4 January 2008

Dear KESDA Coach,

You are cordially invited to participate in the Nineteenth Annual KESDA Junior Forum, February 21-23, 2008.  The Forum will be held at the Holiday Inn-North in Lexington.

One of the purposes of KESDA is to provide middle, junior, and senior high students a competitive arena where they can apply the effective communication skills that they are taught in the classroom and in your coaching sessions.  You’ve worked hard all year, and the Junior Forum is the ideal place for your entire team to share their best work with judges and competitors from across the state.

There are several highlights of this Forum which will provide your students with both an educational opportunity and an enjoyable weekend of competition and interaction with other schools.

·                 A school may enter as many entries in each event as desired.  A given student may enter a maximum of 4 regular events but cannot do more than 2 events in any given Flight-Group A, Group B and/or Group C.  Students may enter group interpretation in addition to the maximum of 4 events for a total of 5 events.

·                 The experimental event is Group Interpretation.  Schools are limited to two groups/school.

·Individual awards will be presented for 1st-6th Place in each event.  First-Sixth schools will be recognized for Sweepstakes and Trithon. Sweepstakes points will only be awarded to the top three students in each event.  Up to three awards will be given for the small-school “Greynolds Sweepstakes.”  To be eligible, schools can have no more than 20 entries.  In addition, this year KESDA will recognize the top novice in each event who does not advance to the final round.   

·                 $200 Savings Bonds will be purchased for the 1^st  place student(s) in each event.

·There will be a dance on Friday evening, open to all competitors.

·The Awards Banquet will be on Saturday evening.

·The Forum will be held at the Holiday Inn-North in Lexington.  We will use motel rooms for the preliminary rounds.  Each school will be assigned their motel rooms and some of those rooms will be used during the first three rounds.  Each school will have a minimum of one "safe room." Safe rooms will not be used for competition so that you can keep valuables in there or simply use this room as a gathering spot for your students between rounds.  The safe room(s) must be indicated on the rooming list and the people sleeping in that room(s) cannot be changed unless the motel is so notified.**Each school will be entitled to one late Saturday checkout room per five rooms rented.  However, these rooms must be so labeled on the individual rooming list provided to the motel.  Changes CANNOT be made during the tournament.  Late check out is 5:00 p.m.  From 5:00 until 6:30 p.m., 1/2 day rate will be charged.    

There are several rules changes and other important information attached.  We hope that you will consider this your personal invitation to join us February 21-23 in Lexington.

We look forward to seeing you at the KESDA Junior Forum.

Sincerely,

Dr. Edward B. Smith & Betsy B. Smith

Dr. Edward B. Smith and Betsy B. Smith

Executive Directors, KESDA

Georgetown College, 400 East College Street, Georgetown, KY 40324

1-502-863-8042; Ed_Smith@georgetowncollege.edu; edwardbetsy@bellsouth.net

ENTRIES:  A student may enter no more than two events in each flight. Each student may enter a maximum of 4 events, or 5 events if the student is also competing in group interp.

FEES:  $5.00 per entry.  $10.00 per Duo Acting and Improvisational Pairs.  $5.00 per student in each group interpretation team.

JUDGES:  Schools must supply one judge for every 6 entries or portion thereof.  There will be a $5.00 judge fee per uncovered entry.  For example, if the entry form contains 35 entries and you have 4 judges, your school is covering 24 entries with your judges.  Therefore, your school would have 11 uncovered entries. (35-24=11)  Since the fee is $5.00 per uncovered entry, your school's fee would be $55.00.  Duet Acting and Improvisational Pairs count once in terms of computing the number of judges needed and twice for entry fees.

Coaches must fill out the judge training certification sheet and submit it at registration.

A drop fee of $50.00 per judge dropped after 20 February 2008 will be assessed.   Substitutions may be made.

Stand-by Judges:  Stand-by judges must remain in the judges’ area until all sections have been covered and announced by tournament director.  Schools will be assessed a $10.00 penalty per section for each stand-by judge who is not available when called.

Each school will be required to submit a $50.00 judge bond along with their tournament registration.  $10.00 will be deducted from the bond if the school has a "no show" judge for a round.  The remaining bond amount will be given back to the coach at the conclusion of the tournament.  A judge will not be considered a "no show" if they are held up in a round that is running late.

AWARDS:  Awards will be presented to 1st-6th in individual events. First-Sixth Place schools will be recognized for Sweepstakes.  The top three entries, in each event, from each school will count toward sweepstakes throughout the Forum.  If you enter more than three, only the top three will count toward your sweepstakes points but all are eligible for individual awards.

