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NCFL Diocesan League Directors�Fall Meeting 2024�September 27 - 28�Milwaukee, WI

Agenda

By-Laws Proposals

Discussion Items

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Reports of the Officers

President – Tom Beck

1^st VP – Katy Cecil

2^nd VP – Marc Rischitelli

Publicity Dir – Carolyn Cook

Treasurer’s Report – Mike Colletti

Tournament Director – Roland Burdett

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President’s Report

Richard Gaudette Service Award

Nominations to Tommy by 1/10/2025

Earlier is always better
Richard Gaudette was Secretary/Treasurer for many years, and was a mentor who gave back much to NCFL. This honors him and someone else who gives routinely.

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First Vice-President’s Report

Attended the Summit Meeting

NCFL, NSDA, NFHS, ToC, NIETOC, UDL, NDCA
Three Objectives Set:

Use of Artificial Intelligence
Increase Participation in Schools = 30% by 2030
NFHS is looking at differences in the rules between the organizations, including states -
Katy pushed for a best practices safety plan that we can use across venues and would like to see this continue to grow. She is willing to share if you would like a template.

Extemp Topic Area Suggestions to Katy by 1/10/2025
Topic Areas will be announced on/about January 31

Then Extemp questions to Katy between 2/15/2025 and 4/15/2025
katy.cecil@larue.kyschools.us

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Second Vice-President’s Report

Local League Liaison outreach

Susan Pebbles holds this role
Contact Susan if you have any questions or need any support

LD & PF Topic Area Suggestions to Marc by 1/10/2025

You can email Marc with suggestions at: charc98@hotmail.com

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Publicity Director’s Report

Website updates continue
Thanks again to Amanda Parker and Frank Riccobono for their help with LiveDocs and the websites
All suggestions are welcome

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Secretary / Treasurer’s Report

NFHS Policy Debate 2025 – 2026 Topic Selection

Email was sent - Director voting for their league due to Mike by Oct 5th so he can submit our league vote

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Financial Statement, 2023 - 2024

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Notes from Meeting:

Some observations on Tournament Cost Trends over the years:

NCFL Nationals is still not breaking even. We lost $18,500 in 2024.
Chicago $$/Head in 2024 was $90.05, in 2014 it was $46.15, almost exactly doubled across 10 years and a pandemic.
Louisville $$/Head in 2023 was $76.96, in 2017 it was $45.95, up 67% across 7 years and a pandemic.

Pursuant to new rules $4000 was put into savings as a result of dues increase
Costs not incurred this year that will be incurred next year:

Insurance

Costs incurred this year that will not be incurred next year:

Molds for new trophies (one time payment for new molds)
Buy-out for GuideBook App

Finance Comittee will conviene to provide their report at the Fall 2025 Meeting
Motion to accept Financial Report was made, seconded, and passed without objection

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Tournament Director’s Report

2024 Wrap-Up: Chicago, IL :

The tournament went very smoothly:

Thank you to all the Chicago CFL Leaders and Volunteers! And especially to Mike and your entire family!
Thank you to our hosts
Thank you to all the Tab Chairs and Tab Staff!

Pleased to report there were NO errors this year

Thank you to all the Coaches, Judges, and Students who helped us get through everything.

Numbers for Chicago 2024:

We were at 80% of Chicago 2014, our pre-pandemic high.

Dioceses – 63 vs 59, up from DC by 4

Schools – 412 vs 420, down from DC by 8

Students – 2051 vs 1973, up from DC by 78

Judges – 1168 vs 1161, up from DC by 7

Total People – 3219 vs 3134,

Some Things We Need to Work On:

We need to continue to work on ways to fully implement our “Open Door” Policy and handle Content Warnings.
How to better implement Diversity-Enhanced Judge Panels
We’ll be convening our Tab Chairs and DEI Leaders to work through that this fall so we’re ready for NCFL 2025.
We’ll “pin” judges into the buildings/events on Saturday, will require careful judge assignment
Re-Organize Tab Assignments, esp in Speech to focus on function not event
Organize a Ballot Review Committee working across all events

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Changes We’ll Keep for 2025

An Informational Diocesan Directors meeting will be held virtually on the Saturday before NCFL 2025, May 17.

