The SMSU Forensics Team and the Minnesota Mu Chapter of Pi Kappa Delta cordially invite you and your students to attend the SMSU Invitational Speech Tournament on March 22, 2014.  The SMSU Speech team is excited to host you on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University and we are confident you and your students will have a positive educational experience.

As we do every year, the contest will offer three preliminary rounds and a final round of competition in each event.  The finalists in each category will receive awards and the top three teams in two divisions will earn sweepstakes trophies.  In addition, the top three Junior High competitors will be recognized in each category, so be sure to bring your younger competitors along.  This year we will again be using SpeechWire online tournament management for the contest.  We prefer that you enter your students via this website but if you'd like you can send your tournament entry directly to me (Mark Fokken) by e-mail and I will enter it into the system for you.

The deadline for entries is 5:00pm on Monday, March 17, 2014.  The information below and posted here on SpeechWire should answer most of the questions you might have about the tournament.  If you have additional questions, please contact me at mark.fokken@smsu.edu.  Good luck with the speech season; we look forward to seeing you in March!!
 

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Important Tournament Information:

Registration:  Registration will be from 8:15-9:00am in the second floor lobby of Charter Hall (just outside Charter Hall room 201).  

Foodservice:  There will be a concession stand available with the normal food and beverages near the registration area.  SMSU campus foodservice will also have food and beverage options.

Awards:  Awards will be given to the finalists in each of the 13 Minnesota State High School League events.  Additionally, ribbons will be presented to the top 3 Junior High competitors in each event.  Ribbons of excellence will be given to those students who rank high but do not receive finalist honors.  Team Sweepstakes trophies will be awarded to the top 3 schools in two divisions; limited entry and unlimited entry.  The break between limited and unlimited will be at the largest natural break between numbers of total entries.

Entries: 

Fees:  Each school will be assessed a fee of $6.50 for each individual event/slot entered at the tournament.  Duos will be charged for each student in the Duo ($13.00 total).   Make all checks payable to Mark A. Fokken/SMSU Forensics. 

Double Entries:  Students WILL be allowed to double enter at the tournament.  Please consider double entries carefully – be sure the students can handle getting from room to room.  We will not hold up the competition to accommodate double entered students. 

Deadlines:  Entries MUST be received by 5:00pm on Monday, March 17, 2014.  Minor changes in entries may be made up until the tournament registration, but please contact us as early as possible with any changes.  There may be no additions at the time of registration.  Drops will be permitted, but fees will be assessed according to your entry as it stands at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 19^th.  If your entry decreases after this time, you will still be responsible for the same number of fees and judges on your original entry.  Your cooperation will help the tournament run smoothly and will also be greatly appreciated.  All entries will be confirmed via fax or e-mail—do not assume you have entered until you receive a confirmation.  Please be sure to include a fax number even if you send your entry by e-mail.

Junior High Competitor Recognition:  Be sure to denote any junior high competitors on your entry.  Junior high shall be any student in grade 9 or lower. 

Judges:  All schools are required to bring one judge for every 6 slots that they enter in the tournament.  Hired judges are available in a limited quantity.  Contact Mark Fokken at SMSU to see about availability. 

Method of Entry:  Regisration through the SpeechWire website is the preferred method of entry.  If you prefer to e-mail your entry you may do so and we will input it into SpeechWire.  E-mail us with a request for a form or create your own and send it to mark.fokken@smsu.edu.  If you prefer, you may FAX your entries to (507)537-7014,  Attention:  Mark A. Fokken/High School Speech Tournament.  All entries will be confirmed via e-mail or fax.  Be sure to denote Junior High students (9th grade and lower) on your entry.

Discussion Tasks:  We will follow the suggestion of the MSHSL discussion outline and generate tasks for the tournament based on the third section of the discussion outline.  This section deals with Economic Issues  of "U.S. Infrastructure Challenges in the 21st Centry" and will also serve as the Subsection focus.

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Tentative Tournament Schedule:

                8:15-9:00am........... Registration, Charter Hall 201 Lobby

                        9:00am........... Draw Round I, all draw events

                        9:30am........... Round I, All Events

                      10:30am........... Draw Round II, all draw events

                      11:00am........... Round II, All Events

                      12:15pm........... Round III, All Events (Extemp. Speakers, Readers and

            ........... Storytellers may use selection drawn in Round I or Round II)

2:00pm........... Draw for Finals

2:15pm........... Finals, All Non-Draw Events  

2:30pm........... Finals, Extemp. Speaking & Reading and Storytelling

4:15pm(approx)........... Results/Awards

 

Facilities Note:  Unlike most high school competitions, we will be using multiple buildings throughout our campus.  Thankfully, all our buildings are connected; but you should be prepared to do a little walking.  A map of the campus is accessible through the SMSU Website at www.smsu.edu. J

 

Parking:  Please park in the large lots  (labeled “B”) to the East of the campus. 

 

If you are not comfortable using SpeechWire, please email me at mark.fokken@smsu.edu and I will send you a form to use to submit your entry (or you can make your own form and e-mail it to me).

 

(vr)