TRITHON AWARD:  Students may enter a maximum of 4 events; five if competing in Group Interp.  However, they may not enter more than two events in each Flight.  To compete, students must enter one event in each of the following areas.  Each student must designate before the tournament, which events will count toward the Trithon Award:

Original Prepared Speaking: Public Speaking and Declamation 

Interpretation: Prose, Poetry, Solo Acting, Duet Acting, Storytelling, Interpretation of Literature, Group Interp

Limited Prep: Broadcasting, Extemp, Improvisational Pairs, Impromptu

DEADLINE:  This year’s Forum registration will be on-line.  We will be using the “Joy of Tournaments” as the software for registration, scheduling and tabulation.  The website—www.joyoftournaments.com--should be up and ready for entries no later than February 2, 2008.  Once the website is live, the website address will be announced to all member schools via e-mail.  Deadline for entries is 15 February 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Since the prelim rounds of the Forum will be held in the motel rooms, schools traveling to Lexington will stay in the Holiday Inn-North.  We have received a special rate of $67 per room.  (Be sure to bring your tax exempt certificate to save the state tax. You will, however, be charged a 13.46% city tax for an approximate total of $76.02.)  The hotel is a beautiful facility with large rooms and warm southern hospitality.  If you wish to come in on Wednesday, or stay over on Saturday, you may do so at the same rate.  Please be sure to make your reservations as soon as possible and send a rooming list for both your students and adults to the hotel.  You will also need to send a copy of the rooming list to us with your entry form.  Please note that students cannot be reassigned to different rooms from those indicated on the rooming list that you provided to the motel.  We had some parents upset in the past due to the fact that their child was not in the room assigned on the school's rooming list and the front desk could not find the coach.  So, help us by keeping the rooming list in force!  The deadline for your rooming list reaching the hotel is 12 February 2008.   The rooming list should be directed to:

            Reservations Manager, 1950 Newton Pike, Holiday Inn-North, Lexington, KY  40511

            Phone:  859-233-0512, Fax:  859-231-9285

We have reserved a maximum number of rooms.  Once we have reservations for that number of rooms, schools will need reservations at another motel and will have to commute.  So, be sure to make your reservations early.

Identification:  Due to security concerns at the hotel and for easy identification of Forum participants by KESDA and hotel personnel, ALL tournament participants (contestants, coaches, judges, and chaperones) will be issued a KESDA name tag.  This identification is to be worn at all times during the Forum. Contestants will not be allowed to compete without the identification being displayed.  This id will allow the student entrance to the dance.  Replacement ids cost $5.00 each and will be sold only to the head coach of that team member.  All Judges should wear their identification while judging. 

MEALS:  Meals are on your own except for the final activity of the Forum, which is an Awards Banquet on Saturday Evening.  The banquet is $12.00.  Refunds for cancellations will not be possible after 12 February 2008.

CHAPERONES AT THE DANCE:   We are asking that each school provide a minimum of two chaperones at the dance.  If a school is only bringing one coach or chaperone, please let us know and we’ll make other arrangements.  Chaperones will be stationed at every entrance to the Balloon for the dance.  They will check to make sure that all dance participants have proper identification, mingle throughout the Ballroom, and monitor the outside doors as well.  Please advise your students that if they are not at the dance, they must be in the pool area or in their rooms with adult supervision.  Chaperones will check for KESDA ID at the door.  Chaperones will meet 10 minutes before the beginning of the dance.

REGISTRATION PROCEDURES:  As mentioned above, registration for the Junior Forum will be on-line at www.joyoftournaments.com.  The website will be available after 8 February 2008 to all member schools.  Instructions will be included.  Your entry, judging fees, and banquet fees should be forwarded after you register you students on-line.  There is a “Financial Statement” at the end of this invitation that can be used to calculate your fees and returned with your check, prior to registration, if you like.   Your check for motel accommodations will be processed by Holiday Inn-North – it needs to be a separate check.

ALL MANUSCRIPTS DUE:  Manuscripts of original speeches must be submitted no later than the on site registration for the Forum or the contestant will not be eligible for competition in that event(s).  The manuscript must have a cover page stating that the speech is the original work of the student and must bear the signatures of both the student and the coach.  Manuscripts will be held on file in the KESDA office for five years.  Coaches may submit manuscripts via email as attached Word Documents up to 19 February. The cover page with signatures must still come in hardcopy form to Registration. 

***NOTE***COACHES MUST ALSO BRING A HARD COPY OF THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT OF ALL EVENTS EXCEPT EXTEMP, IMPROMPTU, IMPROV PAIRS & BROADCASTING.  This can either be a photocopy from the original, or the actual book the material was drawn from.

DROPS:  Drops after 5:00 pm, 15 February 2008 will result in a drop fee of $10.00 per drop in individual events.  Drops after Wednesday, 20 February at 4:00 p.m. will be assessed a $25 charge per drop.  Judges dropped after 19 February will be assessed a $50.00 drop fee. Schools will be charged a $5.00 per change nuisance fee if any name changes/substitutions are made after Wednesday at 5 pm prior to the start of the tournament.

