JACK HOWE MEMORIAL INVITATIONAL

    24-26 September 2022

    DEADLINE
    12 September 2022
    ​NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE
    ELIGIBILITY
    Open to middle and high school students
    *Unless students and their parents book their rooms and travel on their own, we can only take the first 21 students who sign up. The GSA team will likely rent cars and drive down to Long Beach.
    LOCATION
    California State University Long Beach

    Information

    Welcome to the 30th Annual Jack Howe Memorial Tournament!
    All speech and debate rounds will be IN PERSON


    LOGISTICAL INFORMATION

    RETURNING TO IN-PERSON COMPETITION:
    1. At the time this invitation is being published, mask-wearing on the CSULB campus is optional in outdoor spaces, but mandatory in classrooms. The tournament will provide KN95 face coverings and hand sanitizer, but in a limited quantity. Guests should review the campus policies in detail athttps://www.csulb.edu/covid-19. It is strongly recommended that vulnerable populations wear KN95-grade face coverings.
    2. Sanitary stations are be placed in high-traffic corridors on campus.
    3. By registering for the 2022 Jack Howe Memorial Invitational, you are accepting the risk of becoming infected by COVID-19. The tournament will do everything possible to reduce the risk of infection, but we cannot guarantee you will avoid contracting COVID-19. We are unable to offer refunds to competitors/for judges that contract COVID-19 after registration closes. The following recommendations will help the tournament and its guests the week of competition:
      >>> ​Refrain from unnecessary human contact the week of the tournament and test regularly.
      >>>       Obtain your own PCR/Anti-gen tests in advance of the tournament and test each morning for safety.
      >>> Regularly and rigorously wash your hands, carry hand sanitizer, and wear a medical-grade face covering.
      >>> Keep water nearby and remain hydrated.

    CHANGES FOR 2022:
    1. ENTRY CAP: IN EACH DIVISION, SCHOOLS WILL IMMEDIATELY BE ABLE TO ADD 2 ENTRIES AND THE REST WILL BE WAIT-LISTED UNTIL JUDGES ARE ENTERED AND ALL TBAS ARE CLEARED, BUT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.
    2. The NUGGET (Food Area) will NOT be open. Instead on SATURDAY ONLY you will have access to the food places in the Student Union until 6:00PM. On Sunday you would have to go to local area food options or the provided food trucks on SUNDAY ONLY.
    3. The library will have Starbucks drinks and other packaged items for purchase in the area where Starbucks once was housed. It is now called “Caffeine Lab”. There is also a convenience store next to the Book store that has a variety of items for consumption. PLEASE utilize these places during the tournament. They both will be open on Saturday 8AM- 5PM. Sunday will ONLY have the Caffeine Lab open from 8AM- 3PM.
    4. ALL judges must be 18 or older and hold a GED/high school diploma. If this becomes an issue we will apply nuisance fees.
    5. Competitors must be in 6th grade and above, approximate age 11.
    6. LD will have FOUR divisions: TOC LD, CA Open LD, CA JV LD, and Novice LD. To participate in Novice LD, a student must be in their first year of competition and in middle school or 9th grade. Any student in their second year of competition or in 10th grade (and beyond) must register for CA JV LD or above. The California High School Speech Association guidelines will be used for Novice and CA Open LD.
    7. ​Monday Elimination rounds will be held at the Marriott Courtyard and Golden Sails Hotel. Further information will be disclosed at the day before.

    HOTEL OPTIONS (for those who are traveling independently and not with GSA)
    We have two options for hotels:
    • COURTYARD MARRIOT HOTEL AIRPORT ($170 per room per night plus tax.)HERE
      3841 N Lakewood Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90808
      Hotel: (562) 429-5803
    OR
    • GOLDEN SAILS HOTEL ( EX-BEST WESTERN) ($119.00 per room per night plus tax)
      6285 E. Pacific Highway, Long Beach, CA 90803
      Direct: (562)594-0210 Ask for Vicki and Jack Howe rate
      Hotel: (562) 596-1631, ext. 294
      www.goldensailshotel.com TAKE OUR VIRTUAL TOUR! https://youtu.be/wmYSOpGS2m8

    PARKING ON CAMPUS:
    Visitors may purchase parking and then park in General (G) Lots including the three parking structures or in Short-Term parking spaces. Visitors may also choose to purchase parking in Employee (E) Lots after 5:30 p.m. and all day on weekends. Please visit the campus map to view all available parking locations CSULB uses the License Plate Recognition (LPR), a paperless permitting system. Your license plate number is needed when purchasing parking. Please have your license plate information with you prior to leaving your vehicle. For more information click HERE


    TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

    ​​DOUBLE ENTRY POLICY FOR ALL EVENTS
    The following policies are in place for double entries this year:
    1. Entries are not allowed to double enter in two limited prep events (e.g., Impromptu, or Extemporaneous Speaking).
    2. Debate events across the board CANNOT double enter in speech events. 
    3. Speech-only entries may double enter in up to two speech events.​

    ENTERING STUDENTS IN NOVICE DIVISIONS (NOVICE ELIGIBILITY):
    The following policies will guide our definition of novice eligibility. Please refer to these polices as you evaluate whether to register in Novice, Junior, or Open.​
    1. For Students That Competed In Middle School: A high school freshman [or beyond] that competed in an event at more than five total tournaments in middle school cannot register for that event as a novice. A high school freshman [or beyond] that competed in an event at less than six total tournaments in middle school may register as a novice for that event.
    2. General Definition For Novice: A “novice” constitutes a student that has competed in less than one complete competition season. “One complete competition season” would include either five [or more] tournaments in one semester AND/OR at least one tournament in two semesters. E.G. A high school sophomore that competed in LD at five tournaments in the fall of the previous year would not be a novice, nor would a high school sophomore that competed in one tournament in the fall and the spring of the previous year.
    3. First-Time Entries In New Debate Events: A student who has no more than one complete competition season [or less] of LD, or PF but has not competed in other debate events may enter as a novice in policy debate. A student who has one complete competition season of policy debate [or more], however, may not enter LD or PF as a novice.
    4. First-Time Entries In New Speech Events: A student who has competed in no more than one complete competition season [or less] of debate events, but has not competed in any speech events, may enter as a novice in speech events. A student who has competed in no more than one complete competition season [or less] of speech events, but has not competed in any debate events, may enter as a novice in debate events.

    ​JUDGE OBLIGATION POLICY:
    • Judges in debate are obligated to stay and judge the first elimination round on Sunday OR one round past any round in which GSA students are actively competing, whichever is later.
    • Speech judges are obligated for all rounds at the tournament.
    • TOC LD and Open PF will occur over three days (e.g., Saturday, 9/24 to Monday, 9/26). Judges in these events are obligated for all three days at the tournament.


    OTHER POLICIES
    1. ALL Chaperone and Liability forms must be filled out before registering. Chaperone forms are for all folks that are above the age of 18 that come along with your group (parents, judges, coaches, etc). Liability forms are for every single individual, regardless of age, in your group (students, parents, judges, coaches, etc).
    2. NO TEAM is to set up shop on or around ANY memorial or statue on campus: there will be penalties for doing so. People will be asked to immediately leave that area and clean it up if witnessed. If you decide to set up shop on any area on campus, ESPECIALLY the union and outdoor spaces, we should not have to walk around and see mounds of trash on your tables or spaces. PLEASE constantly clear your trash when finished. It doesn’t look proper to other visitors to the campus on that day or general staff that are around. We have had problems with people disposing their trash in the past. We would like to not have to be the enforcers, but WE WILL. If we see that people have mounds of trash on the property, we will ask you to dispose of it immediately. If you need extra bags to dispose of your trash, please let us know and we will take it to the nearest dump.
    3. FLIGHTING ROUNDS: Please inform your students and judges that competitors that are flight 2 should be allowed to be in the room to watch the first flight. Inform your students on the process of flighting so they do not panic or cause any delays because of confusion. Several events will be flighted.
    4. JUDGE/ COMPETITOR NO SHOW: If a judge or competitor has not shown up within 5 minutes of start time, please alert the tournament via the helpline number so that we can route that information to the tab room.
    5. ALL people who intend on participating (competitors and judges) MUST have an active and confirmed TABROOM.COM account.
    6. All judges that need to have training should watch: NSDA Judge training. If you have further questions, we will have a Zoom based question room assigned.
    7. DOFs: It is your responsibility to train judges for this and every tournament. Especially with the issues relating to Covid-19, we are trusting you to bring qualified adults who can judge and create a safe environment for our students. Please make sure they watch the judge training from NSDA.  If a judge or competitor has not shown up within 5 minutes please alert the tournament via text message to the helpline number/Campus mechanism so that we can route that information to the tab room. PLEASE make sure that all your debaters and teams know this number to report issues. That number is: TBA (TEXT ONLY - DO NOT CALL)
    8. This year we will adopt the CHSSA Harassment and Discrimination Policy with some specific additions.​

