Greetings from the NDCA Executive Board! We hope that you have had a restful break and, like us, are looking forward to the new semester.

In order to better serve the NDCA as an organization, as well as you the members of the NDCA, the NDCA Executive Board recently voted to undertake some structural changes. These structural changes are designed to promote more direct communication, more transparency and more cooperation between Board members, NDCA members and other elements of our debate community. We are excited to share these changes with you.

As you will see below, the goal of the restructuring is to task each member with a specific project or elements of the organization; in essence, to provide a point person for the parts of the NDCA that matter the most to the health of the organization and the community. This, in turn, provides NDCA members with a more direct route to information and input on various parts of the NDCA organization.

The Board views each area as significant to the organization’s functioning and mission. We have noted each Board member who has agreed to serve as the point person for each area along with their email addresses.

As the Board makeup changes with each regularly scheduled election or the needs of the organization change, our expectation is that we will reassign areas to Board members as deemed necessary and appropriate by each new Board. So, in no particular order:

Chair of Executive Board

Tracy McFarland, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas (TX)

Questions and input regarding Board elections, membership votes, agenda items for the NDCA and general inquires should be directed to Tracy.

NDCA Championship Tournament Liaison

Nicole Serrano, Montgomery Bell Academy (TN)

Questions and input regarding the NDCA Championships, including tournament bids for future championships and tournament information for the current year site should directed to Nicole.

Coach Development and Education Coordinator

Glenda Ferguson, Coppell High School (TX)

Questions or input regarding summer workshops for coaches including scholarships, development of regional one-day workshops, curriculum development and posting on NDCA website should be directed to Glenda.

Director of Website

Maggie Berthiaume, Chattahoochee High School (GA)

Questions and input regarding the NDCA website, including posting, blogging or news items for the website should be directed to Maggie.

Director of Finance

Jenny Heidt, Westminster Schools (GA)

Questions or input regarding membership dues, NDCA non-profit status or financial matters related to the NDCA should be directed to Jenny.

Internal Communications Coordinator

Carol Greene, The Harker School (CA)

Questions or input regarding Board meetings, NDCA by-laws and operating procedures should be directed to Carol.

Membership Coordinator

Jon Cruz, Bronx High School of Science (NY)

Questions or input regarding new or renewing individual, institutional, and lifetime memberships including membership drives should be directed to Jon.

Open Evidence Coordinator

Tara Tate, Glenbrook South High School (IL)

Questions or input regarding the NDCA flagship program, the Open Evidence Project for LD and Policy should be directed to Tara.

Director of Public Relations

Mike Bietz, Harvard Westlake School (CA)

Questions or input regarding articles for NDCA Coaches Corner in Rostrum, NDCA newsletters, press releases or news stories involving the NDCA should be directed to Mike.

We hope these changes assist in better serving your needs and in growing the organization.

Any questions can be directed to info@debatecoaches.org.