From http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20070611/EDUCATION/106110097
Where talk walks: Student debators head to Greeley for national forensics tournament
Chris Casey, (Bio) ccasey@greeleytrib.com
June 11, 2007
When out-of-towners invade Greeley for festivals and tournaments, it's usually obvious. Stampede folks arrive in cowboy chaps, boots and hats. Softball and soccer players wear snazzy uniforms and cleats. Blues fans favor easy-going garb and cool shades.
Now, gear up for the young debaters, Greeley.
They won't be as obvious, but if you listen closely at restaurants and shops, you might overhear their impeccable elocution, their penchant for persuasive argument.
Teenage orators will converge on Greeley from June 29 to July 1 for the IDEA National Junior Forensic League National Tournament.
The International Debate Education Association and the National Forensic League are partnering with Greeley-Evans School District 6 to host the event, which will bring about 200 middle-school students, families and coaches from across the nation.
Brentwood Middle School in Greeley will act as the host school, and competitions will take place at Greeley Central High School. As of last week, 17 teams had registered, including teams from Brentwood, Heath and Franklin middle schools in Greeley and Windsor Middle School.
The tournament is usually held in major cities, such as Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and Portland, Ore. Todd Doleshall, forensics coach at Brentwood Middle School, is on the board of directors for the National Junior Forensics League. When the board discussed potential tournament sites at a meeting in Los Angeles last June, Greeley was mentioned as a possibility. Doleshall called Brentwood Principal John Diebold, who approved Brentwood as the host school, and Greeley was on its way as the next national event site.
"It's the first time a small city like Greeley has taken on this wonderful endeavor," Doleshall said.
Unlike other events that come to town, however, the forensics tournament isn't geared for spectators. Students will compete in classrooms in front of judges, and for security and logistic reasons, only participants' family members will be permitted to watch.
When Doleshall launched the forensics program at Brentwood six years ago, it was the first middle school in northern Colorado to offer the activity. Two years ago, Brentwood won the overall school title at the national tournament.
Mike Sovereign, volunteer coordinator, is helping Doleshall recruit volunteers to help with judging, security and concessions during the event.
"For a national forensics tournament to come to a town like Greeley is unheard of," Sovereign said. "It's just not something you would expect a town of 100,000 to support, but it's coming together."
Grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses have donated food and other in-kind services to provide for the hundreds of visitors, he said.
Now it's down to the home stretch for students to get their oratory skills up to snuff. The pressure is much greater on the national stage, said Anthony Azari, a forensics team member at Brentwood.
"At a regular forensics tournament you just kind of stand there and if you do bad you say, 'Well, I've got another tournament coming up,' " Azari, an eighth-grader, said. But at nationals, "this is your only shot for the entire year, because you can do this piece only once."
Brentwood students have been practicing two or three days a week in preparation for the three-day tournament.
"It's just really rigorous work, but it all pays off in the end," Azari said.
And it pays off in the local economy. Not only will the event provide "great exposure for Greeley," but it will provide economic payout as well, said Bill Duerre, director of the Greeley Convention and Visitors Bureau.
About $340,000 should be pumped into the economy from hotel and restaurant visits by the competitors and their families.
During competition, students will select from four debate formats: policy, public forum, Lincoln-Douglas and the middle school public debate format. Students can also choose to compete in public speaking events such as: dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, poetry, prose, extemporaneous speaking, oratory, impromptu and duo interpretation.
Azari, 14, will compete in three events -- poetry, prose and duo interpretation. On Wednesday of last week, he noted that the tournament was just 24 days away.
"It's getting really close and everybody is getting really excited for it," Azari said.
Volunteers needed
More than 100 volunteers are needed for the national junior forensics tournament coming to Greeley later this month.
Hundreds of middle school students from across the country will compete in the June 29 to July 1 event. The tournament will be hosted by Brentwood Middle School and held at Greeley Central High School, 1515 14th Ave.
The IDEA National Junior Forensic League National tournament is sanctioned by the International Debate Education Association and the National Forensic League, which is partnering with Greeley-Evans School District 6.
Volunteers are needed to serve as judges and registrars, as well as provide concessions and security. Training will be provided for judges, but no previous experience is necessary. Greeley Mayor Tom Selders will be among the judges.
Organizers are still looking for a state-level dignitary to make a speech at the awards ceremony. They are also looking for more food vendors and businesses wishing to contribute coupons and other in-kind gifts for visitors.
For more information, contact organizer Todd Doleshall at (970) 396-2994 or volunteer coordinator Mike Sovereign at (970) 690-8892 or e-mail him at mlsovereign@aol.com.