    Harassment and Discrimination Policy
    The California High School Speech Association is committed to providing its participants, judges, coaches, and members the opportunity to pursue excellence in their endeavors. This opportunity can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. CHSSA is committed to maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of harassment and discrimination. Accordingly, all forms of harassment and discrimination are prohibited, whether committed by participants, judges, coaches, or observers. CHSSA is committed to the enforcement of this policy. Individuals who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to the full range of sanctions, up to and including removal from the tournament premises and prosecution by authorities. Any individual or group of individuals who believes they have been a victim of harassment and/or discrimination should report it to the Help Desk or appropriate authority immediately.
     
    The addition and specificity that we add to what all forms of harassment and discrimination includes but not limited to bullying and harassment on social media of ALL kinds or within a round, zoom bombing, use of racial, ethnic, ableist, religious, gendered, and sexual slurs, and other inappropriate comments or “advancements” from or to ANY participant. All judges’ web cameras should ALWAYS be at eye level and on while judging. If any violations to these additions occur, the violator will be asked to no longer judge or be disqualified. I take this very seriously DO NOT take your chances. 
     
    We will be bringing back the following features of the Jack Howe:
    Sweepstakes calculation. We will use a percentile system to calculate the top debate program and the top IE program; we will use an "equalization" system to determine the top overall school. This new sweepstakes calculation system is a result of persistent errors in calculation that have resulted from the system we have used to calculate sweepstakes in the past.
     
    Over $10,000 in scholarships to students who win first place speaker/team in a senior division event. Each top-place finisher will receive a renewable $800 scholarship to attend CSULB (upon acceptance) and compete on our nationally ranked forensics team, where they will be required to compete for a year. This scholarship is only renewable based on grades, competition, work ethic, and need.  
      
    Please keep in mind that wearing masks are not a political statement. WEAR ONE PLEASE


    ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

    ​REQUIRED LIABILITY AND CHAPERONE FORMS
    Here is the NEW Code of Conduct form and Liability form that accounts for the new terrain of COVID-19. ALL parents, judges, coaches, and anyone who is attending in any capacity where one interacts with minors, must fill out these forms. Students must only fill out the Liability form.
    If you would like to turn in electronic copies, the form must be compliant with authentication protocols. Programs such as DocuSign or AdobeSign are REQUIRED, or just scan the printed paper version.
    Liability Form (for everybody)
    Code of Conduct Form (for judges and parents who will come along)


    EVENT-SPECIFIC INFORMATION

    PUBLIC FORUM TOPIC
    NSDA PF Sep/Oct
    Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its investment in high-speed rail.

    LINCOLN DOUGLAS TOPIC
    NSDA LD Sep/Oct
    Resolved: The United States ought to implement a single-payer universal healthcare system

    ​LINCOLN DOUGLAS DIVISION DIFFERENCES
    CA LD/NOV vs TOC/JV
    We have different iterations of Lincoln Douglas (LD) at our tournament that I want to make clear. We have done this to have respect to different styles, competitive aspirations, and argumentative directions/choices that students would like to engage in. There are 4 potential LD divisions. This was done to juggle the regional and national circuit debate differences so that all parties can be satisfied. 
    • The CA LD OPEN/ NOVICE divisions (e.g., CA-LD and Novice LD) is governed by CHSSA Rules ONLY. CA LD is more traditional and non-circuit debate or in some cases lay debating. There ARE argument limitations that are sanctioned by The California High School Speech Association. Please review the rules posted above. In a nut shell this means no Kritiks, Counterplans, Plans, or other arguments that are not allowed. 
    • The TOC LD/ JV divisions (e.g., TOC LD and JV LD) is governed by NSDA/TOC rules and procedures. These events are more aligned with circuit norms and procedures. there are NO limitations on argument styles and plan usage. The TOC bid for the Quarterfinal would be the result of competition in the TOC LD division. There will be no TOC bid in the JV pool. 
    Please consider the differences in these divisions when registering in Lincoln Douglas events. The judge pools will only be connected by the groupings listed above. 

    ​Entry Price

    The fees below assume that you will be traveling on your own (parents will take their child to Southern California and book their own accommodations).
    If you are leaving your child to travel with the GSA team, we will collect a $150 deposit. The final expenses per student minus the deposit will be invoiced once we know the final cost.

