• Setup:

  This status is used while the tournament is still being setup.

• Open:

  This status means tournament registration is open. Families can register for the tournament.

• Drops Only:

  This status means only registration drops are allowed. There are no new entries allowed but families can drop entries.

• Closed:

  This status means registration is currently closed for the tournament. There are no adds or drops allowed. Please contact the tournament director with any questions.

• Completed:

  This status means the tournament is completed.

If you would like to request host housing for Western Slope Rendezvous, please contact our Host Housing Coordinator, Sara Morgan, at saraannmorgan@gmail.com.  We will do our very best to accomodate you.  Requests will be filled on a first-come, first serve basis.

There are also a great number of hotels out by the regional airport where rooms can be rented there for as little as $50 to $75 a night.  A quick search on Priceline showed the 3.5 star Grand Vista Hotel for $53 a night.  The Quality Inn is $62 a night.  The La Quinta is $74 a night.  These hotels are all 15 minutes or less driving time from our tournament facilities.

WSR Script Submission is now CLOSED. Only scripts that are currently in process will continue to be reviewed. The link will remain open in order to receive these corrected scripts through Sunday, January 26, 11pm (MST). This means that you may no longer submit initial/first time scripts. No late scripts will be accepted. DO NOT SUBMIT AN INITIAL SCRIPT USING THE CORRECTED SCRIPT OPTION.

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BELOW AND MAKE SURE YOUR SCRIPTS ADHERE TO ALL GUIDELINES BEFORE SUBMITTING.

WHO needs to submit scripts? Competitors who are entered in all Interpretive, Platform, and Wild Card speeches.

·        Interpretive Speeches: Dramatic, Duo, Humorous, Open

·        Platform Speeches: Expository, Original Oratory, Persuasive

·        Wild Card Speech: Slam Poetry

Script Submission Opens: Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 10am (MST)

Script Submission Closes: Thursday, January 23, 2025, 11pm (MST)

Approval Deadline: All scripts MUST be approved on or before Monday, January 27, 2025, 7:00pm (MST) in order to be eligible for competition in that event.

ALL scripts MUST be submitted electronically by the above closure date AND approved on or before the approval deadline. NO LATE SCRIPTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Scripts not in compliance by the approval deadline will be dropped from that event with no refund.

Our reviewers communicate via email, so it is imperative that you check your email frequently once you have submitted. You will only have 24 hours to make your necessary corrections and resubmit your script for approval. Please be respectful of this timeframe and prompt in working with your reviewer.

HOW can I be make sure my speeches are submitted correctly? Follow all of the guidelines below, using the HELPS provided, and you will be on your way to a speedy approval!

1.      WATCH this TUTORIAL, YES, even if you've watched it in the past. Knowing EXACTLY what to do simplifies the review/approval process for your reviewer and you!

2.      READ THE RULES for your event.

·        Dramatic Interpretation Rules

·        Duo Interpretation Rules

·        Expository Rules

·        Humorous Interpretation Rules

·        Open Interpretation Rules

·        Original Oratory Rules

·        Persuasive Rules

·        Slam Poetry Rules

3.      READ THE SCRIPT SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS for your event.

Submission Rules & Forms - 2024-2025

·        Duo Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

·        Dramatic Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

·        Humorous Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

·        Open Interpretation Script Submission 2024-2025

·        Platform Script Submission 2024-2025

·        Slam Poetry Submission 2024-2025

4.      Prepare your script and submission form WITH your parent or coach. Include ALL initials and ALL signatures. Submission forms MUST have the current tournament listed!

5.      COMBINE each speech into a SINGLE file in PDF format only. You may scan into single file or use a file joiner. We recommend the App, Genius Scan, for scanning from your phone and the file joiner, ADOLIX, which is a free download to your computer.

REMINDER: Please title your file correctly, using the instructions given on the TUTORIAL.

