2006-7

This is most of the message I sent out to people yesterday:

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Last week a few of us happened to be together and attempted to lay out next year's season way in advance, because there were some big changes brewing, and we needed to see where we were. I share this with you as tournament directors and coaches in the area.

It would make sense that we publish one main calendar for the region, which teams could consult and plan from. I'm sure we've missed some contests here (and there is no attempt to track non-regional events); please use this as an opportunity to comment and query and offer suggestions. It is not meant as any sort of fiat (as, apparently, they now like to say in LD—right before we hit them over the head with a frying pan).

We'll start with October, assuming that Yale will fight its way through the Jewish holidays one way or the other in September (it's going to be tough for them).

Oct 6-7 Monticello, same as last year. We're hoping they'll keep their TOC at semis.

Oct 13-4 Big Bronx. There was general agreement that BB should continue to operate on a normal two-day schedule, 3 rounds on Friday, finishing up on Saturday. Jon Cruz had been querying folks about going to some Sunday rounds (which, of course, had been a part of BB in the olden days). Most people really weren't ready for another lost weekend. This is varsity only, LD, policy and PF. There's hope that Bronx will have TOC bids next year in LD and policy both.

Oct 20-21 Lakeland. This looks to be a good spot for the Westchester Classic on the old Bergenfield weekend. Open divisions only. We'd also like to hold the first-timers' MHL this weekend. There should be enough space at Lakeland, although Pete Kruppenbacher figures that they could get the middle school if necessary (it's about as far from Lakeland as the Bergenfield MS used to be from their HS, but I wouldn't recommend walking it, because there's no sidewalks in this part of the world).

Oct 27-28 Manchester, TOC at quarters. I'm unclear about this, but it seems that there is hope that Manchester will offer more or different policy divisions? Varsity, presumably? Dan J can sort that out. That weekend is also the NYC CFL, a mandatory event in our league, for LD.

Nov 4 Monticello MHL

Nov 10-11 Bump at Hendrick Hudson. This would replace the NFA tournament, which will no longer be conducted. At this point I have not definitely secured the facilities for this weekend, but my request is in. I would love not to have to worry about snow anymore, and, honestly, to get the thing over with as early in the season as possible! I would assume that our cancellation this year will have no effect on our TOC bid (LD, quarters).

Nov 18 Little Lexington (novice and open divisions of LD and policy plus PF). I always go up to Lex as a fun start to training my novices to travel. We get housed Friday, run 4 rounds on Saturday, and we're home before midnight Saturday night. It's a great place to send younger folks who aren't going to Glenbrooks (or Villiger).

Dec 1-2. We're assuming that Jim Murphy will continue to carry on his new tournament at Weston. We will officially eliminate the MHL that would otherwise compete.

Dec 8-9 The old Bump weekend. Assuming that I can move, it has been suggested that our region consider attending the Kings College tournament in Scranton. Michael Bacon has long been a strong advocate of connecting with the Pa folks, and this would be a good start. I've been communicating with Mike Berry from Kings.

Dec 16 NYC CFL, policy and LD, again mandatory (and usually enormous!).

Jan 5-6 Ridge invitational in Basking Ridge, NJ, with an MHL on Jan 6. We're hoping that this new tournament gets off to a good start this year and comes back again next year.

Jan12-13 Big Lexington (and getting bigger every second!)

Feb 2-3 Newark (assuming that Emory is some time in January), with MHL on 2/3. 2/3 is also the date of the Manchester lasagne event. (Note: the debaters eat lasagne, as compared to the lasagnes getting to debate.)

Feb 9-10 Scarsdale/Edgemont. Next year Edgemont will join with Scarsdale so that there will be policy and LD on the same weekend. Edgemont is the next town over.

Feb 17-20 Harvard

After this there's the various spinning down of qualifiers and finals. Please note that NFA still intends to host its Novice RR, most likely the week before NCFLs.

And so, another year passes right before our eyes...