OnLine Judge Training and a Ballot Test may be held during the week preceding NCFL 2025.

You will be able to mark yourself as diversity enhancing at this point.

Equity & Bias Training for Judges may be made available during the week preceding NCFL 2025.

A Two-Tiered OnLine ”Start of Tournament” Registration approach, first for Leagues and then for Schools, may be held on Thursday and Friday of NCFL 2024, May 22 - 23.

Saturday drops are significantly fewer when we do this.

Use of FlipGrid to allow students to record their names to help with pronunciation during Awards

We will provide lunch again for all judges, but will NOT provide coffee/breakfast (plan ahead)

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NCFL 2025 Chicago Information

May 24 - 25, 2025

Sites:

Chicago Hilton and Towers

Palmer House Hilton

East-West University

Columbia College

Roosevelt University

Jones College Prep High School

Hotels:

Chicago Hilton and Towers, $229/night for all rooms

Palmer House Hilton, $229/night for all rooms

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Future Tournaments

2025 – Chicago, IL

2026 – Washington, DC

2027 – Minneapolis, MN (rescheduled from 2021)

2028 – A bid from Lafayette, LA will be presented

2029 is OPEN for Bidding

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NCFL 2028 Lafayette’s Bid

Proposal for 2028 Nationals: Lafayette

18 flights a day

Lafayette airport may increase flights or bring larger planes for the tourney
Other nearby airports: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Houston

Numerous food options as well as cultural and other activities
We will be spread across many different hotels

Working with the CVB to design transportation plan for bussing groupings

Visitors Bureau will help with charter busses from airport and to welcome party
Single competition site: University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Alternate option: (1) Lafayette High school for Policy, (2) Teurlings Catholic & St. Genevieve for LD/PFD, and (3) Doubletree would host Congress; (4) All of Speech at the University Campus

Proposal Passes.

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By-Laws #1-1: Quotas

Proposal #1. By-Laws Amendment: Freezing & Re-Designing Quota Allocation

From Tom Beck & Charlie Sloat, New York

Motion: To continue the Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Emergency Operations Quota Freeze for all member leagues of NCFL. Quotas would be the same as set in February 2020, for NCFL 2020 (that was cancelled). A League that has increased its school membership can increase its quota consistent with the By-Laws. But a League that has lost school members cannot have its quota decreased less than the February 2020 allocation.

Motion Passes

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By-Laws #1-2: Quotas

Proposal #1. By-Laws Amendment: Freezing & Re-Designing Quota Allocation

From Tom Beck & Charlie Sloat, New York

Motion: To refer to a committee a review of the NCFL Quota System, with a report and recommendation for By-Laws changes due by September 1, 2025.

Motion Passes

Fall Diocesan League Directors Meeting

Notes from Meeting:

Contact any member of the board, Roland Burdett, or Charlie Sloat if you would like to be on the committee
Goal is to conduct and honest assessment of how many schools each dio has and how many entries they are sending to nationals (see below for information needed)
Motion to move the previous question, seconded; passed
Motion to accept the By-laws proposal, seconded; passed

Information Needed from Diocesan Leagues:

Diocesan Leagues will need to share complete and honest data as to where they are in school quotas.
We need to look at how Diocese strength compared to actual registration numbers.
We need to look at the following:

Number of schools sending Data Cards from each Diocese
Number of middle schools currently or anticipated to join each Diocese
Number of schools actually representing each Diocese at the Grand Tournament
How each Diocese is using their allotted slots

We also need to look at how to factor middle schools into the quotas.

Do they count independent of their high school, or as part of their high school
Do they count towards the quota to enter NCFL Grand Nationals (for high schools)
Do they count only towards the quota to enter NCFL Middle School Nationals
Do the high schools count towards the quota to enter NCFL Middle School Nationals

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By-Laws #2: Sweepstakes for Byes

Proposal #2. By-Laws Amendment: Debate Sweepstakes Clean-up

From Roland Burdett, Arlington, & Charlie Sloat, New York:

Article II, Section E, 2. Sweepstakes, 4.