6.    When you have completed all of the above, you may submit your script(s) HERE.

HELP RESOURCES for Script Submission:

• Rapid Review & Approve (tutorial for competitors)
• Publication Guidelines 2024-2025
• Speech Citations Help Page 2024-2025
• Stoa Plagiarism Policy 2024-2025
• Interpretation Script Submission Guidelines 2024-2025
• Platform Script Submission Guidelines 2024-2025
• Slam Poetry Script Submission Guidelines 2024-2025
• FOR PLATFORM WORKS CITED PAGE, PLEASE USE MYBIB, EASYBIB, OR CITATION MACHINE.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE SCRIPT SUBMISSION STAFF AT: StoaScriptsCo@gmail.com

The Stoa NITOC dress code will be enforced throughout the duration of the tournament for all competitors, regardless of whether or not the competitor is still actively competing at any given tournament. If a competitor's attire is not in compliance with the Stoa NITOC dress code, per the Stoa NITOC guidance, the competitor will be asked to come into compliance with the dress code. A student will not be allowed to participate in competition or awards without compliance.

Additional dress code requirements & clarifications for WSR

Polished, dress cowboys boots are deemed in compliance with the dress code as dress shoes.

Shirts should not gap or show cleavage.  This must be observed even during vigorous activities like interpretation speeches.

Below is a summary of the Stoa NITOC dress code, but please go to the Stoa website for a complete description: https://www.stoausa.org/about-nitoc

​Professional business attire for Gentlemen: Suit or slacks and blazer jacket, collared shirt and tie, professional dress shoes and socks.

​Professional business attire for Ladies: Skirt or pantsuit or slacks with a blazer, skirt with a blazer, or dress with a blazer. No leggings or tights as pants. Hemlines and slits no higher than middle of the knee. Hose optional and professional dress shoes.

We will be hosting a junior tournament on Saturday.  Each junior competitor may compete in up to 3 events.  The cost is $10 per event.  Our Junior Tournament is being prepped by the Marveous Miss Maggie Carabelos.  The JT will be facilitated by Jill Businelle.  Questions prior to tournament can be directed to Rebekah Zeerip at pampushka@hotmail.com.

Junior Apologetics Questions

Apologetics Topics
Category 1: EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD
Explain the meaning and significance of the holiness of God.
Explain the meaning and significance of the justice of God.
Explain the meaning and significance of the mercy of God.

Category 2: SCRIPTURES
Why can we trust the Bible?

Category 3: THE NATURE, PURPOSE AND DESTINY OF MAN
What is the purpose of man?
What is the destiny of man?

Category 4: SALVATION or HOW TO KNOW GOD
Why does man need salvation?
Do good people go to heaven?

Category 5: THE PERSON OF CHRIST
Define and defend the significance of the deity of Christ.
Define and defend the significance of Jesus as the Messiah.

Colorado weather if anything is unpredictable. The tournament will go forward if at all possible. If inclement weather requires the tournament to delay rounds on a particular day or close, we will proceed the following day with a modified schedule. Please check this registration website for updates regarding weather. Notification Emails may also be sent to registered participants and judges.

We apologize, but no refunds will be made for weather-related cancellations.

As a Stoa endorsed event, the Stoa Student Code of Conduct will be observed during WSR.  The code of conduct is outlined here: https://www.stoausa.org/membership

Additional expectations for Western Slope Tournament:

FOR COMPETITORS & NON-COMPETING SIBLINGS (NCS):

• No money or goods will be bet or exchanged during recreational games.  This prohibition includes not only exchanging money or goods during games, but any kind of payment towards "buying seats" or saving places in particular games or "rental" of devices.  Poker games are permissible with poker chips. 
• The student area will be maintained BY THE STUDENTS: When not being used in a round, keep all debate boxes, notebooks, bags, computers, and personal belongings in the student lounge area and students are expected clean up their area immediately after eating.
• Students will honor and abide by directions given to them by ANY staff member.  If they receive conflicting directions, they may appeal to their parents who, in turn, can bring it to the attention of tournament authorities.
• No running anywhere in the main building.
• Library-level voices in the hallways and open spaces of the main building.
• The kitchen will be used exclusively by tournament staff. No access to the microwave or other kitchen appliances will be available for competitors or families. 
• Please obey all posted signs inside and outside the building and stay out of restricted areas.
• Stay out of all competition rooms when they are not in active use for a round.  Students are expected to spend their non-competition time watching others' rounds or in the student lounge area.  If a room is dark and empty, it is not space for students.
• Students may have ONLY WATER in closeable bottles (no open drink containers) in the competition rooms and main building. No other food or beverages are permitted.