    One speech event and parent is judging $75
    Two speech events and parent is judging $100
    Novice /JV LD and parent is judging $120
    Open CA LD and parent is judging $130
    Open TOC LD and parent is judging $160
    Novice PF and parent is judging $85
    Open PF and parent is judging $105

    One speech event and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $155
    Two speech events and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $180
    Novice /JV LD and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $230
    Open CA LD and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $240
    Open TOC LD and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $320
    Novice PF and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $190
    Open PF and parent is OPTING OUT OF judging $250

    Each person in a PF/Policy/Duo team would be responsible of providing their own judge, so one PF/Policy/Duo team would need to either provide two judges, both pay the judge fee, or one of each option.

    Registration will not be complete until payment is received.
    NOTE: We will charge set up fees if we have to create tabroom.com accounts for judges. It is recommended you do so on your own.

    Schedule

    Novice/JV/CA Debate Schedule:
    CA LD, JV LD, Novice LD, Novice PF

    Saturday (9/24)
    Registration   7:00 AM        8:00 AM
    Round 1         8:00 AM         10:30 AM
    Round 2         10:30 AM       12:30 PM
    Lunch            12:30 PM        1:30 PM
    Round 3         1:30 PM         3:30 PM
    Round 4         4:00 PM         6:30 PM
    Round 5         7:00 PM         9:00 PM

    Sunday (9/25)
    Round 6 (CA LD, Parli)       8:00 AM         10:00 AM
    Double Octos                        11:00 AM         1:00 PM
    Octos (Double Flight)         2:00 PM         4:30 PM
    Quarters (Single Flight)     5:00 PM         6:30 PM
    Semis (Single Flight)          6:30 PM         8:00 PM
    Finals                                      8:00 PM         9:30 PM

    Open/TOC Debate Schedule:
    Open CX, Open PF, TOC LD

    Saturday (9/24)
    Registration   7:00 AM        8:00 AM
    Round 1           8:00 AM        10:00 AM
    Round 2         10:00 AM       12:00 PM
    Lunch             12:00 PM        1:30 PM
    Round 3         1:30 PM          3:30 PM
    Round 4         4:00 PM         6:00 PM

    Sunday (9/25)
    Round 5                                     8:00 AM         10:00 AM
    Round 6/NCX Quarters         11:00 AM         1:00 PM
    Double Octos/NCX Semis     2:00 PM         4:00 PM
    Octofinals/NCX Finals            5:00 PM         7:00 PM

    Monday (9/26)
    Quarterfinals   8:00 AM         10:00 AM
    Semifinals        11:00 AM         1:00 PM
    Finals                 2:00 PM         4:00 PM

    Speech Schedule

    Sunday (9/25)
    Registration 7:00am
    7:45am – Extemp Draw - R1
    8:00am - Round 1 - All Speech Events
    10:00am - Extemp Draw – R2
    10:15am – Round 2 All Speech Events
    12:15pm – Extemp Draw – R3
    12:30pm – Round 3 All speech Events
    2:45pm – Extemp Draw – Elim 1
    3:00pm – Speech Elim 1
    5:00pm – Extemp Draw – Elim 2
    5:15pm - Speech Elim 2
    Awards – 7:15 or ASAP
    NOTES REGARDING IN-PERSON SETTING
    1. ​As of now, MASKS are mandatory in all indoor spaces unless you are doing something that requires you to not wear a mask (e.g. actively eating/drinking). There is not an enforced vaccine requirement for visitors (strongly preferred), but please be careful, clean, and socially distanced when you can. If you are feeling ill with symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness, please take a test before coming to campus to ensure that you are keeping everyone safe. We want everyone to be safe as possible.
    2. VERY IMPORTANT- PLEASE utilize the food services and retail during the weekend. It is so imperative to do this because we have lost the Dining plaza and the Nugget for now. We have never had the food locations open down in the Union. They have decided to test out our patronage. As of now, Subway and Carl’s Junior have decided to open from 10:00 to 3:00 PM (SATURDAY ONLY). However, they will stay open longer if the business is constant. On Sunday, we will have two food trucks on campus for dining needs. PLEASE use these trucks. I will have further information once the contract is settled. Additionally, the Caffeine lab (formerly Starbucks) in the library will be open both days along with the convenience store attached to the Bookstore.
    3. It is so imperative that we keep cleanliness in mind as we camp out on parts of the campus, ESPECIALLY the union. The union folks are on guard about letting us use their space again due to past run-ins and other events that have left a bad taste in their mouths. PLEASE make sure to not make any substantial changes to the furniture arrangements in any of the hall areas of the union. Make sure to CLEAN your table of trash or food waste, even if you plan to return to it later. DO NOT drag chairs or furniture across the union floors. LIFT IT up and place it where you desire to sit. IF you need help with a spill or clean up let the union attendees know ASAP. For outdoor spaces, have the same level of consideration because those spaces have more eyes on them from university entities. DO NOT camp out on memorials or statues on campus.  Other than those requests, I beg that you respect this space: our future tournaments are at stake.
    4. ​PLEASE have your students download the CSULB App! Visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to download the app. This app will help with parking, campus maps, and any other alert the campus may have. This would help with cutting down on the printing of campus maps. However, we will still supply them inside of your folder.
    5. Parking is a bit ROUGH at CSULB. Parking must be paid for in every space you park on campus. There are areas that are in neighborhoods that are close by that may have some parking but READ SIGNS because there could be a required permit. DO NOT park at the VA hospital. If you do, it is at your own risk. Your best bet is to either arrive early to campus or use a rideshare app which will drop you off at one of the drop off locations. Please write down your license plate to have ready at the pay machine. For more information visit this site VISITOR PARKING.
    6. Please inform your students about the practice of flighted rounds. Given that many of your students will be new to debate or the concept of flighting, you must let them know how that process works. For example, LD and PF will be flighted and assigned 1 or 2. If your students are flight 2 they should watch flight 1 to be in that location for the round. Some flights will only have one section.

