Texas Speech Communication Association

CONVENTION UPDATE

On August 25th, Hurricane Harvey struck the coast of Texas as a category 4 storm with sustained winds of up to 130 mph. The wind and flooding ravaged coastal communities from Corpus Christi up through Louisiana and poured massive amounts of rain in areas far inland. In Houston, where we were scheduled to hold the 2017 TSCA convention, the flooding was extensive throughout the city. Among those buildings that were flooded was the Omni Houston Hotel-Westside. While we held out hope that the damage could be repaired in time for the convention, we were not so fortunate. The hotel contacted TSCA after their adjusters inspected the property to inform us that they would be closed until September 30th and possibly longer. They released us from our convention contract and helped us to find another location that could quickly assume the obligations of serving as a site for our annual conference.

The Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade, our location from the 2016 conference, quickly stepped up to help. Please note that with such a quick venue change, there will need to be some flexibility. Vice President Wade Hescht and Comptroller Mike Jones have been working with the hotel to arrange all available space and to revise the convention program. There are other organizations also holding functions in the hotel that weekend and we will be working around them.

Hurricane Harvey Efforts

Many of our members have been deeply impacted by the recent Hurricane Harvey. TSCA is launching several efforts to assist where we are able. We'll update this page with details as our efforts continue.

Adopt-A-Team

TSCA is launching Adopt-A-Team to help our members affected by Hurricane Harvey. If you would like to participate please email Melissa Witt at mewitt@dimmittisd.net. All schools wishing to help and schools who have been in the path please email Melissa Witt. Spread the word! Click here to view the list of teams participating in Adopt-A-Team.

Donors / Organizers

Several organizations and individuals have let us know that they are reaching out to victims of Hurricane Harvey. Click here to view the list.

Other Ways to Help

Here is a list of suggested ways you can help. Find out specific needs or make donations primarily monetary, allowing teams to get what they need and so they don't have to deal with storage/redistribution of a bunch of stuff they don't need.

Attend tournaments hosted by Harvey impacted schools - if they're hosting, they NEED this fundraiser!

Waive entry/judging fees for Harvey impacted schools attending your tournament.

Forgo trophies at your tournament and donate the money you'd normally spend to a Harvey impacted school.

Vendors - provide free or reduced rate merchandise to Harvey impacted schools.

Pay your adopted school's NSDA membership fees this year.

Host/Attend a Big Questions Debate event to raise funds for a school in need.

Join a school for their clean-up day/event if you are nearby.
,br> Skype/Google Hangout practice with teams, especially those who won't be able to travel to tournaments.

Host a tie/suit drive.

Help with technology needs where possible.

Share briefs/digital file-share resources.

Donate books/scripts useful for speech & debate


News

12/2/23
The Texas Speech Communication Association invites submissions of scholarly posters, papers and panel presentations by undergraduate and graduate students for its 2024 annual convention. Click here to view the full call and find the online submission form.
10/14/23
Congratulations go to Jeremy Hutchins our new Vice-President Elect. Read more about Jeremy and his background here.
9/26/23
The Nominating Committee has presented two candidates for consideration as Vice President-Elect. Check out the Convention page to view the packets for Justin Blacklock and Jeremy Hutchins.
9/25/23
Our annual convention is just around the corner. Make plans to join us October 12-14 in Houston. The program has been sent to the printer. Click here to view the convention program.
8/28/23
The 47th volume of the Texas Speech Communication Journal has been printed and shipped. Members who signed up to receive a printed version of the journal should receive their copy soon.
6/24/23
The call for manuscripts and teaching activities has been issued for Volume 48, Issue 1 of the Texas Speech Communication Journal. Deadline for submissions is December 31, 2023. Read the full journal call here.
2024 Convention

Developing a New Generation of Leaders

Date: October 10-12, 2024
Location: Embassy Suites Amarillo
550 S Buchanan Street
Amarillo, TX 79101
(806) 803-5500