Fall 1998 Business Meeting Minutes
NPDA Business Meeting, Friday, Nov. 20, 1998
Murray Hill Suite, New York Hilton, 2:45 p.m.
Reports:
President-Robert Trapp reported that things were running smoothly in his office.
Treasurer-Brent Northup reported that we are into the safe zone in terms of finances and that detailed reports are available from him regarding finances.
Executive Secretary-Renea Gernant thanked all those who have gotten results to her. Only a few schools need to get information to her. Those are being posted regularly on the listserv. She asked for assistance with webpage. Michael Dreher agreed to help keep the pages up to date. Thus, new information on the web is printed at the end of these minutes.
Student Rep-Jesse Gnehm introduced himself.
Nominating committee-The nominations for treasurer include Brent Northup and for president include Skip Rutledge and Dan West.
Site report-Announcements about limitations this year will be dealt with later. Creighton submitted a bid for 2000 on Mar 9-12. There would be 110 rooms, slightly more than at Pt. Loma. Creighton had an extensive presentation. Those with questions should contact Marty Birkholt or members of the executive council.
Old Business:
By-law amendment on sexual harassment was discussed. Bob noted that recent legislation had made the need for the policy pressing. The group passed the by-law (contingent upon examination by paid legal counsel) with minor changes all accepted as friendly amendments. Under section I, A, the comma and words, "discriminatory speech" were deleted. Under Section 2, B, 1 following the first "If"...the phrase the "harassed believes" was added. In Section 2, C, 1 a typo was corrected to make the word "formal" into "informal." Under 2, C, 3, d, the phrase "and not released unless required by law" was added after "president."
New Business:
--An amendment to the tournament rules section 3 to prohibit coaching during prep--presented by Trischa Knapp--failed. The vote was 8 for and 17 against.
--An amendment which stated "Published materials (dictionaries, magazines and electronically gathered resources, et al) may not be consulted before the debate in prep time (excluding the NPDA constitution)," was introduced to be added to section 3 of the tournament rules, seconded and tabled definitely until the March meeting.
--The NPDA tournament rules were then passed unanimously.
--Tournament operating procedures were amended to delete the phrase "until the maximum number of teams that can be accommodated by the host are entered" from II, D. In its stead a clause was added (by a 15-8 vote) stating that once it is impossible to complete a movement through the list and accommodate at the tournament site the total number of applicants for slots in the tournament, the tournament director will return to the top of the list and count the number of teams to that point. The director will then subtract that number from the total number of slots possible for the tournament. That number of teams will then be selected randomly from a pool consisting of one team from each school still applying for slots.
--With that change, the group moved, seconded and passed, unanimously, the tournament operating procedures.
--The group moved, seconded and passed a memorandum of understanding between the NPDA and the AFA, shown below as "attachment."
--A constitutional amendment to prohibit coaching was submitted by former student representative Joe Gantt. The amendment was moved, seconded and failed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:40.
Attachment: Memorandum of Understanding Between the NPDA and AFA:
Whereas the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) and the American Forensic Association (AFA) share common interest in promoting intercollegiate debate, and
Whereas, these common interests include a joint affirmation of the educational value of research-based intercollegiate debate, and our service efforts in support of the professional and scholarly development of debate educators and students, and
Whereas, NPDA and AFA recognize each other as independent organizations while affirming the benefits of cooperation,
NPDA and AFA, therefore, sanction the following provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding for affiliate status as specified in the AFA Bylaws Section VIII:
1. The AFA will provide appropriate informational and promotional support for the competitive activities of the NPDA, and other services provided to affiliate organizations through the AFA National Office.
2. Consistent with the NPDA Constitution, NPDA Executive Council members should be AFA members and NPDA will encourage its members to join AFA,
3. NPDA and AFA will work toward cooperative undertakings for the joint promotion of their common mission.