2) … For the purposes of Sweepstakes calculation, an awarded BYE Round will be treated as a Three Ballot Win for the team, a total of 15 points. A forfeit will receive 0 points.

3) … For the purposes of Sweepstakes calculation, an awarded BYE Round will be treated as a Three Ballot Win for the team, a total of 15 points. A forfeit will receive 0 points.

5) … For the purposes of Sweepstakes calculation, an awarded BYE Round will be treated as a Three Ballot Win for the team, a total of 15 points. A forfeit will receive 0 points.

Proposal Passes

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By-Laws #3: Elim Judging

Proposal #3. By-Laws Amendment: Allow First Year Outs to judge initial elimination rounds

From Roland Burdett, Arlington, & Charlie Sloat, New York

Article II, Section C. 2. Speech Events, c. … No judges who have been out of high school less than nine (9) months will be allowed to judge preliminary or the first elimination rounds, or less than 18 months will be allowed to judge subsequent elimination rounds.

Article II. Section C. 4. Debate Events, e. … No judges who have been out of high school less than nine (9) months will be allowed to judge preliminary rounds, the Run-off (Play-In) rounds, or first elimination rounds, or less than 18 months will be allowed to judge subsequent elimination rounds.

Proposal Passes

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By-Laws #4: Use of Notecard in Extemp

Proposal #4. By-Laws Amendment: Allow a single notecard in Extemp Speaking

From Traci Lowe, Palm Beach

Article II, Section C, 1. C. Extemporaneous Speaking, 7.

The speech must be extemporaneous and delivered without notes. Competitors may use the front and back of a 4”x6” or smaller notecard while speaking. The notecard must be prepared during the preparation period. Such notecards may not be pre-written or re-used from round to round. If the speaker refers to prepared notes of any kind or a script during the presentation, the speaker will be disqualified.

Proposal Fails

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Notes from Meeting:

Reasoning behind proposal is that allowing notecards may increase interest in the event
Motion to accept for discussion was made, seconded, and passed
Discussion focused on whether allowing note cards made extemp to easy or reduced emphasis to thorough research the issues
Discussion also focused on how AI is impact event and research
Friendly amendment made to limit note card to 50 words
Discussion focused on different organizations and tournaments that allow use of note cards and how research, citations, etc. are conveyed more accurately
Discussion of the goal of extemp, which is to memorize the speech, which is a separate and important skill the event teaches
Discussion of potential bias among judges against those who choose to use note cards, if allowed
Motion to move the previous question, seconded; passed
Motion to accept the By-laws proposal, seconded; voice vote was not conclusive
Roll call vote taken: By-Laws proposal failed Fails: 127-66

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By-Laws #5-1: Student Congress Recency

Proposal #5. By-Laws Amendment: NCFL Student Congress Manual Updates

From LeAnne Peterson, Detroit & Keith Pittman, Charlotte.

Congress Manual: While In The Chamber

When many members wish to speak, the Presiding Officer will choose those who have spoken least, then least recently. Members of the chamber should plan accordingly, as recency is NOT reset from round to round during Saturday’s competition. Recency does not carry over during the preliminary sessions. A new preset recency chart will be provided to each chamber by the Clerk of Congress at the beginning of each session.

Proposal Fails

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Notes from Meeting:

Purpose of amendment is to go back to recency language from prior years. NCFL has received lots of feedback from students that the new adjustments are not well liked
Motion to accept for discussion was made, seconded, and passed
Discussion focused on reasons not to implement proposed amendment, but rather keep the current rule, primarily because in Rounds 2 and 3 speakers will be randomly generated/assigned and some speakers may not have an opportunity to speak, which is why the amendment was made in years past
Discussion of how if the PO and Parli are doing their jobs correctly, speaker selection and order should not be a problem
Discussion of how with the current rule, competitors think everyone needs to speak for equity and students try to game the system
Motion to move the previous question, seconded; passed
Motion to accept the By-laws proposal, seconded; voice vote was not conclusive
Roll call vote taken: By-Laws proposal failed Fails: 146-41

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By-Laws #5-2: Student Congress Legislation

Proposal #5. By-Laws Amendment: NCFL Student Congress Manual Updates

From LeAnne Schmidt, Detroit & Keith Pittman, Charlotte.

