Being a club leader is hard! You are an unsung hero! You organize, you coach, you lead... the list could go on and on! If you are a small or newer club, your role could also include promotions and marketing. Here are a few ideas that can help your club grow...
Over 100 possible questions. 4 minutes prep. Apologetics can be daunting. Lasting Impact! and Chiara Baldacci invites you to jump start your season on Aug. 23, with a new Online Workshop- Apol. 101. Here is what Chiara has to say…
Without the help of upperclassmen and alumni, I would have never gained the confidence to try apologetics. In the end, apologetics was the most fruitful and the most enjoyable thing I competed in during my time in Speech and Debate. The preparation grew me spiritually. The competition grew me communicatively.
When I first decided to compete in apologetics I had numerous technical questions:
Once I was able to develop systems of organization and find resources for information, apologetics lost its intimidation factor. At that point, I was able to grow and delve into the depth of the Christian faith.
Through this workshop, I desire to share the tips and tricks I have learned over the years to help you enter the realm of apologetics—to help you get past your fear and begin wading through the rich truth and doctrine.
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)
This Online Apologetics 101 Workshop, will cover the following:
· How Rounds Work
· How to Organize a Box
· How to Format Cards
· Recourses
· How to Write Cards
· Preparation Strategies
· Your questions 😉
If you are thinking of starting Apologetics this season, join Chiara in Apol. 101. Thursday August 23, 8:00-9:00 CT. Members pay just $5!!! Our workshops are not only for students, parents and coaches are welcome! We even invite clubs to use our videos to help teach! To sign up click HERE.
For a complete list of Lasting Impact! Workshops click HERE.
I got to catch up with one of my favorite people in the last couple weeks... Hillary Kolssak is my honorary sis, a fantastic mom, a speech and debate coach, and now this year, she will be running a speech and debate club in the Chicago area. She is a wealth or information and knowledge! We are so blessed to have her share her insights with Lasting Impact! Last year she created a rhetoric program for her club. She saw the need for her advanced students...
Wow! We are blown away by the response to the Lasting Impact! Online Speech Club, as well as Online Apologetics and Impromptu! Our Online Tuesday Speech Club is FULL! Therefore we created another day and time – Thursday mornings 8:00 am CT. We want to make sure students and families who want to participate in a club setting CAN. You better act quick and sign up now, we don’t anticipate opening another class.
Sign up for Online Speech Club HERE.
We still have a few spots left for both Online Apol and Impromptu Groups. Our Lasting Impact! Team can’t wait to get started. If you have been thinking about it… I encourage you to sign up now!
Sign up for Online Apologetics HERE.
Sign up for Online Impromptu HERE.
Here are some of the questions that maybe you have about joining…
How much work will Online Speech Club be?
My goal is to get your student ready… tournament ready, by the end of the semester. How’s much work the students put into it, is up to you! Are there assignments- yes! Will they be participating in the various types of speech offered in competition- yes! My hope is that this is where they will find their inspiration for what God will be putting on their heart for the next season.
Are your classes/club only for beginners?
Absolutely not! All of our classes are for any one.. parents, coaches, and families included. We often have a variety of students. We hope to challenge the advanced and encourage the beginner.
What if I can’t make a session?
We record our sessions, so you can still get access to it.
Do I need anything technically, in order to participate?
We use an online forum called, Zoom. It works on any device. You need decent Wifi… worst case scenario you can call in, or just use the audio.
My student is very shy, will they have to present?
We try to make this as gentle as possible. We have never had someone not participate. Our groups become like family. The students are encouraging to one another. We also have Lasting Impact! ambassadors, who are also leaders, full of experience to cheer your students on.
My family won’t be participating at tournaments or with a league, is that ok?
Yes! We have had many students who didn’t participate in Apologetics at a tournament, but were part of our group. Our goal is kingdom building, not necessarily winning tournaments. We like for students to find opportunities to grow… wherever that might be.
What if my student needs extra coaching?
Our first priority is our students. We are always happy to set up a coaching call/session at our membership price.
We can’t join your online groups because of other commitments, what is the best way to to find out about Lasting Impact! Workshops?
The best way to keep up with everything from Lasting Impact! is to be sure you have “subscribed” to our site. You can subscribe by going to the right hand side of the home page, and giving us your email. Then, all of our posts will be sent directly to your email. Technically, you don’t even have to be a member to subscribe to our blog!
