Is it really mid-November? Is Christmas break just around the corner? I don't know about the rest of you, but I am counting the days to having a break from school! But all of us have tournaments to attend and teams to coach before that can happen. Let me congratulate all schools who have already hosted successful tournaments and the many student who have won trophies. Please remind your students that first place winners are posted on the SC website from each SC tournament (see Results). If I have missed a tournament or a first place win, please contact me immediately so that I can update the website.

Welcome to Julie Beasley the new coach at Richland Northeast HS in Columbia. We are all glad to see that that program will continue!

Now that almost all of you have paid your membership dues to NFL, let me encourage you to keep up with entering your points from tournament to tournament. The online system is easy and yields immediate updates on your team's membership progress.

Controversy has been renamed - again - and is now called Ted Turner Debate. You got it - THE Ted Turner. Please go to the SC website to read about this (Newsflash, November 11). Let me encourage all schools hosting tournaments in January and February to include this new debate event. We need to be doing the two-man format for those two months since this is the format that will be used at the District tournament in March. Please note the following about Ted Turner Debate: 1. Ballots are now available through the NFL. 2. Topics are released each month by the NFL. 3. Note cards usage has no restrictions. 4. Lay judges are to be used - no debate judge should ever be used for this event. 5. The crossfire exchange should be interactive. (Crossfire periods are for 3 minutes) 6. Each NFL district will qualify one team from nationals. 7. Contestants in this event may not double at Districts/Nationals. Specific and printable (acrobat reader) Ted Turner Debate rules are found on the SC Website (click on Ted Turner Rules and Ballot).

The December Ted Turner topic is now on the SC Website and on the NFL Website (Topics). Topics will be announced the 15th day of the previous month (i.e. January topic will be online December 16).

By the way, the District tournament will be held at Mauldin HS March 14-15, 2003. Much thanks to Bobby Black for agreeing to be the host for this very important tournament.

New Procedures for Online Recording:

1. A coach enters members online.

2. The following day the NFL office sends membership cards with an invoice to the coach to pay within 30 days.

3. Hand engrossed certificates are mailed as soon as they are prepared.

4. If the invoice is not paid within 60 days a $25 late charge will apply.

Schools which owe the NFL money will not be allowed to enter any students at DISTRICTS or NATIONALS!!

To avoid problems schools may:

1. Send an advance payment to the office for use against future purchases.

2. Present a check to the district chair for money owed prior to the district tournament.

3. Plan ahead and make sure students entered online are paid for in a timely manner.

(This information is quoted from the NFL District Chair Newsletter from Jim Copeland)

As we get closer to the District tournament, I will deal with double entry questions and other changes that we face. In the meantime, I wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving - enjoy your days off!