COMPETITORS:

• Attendance at morning announcements and devotional time is mandatory.
• Competitors may only eat in the student lounge area.
• Competitors are permitted to remove ties, dress shoes and/or jackets in the student lounge area (modesty is still expected), but must be in compliance with tournament attire requirements anywhere else on the premises during the tournament.

NON-COMPETING SIBLINGS (NCS):

• NCS will be supervised at all times by an adult.  This includes when they are in the student lounge area.
• NCS who have tournament meals purchased will eat in the student lounge area.
• Other food (provided by the family) for NCS may be eaten in the following designated areas:  student lounge area & judge refreshment/eating area.

Tournaments cannot happen without parents!  Thank you for your commitment!  We are grateful for you! Outlined here are the expectatations for parents regarding their children & judging.

Regarding CHILDREN:

• Read the Conduct Expectations link yourself and make sure your children have read and understand the expectations.
• Read the Dress Code link and DOUBLE-CHECK that your competitors are in compliance with the dress code.  Parents of daughters, please pay extra attention to the skirt/dress length requirement!
• If you are unable to attend, please go to the link for Chaperoned Competitor Requirements to fill out the medical waiver.

Regarding JUDGING:

• Every student must have a participating parent/adult judge present at the tournament. You must either be present with your student at WSR, or you must have another adult who can feasibly fulfill all of your judging responsibilities.
• All Individual Event (IE) Competitors are required to provide a judge for a minimum of two rounds for every IE event for which they are registered. For example, if you register for three IE events, then you are required to provide judges for a minimum of six rounds.
• All TP/LD Debate Competitors are required to provide a judge for three rounds.
• Parents will be REQUIRED to participate in a check-in process that will be simultaneous to the student check-in. We will also be depending on you to come to Ballot Push at least 30 minutes before each and every round to check and see if we need you to judge.

*To determine the total number of rounds required for a student or family, all the speech and debate judge requirements are added together.  However, we will observe the following caps on judging slots per family: For 1-2 students competing in a family the maximum judge slots will be 15 and for 3 or more students competing in a family the maximum judge slots will be 20.*

If you are unable to attend, fill out the Western Rendezvous Waiver for your child(ren) at this link https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/v/wsr2025/ The Chapereone needs to have access to this document either digitally or physically for the entirety of the tournament. You will receive a link to download the waiver after it has been filled out. We suggest you download the document and email it to your chaperone.

Corrie Ten Boom tells a story in her book The Hiding Place about when she was young and asked her dad a question about a topic that was beyond her innocence and years. She recounted, 

"[My father] turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but, to my surprise, he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor. 

"Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?

"I stood up and tugged at it.  It was crammed with watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.

"It's too heavy, I said.

"Yes, he said, and it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load.  It's the same way, Corrie, wth knowledge.  Some knowledge is too heavy for children.  When you are older and stronger, you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."

I Cor. 8:9 (NLT) "But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble."

At WSR, we understand that many speeches that are impactful and important *may* contain information or portray scenes that, while true, contain themes and/or words that are not appropriate for all ages and audiences. 

Examples of this include, but are not limited to: stories of torture or imprisonment (even Christian ones), stories involving topics like suicide, drugs, violence, or abuse (even if they are part of a Christian testimony), examples of modern day slavery/trafficking, or stories involving any kind of vulgar language. 

We are not trying to close every loophole in this short explanation, rather we are asking our competitors to err on the side of caution in a spirit of Christian love. With this in mind, if there is ANY REASONABLE POSSIBILITY that a speech may contain words, themes or scenes that may not be appropriate for every age and maturity level, the competitor is required to give a speech disclaimer before beginning their speech regardless of the age or number of peope in the room. 

The speech disclaimer is as follows: “This speech may contain content not appropriate for all audiences." 

If there appear to be any children in the room, please give them and their parents a moment to choose whether to exit before continuing.