We are thankful to God that the tournament went very well. The weather held out and everyone arrived safely from Connecticut, New Jersey and all points of Rhode Island.
We were able to carry out the Mission of the ICC Forensics Society: to provide opportunities for training members to become character-driven communicators and leaders with excellent analytical and oratorical skills in order to impact culture.
On February 11th, 2017, we were able to “Go Together!” We could not have run this event without the behind the scenes planning efforts of the ICC National team lead by International Director of ICCFS, Yvonne Hagood. She also provided all the team training and tournament oversight. Then there was the gracious help of a talented group of volunteers who came up from New Jersey. Together they put in an estimated 1000 man hours. They led teams in Check-in, Ballot Admin., Ballot Return, Evaluator Orientation, Tab and Monitoring Radio Broadcast. The Northeast Area team was made up of seven ICC adult members: An & Dominique Normand, Au & Eunice Au, Colleen Au, Christina Waguespack, & Kate Wood. Seven local Chapter parents also joined the team bringing energy and talent to the event. I was assisted by Sam Short, Jennifer Blaser, Evelina Shippee, Mark & Kimberly Krupowicz, Marisabel Dailey, & Ann Stamp.
“We go together because we are better together.
We are better together because we go together.”
We were also blessed by the valuable contributions of ICC Guild Inductees who are young people who are in various stages of their leadership training. Together they set up all the rooms, ran games during breaks, and facilitated Round Table. Nicholas Waguespack (member of the ICC NSLC) Anna Leong (members of the ICC ASLC) did an excellent job as Masters of Ceremony for the Showcase and awards presentations.
The "Meet and Mingle" reception went well. Chapter parents and community evaluators engaged in conversation with Eunice Au, Colleen Au(ICC Alumni and ICC Acedemy courses instructor) and Elise Normand about the mission and vision of ICC. Great food generously provided by Chipotle of Warwick. We had also invited all of our benevolent supporters of the RI HOPE Scholarship Fund. We are grateful for Dr. Eric George DMD who helped to rent the school building and for Mr. and Mrs. Martin Snyder of CIC USA, Mr. Jonathan Heffer of PTL Equipment, Faith Fellowship Community Church, Stamp Farms, Dr. Charles Cronin III, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lonngren of InFold Designs, Dr. Paul and Mrs. Dalbec, Mr. and Mrs. William Felix, Mrs. Kirsten Bolton, and the Pawtuxet Valley Rotary Club.
At the ICC Showcase, 21 Invitations were given out to eleven ICC Young Speakers Guild participants, four from RI HOPE. They are now preparing to attend the ICC International Leadership Conference (iCON), July 3-8, 2017 at Lipscomb University in Nashville Tennessee. (See insert with list of all students who are invited)
In ICC, we often quote an African Proverb,
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to far, go together.”
The RI HOPE students will go far because of generous donations of our sponsors.