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Eau Claire Memorial Tournament 2025
General information
This is a High School tournament in Wisconsin. View manager contact information
Dear Forensics Coach,
We are excited to invite you and your students to the Eau Claire Memorial High School Annual Forensics Tournament on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
The tournament will have 3 rounds plus a final “power” round. There will be awards for finalists and sweepstakes awards for the top teams. This tournament is WFCA and WISDAA friendly, and students may participate in up to three categories (triple enter).
*** NEW THIS YEAR***
Instant Feedback Round: This year, we're going to pilot an "Instant Feedback Round", which will be Round 1. After the first round, speakers will get a chance to meet with their judge and get feedback
More Info:
Only after the first round will students be able to get feedback.
Feedback will be individual.
Meeting with your judge is not mandatory.
The time between Round 1 and 2 will be longer than ususal.
We hope this gives speakers a chance to perhaps try something new and/ or give a judge the opportunity to further explain a comment.
Registration: All entries must be submitted in SpeechWire (https://speechwire.com/) by Tuesday, March 4, 2024 at 5:00pm.
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Drops after this time will not reduce your fees or judging requirements.
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Teams are allowed to submit an unlimited number of entries per category.
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Checks are payable to: Eau Claire Memorial High School Forensics
Fees: The entry fee is $10 per individual entry and $15 per group entry. If you must hire a judge from us the cost is $110 per judge. Please make checks payable to Eau Claire Memorial High School Forensics.
Judges: Please bring one judge for every 5 entries with a maximum of 5 affiliated (dirty) judges per school. Head coaches must ensure that all judges are briefed on rules and judging etiquette. If you must hire a judge from us the cost is $110.
Student Names Pronunciation: Please add the pronunciation to student names in the Roster section of SpeechWire.
E-ballots: All judges must bring a Wi-Fi enabled portable device for receiving the judging schedule, writing critiques, and submitting ranks. We will not have additional devices to offer. – E-ballots will be released to coaches to share with their students after the tournament.
Food: We will have concessions for sale, or students may bring lunch from home. The concession stand is cash only. There will be food available for coaches and judges in the judges’ lounge.
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We will not be selling water at the concession stand or have any in the judges' lounge. We will have free drinking fountains to refill water bottles.
Tournament Day Information:
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Tournament Day Drops: Tournament day drops must be called in on Saturday morning before your team departs for Memorial. This information is critical to know prior to your arrival to ensure the tournament runs on time and smoothly. Schedules may need to be adjusted to balance round sizes. Schools whose students are not transported as a team (i.e. nearby schools like EC North, Regis, etc.) are exempt from this request, but please report any changes as soon as possible. Report any changes to Johannah at 715 559 3180.
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Parking: Please park cars and buses in the lot off of Keith Street closest to Clairemont Ave. -- The one that is near the big eagle on the building.
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Entrance: Enter via Door 1; the door under the Eagle
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Belongings: Belongings may be left in the Commons. That will be the central student/ hangout area.
TENTATIVE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
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Time
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Event
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ASAP
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Report drops or changes via call or text to Johannah Erffmeyer at 715 559 3180
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7:45 – 8:15
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Check-in
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8:30
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General Meeting in Auditorium for EVERYONE, all speakers, coaches, and judges (except Radio Announcers and Extempers).
Round 1: Radio Announcers and Extempers report to Draw/Prep in the Library
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9:00
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Round One
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10:15
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Round 2: Radio and Extemp Draw/Prep
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10:45
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Round Two
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11:30
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Round 3: Radio and Extemp Draw/Prep
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12:00
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Round Three
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After a brief break for lunch and tabulation, the approximate times are:
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1:45
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Post Results in Cafeteria
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2:00
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Final / Power Round
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As Soon As Possible After the Power Round
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Awards in the Auditorium
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Please reach out if you have any questions, or if your team has restrictions or needs. We will do our best to accommodate and provide the best tournament experience possible for all in attendance.
We are looking forward to hosting you and your students and a fun forensics season!
Johannah Erffmeyer, Mielle Rundall, & Mackenzie Pfund
715 559 3180
erffmeyerj@gmail.com
Tournament Specific Category Notes
We welcome WFCA and WISDAA schools, and students may perform according to the category rules for which they have prepared. If an element of a performance is allowed in either WFCA or WISDAA, it will be allowed at this tournament.
Demonstration Speaking / Expository Speaking / Informative Speaking
WFCA and WISDAA have recently made changes regarding these categories, and the rules are similar. These are the guidelines for our tournament:
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Demonstration Speaking is no longer a category, but speeches of that style may be performed in the revised Informative Speaking.
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Expository Speaking has been added as a category. The intention of the speech is to be informational. Speakers may describe, clarify, illustrate, or define an object, idea, concept, or process in a 5 minute time limit and no visual aids permitted. Notes are permitted and unrestricted.
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Informative Speaking has been changed from 6 minutes to 10 minutes, visual aids may be used or worn, and the Criteria for Evaluation sub-points were rewritten. Notes are permitted and unrestricted. Optionally, an entry may have two presenters. This will count as a single entry (not a group category) for registration fees.
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Extemporaneous Speaking and Radio Announcing Internet use: Competitors in Extemporaneous Speaking and Radio Announcing may utilize the internet during their preparation for research but not for communicating with people or accessing pre-written speeches or outlines.
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Radio Announcing: Competitors may bring their own devices for Radio preparation, and they may use the devices in the performance room for reading the script. Paper copies of the source packet will also be available.
2024-2025 Speech Topics
Moments in History
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Time Periods: 1940’s and/or 1840-1900
OIL: Program order will be announced at the General Meeting.
Public Address
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To what extent will artificial intelligence impact the future of work and/or education?
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To what extent, if any, should a personal media presence be utilized in the hiring process?
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To what extent, if any, should amateur Olympic athletes be paid or sponsored for training and participation?
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What measures, if any, should the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) implement to safeguard the environment for hunting and fishing?
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How has the changing nature of media impacted dynamics of elections?
Special Occasion Speaking
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A welcome speech to a summer camp
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A motivational speech from a coach/ advisor
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A villian monolouge
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A scholarship speech
Storytelling
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A story about unlikely heroes
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A pourquoi tale (an origin story or story of why something is)
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A story involving a clothing accessory (shoes, hat, cape, etc)
Order of topics will be announced at the General Meeting.
WFCA & WISDAA Rule Blending
Below includes but is not limited to how the WFCA and WISDAA rules are blended.
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Group Interpretive Reading and Play Acting will have 12 minute time limits.
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One 4x6 note card will be permitted in Oratory. For other categories that allow notes, they will have no specific limits, formats, or dimensions.
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Chairs, etc. MAY be used in Solo and Group Interp. Optional speaker’s / reader’s stand may be used in the categories involving scripts or notes.
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Informative Speaking will be treated as Informative/Demonstration Speaking, allowing for either 1 or 2 speakers.
For more information, see each associations’ rules:
Manager contact information Johannah Erffmeyer
Email address: erffmeyerj@gmail.com
Phone number: 7155593180 Mailing address 2220 Fairfax St
Eau Claire, WI 54701
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