CONSTITUTION

 

AMERICAN FORENSICS ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL EVENTS TOURNAMENT

DISTRICT III

(Revised as of February 12, 1998)

 

 

 

I.  DISTRICT MEMBERSHIP

 

A.    Any school within District III (Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas) who pays the AFA-NIET subscription fee by the deadline established by the AFA-NIET Committee is automatically a member of District III.

 

B.    District schools are entitled to receive information regarding the National Individual Events Tournament and are eligible to participate in the qualifying procedures for the AFA-NIET.

 

C.    Each District III member school is entitled to one vote in selecting District III Committee members.

 

D.   Each District III member school is entitled to one vote in selecting District III Student representatives to the District Committee.

 

E.    Any two or four year institution of higher learning is eligible for membership pending payment of subscription fees by the deadline prescribed by the NIET Committee.

 

 

II.  COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

 

A.    Each Spring the District III Committee Chairperson will conduct an election at the AFA District III Qualifier to determine the committee members for the next academic year.

 

1.     Nominations will be taken from the floor.

 

2.     The position of District Chairperson is on a two-year cycle.

 

3.     An additional four members will be elected to the committee each year

 

 

B.    Each Spring, the District III Student Co-representatives will conduct an election to determine the Student representatives to the District committee for the next academic year.

 

1.     Nominations will be taken from the floor.

 

2.     A total of two representatives, or co-representatives, will be elected each year with the understanding that if one co-representative is unable to fulfill his/her duties, the other co-representative will assume full responsibility for the duties of the student representative.

 

3.     Only students from member schools of the District will be allowed to vote for the Student co-representatives.

 

C.    Eligibility for Committee Membership

 

1.     Any full - time director or co-director or person primarily responsible for the individual events program at a given school is eligible. 

 

2.     No more than one person per school may serve on the committee.

 

3.     One person who has not previously served on the District III Committee must be elected to the committee each year, given that one such person accepts the nomination.

 

D.   Eligibility for Student Representatives

 

1.     Any full or part-time undergraduate student enrolled for a minimum of six hours.

 

2.     Each Representative must by in good academic standing with a minimum GPA of 2.0

 

3.     Each Representative must maintain enrollment in a District member school in the academic year for which they are elected.

 

E.    Committee Responsibilities

 

                        1. Chairperson

a.     The Chairperson must be a member of the American Forensic Association.

 

b.     The chairperson of the District III Committee will serve a two-year term beginning June 1 of the odd numbered years.

 

c.     A chairperson - elect will be elected by the new District III Committee on even numbered years.  The chairperson-elect will serve a one-year term, assuming the office of chairperson on June 1 of the odd-numbered years.

 

(1)  The District Chairperson is expected to attend meetings of the American Forensic Associations National Individual  Events Tournament.

 

(a.)   The District Chairperson or his/her designated proxy is expected to attend meetings of the National Committee.  Meetings of the committee are scheduled for the NCA conventions and during AFA-NIET.

 

(b.)   District Chairperson should submit items for the National Committee meeting, as the need arises, to the National Chairperson.

 

(2)  The District Chairperson shall preside over the meetings of the District Committee.

 

(a.)   A meeting of the District Committee shall be held at a Regional designated tournament in the fall of the year for purposes of attending to any business and/or concerns of the membership.

 

(b.)   An open  meeting of the District Membership shall be held at a Regional designated tournament in the fall of the year for purposes of attending to any business and/or concerns of the membership.

 

(c.)   An open meeting shall be held at the District Qualifier for purposes of settling future tournament sites, dates of the District Qualifier, as well as attending to the election of a District Committee and other matters of concern. 

 

(3)  The District Chairperson shall construct a mailing list of schools within the District that either participate in individual events and/or have an interest in individual events.  The chairperson shall keep one copy of the list and by August 1 of each year, forward a copy to the National Chairperson.

 

(4)  The District Chairperson shall maintain a current list of AFA-NIET subscribing schools in the District.  By January 31 of each year, the District Chairperson shall send complete copies of the list of the subscribing schools to:

 

(a.)   AFA-NIET Committee Chairperson.

 

(b.)   AFA-NIET Board of Trustees Chairperson.

 

(c.)   AFA-NIET Tournament Director.

 

(5)  The District Chairperson is charged with the responsibility of collecting subscription fees for membership in the AFA-NIET.

 

(a.)   At the beginning of the school year, an invoice shall be sent to all schools in the District, directing payment to the District Chairperson.

 

(b.)   Following the passage of the national deadline for      schools to subscribe as members, the national fees      shall be sent to the chairperson of the Board of      Trustees.

 

(c.)   Late subscriptions may be accepted with the approval     of the National AFA-NIET Chairperson and the      AFA-NIET Tournament Director.

 

(d.)   The District Chairperson shall provide a District      financial statement at the time of the NIET in April      each year.

 

(e.)   A copy of the financial statement should be sent to      each member of the District in May of each year.

 

(6)  The Chairperson shall ensure that next year's District Qualifier Tournament is scheduled prior to the current year's AFA-NIET.

 

(a.)   Bids for the District Qualifier should be solicited from District schools.  Factors to be considered should include:

 

(1.)   availability of contest room,

 

(2.)   availability of hired judges,

 

(3.)   availability of housing,

 

(4.)   availability of secretarial assistance,

 

(5.)   cost for school facilities,

 

(6.)   constraints on dates and/or starting times,

 

(7.)   centrality of location site, and

 

(8.)   banquet facilities.

