Club Member Responsibilities

1. Yearly Registration

At the beginning of each school year, each returning family must complete and submit all forms and fees prior to the yearly Veritas Speech and Debate camp.  A late fee may be assessed if forms and fees are not submitted in a timely manner.  Forms required include:  Registration, Release of Liability, Statement of Faith, Member Covenant, Code of Conduct, and Team Policy Debate Evidence Guidelines.

Please note that we suggest new members re-read the online handbook (i.e. the members only web pages of our website) in December in preparation for tournament season.

2.  Club participation – Weekly club attendance and participation is mandatory for students and parents.

Participating in speech consists of being in a room actively listening and coaching speech students. For debate, participation means being available to judge and/or listen to debaters’ speeches (change for better clarity).   When unable to attend club, competitors should email AEAspeechanddebate@gmail.com.  

The club member code of conduct states that students who are not actively giving speeches or debating should be listening to speeches or debates, not just hanging around outside or in a room without adult supervision. This is critical to our team and each member’s success.

3.  Stoa membership – Each family must join Stoa before the first tournament:  Stoa Membership page

4.  Tournament participation – Each family should plan to participate in a minimum of three (3) qualifying Stoa tournaments.  The official calendar of Stoa tournaments can be found at Stoa Tournament Calendar posting. Most local tournaments will be discussed at club.

Parents must judge and time at tournaments (each tournament will provide minimum judging and timing requirements). You will have opportunities to practice judging at club before tournament season. If someone takes your child to a tournament for you, make sure your child’s judging slots are covered by that parent or someone else who will be attending the tournament.

5.  Tournament hosts – Parents will assist with Veritas-hosted tournaments (see below). If Veritas hosts a speech-only tournament, we need and require debate-only families to help (and vice versa). Tournaments are huge endeavors and we need everyone’s help.  Job assignments will be coordinated at club. Hosting tournaments is a way we can serve the other teams in California and is also the primary way we receive funds that help cover our club expenses.

• Veritas fall tournament (a one-day debate only tournament) is currently being planned.  We will update everyone soon.

• Veritas spring tournament (a speech and debate tournament) usually in March.

6.  Meals for coaches – Each family should sign up to provide a meal once or twice a year for Coach Garcia and Coach Smith. Those who don’t volunteer will be assigned dates. We request that speech families as well as debate families help with this.  Sign-ups occur on Sign-up Genius at the beginning of the year.

8.  Communication – Communications will be sent via email.  Each family is responsible for checking their email frequently. Families must take care to read all the new information as sometimes several new messages are sent in the same week. It is helpful to check on Monday afternoons before coming to club in case there is a late announcement concerning that evening’s club meeting.

8.  Facility clean-up – Debate families should volunteer by Sign-up Genius to help straighten the facility at the end of debate. One family is needed each evening to help with clean up, and getting Coach Smith home at a reasonable hour. Details on clean-up responsibilities can be found at Guidelines for club campus (review for updates when your family is in charge of clean up).