    Drop Fee

    Drop fees will be the same amounts as the entry fee PLUS any fees the tournament charges us for late drops. Drop requests should be made to Victor and Nadia.

    Please do not drop out last minute to avoid being charged these fees.

    Contact Info

    Victor Rivas Umana
    Contact email:  vrivasumana@tgsastaff.com
    Nadia Budiman 
    Contact email: nbudiman@tgsastaff.com
    Or info@tgsastaff.com

    Registration Form

    ​REQUIRED LIABILITY AND CHAPERONE FORMS
    Here is the NEW Code of Conduct form and Liability form that accounts for the new terrain of COVID-19. ALL parents, judges, coaches, and anyone who is attending in any capacity where one interacts with minors, must fill out these forms. Students must only fill out the Liability form.
    If you would like to turn in electronic copies, the form must be compliant with authentication protocols. Programs such as DocuSign or AdobeSign are REQUIRED.
    ​
    Liability Form (for everybody)
    Code of Conduct Form (for judges and parents who will come along)
    STUDENT INFORMATION
    If this is your first time competing, make sure to first create a Tabroom account here: https://www.tabroom.com/user/login/new_user.mhtml
    It's super simple and quick (<1 minute), but follow the guidelines here in case anything is confusing: ​https://docs.tabroom.com/Sign_Up
    PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
    Your email address will be the one included when we send the logistics email.
    Max file size: 20MB
    EVENT SELECTION
    Students can only enter in 1 debate event OR up to 2 speech events. Students cannot do 2 limited prep events.
    Got any questions? Please email nbudiman@tgsastaff.com, info@tgsastaff.com, vrivasumana@tgsastaff.com
    ​JUDGE PROVISION
    Max file size: 20MB
    Max file size: 20MB

    ​Click here to complete the highly recommended Cultural Competency judge training course

    Signing up a judge without having a Tabroom account will result in us charging you for the set up fee.
    ​You can do this easily on your own by going to tabroom.com. It literally takes less than a minute.

    First time judging? Click here to learn how to do it! Or watch our Youtube playlist here.
    ​There are also these training cards available that include a summary of each event's rules and comments.​

    ​Tournaments encourage judges to have a paradigm on their Tabroom account, which can be a few sentences on your preferences of debating styles, etc. See here for example. It doesn't need to be this long, but make sure to add something before you sign up. For example: "I am a parent, please speak clearly and slowly and avoid technical jargon".​

    ​More tournament resources can be found here.
    TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.
Check our home page for the schedule!

School year Hours

M-F: 3:45 pm - 8:30 pm 
Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Telephone

510-270-8480
510-470-0531

Email (preferred)

For more info email us at: info@tgsastaff.com

Locations

Fremont: 200 Brown Rd #201, Fremont, CA 94539

Cupertino: 20432 Silverado Avenue Suite 211, Cupertino, CA 95014

Aborn Institute: 2804 Riedel Road, San Jose, CA 95135