FULL NAME: Richard Patrick Weaver
AGE: 16
YEARS COMPETING: 4
REG10N POLITICAL HISTORY: Weaver supported the Newborn/Newborn campaign in the 2008 Presidential Elections.
BIO: Richard Patrick Weaver boasts more NCFCA longevity than any other presidential candidate. The entire Weaver family has been a driving force behind Western PA's NCFCA involvement, and Rich, along with brother and vice presidential nominee Mike, are the face of HOPE team policy debate. Western PA is the most isolated active geographic in all of Reg10n, as they only host one tournament a year and generally remain obscure to many Reg10n competitors until Regionals. In launching his presidential campaign, Rich intends to change this image, and he plans to make Western PA one of the most influential subregions in Reg10n by superintending a coalition to reform our region in the following ways:
~PUSH FOR MORE COMMUNITY JUDGES
Community judges are an integral part of any qualifying, practice, or national open tournament. Without them, the tournament is unable to function as well as it could. By offering an incentive for community judges (free meal, cup of coffee, etc.) Reg10n would be able to host more tournaments- thus offering more competitors a chance to get to regionals, and ultimately nationals.
~ MAKE THE AT-LARGE FORMULA PUBLIC
This is another area where greater communication would be beneficial. For example, when my campaign manager (Jess Benham) declined her spot at Nationals for apologetics, she had no way of knowing that she would also receive a slot in impromptu. This would have made it easier for her to decide whether or not she would attend the National Championship tournament. Making the at-large slot allocation public would allow competitors to make better decisions.
This is another area where greater communication would be beneficial. For example, when my campaign manager (Jess Benham) declined her spot at Nationals for apologetics, she had no way of knowing that she would also receive a slot in impromptu. This would have made it easier for her to decide whether or not she would attend the National Championship tournament. Making the at-large slot allocation public would allow competitors to make better decisions.
~ CONTINUE TO HAVE JUNIOR TOURNAMENTS AT A MAJORITY OF QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS
As a younger student, it is very hard to watch your older siblings enjoy themselves while you are forced to sit on the sidelines... or time. Younger students could expand their potential as they begin speaking at a younger age. Additionally, the students would benefit from receiving judge's feedback, thus allowing them to improve their speaking skills immediately.