KESDA Junior Forum Schedule

Thursday 21 February 2008    Team rooms blocks will be available after 2:30 pm

1:00-4:00 p.m.             Registration & Judge Sign-In—Pre-function area/Holiday Inn-North

6:00                 Opening Assembly—STUDENTS, COACHES AND JUDGES

7:00                 Round 1—Flight A (Prose, Interp of Lit, Broadcasting, Solo)

8:00                 Extemp Draw (Claiborne)

8:30                 Round 1—Flight B (Extemp, Poetry, Declamation, Improv Pairs)

9:15                 Group Interp Round 1

11:30               Curfew

Friday 22 February 2008

7:30 a.m.          Continental breakfast for judges begins, Judge Sign-In

8:00                 Round 1—Flight C (Storytelling, Public Speaking, Duet Acting, Impromptu)

9:30                 Round 2—Flight A

10:30               Extemp Draw (Claiborne)

11:00               Round 2—Flight B

1:30                 Round 2—Flight C

2:30                 Broadcasting Draw (Claiborne)

3:00                 Round 3—Flight A

4:00                 Extemp Draw (Claiborne)

4:30                 Round 3—Flight B

6:00                 Round 3—Flight C

7:00                 Group Interp Round 2

9:00                 Dance 

10:30               Quarterfinalists and Semifinalists posted (Semi’s for events w/out Quarterfinals)

12:00am           Curfew

Saturday 23 February 2008

7:30 a.m.          Continental breakfast for judges begins; Judge Sign-In

8:00                 Broadcasting Draw—Quarters

                        Group Interp Round 3

8:30                 Quarterfinals—for all events with 60 or more entries

10:00               Broadcasting Draw for Semifinals

10:30               Semifinals— Duet Acting, Interp of Lit, Broadcasting, Solo, Declamation, Public Speaking

12:00               Extemp Draw for Semifinals, Final Round of Group Interp

12:30               Semifinals—Extemp, Poetry, Storytelling, Improv Pairs, Prose, Impromptu

1:30                 Broadcasting Draw for Finals

2:00                 Finals-- Duet Acting, Interp of Lit, Broadcasting, Solo, Declamation, Public Speaking

3:00                 Extemp Draw for Finals

3:30                 Finals-- Extemp, Poetry, Storytelling, Improv Pairs, Prose, Impromptu

6:00                 Banquet and Awards

Certification of Judge Training

Coaches need to read and sign the following statement and bring it to the KESDA Forum.  Any questions about judge qualification and training should be sent to the KESDA Directors.

As a head coach, I realize the importance of bringing only qualified judges to the  KESDA forum.  My signature on this document confirms that each judge my team is bringing to the 2008 KESDA Junior Forum has been trained to participate fully.  Every judge traveling with me is qualified to judge any event offered at the forum.  Rules and regulations have been read and understood by each judge.

  Head coach’s signature:_____________________________ Date:__________

2008 JUNIOR FORUM FINANCIAL STATEMENT

SCHOOL                                                                                           CODE                                   

A. ENTRY FEES:

Number of entries                                                                                         X $5.00 = $                          

Number of Trithon entries                                                                             X $5.00 = $                          

Students must participate in at least 3 events including at least one event in each of the following events: 

Original Prepared Speaking: Public Speaking and Declamation 

Interpretation: Prose, Poetry, Solo Acting, Duet Acting, Storytelling, Interp of Literature

Limited Prep: Broadcasting, Extemp, Improv Pairs, Impromptu

B. JUDGING FEES:

# of Judges supplied=          X 6 =              (covered slots)

Total # entries =                      - (covered slots)                  =          (number of uncoverd entries)

Judging: Number of uncovered entries                                                       X $5= $                                

(Remember, one judge for every 6 entries or portion thereof. Duet Acting and Improv Pairs count twice in fee computation but only once in judges needed.)

C. BANQUET TICKETS:                                                                             X $12=$                                 

SUB‑TOTAL DUE (when registration is submitted):                                           $                                

ENTRY DROPS OR ADDS (after the Feb. 16 deadline):            drops X $10 = $                               

JUDGE DROPS (after the deadline):                                             drops X $50 = $                               

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE:                                                                                            $                              

Amount paid initially:                                $                      check #                    

Amount paid at registration: $                     check #                       Cash amount:  $                               

Balance due (if any): $                                 

SUMMARY: PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING.

Total number of students attending:                                                           

Total number of adults attending:                                                               

Total number of Trithon competitors                                                          

NOTE: February 15, 2008 is the deadline for all final registration information reaching us. A $10 or $25 drop fee for entries and $50 drop fee for judges will go into effect after this date. 

2008 Junior Division Rooming List  Holiday Inn-North

SCHOOL                                                                    COACH                                                                                

ADDRESS                                                                   CITY                                                  ZIP                            

PHONE                                   FAX                           EMAIL                                                                                  

RESERVATIONS FOR          Feb 20             Feb 21             Feb 22             TAX EXEMPT #                                

FAX ROOMING LIST TO:  HOLIDAY INN-NORTH, RESERVATIONS, 859-231-9285

PAGE 2—ROOMING LIST                                                                           HOLIDAY INN-NORTH