 

(b.)   chairperson shall send the date and location of the District Qualifier to:

 

(1.)   the AFA-NIET Committee Chairperson

 

(2.)   the Editor of the AFA tournament calendar for purposes of publication in the JAFA Summer newsletter.

 

 

(c.)   The District Qualifier shall not conflict, insofar as possible, with

 

 

(1.)   the AFA District Debate Tournament

 

(2.)   the NDT or

 

(3.)   Regional or National Tournaments of the forensic honorary fraternities.

 

(7)  The District chairperson shall be responsible for assisting the National Tournament Director in verifying Alternate Qualifications to the AFA-NIET.

 

(8)  The District Chairperson shall assist the AFA-NIET      Committee Chairperson in resolving any appeals from     schools within the District.

 

(9)  The District Chairperson should encourage schools to submit    bids to host the National Tournament.

 

(10)        The District Chairperson is encouraged to submit      extemporaneous and impromptu topics to the National     Tournament Director, as well as, recommend individuals as     tournament staff and/or hired judges.

 

(11)        The District Chairperson shall faithfully attempt to promote     the growth and well-being of the AFA-NIET in the District.

 

(12)        The District Chairperson shall maintain a file of all District     records.

 

(13)        The District Chairperson is responsible for conducting the     District Qualifying Tournament with the staff of his/her     choosing.

 

                        2.  Secretary

 

a.     The secretary will be chosen from the District Committee at the first business meeting of the newly elected District committee in the spring.

 

b.     The term of office is one year.

 

c.     Duties of the secretary

 

(1.)      Record and publish minutes of District Committee meetings.

 

(2.)      Send copy of Committee meeting minutes to each subscribing member.

 

 

                        3.  Responsibilities of Committee Members

 

a.     Must attend the District tournament and fulfill the work assignment made by the chairperson

 

b.     Should solicit membership in District III from schools in their area.

 

c.     Attend all District committee meetings or send a representative or give their proxy to another member.

 

4.     Student Co-Representatives to the District Committee

 

a.     Student Co-representatives will have a total of one vote between them regarding issues voted upon by the District Committee.

 

b.     Co-representatives will conduct District Student Meetings corresponding with the Fall and Spring District Committee Meetings.

 

c.     Co-representatives will serve as liaisons between the District Committee and the Student Population of District III

 

d.     Co-representatives will coordinate efforts to promote communication among member schools in the District.

 

e.     Co-representatives will travel to the National Student meeting at the AFA-NIET in April to represent the interests of the District.

 

 

III.  District Qualifying Tournament

 

            A.  Participation

1.              Any accredited (or pursuing accreditation) two or four year college/university shall be eligible to send participants to the NIET.

 

2.              To gain eligibility, participating institutions must be in good standing with the financial requirements as established by the NIET Committee and Board of Trustees.

 

3.              The District Tournament shall be open subject to the following criteria:

 

a.     The NIET subscription fee must be paid.

 

b.     The school must meet established eligibility requirements.

 

c.     The entry must meet the criteria established and published by the AFA-NIET and District Committee.

 

                       4.  Rules and procedures of the District Tournament shall not violate the intent of rules and procedures of the AFA-NIET Committee.

 

            B. Conduct

 

1.     The District Committee is responsible for establishing the nature and form of the District Tournament.  Insofar as possible, the District Tournament must mirror the AFA-NIET

 

a.     Dates for the District Qualifier have traditionally been set as either the first or second weekends of March.

 

b.     The District Tournament must utilize the same conflict pattern as the AFA-NIET.

 

c.     The District Tournament should have a minimum of two rounds of preliminary competitionÑelimination rounds are optional.

 

d.     Number of entries required for Semi-Final rounds.

 

(1.)  The District Committee makes the decision regarding the number of entries required in order to hold a semi-final round in any particular event.

 

(2.)  While traditional guidelines have been set, the committee has the right to make changes.

 

(3.)  Traditional Guidelines:

 

(a.)  Less than 25 entriesÑThe event breaks straight to finals

 

(b.) 25 to 30 entriesÑDecision of the District Committee

 

(c.)  31 and more entries   Semi-Finals will be held

 

e.     Rules for the events and standards of eligibility must be the same as those of the National Tournament.

 

f.      Fees should be in keeping with other tournaments' fees.

 

g.     District Qualifying Tournament results shall be immediately     forwarded by telephone and mail to the National Tournament Director.

 

h.     Invitations to the District Qualifier should be in the mail at least six    weeks prior to the tournament and in no case less that four weeks    prior to the tournament.

 

i.      Contestants who have alternately qualified an event for the NIET    will not be allowed to enter that event at the District Qualifier.

 

2.     Participants will qualify for the National Tournament according to the prescribed procedures of the AFA-NIET.

 

 

IV.  Procedures for Amendment

 

A.             This constitution may be amended by 2/3 vote of the entire Committee at a District Committee meeting.

 

B.             A committee member who cannot attend a meeting may select someone to sit in his/her place or may give any member of the committee his/her proxy.

 

 

 

Constitutional Revisions by Mike Jones, Director of Forensics, Lee College, Baytown, Texas

February 5, 1998