The New York State Debate Coaches Association seeks to grow debate in the state, to develop infrastructure that responds to the contemporary and growing needs of the evolving debate community in the state, and to recognize the significant accomplishments of debaters, debate coaches, and debate programs in the state.

Membership is open to any school in New York State, upon the payment of annual membership dues ($50 per year). Any number of coaches from a school may participate in the organization, but only the head coach may vote in official proceedings. Please send your name (as debate director), the name of your school, and your principal’s name to Jon Cruz, the President of the NYSDCA. You will be sent an invoice in return.

Communications among coaches are through the NYSDCA listserver. You do not need to be a member of the organization to participate on the listserver. This open resource is available at the NYSDCA Google Group.

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Board of Directors

President: Jon Cruz (Bronx Science)
Director of Communications: Jim Menick (Hendrick Hudson)
Director of Finance: Joe Vaughan (Scarsdale)
Director of Legal Affairs: Sheryl Kaczmarek (Newburgh Free)
Director of Outreach: Adam Stevens (Brooklyn Tech)
Director of Professional Development: Erik Fogel (Bronx Law)
Director-at-Large: Stefan Bauschard (Lakeland)

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Constitution of the New York State Debate Coaches Association

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the New York State Debate Coaches Association.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The New York State Debate Coaches Association seeks to recognize the significant accomplishments of debaters, debate coaches, and debate programs in the state, to develop infrastructure that responds to the contemporary and growing needs of the evolving debate community in the state, and to grow debate in the state.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERS

Membership in the New York State Debate Coaches Association (henceforth referred to as the NYSDCA) is open to all coaches of debate in New York State. While any number of coaches from a school may join the organization, only the designated head coach of a program may vote in NYSDCA elections and proceedings.

Each school that wishes to have a voting membership in the NYSDCA — that is, each school that wishes to have its head coach have a vote in NYSDCA elections and proceedings — will pay annual dues set by the organization. Schools with financial need may apply for a waiver of annual dues.

ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors of the NYSDCA will consist of seven individuals voted upon by the general membership. In the first election cycle, the four candidates who receive the highest number of votes will be elected to a two-year term, while the next three highest-polling candidates will be elected to a one-year term. Thereafter, each year, alternating slates of four and three positions will be open for election, and winning candidates will serve two-year terms. There are no term limits for Board members.

Upon election, the members of the Board will then decide amongst themselves who on the Board will serve in each position.

The Board will consist of the following positions:

• The President will serve as the leader of the organization. With consultation from the Board and the general membership, the President sets agenda items for Board discussion. The President spearheads public relations efforts outside of the organization and fields general inquiries from the membership. The President is also responsible for oversight of the NYSDCA State Tournament Director.

• The Director of Communications will impart to the membership news about the organization and its constituents. The Director of Communications will also maintain a central database of in-state results and update the tournament calendar.

• The Director of Legal Affairs will, initially, handle incorporation issues and, subsequently, consult on other legal matters when necessary.

• The Director of Outreach will spearhead efforts to reach out to new programs and underserved members of the debate community.

• The Director of Professional Development will coordinate NYSDCA coach and student education programs and materials. These materials will be made available online in a clear and accessible section of the NYSDCA web site.

• The Director of Finance will serve as treasurer of the NYSDCA. The Director of Finance will keep all financial records and work with an outside accountant, when necessary, for tax purposes.

• The Director-at-Large will be responsible for areas and tasks unassigned to other members of the Board.

In case of resignation, a special election will be held to fill the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE V. STATE TOURNAMENT

The NYSDCA will sponsor a State Tournament as a championship event to recognize the top debaters in New York State.

The Board will appoint a Tournament Director, either from among the membership of the Board or from outside the Board, to oversee the tournament.

The tournament will host competition in Congressional Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, and Public Forum Debate. As numbers warrant, competition will be held in varsity, junior varsity, and novice divisions for high school students entered in the latter three events. As numbers warrant, competition will also be held in middle school divisions.

Novice divisions will be limited to first-year debaters; junior varsity divisions will be limited to second-year debaters.

Tournament qualification will be based on accumulation of points. To qualify, students or teams must accumulate four points at NYSDCA-sanctioned tournaments in a given season by a deadline established publicly by the Board in September of the same school year.

In addition to qualifying entries through the aforementioned point system, member schools may automatically enter one debater or team in each of the four events. This automatic entry may be in any of the three skill levels, where applicable.

The Board of Directors will be empowered to set tournament policy. These policies will be made public on the NYSDCA web site.

ARTICLE VI. NYSDCA INITIATIVES

The NYSDCA shall sponsor or co-sponsor initiatives to fulfill the statement of purpose outlined in Article II.

ARTICLE VII. NYSDCA BY-LAWS

The Board of Directors shall be empowered to set and amend by-laws of the organization. Board decisions on any action require a simple majority vote.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

Amendment of this Constitution will require a two-thirds majority vote of the total membership.