Another way to keep up with us, is to “like” our Facebook page. You will see what articles we post, as well as be able to join in on giveaways and the random question, etc.
Do you record your Workshops?
If you can’t make a Workshop, we do try to record them, and will put them on our site for your ability to view, or share with your club. Recorded Workshops/Videos are available in the SHOP. Clubs have permission to use these video recordings too! Video recordings are $5.
What Video Recordings of your Workshops do you have?
We are so excited to start this journey with you and your family! Thank you for considering Lasting Impact!
Speech Season is quickly upon us! Are you planning on doing an Interpretive piece this year? Do you want help making the most of your planning? Join us for any one of these Interpretive Workshops…
Anatomy of Interp/Finding the Right Piece/Literary Merit
Friday, August 10 – 9:20-10:50 ET / 8:20-9:50 CT
Heather Neumann has helped hundreds of students find their perfect piece. In this session we will go over where to look, what type you should be looking for, and what your interp needs for success.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Sign up HERE.
Cutting Scenes Without Losing Story/Tips for Cutting
Friday, August 10 – 11:00-12:30 ET / 10:00-11:30 CT
Are you making the most out of your piece? Heather Neumann helps you to understand if your piece is making the cut. Don’t worry if you don’t have a piece for this year picked out. We will have handouts to help apply what we will be covering.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Sign up HERE.
Defining Your Characters/Setting the Stage
Friday, August 10 – 1:15-2:45 ET / 12:15-1:45 CT
How well do you really know your characters? When you are performing an Interpretive Speech, it’s your characters that are telling the story. We will analyze “Theater of the Mind” and apply it to speeches. Hands on activities will have us- defining characters (voices, stances, gait, and any other attributes or factors to make them easy for the judges to imagine and distinguish). We will also “Set the Stage” for success by mentally picturing the scene, identifying where things are, and planning movements appropriately, using the space available, imaginary props, etc.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Sign up HERE.
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If you can’t make it to physical camp or workshop, let Lasting Impact! come to YOU! We are so excited to be offering more online workshops this summer/fall.
Signing up for an Online Workshop is easy!! All workshops are through an online forum called Zoom. It’s a quick and easy download that your instructor will send to you, as part of their introduction email (usually within 24 hours of your workshop).
For a complete list of Online August Workshops, click HERE.
If you’re looking at the title of this article and laughing because you have a pile of math to wade through, don’t worry, I was there essentially every summer of my life. I know there are camps to attend, educational opportunities to participate in, and family vacations to go on. Summer break is never quite the epitome of rejuvenation we always envision, but it is a valuable period of time – whether you’re completely burned out and never want to wear a suit again or feeling mounting pressure to grind away the summer to make next season your biggest and best endeavor yet. Brrreak for the speech and debate competitor requires investment in all three Rs…
Continue reading “The Three R’s of Summer Brrreak By: Kaitlyn Butts”
If you can’t make it to physical camp or workshop, let Lasting Impact! come to YOU! We are so excited to be offering more online workshops this summer/fall.
Signing up for an Online Workshop is easy!! All workshops are through an online forum called Zoom. It’s a quick and easy download that your instructor will send to you, as part of their introduction email (usually within 24 hours of your workshop).
Anatomy of Interp/Finding the Right Piece/Literary Merit
Friday, August 10 – 9:20-10:50 ET / 8:20-9:50 CT
Heather Neumann has helped hundreds of students find their perfect piece. In this session we will go over where to look, what type you should be looking for, and what your interp needs for success.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Cutting Scenes Without Losing Story/Tips for Cutting
Friday, August 10 – 11:00-12:30 ET / 10:00-11:30 CT
Are you making the most out of your piece? Heather Neumann helps you to understand if your piece is making the cut. Don’t worry if you don’t have a piece for this year picked out. We will have handouts to help apply what we will be covering.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Defining Your Characters/Setting the Stage
Friday, August 10 – 1:15-2:45 ET / 12:15-1:45 CT
How well do you really know your characters? When you are performing an Interpretive Speech, it’s your characters that are telling the story. We will analyze “Theater of the Mind” and apply it to speeches. Hands on activities will have us- defining characters (voices, stances, gait, and any other attributes or factors to make them easy for the judges to imagine and distinguish). We will also “Set the Stage” for success by mentally picturing the scene, identifying where things are, and planning movements appropriately, using the space available, imaginary props, etc.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Finishing Touches/Delivery
Friday, August 10 – 2:55-4:25 ET / 1:55-3:25 CT
Are you sure you are putting all the finishing touches on your speech? Delivery matters! Delivery involves expressiveness! Are you using all three types?