June 11, 2007
When out-of-towners invade Greeley for festivals and tournaments, it's usually obvious. Stampede folks arrive in cowboy chaps, boots and hats. Softball and soccer players wear snazzy uniforms and cleats. Blues fans favor easy-going garb and cool shades.
Now, gear up for the young debaters, Greeley.
They won't be as obvious, but if you listen closely at restaurants and shops, you might overhear their impeccable elocution, their penchant for persuasive argument.
Teenage orators will converge on Greeley from June 29 to July 1 for the IDEA National Junior Forensic League National Tournament.
The International Debate Education Association and the National Forensic League are partnering with Greeley-Evans School District 6 to host the event, which will bring about 200 middle-school students, families and coaches from across the nation.
Brentwood Middle School in Greeley will act as the host school, and competitions will take place at Greeley Central High School. As of last week, 17 teams had registered, including teams from Brentwood, Heath and Franklin middle schools in Greeley and Windsor Middle School.
The tournament is usually held in major cities, such as Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and Portland, Ore. Todd Doleshall, forensics coach at Brentwood Middle School, is on the board of directors for the National Junior Forensics League. When the board discussed potential tournament sites at a meeting in Los Angeles last June, Greeley was mentioned as a possibility. Doleshall called Brentwood Principal John Diebold, who approved Brentwood as the host school, and Greeley was on its way as the next national event site.
"It's the first time a small city like Greeley has taken on this wonderful endeavor," Doleshall said.
Unlike other events that come to town, however, the forensics tournament isn't geared for spectators. Students will compete in classrooms in front of judges, and for security and logistic reasons, only participants' family members will be permitted to watch.
When Doleshall launched the forensics program at Brentwood six years ago, it was the first middle school in northern Colorado to offer the activity. Two years ago, Brentwood won the overall school title at the national tournament.
Mike Sovereign, volunteer coordinator, is helping Doleshall recruit volunteers to help with judging, security and concessions during the event.
"For a national forensics tournament to come to a town like Greeley is unheard of," Sovereign said. "It's just not something you would expect a town of 100,000 to support, but it's coming together."
Grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses have donated food and other in-kind services to provide for the hundreds of visitors, he said.
Now it's down to the home stretch for students to get their oratory skills up to snuff. The pressure is much greater on the national stage, said Anthony Azari, a forensics team member at Brentwood.
"At a regular forensics tournament you just kind of stand there and if you do bad you say, 'Well, I've got another tournament coming up,' " Azari, an eighth-grader, said. But at nationals, "this is your only shot for the entire year, because you can do this piece only once."
Brentwood students have been practicing two or three days a week in preparation for the three-day tournament.
"It's just really rigorous work, but it all pays off in the end," Azari said.
And it pays off in the local economy. Not only will the event provide "great exposure for Greeley," but it will provide economic payout as well, said Bill Duerre, director of the Greeley Convention and Visitors Bureau.
About $340,000 should be pumped into the economy from hotel and restaurant visits by the competitors and their families.
During competition, students will select from four debate formats: policy, public forum, Lincoln-Douglas and the middle school public debate format. Students can also choose to compete in public speaking events such as: dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, poetry, prose, extemporaneous speaking, oratory, impromptu and duo interpretation.
Azari, 14, will compete in three events -- poetry, prose and duo interpretation. On Wednesday of last week, he noted that the tournament was just 24 days away.
"It's getting really close and everybody is getting really excited for it," Azari said.
Volunteers needed
More than 100 volunteers are needed for the national junior forensics tournament coming to Greeley later this month.
Hundreds of middle school students from across the country will compete in the June 29 to July 1 event. The tournament will be hosted by Brentwood Middle School and held at Greeley Central High School, 1515 14th Ave.
The IDEA National Junior Forensic League National tournament is sanctioned by the International Debate Education Association and the National Forensic League, which is partnering with Greeley-Evans School District 6.
Volunteers are needed to serve as judges and registrars, as well as provide concessions and security. Training will be provided for judges, but no previous experience is necessary. Greeley Mayor Tom Selders will be among the judges.
Organizers are still looking for a state-level dignitary to make a speech at the awards ceremony. They are also looking for more food vendors and businesses wishing to contribute coupons and other in-kind gifts for visitors.
For more information, contact organizer Todd Doleshall at (970) 396-2994 or volunteer coordinator Mike Sovereign at (970) 690-8892 or e-mail him at mlsovereign@aol.com.