Congress Manual: Preparing for the Grand National Tournament

No additional legislation from the floor will be permitted because participants will be denied the opportunity to adequately prepare.

Proposal Passes.

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By-Laws #5-3: Student Congress PO Elections

Proposal #5. By-Laws Amendment: NCFL Student Congress Manual Updates

From LeAnne Peterson, Detroit & Keith Pittman, Charlotte.

Congress Manual: Election of the Presiding Officer (for Preliminary Rounds on Saturday)

In the event of a tie before arriving at two candidates, the chamber will be instructed to take a second vote. In a two-candidate race, defer to Robert’s Rules of Order, which advises that the Chair (Parliamentarian) cast a verbal vote to break the tie.

Proposal Fails

Congress Manual: Election of the Presiding Officers (for Semi-Final Sessions on Sunday)

In the event of a tie before arriving at two candidates, the chamber will be instructed to take a second vote. In a two-candidate race, defer to Robert’s Rules of Order, which advises that the Chair (Parliamentarian) cast a verbal vote to break the tie. The candidate not selected may remain in the race for the next vote. In addition, nominations from the chamber will reopen for additional candidates.

Proposal Passes

Congress Manual: Election of the Presiding Officers (for Semi-Final Sessions on Sunday)

The fifteen-minute break should be handled as a recess of the chamber. It does not require the disposing of legislation on the table. Upon return from the recess, the Presiding Officer for part 1 should convey precedence and recency information to the Presiding Officer for part 2. The first Each Presiding Officer will be assigned two speeches in precedence at the top of the recency chart and be scored accordingly by judges.

Proposal Passes

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By-Laws #5-4: Student Congress Elim Advancement

Proposal #5. By-Laws Amendment: NCFL Student Congress Manual Updates

From LeAnne Peterson, Detroit & Keith Pittman, Charlotte.

Congress Manual: Advancing to Finals

Six to eight Five to seven members will advance from each Semi-Final chamber to the Grand Final Session of 24 20 - 21 students

By-Laws, Article II, Section C, 6 Student Congress, b.

Six to eight Five to seven members will advance from each Semi-Final Chamber to the Grand Final Session of 24 20 - 21 students. Based on the cumulative rankings from all Scorers, the five or seven four or six (five four if there are 4 Chambers, or seven six if there are 3 Chambers) top-ranking members of each chamber will advance to Finals. The Parliamentarian ranks all members of the chamber. The highest-ranking member of the chamber from the Parliamentarian ballot who has not already advanced based on Scorer ranks will also advance to Finals.

Proposal Passes

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Discussion Item #1: Increasing Membership

New Business Discussion Item #1. How to increase school and league membership in NCFL.

From the Ad Hoc Membership Recruiting Committee, Greg Cunningham, Boston, & Susan Peebles, Erie, et al.

Marketing the NCFL to increase membership, both leagues and schools.

Ideas to discuss include:

NCFL specific videos about events and coaching strategies
Creating a flyer/web page specifically designed to recruit and differentiate between Catholic and catholic
A closer working relationship with the NFHS
Refocus our website toward recruiting new members
Feedback from moderators as to what members say or view the NCFL
Target Catholic Dioceses that have Debate/Speech programs within them but no current membership in NCFL.

