NEW SUNDAY INTERP EVENT ADDED

In addition to the Sunday only extemporaneous debate, we will be hosting a Sunday only impromptu and interpretive event for competitors. Fees are reduced, and there is no judging requirement to cover. If you have interpretive students waiting for debate to finish, this is the event for them!

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Myers Park Speech and Debate team, we would like to invite you to consider participating in the 51st Annual Laird Lewis Invitational at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, North Carolina on NOVEMBER 11-12, 2023 (Saturday-Sunday). This date change reflects the changing needs of the Carolinas to have bid opportunities during both semesters.

Events at this year’s tournament will be:

Debate

Varsity and Novice Lincoln-Douglas

Varsity and Novice Public Forum Debate

OPEN Congressional Debate

OPEN World Schools Debate

Public Address

Declamation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu, Informative Speaking, and Original Oratory

Oral Interpretation

Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Poetry/Prose, and Programmed Oral Interpretation

We are pleased to be able to continue to offer Tournament of Champions bids to Quarterfinalists in Public Forum Debate in the GOLD division, and Octafinalists in the SILVER division, and Finalist competitors in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. TOC Bids in speech events will depend on numbers.

Please be sure to note drop deadlines and penalties.

We want to give every school a chance to register their students. Please see the Fees and Deadlines page for details. Although there is no drop fee, fees will be frozen, and not adjusted, after November 6^h, 2023. Due to area regulations, and the policies of some area schools, we have altered the Congress and Speech schedules to a Saturday only event. World Schools Debate will also be a debate option for schools unable to compete on Sunday. The TOC qualifying events remain on both Saturday and Sunday. For students remaining with schools on Sunday, a supplemental tournament of mixed events will be offered.

As we close, we would like to thank you for consideration of this invitation to attend the Laird Lewis Invitational on November 10-12, 2023. We know you have a lot of choices when it comes to tournament attendance, and we are glad you have selected the Laird Lewis Invitational. If at any time you have questions regarding this tournament, or if there is anything we can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me (lynnecoyne@gmail.com) at your earliest convenience.

Most sincerely,

Lynne Coyne, Tom Hamilton, Robert O'Donnell, and Bob Folk (Principal)