The Speech team will have a mandatory meeting on Sept. 26 in Room E212, according to sponsor John Love. Unexcused absences will result in the inability to compete in future competitions.

Members are required to turn in the last page of the signed code of conduct form to Love by the next meeting in order to participate. People who missed the callouts are encouraged to come, and they will receive a Code of Conduct form upon entering.

Love said to members at the meeting, “I need to have this (Code of Conduct) returned before you do anything else with this program, so if you come to another meeting, technically, I’d have to kick you out and tell you ‘unless you turn this in, you cannot attend.’”

The first officer meeting takes place on Monday, Sept. 19 during first session of SRT. There will be a discussion of officer responsibilities. Officers should also wear their speech team attire and be prepared to make a 30 second video advertising the team for morning announcements.

“To be a member of the National Forensic League, you only need twenty-five competitive speaking points,” Love said.

According to Love, points can be earned from public speaking, like to one’s local church, community. In order to participate in district competitions, membership to the National Forensic League and a published piece are required. According to Love, there are usually two tournaments a month taking place on Saturdays. Six district events are required to qualify for nationals, which, as of 2011-2012, take place at Ben Davis High School.

Love stresses the important role of parents in the speech team and how their participation is necessary, especially for competitions. There will be a meeting specifically for the parents sometime in the future.

“If you compete, they also participate. I cannot function this team without the help of your parents. I need judges. Your parents are qualified; they will tell you they are not, and I will tell you ‘yes they are.’ If they are living, if they are breathing, if they can go to a movie and say ‘hey that movie is really good,’ then they can go to a speech tournament and say ‘hey, that is a really good speech,’” Love said to the members.

“I hope it’ll be really fun and that I’ll become a better speaker,” Sophomore Emma LaPlante, who is trying out speech for the first time, said.