CONSTITUTION

FSSC

CONSTITUTION

BYLAWS

Bylaws of the Florida State Spanish Conference (For Secondary Schools)

Article I - Name and Purpose

Section 1.1

The name of this organization is the Florida State Spanish Conference, Inc. Also known as The FSSC.

Section 1.2

The purpose of the Florida State Spanish Conference is to give students an opportunity to compete among themselves in the fields of declamation, impromptu speech, and dramatic presentations.

Section 1.3

The activities of the Conference will be carried on to the greatest extent possible in the Spanish language, another purpose of the organization is to promote the use of the Spanish language in conversation, and in carrying on the meetings of the group, and to provide additional incentive and enthusiasm for the study of Spanish at the high school level.

Article II - Sponsorship

Section 2.1

The Florida Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Inc. (FAATSP, Inc.) promotes and encourages that teachers of the Spanish language at the high school level to participate.

Section 2.2

Any teacher whose students are participating in FSSC must be a member in good standing with FAATSP. FAATSP fees are $20. Teachers who are members of AATSP will pay FAATSP fees of $10 with proof of national membership. FAATSP fees are due by December 1st of that school year. Each participating student, teacher, and chaperone must pay, a registration fee of $50.00. (Non-faculty chaperones $60). Each participating school will pay a non-refundable fee of $100.00 with their application of intent to attend the conference. Such fee will be used to cover the sponsoring school’s expense.

(Changed 3/2013)

Teachers do not need to be members of FAATSP to participate. Each participating student, teacher, and chaperone must pay a registration fee of $70.00.(Non-faculty chaperones $80). Each participating school will pay a non-refundable fee of $125.00 with their application of intent to attend the conference. All teachers sending students (whether they attend or not, must pay a $15 point room fee to AATSP-Florida Chapter by March 1. These funds will be used to offset the costs of running the point room and are also used for student scholarships at FSSC.

(Changed 4/24/09)
Any teacher whose students are participating in FSSC must be a member in good standing with FAATSP and The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) by December 1st of that school year. Each participating student, teacher and chaperon must pay, a registration fee of $50.00.(Non-faculty chaperones $60). Each participating school will pay a non-refundable fee of $100.00 with their application of intent to attend the conference. Such fee will be used to cover the sponsoring school’s expense.

Article III - Membership

Section 3.1

Membership in the conference is limited to 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade full time high school students enrolled in Spanish classes in Levels I (One) and above. Students in the 7th and 8th grade may not attend. Ninth grade students may participate only if the 9th grade is part of high school.

(Changed 4/24/09)
Membership in the conference is limited to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade full time high school students enrolled in Spanish classes in Levels II and above. Students in the 7th and 8th grade may not attend. Ninth grade students may participate only if the 9th grade is part of high school.

(Changed 4/14/15)
Membership in the conference is limited to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade full time high school students enrolled in Spanish classes in Levels II and above. Students in the 7th and 8th grade may not attend. Ninth grade students may participate only if the 9th grade is part of high school..

The ONLY circumstance for online students to attend are those students who have exhausted all Spanish courses at their school and are obligated to continue advanced Spanish online to compete at the FSSC as long as they are full-time students at a high school. For verification purposes, when the school enrolls for the competition, send current class schedule and online enrollment with the student questionnaire.

Article IV - Governing Body

Section 4.1

The FSSC will be hosted by a high school or high schools (maximum of three (3) schools). The FSSC board will be comprised of the sponsor(s) from the hosting school(s), in turn these will become the officers of the FSSC. The officers will fulfill a one (1) year term for the following positions: President, Treasurer, Secretary. (All of the officers and advisory board members must be current high school teachers of Spanish and active members of FAATSP and AATSP.)

Section 4.2

The advisory board is made up of the President of the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (FAATSP), the present officers of the Florida State Spanish Conference (FSSC), and the Initial Board of Directors of the Corporation (Governing Board).

Section 4.3

The duties of the various officers are those usually contemplated by such positions. The Advisory Board will have general supervision over the activities of the conference.

Section 4.4

The rules and regulations as set forth by the Florida High School Activities Association (FHSAA) shall be enforced. Students who violate the FHSAA rules and any other rules established by the Advisory Board, shall be subject to disqualification and their school (s) may also be disqualified.

Section 4.5

The curfew is in effect from the evening hour set forth by the conference until six (6) a.m. the next morning. Students who violate the curfew will be disqualified and their school may also be disqualified. All hotel rules and regulations apply.

Section 4.6

The attire for competition should not be offensive to others or inappropriate for an academic state competition. Inappropriate dress includes, but is not limited to: exposed under-garments; exposed midriffs; saggy or baggy pants; apparel promoting drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gang ID, weapons, profanity, and/or sexual behavior.

Article V - Meeting

Section 5.1

There shall be an annual conference in the Spring at a date determined by the Directors of the Corporation.

Section 5.2

At the conference there will be a contest in the areas of declamation (limit of 6 (six) per school); impromptu speaking (limited to the total number of participants as outlined in article VIII, Section 1A; and dramatic presentations (limit one (1) per school). Points earned in those three (3) areas will be totaled to determined Outstanding School Award. (See Section 8 and Section 9.)

Section 5.3

There will be two (2) judges, and one (1) timer in each competition room.

Section 5.4

Student performances will be given ratings of Sobresaliente, Superior, Excelente or Bueno.

Section 5.5

Students will be judged on diction, interpretation, overall effectiveness, and in the case of impromptu speeches, the ability to express ideas/ thoughts in acceptable Spanish.

