Hello All,

 

It is my pleasure to invite you to the AFA District V Qualifier which will be held on Saturday, March 9, on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Thank you so much to Judy Santacaterina and her staff for hosting! I encourage you to attend this tournament as either an AFA qualifier, an NFA qualifier, or as an excellent opportunity to see good competition and support the teams of District V! BOOK HOTELS ASAP

 

Please note that there are many changes regarding this year's AFA-NIET, and I am requesting your reply as soon as possible.  Thank you in advance!

 

ENTRY DEADLINE:

 

Entries are due at 5:00 p.m., CST, Tuesday, March 5th. Please enter using the Speechwire website.  All fees will be assessed at noon on Wednesday, March 6th. Please remember that each school may enter up to five competitors in each of the eleven events.

 

ENTRY FEES:

 

In an effort to keep tournament costs to a minimum, each slot will cost $5.00. Each uncovered slot will cost $10.00 (to cover hired judge fees). Each judge covers 6 slots. Student drops after noon, Wednesday, March 6th will be $10.00. Judge drops will be $25.00. Student drops at registration will be $20.00 and judge drops will be $75.00.

 

PATTERNS:

 

Each student may enter up to two events per pattern.

 

A: Impromptu, Informative, Prose

 

B: Duo, Extemp, Persuasion, POI

 

C: Comm. Analysis, DI, After-Dinner, Poetry

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because the tournament has been condensed to one day, it will actually run with TWO patterns. We will condense the patterns listed above into two flights, attempting to minimize the number of quadruple-entered competitors.

 

 

I hope that you will be able to attend the District V Qualifier. Even if your team is not planning on attending the AFA-NIET, I encourage you to attend and support your colleagues. For those of you who are NFA-only, remember you can earn NFA qualifications at the District tournament. It can be a challenge to get enough schools for our District tournament, so I would encourage you to please make every effort to send students.

 

Please remember that Title IX training must be completed for all competitors and judges attending the AFA-NIET.  The class can be completed through the AFA-NIET course (see the note below) or through your institution.  If completed by your institution, please submit those forms to me by or no later than at the District tournament.  This will ensure a smooth process of verification by the NIET committee in a timely manner.  Below is the reminder from Title IX Coordinator, Kittie Grace:  

 

"The Sexual Harassment Education Training Course is now ready. In order to be added to the Canvas class I need the name and email address of those who need the course.

 

Email me each student/judge/coach/staff person's full name and email address (sent to:  kgrace@hastings.edu). I will enlist them in the course and they will have to sign up for Canvas and enter the class. It is free to sign up.  

 

Participants must spend at least 25 minutes in the course and receive 80% or better on the quiz in order to receive credit. Please plan to complete the course by March 11th for consideration to compete/judge/help at the AFA-NIET 2019.

 

All students, judges and those helping at the AFA-NIET are required to have training. Please plan accordingly. 

 

If your institution provides training, please use the form here and get the form to your District Chair at your district tournament or at the latest by Monday March 11th. 

https://docs.google.com/a/hastings.edu/document/d/1uPi0ENkKQzYjD5wrIzV3hSIaXj0KrZ6OZKyDcF1kCoo/mobilebasic   

 

District Chairs, when you receive forms, please scan them and send them to me.

 

Thanks all for helping to make our community safer."

 

Also, you must submit your At-Large Qualification Leg Form (IT IS NEW), Student Verification Form, and any All-American nominations (PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE CHANGES/A NEW FORM:  award criteria can be found at http://www.afa-niet.org) by the District tournament.

 

2. Go to "file" and "Make a Copy" of the form. 

3. Re-Name the form, include your school name when you re-name it (ie. AFA-NIET At-Large Form-HC2019)

4. In the re-named form, name each "sheet" a student on your team and fill in their qualifying information. Make more sheets if needed so each student has their own. Make sure to include the last names of duo partners.

5. Save the form and share it with your District chair

 

I sent an email with the much of this information including the AFA-NIET invitation, but please don't hesitate to let me know if you need something or have questions. 

 

Lastly, PLEASE EMAIL ME with answers to the following questions:

 

1.  Do you plan to attend the March 9 District tournament (and the AFA-NIET)? 

2. Given the AFA-NIET schedule change (competition is now Friday-Sunday with District meetings and Opening Assembly taking place on Thursday evening--please see my previous email with a message from Tournament Director, Dave Gaer), when does your team plan to arrive in Alabama?  I am in the process of scheduling our District meeting at the AFA-NIET for Thursday evening.

 

Hope to see you on March 9th in DeKalb, IL!

 

John Stanley, Chair

 

AFA District V

 

(vr)