in one building (Manoogian Hall) on two floors; (3) the translation of the NDT tab room from MAC to PC continues under the direction of Rich Edwards, but it is unclear if the switch to PC will occur in 1999; (4) 25 evaluations were received on the 1998 NDT at Utah with generally positive comments.

Parson suggested the following dates for first and second round at large bid applications:

First round at large bids must be received by Committee members: February 11, 1999 (5pm, CST)

District Procedures

Second round at large bids must be received by Committee members March 4, 1999

Smith moved to adopt the dates proposed by Parson for 1st and 2nd rounds. Seconded. the dates were unanimously approved by the committee

Cheshier announced that he will complete his three year term as ranking Director, but that he is not interested in serving for another term. Cheshier estimates that producing the ranking report requires approximately 120 hours. A paper copy of thefirst ranking report for November 1998 was distributed. A discussion ensued about whether the CEDA/NDT point standings should be merged. Cheshier argued in favor of retaining a separate ranking system. He argued that the NDT ranking system served two purposes. First, it encouraged some schools to pay their NDT dues. Second, due to differences in calculating points between the CEDA and NDT rankings, Cheshier argued that the NDT ranking system generated different rankings which were beneficial to some programs.

Fritch announced new appointments to the following standing committees:

Judging philosophy Committee report ( Berry): Mike Berry announced that he will print only 78 copies of the judge philosophy booklets due to insignificant sales of the extra booklets. A discussion occurred about whether the philosophy booklets should be provided via electronic means in order to save money.

Gossett seeks input on interest in forming a special standing committees for 1) use of alumni data base by others doing research projects and 2) seeks legal advice regarding compliance with the Americans with Disability Act Several names of persons with legal expertise, including Dallas Perkins, are suggested as members.

Bid allocation Committee report (Mancuso): Steve Mancuso proposes an amendment to the standing rules regarding the reallocation of district bids in the event that teams who declare their intent to attend the district tournament fail to attend. Mancuso moved the following change be adopted to Rule 2, section B district qualification, number 5 of the Standing Rules:

By 12:00 noon FT on the Saturday of their district qualifying weekend, each District Chair shall report to the Bid Allocation Chair the actual number of debate teams competing for bids to the NDT.

the Bid Allocation Chair shall calculate a final allocation of the 46 District Bids upon receipt of the actual number of competing teams from all districts. the Bid Allocation Chair shall report the final allocation of the bids to each District Chair by 5:00 p.m. ET of the second qualifying weekend. In the event that all districts conduct their qualifying process on the first qualifying weekend, notification of the final allocation shall take place by 5:00 p.m. ET of that weekend. Seconded.

Smith proposes an amendment to add ¹¹Saturday," to the reporting deadline language. Seconded. Smith amendment passes unanimously.

Amended proposal now reads as follows:

By 12:00 noon ET on the Saturday of their district qualifying weekend, each District Chair shall report to the Bid Allocation Chair the actual number of debate teams competing for bids to the NDT.

the Bid Allocation Chair shall calculate a final allocation of the 46 District Bids upon receipt of the actual number of competing teams from all districts. the Bid Allocation Chair shall report the final allocation of the bids to each District Chair by 5:00 p.m. ET on the Saturday of the second qualifying weekend. In the event that all districts conduct their qualifying process on the first qualifying weekend, notification of the final allocation shall take place by 5:00 p.m. ET on the Saturday of that weekend. Strange calls the question. Amended proposal passes unanimously by the committee.

Fritch explains that at the last NDT committee meeting in Utah, an amendment to the NDT Standing Rule II, Participant qualification, section A, little 1, e, f, g was passed requiring schools to certify that their debaters were officially enrolled and in good standing at their college. However, the exact language of this new rule is uncertain due to the lack of minutes from the meeting. Nevertheless, Fritch passed out this copy of the revised Standing Rule II, Participant qualification, little 1, e, f, g, which he believed, resembled very closely the rule which was adopted:

Fritch expressed concerns about the new rule requiring teams to obtain a stamped seal from the Registrar, because his school (Southwest Missouri State) would never certify that first year debaters were in good standing because they lacked the requisite number of credits.

Brett O'Donnell spoke in favor of retaining some method of certification so as to be in compliance with the AFA code. Several people expressed concern with the ambiguity of the term "in good standing."

Rollins moved to amend Standing Rule II, Participant qualifications, section A, little 1 e by substituting the following language:

Smith argues that we should begin from scratch, since we don't even have an exact copy of the rule, and that the rule in question is poorly worded and redundant therefore, Smith moves to strike Standing Rule II, participant qualifications, section A, little 1, e, f, g. Seconded. the motion fails.

Fritch moves to strike only the first paragraph of Standing Rule II, participant qualifications, Section A, little 1, e. Seconded. the motion passes unanimously.

Heidi Hamilton moves the following amendment to Standing Rule II, Participant qualifications, section A, little 1.

Mancuso seconds the Hamilton amendment A vote is taken and the amendment passes unanimously.

Smith moves to amend the proposal so as to specify February 1st as the date by which one must prove that a debater is in good standing at his/her college. Mancuso seconds. the motion passes unanimously.

Smith makes a motion to strike sections f & g, which is everything but the Hamilton amendment Mancuso seconds the motion. The motion passes unanimously.

A fifteen minute break is taken to allow Mancuso and Rollins to draft a new substitute amendment which incorporates the Hamilton wording, along with providing new wording for the struck provisions.

Mancuso proposes the following substitute amendment to the Hamilton amendment Rollins seconds. the amended proposal reads:

Matt Taylor makes a motion to amend the proposal by specifying a due date for submitting the documentation. He moves to add "by the due date for second round bid applications."

The proposal with the Taylor amendment now reads:

Seconded. the motion passes unanimously.

A vote is taken on the entire amendment It passes unanimously.

Fritch asks for any new business.

Joel Rollins suggests discussing if the prohibition on serving champagne after the NDT final round should be repealed. O'Donnell and Mancuso express opposition. Due to lack of time, Fritch suggests postponing this discussion until the next meeting.

The Committee meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.