<p>Hi Friends</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the 2016 Missouri Association of Forensic Activities Championship Tournament. While this is Missouri&rsquo;s state tournament, we are also open to our friends from other states. Please consider joining us at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri February 19-20 for two days of comprehensive forensic competition and education.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>While the invitation outlines the specifics of the tournament, highlights include&hellip;</p> <ul> <li>Four rounds of debate in three formats with novice divisions where entries warrant.</li> <li>A full slate of individual events.</li> <li>Dinner Friday and both a continental breakfast and lunch Saturday are provided.</li> <li>Nice awards for all elimination round competitors in all events.</li> <li>A full slate of events in a two-day schedule, allowing for a Sunday of either leisurely travel back home, or a day at home without forensics.</li> <li>Affordable fees.</li> <li>The majority of the tournament in one building.</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As has become our tradition, the top Missouri student in each event will receive a special award as the state champion in that event. A number of sweepstakes and individual awards will also be presented, including several new awards being added to our tournament this year. We will award sweepstakes for the overall tournament, as well as for quality performance and entry-based divisions. We will also be inaugurating a top forensicator award to our top students who participate in both individual events and debate. This is also the tournament at which Missouri will select its two participants for the Interstate Oratorical Contest. We also encourage you to nominate individuals for the two awards we present annually to professionals in our activity&mdash;Coach of the Year Award and Distinguished Service Award. Information on each of these awards is included in this invitation.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Details will be announced soon, but the tournament will also feature an engagement with MAFA&rsquo;s advocacy project for this year&mdash;anti-bullying. Please watch for information about how the tournament will seek to engage its participants.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Tournament entries are to be made on forensictournament.net. Entries should be made by no later than 5:00 Monday, February 15th. Fees will be assessed at 5:00 Tuesday, February 16th. Hotel reservations should be made at your earliest convenience as there is no guarantee of room availability once the block is full or released. Detailed and updated tournament information will be emailed with confirmations once fees are assessed Tuesday night.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>On behalf of MAFA&rsquo;s members, I hope to see you on Webster&rsquo;s campus in February!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sincerely,</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Scott Jensen</p> <p>President and Tournament Director, Missouri Association of Forensic Activities</p> <p>Professor and Director of Forensics, Webster University</p> <p>jensensc@webster.edu</p>