The biennial election which will choose four directors to the NFL Executive Council, elect a council alternate, and establish an order for other alternates, will take place in April of this year. The four elected directors will each serve a four year term. The alternate's term is two years.

All seats are not up for election. Councilors William Woods Tate, Jr., Kandi King, Pam Cady Wycoff and Tommie Lindsey, Jr. were elected in 2004 to four year terms and their seats will require election in 2008.

Ballots will be mailed to chapters on April 3. Chapters not receiving a ballot by April 10 should contact the national office. The deadline for returning ballots is May 1st (postmark). The number of votes a chapter may cast is based upon total members and degrees on record as of May 1. The count will be done by Dr. James Hecht of Credentialing Services; all ballots will be mailed directly to him. No ballots should be sent to the national office nor will national office personnel or candidates see any ballots.

The order that candidates appear in this March Rostrum and the order that candidates appear on the ballot were determined in separate drawings conducted by NFL Comptroller Carol Zanto. Statements and pictures were furnished by the candidates and not edited.

For more information consult the NFL Constitution [Article VII B] and the NFL Chapter Manual [XI: NFL Elections]

Results will be posted at www.nflonline.org on May 15, 2006

I have been honored to serve the forensics community as a member of the NFL Executive Council for 16 years; I am asking to be

returned one last time. I have the time, energy, and expertise to represent the League to sponsors and potential supporters, research and act on the issues you find most important, listen to your concerns and criticisms, and devote myself to the organization that has been part of my life for the last 36 years. I want to host one last NFL Nationals in Las Vegas in 2008 and leave this organization in 2010 a little better than I found it.

Over the years I have championed or supported duo interp, storytelling, and public forum debate. I have written and implemented rule changes for Policy, Lincoln/Douglas, and Interpretation and clarified online research. I was a supporter from the beginning of the NFL's presence on the "information superhighway", online credit card usage, and electronic point entry. As chair of the Future Nationals Committee, I visit and inspect all future sites for the National Finals. I continue to be committed to financial security for the NFL and recognize the necessity for varied monetary resources. I support the sponsorship of our League, yet don't believe that we should "sell out" to anyone.

I believe we have accomplished a great deal in the 16 years that I've served, but I think there's still room for improvement. Even though our website is excellent, we need to address problems in point recording and server capacity. This summer we will meet in Ripon to scrutinize all our events, their rules, and their relevance to our stated goals; if changes need to be made, I'm prepared to support them. We must examine our Districts structure, how and how many we qualify to the National Tournament, and the costs and length of our June convention. We must stop offering lip service to coach education and retention and develop programs that will address this problem. We must concentrate on seeing the "forest" and not just the "trees" within it.

Those who know me know that I'm willing to listen; I may not always agree with you or what you want me to do, but I think long and hard before every decision. My first priority is to this League and how it can flourish in the 21st century. My phone number and e- mail address are on the first page of this magazine; if you want my honest opinions and beliefs, contact me at any time. I appreciate your consideration and would be grateful for your support.

This is the last time I will run for NFL office. Consequently, I would love to be re-elected! I have one overwhelming reason for

wanting to serve one more time – Coach Education.

For years we have been “talking the talk” about helping our coaches receive the training that they need, but very little has been done about it. Now, that is beginning to change and I want to make sure that the program is not only entrenched but that it expands. The NFL office has been great about putting lesson plans online, but that is not enough. We are developing the scholarship program through the universities and colleges beginning this summer. That is a great beginning, but it is not enough. I have other ideas which I believe will be implemented when the funds become available. Obviously I can’t publicize those now, but they involve one-on-one sharing and regional programs. We also need to develop coach advocacy programs. We need to hear your ideas about how the NFL can help you with your coaching duties and then GET SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE PROBLEMS.

We do a lot for our kids as we should. However, without confident, competent coaches (in all areas) who aren’t worked nearly to death, there aren’t going to be a lot of kids to compete. I believe that every successful program begins with the coach. I am helping, and want to continue to help, in that area.

I think that the NFL office as well as the Council as a whole is more responsive and more cognizant of coach requests. We have all told you that we will listen, and I believe that happens. I am confident that the current attitude will continue.

We have a good beginning in this area. Please help me to continue to help you by giving me one of your four votes this spring. I would appreciate it a great deal.

This year, my eldest son became a member of the NFL, twenty-three years after his father did.

When I became an NFL member as a student at Dowling Catholic High School, I could hardly foresee that I would be a candidate for the Executive Council. In asking for your support this year, I wanted to give you an idea of why I am running and share with you my vision for the future.

Not unlike all of the other candidates for the Council, I have served my district, state, and the NFL in many capacities. Throughout my tenure as the West Iowa district chair, member of the Iowa High School Speech Association Debate Committee, and the Iowa High School Forensic League Executive Council, I have discovered that through positions of leadership, I can help the most students and coaches. In the same way, the NFL provides leadership in numerous areas to promote the values of growth, diversity, and community.

I know that we all share a commitment to service. I'm sure many of you know me as the Master of Ceremonies at the NFL National Tournament, an honor that I enjoy with all of my heart because I am able to meet many of the thousands of students and coaches that make the NFL so incredible. I believe that all of us decided to become coaches for many of the same reasons. We believe in giving back, we believe in this community and this activity, and we believe in our students and their potential. My commitment is personal not only because of my son but because I understand that each NFL member is a son or daughter that deserves the very best we can offer.

