Tompkins Speech and Debate Booster Club -General Meeting

Minutes of Meeting
Date: August 28, 2024
Time: 6.00 pm
Location: LGI, Obra D Tompkins High School

Board Members Present:

Ashwini Wani (President)

Ann Piehl (Vice President)

Neha Maheshwari (Social Secretary)

Sonali Sapru (Treasurer)

Susanne Lau (Head Hospitality)

Coach Meaghan West (Honorary Member)

Parents Present :44 (List Attached)

Board or Voting Members Absent:

Coach Duplanty (Honorary member)

Quorum is present.

Meeting called to order at 6.00 pm

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks

• The meeting was called to order by Coach Meaghan West.
• Coach West welcomed all attendees and thanked them for their continued support.

2. Highlights of the Tompkins Speech & Debate Team

• Coach West introduced all the officers of the team.
• Coach West shared the team stats and lauded the team for a winning performance.

3. Team Communication - SLACK:

• Coach West informed that all team related communication with the students will be done via SLACK.
• Parents should join Slack to communicate with the coaches.
• Parents will be added to the tournament channel if their student is going for the tournament for updates and photos.

4. Tournament Signups.

• Coach West shared the Tournament schedule. This is also available on the website.
• Coach West explained the various tyes of speech & debate events.
• QR Code will be posted in Coach West’s room for tournament signup.
• Dropping out of the tournament after signup will result in $35 Nuisance Fees.
• Failure to prepare and demerits points will lead to student being dropped from tournament
• All communication for tournament will be via SLACK.
• Coach West informed that the travel tournament is not included in team fees. Payment for these will be separate and will include flight, hotel, transportation etc.
• Novices should attend all novice nights. They will be allowed to attend local tournament once skill set matches the expectations.
• Varsity students should attend 8 local tournaments and judge 1 novice night.
• Coach West discussed the logistics and expectations of local tournaments.
• The attire for the tournaments is expected to be Business Formals.

5. Parental Involvement

• Coach West requested parents to pay all team dues by September 20, 2024 or 3 days before the first tournament.
• Judge 2 full days of tournament or include additional $150 in team dues.
• Sign up genius will be shared for judging signups.
• Donations of snacks, meals , water etc is appreciated.

6. Class Expectations

• Coach West discussed the class expectations and listed the requirements, grading policy and technology.
• Varsity members must attend practice each week.
• Novice members are welcome to join practice each week.
• Priority will always be on students with imminent competitions.

7. Tompkins Speech and Debate booster club

• Coach west introduced the booster club.
• Ashwini wani explained the mission of the booster club and introduced the board members.
• Ashwini Wani explained what the team donations will be used for.
• Ashwini Wani informed that the team donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
• The various methods of making payments for the team donations were informed.
• Ashwini Wani introduced the website othsspeechanddebate.org
• The website has the relevant information about the update about the team, team schedules, merchandise, donation links etc.
• She requested the audience to follow the facebook page of the booster club.
• The upcoming dates for the Booster club were informed

• Inhouse tournamenent- October 5,2024
• Debate Banquet - April 25,2025
• Booster Board meetings -Second Wednesday of every month
• Fundraising - Silent Auction - TBD

• Ashwini Wani also requested the audience to sign up for volunteering.

8. Open Floor

• Attendees were given the opportunity to raise any additional concerns or questions.
• Coach West and Booster Club team will revert with any concerns raised.

9. Next Meeting

• The date for the next General meeting is To Be Decided and will be informed to the parents.

10. Adjournment

• Meeting was adjourned at 7.00 pm.

Respectfully submitted,
Neha Maheshwari
Tompkins Speech and Debate Booster Club - Social Secretary

Approved by:
Ashwini Wani
Tompkins Speech and Debate Booster Club-  President

Ann Piehl

Tompkins Speech and Debate Booster Club-  Vice President

August 28,2024

Appendix: (List of Parent Attendees)