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Notes from Meeting

Discussion focused on how low our registration and attendance numbers have been at our National Tournament post-pandemic
These low numbers are creating risk with hotel contracts and attrition limits; if we do not hit our hotel reservation requirements, we owe penalties
Discussion re how 30% of schools show no growth
Discussion re how the NCFL lost members & students during pandemic. NCFL numbers have not bounced back the way we expected them to
Discussion re the possibility that people don’t understand the NCFL and are intimidated by the “Catholic” part of our title
Discussion re NFHS and their push to amp up speech and debate the way music and art education did 30 years ago. We are hoping to do the same.
Goals and objectives identified by the Ad Hoc Committee:

We want people to be able to look us up and find information easily that is really clear about who we are and what we do.
We also want to have materials that help kids and coaches figure out our events etc.
Large spreadsheet that shows us who has programs within boundaries that are not involved.
If you would like to be a part of this process, plese contact Susan Peebles or Greg Cunningham

Further discussion focused on whether we can allow more students to compete; but need to balance limits on competition space at the tournaments
Additional discussion focused on providing training and other resource materials
Some discussion on potentially rebranding the organization to move away from the word “Catholic”

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Discussion Item #2: Middle School Members

New Business Discussion Item #2. Middle Schools & Middle School Nationals 2026 Online.

From Roland Burdett, Arlington

We want to move forward with plans to allow Middle Schools to join NCFL as members, either jointly with their high school, or independently.
But as discussed earlier we need to figure out the impacts on quotas.

All input is welcome across the year. It will important to indicate how many middle school members you have, currently or would be expected to have, in your local leagues.
Do the full count of schools, or just the middle school count, drive a Local League’s quotas to the Middle School National Tournament
Do the middle schools count towards a Local League’s quotas to NCFL Grand Nationals

We want to begin planning for an NCFL Middle School Nationals held online in Spring 2026.

All input is welcome

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Discussion Item #3: Service Project

New Business Discussion Item #3. Naming the Service Project in honor of Catherine Luhr

From Greg Cunningham, Boston

Motion: To name the service project held each year at the Grand National Tournament to "The Catherine Luhr NCFL Service Project" on our website and in all references to the service project.

Motion Passes

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Discussion Item #4: Use of Cubicles

New Business Discussion Item #4. Use of Pipe-and-Drape Cubicles at NCFL Grand Nationals

From Sohail Jouya, Austin Director

Direct the NCFL National Tournament Director to no longer use pipe and drape cubicles at NCFL Grand Nationals.

— In the early 2010s, no leagues were bidding to host the tournament for future years. Sacramento came forward and was willing to host but did not have the full infrastructure available to host a traditional NCFL tournament. The solution was to experiment with a convention center model. After this use, it was used again in DC in 2018 and 2022. The convention center will be used again in DC in 2026, and in Minneapolis in 2027.

— We chose to use cubicles in Chicago for 2024 and 2025, because in 2014, we bussed LD and PF into the suburbs. On their return trip they hit heavy traffic that prevented attendees from being able to attend Mass or get dinner. When Chicago bid again for 2020/2024/2025, the Directors told us in clear terms not to bus out to the suburbs again.

— The Tournament Director commits to making it clear when a Local League is bidding to host Nationals whether they expect to need to use Cubicles or not. And then the Directors can vote for/against that bid as they see appropriate.

— Lastly, it’s a choice. When Lafayette offered to host NCFL 2028, their starting point was not to use cubicles. If we want more like those, then we need more sites with universities or large high schools to offer to host.