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
The Ins and Outs of LD for Parents and Coaches/How to Judge LD
Friday August 17 – 7:00-8:00pm CT
Coaches: Joel Erickson and Hillary Kolssak
Have you ever stared blankly at your LD ballot in judge hospitality, stumped by the complete incoherence of the debaters? In this workshop, veteran LD coach Joel Erickson shares some practical pointers for judging LD. You’ll learn an intuitive way for evaluating LD rounds, what to do when debaters don’t refute each other, what to say (and not to say) in your “judging philosophy” to prompt the debaters to debate well, and how to write a ballot that debaters will want to read. Hillary Kolssak has been a debate parent, judge, and LD coach for a number of years. These two will get you on the track to help students succeed.
$5 members/$20 nonmembers
Now is the time to join Online Apol. Don’t take our word… here is what members have said…
“I recently completed the Online Apologetics class with Lasting Impact. The coaches were inspiring and welcoming. In this class, there is opportunity for in-depth conversation as well as personalized feedback on speeches. If you are considering this class you should go for it! You will learn more than you could ever expect. Creating cards can seem like an overwhelming task, but each class gives you enough material to write at least one card, and often much more. This was helpful in preparing for tournaments, and in general, all of life’s big questions.” ~ student, KS
“Online Apololegics opens the door to not only to great apologetics resources, but also to great apologetics discussions and feedback. Online Apol. will challenge you personally in your walk with Christ, equip you to effectively communicate in competition or out of competition , and give you the tools to powerfully persuade in your day to day conversations. For me, Online Apol. has encouraged me significantly in my study of Scriptures… and they are more valuable than “fine gold” (Psalm 19:10).!! Talking about God’s life answers with others who also passionately follow Him is so incredible! Discussing and learning together in online forum has helped me answer some of the biggest questions.” ~ Rachel Bechtel, alumni/instructor
“This was the best online class ever. It not only helped my daughter get started competing in apologetics, but more importantly it strengthened her relationship with the Lord & caused her to delve into Scripture & pursue her relationship with Christ in a new & powerful way.” ~ mom, FL
“Apologetics challenged me to know how to deal with the tough questions. I still don’t always have the right answer, but it taught me how to express what I do know in an honest, genuine manner. Being okay with not knowing every little detail of the Christian faith, and instead focusing on the big truths and trusting the Holy Spirit to move within the hearts of those who you come into contact with.” ~ Myles McLean, alumni/instructor
“I chose to compete in Apologetics because I love to learn about God. Participating in Apologetics made me ask the questions I never thought I could answer. I wanted to prepare to defend my faith – but now I know that doing Apologetics changed me as a person and that is the greatest defense I can give. Spending that much time learning about who God is makes you understand Him so much more. I still use quotes and concepts I learned in Apologetics. Even more, I now know how to go deeper into God’s Word. I would not be in this place today if I didn’t participate in the discipline of Apologetics.” ~ Elizabeth, alumni
“Apologetics is the only speech event that you can use in the following year. You can master material over several years. Every other speech event requires starting from scratch! I so believe in the spiritual effectiveness, I have written a curriculum to equip students. It’s used by families all over the country, entitled, Fearless Apologetics. You can find it at www.fearlessapologetics.com. As you make your plans for the new school year, consider making time for Apologetics. It may be the most important course your teen takes.” ~ Chap Bettis, parent/pastor
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photo by: JulieAnne Photography
So many students decide not to compete in Apologetics. The number one reason I hear… fear. Fear in saying the wrong thing, fear of not knowing enough. Setting off on a quest can feal intimidating… especially alone. This is why we created Online Apologetics. This group is a friendly, encouraging place for students and families to build each other up, as well as equipping them for life. Below is an article by one of our 2018-2019 leaders, Joel Erickson. If you are wanting a community in your Apologetics journey… join us!
Remember- Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you…
Continue reading “Warning: Competing in Apologetics Can be Dangerous”
If Amazon can have their own discount day- so can the members of Lasting Impact!