I believe that, as a member of the Council, I can help make life a little bit easier for us as coaches by anchoring the NFL in the same strong core principles that we believe in and give the membership the tools they need to succeed. I believe that strong leadership can encourage greater participation, diversity, and unity. I believe that personal commitment means that we need to understand and appreciate different perspectives. If you believe in these values and this vision, I respectfully ask for your support for the Council.

Together, I believe we can bring about positive change in our classrooms, in our communities, and in all our children.

Respectfully, I ask for your continued support as a member of the National Forensic League Executive Council.

I have coached all individual events and all types of debate for thirty-five years. I have taught at a small private school and for the last thirty years at a large suburban public school.

I have had the honor to receive the Schwan’s “Sixth” Diamond coach award and nine “Distinguished Service” awards. I was also honored to be elected to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1998. In 1993 and 1994, I served as your host for the two Kansas City Nationals. I share these accomplishments not to impress you, because many of you have received far more prestigious awards. I share them to let you know my deep and loving commitment to this organization! Those of you, who know me, know that I am a hard worker. There is no job too small or too large that I won’t attempt if it helps our students and the National Forensic League.

I worked very hard in 1995 to help establish Duo Interp as a national event; I started the National Interp Cutting List five years ago to benefit our schools and our students. It was my hope that by publishing this information, we would all be able to access the same materials if we so desired. Each year I try to present at least two articles worthy of publication for the Rostrum. I am involved!

I am very concerned about involving new coaches in this wonderful activity. Likewise, the council must be proactive in retaining the great coaches we now have. We must do more for coach recruitment, retention and education!

I firmly believe and practice open communication. Each coach has the right to be heard in a courteous, professional manner. Since 1996, my work in the ombudsmen’s room has given me the opportunity and insight to put that theory into practice. I practice open-communication, informed decision-making and due process at all levels. Our membership must have better opportunities to be informed and be involved in the council’s decision making process.

I ask for your continued support and promise to represent you and your students in the highest professional standards possible. Please allow me to continue to work hard and tirelessly for NFL, for you and most importantly, your students!

As a five-diamond coach of both debate and speech, I have been coaching since 1978. I teach at an inner city high school of 2100

students at Topeka High. I currently serve as district chair of the Flint Hills NFL District for eleven terms. At the National Tournament, I actively serve as a Tournament Official. For the past twenty-seven years, I have coached over 170 students to nationals with five national champions. Other outstanding accomplishments include earning the Leading Chapter Award three times, Sweepstakes Trophy award five times. Distinguished Service Key (1985) and Distinguished Service Plaque (1987, 1992, and 1995). My peers have recognized me as an outstanding coach by receiving the District Chair Bronze Award in 1993, the District Chair Gold Award in 1994, 1998, and 2000.

For the past two years, you elected me to serve as the Alternate to the Council. During this time, the NFL Executive Council undertook some huge projects--establishing a current mission statement, launching an Alumni initiative, hosting a national district chair conference, developing and implementing short and long-term goals for the league, as well as, for the Councilors. Having been an active participant in these projects, I would like to continue to have the opportunity to serve all coaches in completing what has been begun. I know what coaches are concerned about on limited budgets, inner-city schools, fighting to keep their programs afloat, etc. I am committed to listening to all concerns from all coaches. That is how change can happen!

I am excited and ecstatic with how progressive the NFL is becoming in being proactive to coaches' concerns and issues. I want to continue in the ability to be responsive and proactive. I look forward to serving you in the future.

Even though I am a retired classroom teacher with 39 years of teaching and related NFL learning experience, many have asked that

I again place my name in nomination for a position on the NFL Council. There is a philosophical part of me that believes these positions ought to be held by active classroom NFL Coaches, but many have suggested that I, Harold Keller, can bring a voice of experience, of integrity, and of reason and tradition to the table of deliberations. They have also suggested that since I have no personal agenda, only seeking that which is in the best interest of the League, I can be even more objective in my decisions. I appreciate their voices of confidence and encouragement. Consequently, I leave the decision to you.

I have encouraged other Coaches to seek a Council position. You have several superior candidates to choose from. My credentials are typical, including having coached students to the National Tournament, having served as a District Chair for many years, and having served on the National Council. My peers elected me to the NFL Hall of Fame and my many students earned me the Fifth Diamond. I have been honored and recognized with other honors presented in our organization. Many refer to me as "Mr. Congress," an honorary title given to me for my role in the development of and the advancement of Student Congress.

As more time has become available in my retirement, I have been able to visit many states and Districts. I have had the opportunity to advance forensics in several foreign countries. I am appreciative of the opportunities offered for "giving back" to the forensic community and I would hope that as long as the good Lord and the NFL constituents will it, I might be allowed to continue to make a contribution. My ultimate goal for the League is to help make it a most valuable educational organization for students and teachers.

All candidates offer unique qualifications. My record is documented in the NFL Council minutes and in the contributions I have offered. My motto of hopefully being important in the life of a child and "Student's first" is foremost in my code of conduct.

If you feel that my experience has a significant value and a place on the Council, I would appreciate one of your several votes.