FLASH! It's not a new rule for IE, but one that seems to have been disregarded. All head coaches must be certified in order for their teams to participate in Regional and State IE Tournaments. If your certification has lapsed, DO NOT HESITATE. Sign up for a renewal workshop now!

Michigan's economy has taken a bite out of us this year and if we are honest, it looks like it might try to take a bigger bite next year. Now is the time to build the financial resources of the organization to last through this downturn.

Consider making a generous donation to MIFA right now. In fact, you can give to all of MIFA or just to one specific part of the mission. It is easy, it's painless and, in fact, it makes you feel pretty good (to say nothing of the tax advantages you can secure). To make a cash donation, click here and give till it feels good. Quite literally, future generations of speech students may be waiting for your assistance. Thank you.

The newest newsletter #2 is here. It is available for download so that you can make sure that any administrator, parent or student can get a copy if they want. Spread it around. It is good to let the rest of the academic world know what we are up to.

We are making progress on the website. It's clearly not done yet since we are doing a top to bottom review and revamp. But the TO DO list is not nearly as long now as it was in September. If you find a feature not working that you need, or one not working the way you want it to work, send an email to mifa@themifa.org and we'll put it on the list.

We hope your season and your school year is well started and progressing as you hoped.

Remember to get membership in if you haven't already. We are finding several programs growing under the "one fee" membership structure. Some memberships are still trickling in. I'm sorry to say we have to charge the $50 late fee now. I'm looking forward to a satisfying new season and an exciting new MIFA.

Best to each of you, and thank you for all you do. This is a great time for MIFA!

Steve Marsh and the rest of the office at MIFA.

     In case of inclement weather, each individual director and the director of the particular tournament must reach certain decisions regarding participation. In any circumstance, the directors of various speech programs at a particular school should be aware of the travel policy of the school district. In the case of inclement weather, the director of a particular speech program should reach a decision on participation in a tournament in conjunction with the appropriate school administrator.
     It is assumed that the various debate and individual events leagues will have an inclement weather policy that is developed by the participating schools. A league inclement weather policy should be compatible with the policies of the various school districts comprising the league membership.
     For tournaments administered by the MIFA, the process to determine the conduct or cancellation of a tournament in the case of inclement weather is as follows:

1. The tournament will be held as scheduled unless more than forty percent of the pre-registered schools withdraw 24 or more hours prior to the time for the tournament registration because of inclement weather. Further, in the preceding circumstance, the withdrawal is to be made by the superintendent, or assistant superintendent, or principal, or assistant principal to the MIFA Executive Director and/or the director of the tournament; or
2. The MIFA Executive Director and two members of the Forensic Council may decide to cancel a tournament because of inclement weather up to eighteen hours prior to the time for the tournament registration. The decision to cancel the tournament will be determined, in part, on the basis of AAA weather advisories and State Police reports. In case of a cancellation in this time period, the Forensic Council and/or the tournament director will notify each school of the cancellation by telephone. Each school will assume the responsibility to notify the appropriate director of the speech activity of the cancellation.
3. If either of the preceding conditions is in effect, an alternative tournament will be conducted. Otherwise, unless conditions develop, it should be assumed that a particular tournament will be held as scheduled.