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Notes from Meeting

Purpose of discussion item is to see if the NCFL can move away from cubicles at the National Tournament
Discussion focused on when cubicles were introduced to the tournaments, when they are used, and why they are sometimes the only option, i.e., allows us consolidate events to one space, which can help to avoid traffic jams, long rides to competition sites, missed Mass, and increased busing and site expenses
Discussion that NCFL is contracted for spaces that will use cubicles 2027; earliest we can change is 2028, if we get bids from Dios that can provide competition sites that do not require the use of cubicles
Reminder that the Finance Committee provided an in depth report on the cost of Tournaments, with a breakdown of the cost by site type (i.e., host schools v. convention center model)
Reminder that the type of competition space that is available really depends on the host Diocese
The convention center model evolved from the lack of host sites in the early 2010’s. We needed a solution to hold a tournament because we were not receiving bids from local leagues who were willing to host. Absent the traditional schools based options, NCFL opted to try a new approach. We experimented in Sacramento, then did it in DC in 2018, 2022, and will do it again in 2026; and will do it in Minneapolis in 2027.
We chose to use cubicles in Chicago for 2024 and 2025, because in 2014, we bussed LD and PF into the suburbs. On their return trip they hit heavy traffic that prevented kids and adults from being able to attend Mass or get dinner. When Chicago bid again for 2020/2024/2025, the Directors told us in clear terms not to bus out to the suburbs again.
The Tournament Director commits to making it clear when a Local League is bidding to host Nationals whether they expect to need to use Cubicles or not. And then the Directors can vote for/against that bid as they see appropriate.
Lastly, it’s a choice. When Lafayette offered to host NCFL 2028, their starting point was not to use cubicles. If we want more tournaments like those, then we need more sites with universities or large high schools to offer to host.

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Discussion Item #5: Student Advisory Board

New Business Discussion Item #5. Consider the Establishment of a Student Advisory Board

From Ann Marie Duffy, Washington

Motion: To refer to a committee to consider establishment of a Student Advisory Board to provide input to NCFL’s Executive Committee and Executive Council, with a report of recommendations to Diocesan Directors due by September 1, 2025.

Fall Diocesan League Directors Meeting

Notes from Meeting:

Purpose of motion: a Milwaukee student reached out the Board last year with the idea of creating a Student Advisory Board
The Board meet with the student, Jay Gummandi, and heard his presentation; The Board asked Mr. Gummandi to make his presentation to the Directors

Jay, Brookfield Central: National Student Board Presentation

Initiatives:

Create and promote a middle school national tournament; encourage high schooler students to mentor middle schoolers; Student Baord would facility and promote mentor program
Build confidence and advocacy skills
Community outreach: CFL students from this school or diocese volunteer–show what we are doing as individual schools and showcasing
Publish annual newsletter

Roles of Board

We would like to have representation of kids from various areas. Creating a diversity of students allows us to see what everyone else is doing
VP & Pres support group, have liaison and community outreach leads–we want a diverse group for equal representation. Different outreach camps would help us to have an upgraded look.
Uplift the image of NCFL; being able to showcase what we are doing could be really impactful. Getting the voice out there with newsletter and outreach is really important. This is a huge part of equity.

Goals and end Results

Taking inspiration from others in the past–building courage in middle schools. Go in and say: We do cool things, you should come be a part of this and eventually grow into adults like this group.
We can get the image and message of NCFL known
Getting a more tightnight group know to each other.

Discussion focused on the various positive aspects of this proposal and how it lines up with the larger outreach program the NCFL is launching
Discussion re allowing the Board to continue to meet with Mr. Gummandi to develop a formal proposal on which the Directors can vote at a later meeting

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New Business

No new business

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Due Date & Fees Reminders

School Membership Forms and $60 Fees due to Mike by 12/20/2024

With 10% penalty, $66 total, by 1/15/2025
With 20% penalty, $72 total, by 1/31/2025
You do not have to hold them all back. Send them in when you have them.
You can also email them to Mike. Then send checks in the mail

Tournament Entry Fees are $75 per person per entry, due by 4/15/2025

-- Students staying outside the hotel block pay double the fee $150 per entry

Tournament Registration, due by 4/15/2025

Late entries accepted through 4/30/2025 at $25 per day

Extemp Topic Areas to Katy by 1/10/2025

-- Extemp questions to Katy between 2/15/2025 and 4/15/2025

LD & PF Debate Topic Areas to Marc by 1/10/2025

Richard Gaudette Service Award

Nominations to Tommy by 1/10/2025

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Next Meetings

Next Spring Meeting:

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Via ZOOM

NCFL Nationals 2025:

Saturday - Sunday, May 24-25, 2025

Chicago, IL

Next Fall Meeting:

September 26 - 26, 2025

Location TBD … if you’re interested in hosting, see Sarah or Roland

Fall Diocesan League Directors Meeting