MSDA Constitution

Manitoba Speech and Debate Association Constitution

1- The purpose of the Manitoba Speech and Debate Association (MSDA) is promote debating and public speaking in schools in Manitoba

2- The members of the Manitoba Speech and Debate Association are schools that have joined the Association and have paid the membership fee.

3- The MSDA will organize and coordinate debating/public speaking tournaments in Manitoba and will, where possible, offer workshops and resources on debating/public speaking to member schools. It will maintain a website to provide information on tournaments and resources such as rules and scoresheets for debating/public speaking.

4- The MSDA will select students to represent the province at National and regional debating/public speaking competitions. Selection will normally be based on a qualifying tournament and follow the MSDA’s guidelines on selecting students.

5- The Executive of the MSDA will be elected at the annual general meeting (AGM). The AGM will normally be held towards the end of each school year. For-profit coaches may not be members of the Executive. The officers are as follows:

a. The President who will be the chief executive officer of the organization, will call the AGM, and will coordinate and assist the activities of the executive.

b. The Treasurer who will look after the finances of the organization including collecting membership fees and paying such expenses related to debating/public speaking activities that are authorized by the executive.

c. The Vice-President who will assist the executive in looking after debating and public speaking activities in the province, and will become President should the President resign or be unable to carry out the job.

d. The Secretary who will take minutes and assist the executive in looking after debating and public speaking activities in the province

e. The Past President who will assist the President and the Executive.

6- This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote at the AGM. Policies and rules may be altered by a two-thirds vote at the AGM. Policies and rules may be modified between AGM’s by a two-thirds majority vote of the executive although such changes lapse at the next AGM unless passed at that AGM.

7- Quorum for the AGM is 10% of the member schools. Quorum for the Executive is three.