The NFL Executive Council held its fall meeting in Philadelphia, PA on September 26-27, 2004. Members present were President Billy Tate, Vice President Don Crabtree, Brother Rene’ Sterner, Glenda Ferguson, Harold Keller, Ted Belch, Tommie Lindsey, Jr., and Pam Cady Wycoff. Alternate, Pam McComas was present and filled the vacancy of Kandi King.
President Billy Tate called the meeting to order at 8:52am.
The council recognized a moment of silence in the memory of Tom Montgomery.
Council Elections
The council held its biennial election for NFL President and Vice-President.
Billy Tate (unopposed) was elected by the council to serve another 2 year term as President.
Don Crabtree (unopposed) was elected by the council to serve another 2 year term as Vice-President.
National Tournament
Moved by Keller, seconded by Ferguson
"Change the maximum amount of rounds that a judge can commit at the National Tournament to eight."
Passed: 7-2
Aye: Crabtree, McComas, Sterner, Keller, Cady Wycoff, Lindsey, Tate
Nay: Belch and Ferguson
Moved by Keller, seconded by McComas
"If a school qualifies team(s) in public forum, that school must commit a judge to a minimum of 5 rounds of public forum judging for one team or 8 rounds of judging for 2 teams."
Schools will be allowed to commit multiple judges to meet the requirement. This will reduce the number of additional judges a school will need to bring.
Passed: 9-0
Moved by Cady Wycoff, seconded by Keller
"Use 13 judges in the final round of all main events and drop the high and low rank."
Passed: 9-0
Moved by McComas, seconded by Keller
"Name the current quad ruby coach award the Donus Roberts Quad Ruby Award."
Passed: 9-0
The NFL will now award the Donus Roberts Quad Ruby Award to coaches that have received 1000 NFL coaching points without regard to the number of years coached. These awards will be presented at the National Tournament.
Moved by Crabtree, seconded by McComas
"Entries at the National Tournament must be registered with the National Office by June 1. If entered students forfeit their entry slot(s) after June 1, alternates will be permitted to substitute until the end of regular registration at the National Tournament providing they meet other entry requirements."
Passed: 9-0
Budget The Executive Secretary presented the 2004-2005 Budget. Moved by Lindsey, seconded by Keller "Accept the 2004-2005 NFL Personnel budget as presented by the Executive Secretary."
The council commended the National Office Staff on their excellent work this past year and their dedication to the League.
Passed: 9-0
Moved by Belch, seconded by Crabtree
"Accept the 2004-2005 Honor Society and National Tournament budgets as presented by the Executive Secretary."
Passed: 9-0
NJFL
Moved by Keller, seconded by Sterner
"The National Forensic League neither endorses nor supports middle school district, regional, or national tournaments claiming connection with the National Junior Forensic League."
Passed: 9-0
The NFL is excited and honored to promote and sponsor the NJFL honor society. However, due to liability issues and the goals and mission of the NJFL program, the NFL will not sponsor middle school tournaments. However, students will still earn NJFL points for competition.
District/National Tournament Rules
Moved by Crabtree, seconded by Cady-Wycoff
"Recorded material (video tape, DVD’s, audio tape, CD’s or phonograph recordings) or material from the internet that is not published and printed is not acceptable."
Passed: 9-0
This motion clarifies that material from the internet must also be published in printed form to be legal in NFL competition.
Moved by Cady Wycoff, seconded by Belch
"Original material published in a high school publication is not acceptable."
This motion establishes that material published by a high school such as a newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook, etc. will not be considered legal as a published source. Material must be accessible by the general public.
Passed: 9-0
Moved by McComas, seconded by Crabtree "Change the interpretation rules to read, ‘Adaptations may be used for the purpose of transitions.’"
Passed: 9-0
In previous interpretation rules, the phrase "for continuity purposes only" was used. The council has now clarified this to mean "transitions". Additions that are not clearly for the purpose of transition or substitutions for profanity will not be permitted.
Districts
Moved by Ferguson, seconded by McComas
"That the League adopt the Executive Secretary’s recommendation for a Congress Single Entry Letter of Intent."
The motion requires a student to declare before his or her District Contest (congress, speech, or debate) which single event he or she will enter if he or she qualifies in two events. This is the first year that student congress will be included in the policy. Please read the revised manuals.
Passed: 9-0
Moved by McComas, seconded by Cady Wycoff "Effective upon passage, accept the Executive Secretary’s methods for semi-finalist speech Alternate Rankings."
Passed: 9-0
Please refer to the most current District Tournament Manual for this procedure.
The council directed the Executive Secretary to study the impact of the new district entry rules on the district sweepstakes trophies and the impact a similar rule would have on the National Tournament School of Excellence trophies.
Motion by McComas, seconded by Ferguson "In determining the District Sweepstakes Award, any two-person team will earn two student points per round."
Passed: 5-4
Aye: McComas, Ferguson, Tate, Crabtree, Sterner
Nay: Keller, Belch, Cady Wycoff, Lindsey
This motion insures that the District Sweepstakes Award will be calculated in the same manner as the past.
The council recessed for the day at 8pm on Sunday, September 26, 2004.
The council reconvened at 9am on Monday, September 27th, 2004.
Moved by Keller, seconded by Sterner
"Remove bonus entries at the District Tournament."
Failed: 2-7
Aye: Tate, Keller
Nay: Sterner, Crabtree, Ferguson, Belch, McComas, Cady Wycoff, Lindsey
Moved by Ferguson, seconded by McComas "When an affiliate reaches the number of members and degrees needed to be a chapter, they have two years to find a district and be in that district."
Failed: 2-7
Aye: Ferguson, Lindsey
Nay: Crabtree, Keller, Sterner, McComas, Cady Wycoff, Belch, Tate
Moved by Sterner, seconded by McComas
"Accept the Executive Secretary’s proposal for Affiliate/Chapter Status."
Please refer to page 11-12 of the November Rostrum and the NFL Manuals for clarification of the new policies.
Passed: 7-2
Aye: Crabtree, McComas, Ferguson, Sterner, Cady Wycoff, Lindsey, Tate
Nay: Belch, Keller
Moved by Belch, seconded by Sterner
"Accept the Executive Secretary’s proposal on District size requirements."
Please refer to page 11-12 of the November Rostrum and the NFL Manuals for clarification of the new policies.
Passed: 8-1
Aye: Ferguson, Crabtree, McComas, Keller, Sterner, Belch, Cady Wycoff, Tate
Nay: Lindsey
Moved by Keller, seconded by McComas
"Freeze any action of the petition regarding the UIL District."
The council chose to postpone any action on the specific petition to split the UIL district and create an additional district until further study can be made into the concept of creating districts for philosophical purposes.
Passed: 9-0
The Executive Council would like to thank the District Chairs for the wonderful comments and suggestions that were submitted for the Fall Meeting.
The council will hold its Spring Meeting in Los Angeles, CA on April 3-4-5, 2005.
President Billy Tate adjourned the 2004 Fall Council Meeting at 11:45am on Monday, April 5th.
