[ChiefKCKCCDebate]

Looking forward to seeing you all in Georgia. As I sit here in my office while we compete in Tournament #4 of a 14 weekend stretch with no weekends off 😳what better time than to think about the summer. There has been talk in various forums and places about a Summer Development Conference. I can certainly speak to this at NPDA if there is a desire, but consider this an official offer to host one this summer in Kansas City in person, or Online, or Hybrid. I would also happily spearhead this if people prefer another location. Brent has posted some great thoughts in the forums on the NPDA webpage and I will cross post there as well. But in addition to offering to host, here are some topics I think worthwhile.

Format Idea: We are a small enough community. I think we do our best thinking when we are all together. Instead of every topic being a break out session in small groups, I think we would be best served being together. Hash out the big stuff. Maybe then if work groups/breakouts are needed we could do that. fwiw

Topic Ideas:
1. Tournament logistics—Invites, Procedures, Timeliness of Posting for travel purposes and budget planning, in person vs virtual, format (swings, singles, multi events). Best practices for a Tournament Operating Procedure (Tabbing), judge placement, constraints, etc.

2. Awards—An inventory of the awards in Parli debate. Recognition of past coaches/debaters/programs. Do we need more awards? Model other organizations to increase visibility and PR? National and Regional Awards. Encourage a Regional or Conference model for competition and/or awards.

3. Recruitment/Retention—3 pronged approach to retention. How do we ensure program retention? How do we ensure Director retention? How do we ensure debater retention (upward and onward but also Novices) and transition to coaching? 2 pronged approach to recruitment. Best practices for recruiting on campus. Opportunities to recruit in new programs. Do we invite other programs with other specialties and make the tent bigger? Scalability of what we do. Curriculum mapping and assessment.

4. Judge training and mentorship—What are the best processes judges engage in to arrive at a decision? In many ways debate is the most nuanced of all activities/sports, but has the lowest entry barriers for judges with the least amount of training. This Inherent Harm can have Significant Impacts, but with the right Planning we can reverse the Squo to attain mutually beneficial Advantages. Should we want to take on this Topic. See what I did there?

5. Website—What standard information should be readily available? What does the membership need?

6. Historical Archive–past winners, awards, historic documents, photographs, possibly an oral history project.

7. Take a look at the most recent Policy Debate Development Conference and discuss as a community what things can we learn, and what pitfalls can we avoid?

8. A professional publication post conference that can be shared with Administrators as part of the ongoing efforts in number 3 above.

Just some musings.

I am sure there are plenty of other topic ideas worth considering.

Safe travels to Macon everyone!

[Author]

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