UPDATE with regard to BSD

[Sounak Sarkar]

Hi!

So I though I'd update everyone on the status of NLS Debate Junior, thought the entire committee needs to start being on the same page. So far, it's been going great (I think I have more caffeine in my system than platelets). We are only left with sponsorship now. The rest is more or less. Here's what we're looking at for now.

• It's happening! :D From 4th - 7th November, 2011 (Friday to Monday). The dates are finalized, and the schools will be informed soon, how soon depending on Maddy-ness. The schedule is finalized too.
• 18 schools(our team cap) are in! It's going to be a 36 team tournament. Lots of IB schools are in. Sri Lanka offered to come, till their exams spoilt the fun. :/
• So before getting to the actual tournament itself, what we're aiming to do after we get done with all the workshops, is visiting all the schools for a final briefing session. In that, we're going to hand them debate material to prepare students with the rules and the format, hand them sheets, rules and guidelines to enable them to conduct their own selection process within the school much like our own, and release the blog as well as tell them about our tournament, the format of our tournament, the schedule, registration fees etc.
• We are currently preparing suitable debate material. We've already drafted guidelines and rules and format, and other paraphernalia. Ideas are still welcome!
• On the 4th, we're inviting the 12 best individuals from each school selected through above, and conducting one last workshop (the 2nd). This will consist of 3 modules and they'll be split into batches for this. 
• On the 5th, we do the second round of selections. We split them into 8 batches, and select 6 speakers from groups of 12 from each school to take part in the actual tournament. This is also the evening we are planning to have the Union Debate.
• On 6th, the first set of rounds happen. Out of a total of 5 rounds, 4 take place on this day. We end the day with dinner.
• On 7th, the last preliminary round happens. We announce breaks, and the semis and finals happen. Then we close.

For now, we've mailed a few sponsors with the hope of a good response. A fully prepared sponsorship proposal for it is done, including within it a detailed budget, something i think we should also add to our main proposal. The only bit that remains for the time being, is filling up the BSD Blog. We need write ups from both students as well as 

Here's the report, a sample covering letter which you can use to get sponsors and ze proposal!

If you're mailing sponsors, please let Basu, Me, Badri or Lin (she volunteered to help out) know, since we might have already mailed that person. That said, if anyone has personal contacts, or indirect contacts, or any other connection in any capacity with any potential sponsors (companies, law firms, foundations, media houses, food companies, publishers, you name it...) please get in touch with them NOW. There is no occasion to begin, so begin right away. Please do it soon. And make sure you're professional about it. Read the proposal to get faffy ideas. Use your imagination for the better rest ;) 

On the covering letter, please do not forget to edit the content. Templates have cause awkward mess ups before, courtesy bad editing. THEN, publish it as PDF (go to save as, and click on publish) and then send it.

Cheers!

--
Sounak Sarkar
IV Year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
National Law School of India University
Bangalore

[sidharth chauhan]

I reiterate my reservations about having enough time to complete the proposed set of workshops and follow-up sessions by those dates, i.e. Nov. 4-7. And is it a good idea to host the 3rd Union Debate so soon?

You are of course free to disregard this e-mail since I have no standing in these matters.

[Sounak Sarkar]

Hey!

We thought about it for quite a while. To us, it seemed reasonable to go ahead keeping in mind school schedules, as well as to allow us enough time to begin work on NLS Debate too. I spoke to a few people in this regard, and for now, the best thing to do is reduce the number of minutes they need to speak, and teach them basics on the day before the debates. Since we've already done a workshop and a demo, for now, we need to ensure that the second workshop on campus is useful. That said, we're also sending them debate prep materials along with concise notes on what we covered in the first workshop with exampled on each slide, this time, clearer perhaps.

The problem with the second set of dates, was that it clashed with NTSE. Any time later would clash with out own schedule, making it impossible to gather judges, or rooms, or have time ourselves given most batches have a hectic second trimester [including your course! :) ]. This seems a reasonable way out.

Shamalie agreed, and told me the same is done in most school training programs, where they have a day of intensive workshops, a trial run (perhaps one of our three modules) and then the tournament.

[siddhartha basu]

Chauhan. Let me assure you. The 3rd Union Debate is not going to happen before december. Our budget negotiations are scheduled in the 1st week of December and there is no way the Union Debate can happen before that.

And regarding the workshops. I do agree with you that the final workshops et. al. are slightly rushed. However I am guessing that this is the only convenient time slot that is available. By the way, as futile as it may seem I must make it clear that you do have a say in these matters. You have handled more workshops than any of us. Also, it would be awesome if you share any alternative ideas you might have.

Basu

[Radhika Chitkara]

Two questions. I see two more training sessions scheduled. Just wondering what the content of these will be, how these two will be different from each other and also from the workshops we have already conducted. 

Second question to Chauhan: You're teaching us next term? Also, agree with your namesake above. Your contribution is invaluable. 

--

Radhika Chitkara

IV Year, B.A., LL.B.(Hons.)

NLSIU, Bangalore

[sidharth chauhan]

If we're confident of completing the remainder of the workshops by then, I guess those dates are as good as any. And I had no intention of being dramatic in the previous message :) Just wanted to clarify that this is your project and my skepticism should not be an obstacle in decision-making.

@Radhika: Am scheduled to take statutory interpretation for the 3rd years next trimester. Sounak seems to have concluded that it's going to be burdensome. Evidently he has some telepathic powers since I haven't finished preparing the course plan.

[Vipul Nanda]

He's in your head, Chauhan. He knows what you've been thinking.

--
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscripti catapultas habebunt.

[Radhika Chitkara]

I think he assumes the burdensome nature of the course is a natural concomitant of your taking it. He's obviously not speaking from experience. 

[Sounak Sarkar]

Jeez. I wasn't even being serious when I said that. No judgments there.

Anyways, I'm hoping this plays out well. Really. I cannot guarantee the tournament will be a huge success. But no stones unturned here.

[siddhartha basu]

We really shouldn't be looking at whether the tournament will be a great success. And i complete agree with Somali. All we can do from out side is stick to the plan and hope that it all turns out well.

[siddhartha basu]

*our

[Radhika Chitkara]

Whatte motivation!

On Wed, Oct 12, 2011 at 1:57 AM, siddhartha basu <siddhart...@gmail.com> wrote:

*our