Section 5.6

Individual performers will be judged for ratings with other students of the same year and background in Spanish. Therefore, there will be a separate competition in each category and at each level. Category A students will perform first, then B, then C, then D. Topics will range in difficulty according to the categories.

Section 5.7

Levels and students background may be mixed in dramatic presentations.

Section 5.8

A. An Outstanding School and two (2) runners-up will be selected in each of the school-size grouping as used by the Florida High School Activities Association (6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A). For each award to be presented, there must be at least three (3) schools participating in the size grouping. Thus, the Outstanding School Award will be presented if a minimum of three (3) schools participate. The first runner-up will be presented on the basis of at least six (6)participating schools, and the second runner-up will be presented on the basis of at least nine (9) participating schools. In the event that there are not a minimum of three (3) schools that qualify in a school size grouping, any school that does qualify in that school size may compete in the next higher grouping, as per decision of the Advisory Board.

B. There will be two (2) divisions: Division I for those schools bringing four (4) or less participants in Categories B, C, D, and Division II for those schools bringing five (5) or more participants in categories B, C, D. Trophies will awarded in accordance with Article V, Section 8 of the Bylaws.

C. A school must participate in all three (3) areas of competition to be eligible for the Outstanding School Award (See Section2).

Section 5.9

A. The winner of the Outstanding School Award, as well as the runners-up awards, will be determined by totaling the number of points earned by each school in the areas of impromptu speaking, declamations, and dramatic presentations.

B. Due to time involved in preparing a dramatic presentation, a play or skit will be weighted three (3) times as much as a poem or speech.

C. A play must have a minimum of two (2) students. If the play consists of two (2) or three (3) students, a minimum of six (6) minutes duration (excluding set up time) is required. If the play consists of four (4) or more students, a minimum eight (8) minutes duration (excluding set up time) is required. Maximum time per play is fifteen (15) minutes. The set-up and take down time is a maximum of five (5) minutes combined. Plays with prompting or any reading of the parts or not meeting the minimum time limit may not be awarded more than seventeen (17) points per judge, therefore may not receive a "SOBRESALIENTE".

D. Declamations may not exceed (three) 3 minutes. Levels 1A, 1B and 2A must meet a one minute minimum. All other levels must meet a two (2) minute minimum. Declamations not meeting the minimum time limit cannot receive a "SOBRESALIENTE". Those exceeding the maximum time will be stopped without penalty.

E. Impromptus are limited to two (2) minutes. Any student not meeting the two (2) minute mark will have points deducted.

Section 5.10

There shall be a costume contest in which one (1) winner and two (2) runners up will be chosen by a panel of five (5) judges. This competition shall be considered apart from that for Outstanding School.

Section 5.11

In each of the three (3) categories: musical instruments, vocal, and dancing, a panel of two (2) judges will select the best three (3) entries. Auditions are limited to three (3) minutes, although if chosen, the complete presentation will be run at the banquet. A student may participate in more than one (1) category, but is only allowed one (1) entry. The pre-selected entries will perform at the banquet before a panel of five (5) judges. first, second, and third places will be awarded in each category.

Section 5.12

A Scrapbook Competition and a Poster Competition will be held in an assigned room. A panel of five (5) judges will award: first, second, and third places in each category.

Article VI - Registration

Section 6.1

There shall be a registration fee set by the Advisory Board.

Section 6.2

The host school /Advisory Board may reserve the right to reject late registrations.

Section 6.3

All participating schools must stay at the hotel hosting the FSSC conference. Schools in non compliance are subject to cancellation of participation without refund.

(Adopted 4/24/04)

Article VII - Classification of Contestants

Section 7.1

Contestants shall be divided into four (4) groups, and will compete only within their group. The four (4) groups are:

A. Students who have learned Spanish exclusively in the classroom.

B. Students with limited outside experience at home or in a Spanish-speaking environment.

C. Students with extensive outside experience at home or in a Spanish-speaking environment.

D. Students reared and educated in a Spanish-speaking environment.

Section 7.2

Students from all categories may participate in a dramatic presentation. Categories and levels will be made known to the judges.

Article VIII - Limits on Attendance

Section 8.1

The number of students permitted to attend from any school shall be:

A. No more than 1,400 students, maximum sixteen (16) students per school, will be registered. All sixteen (16) students are required to compete in the area of impromptu speeches, maximum of five (5) in declamations, and any number of students in dramatic presentations. Each year the Advisory Board will review student attendance, hotel capacity, finances, and all other factors involved in running the Conference. The Advisory Board will have the authority to set a number of participants less or more than sixteen (16) should conditions warrant this.

(Changed 4/24/09)
A. No more than 1,400 students, maximum twelve (12) students per school, will be registered. All twelve (12) students are required to compete in the area of impromptu speeches, maximum of five (5) in declamations, and any number of students in dramatic presentations. Each year the Advisory Board will review student attendance, hotel capacity, finances, and all other factors involved in running the Conference. The Advisory Board will have the authority to set a number of participants less or more than twelve (12) should conditions warrant this.

B. The host school may bring additional students, as determined by the Advisory Board, to aid in the administrative work of the Conference.

Article IX - Point Room

Section 9.1

The Point Room will be run under the auspices of the FAATSP. The FAATSP Board, the FSSC Board, the Initial Board of Directors of the Corporation and a panel of judges will foresee the integrity of the Point Room. The incoming FAATSP board must have had at least one (1) year experience prior to running the point room. The set-up and supplies for the Point Room will be the responsibility of the FAATSP.

Article X - Amendments

Section 10.1

Any proposed amendments may be adopted by a two thirds vote of FAATSP members , in good standing, present either at the regular fall meeting or a special called meeting of those present at the Florida State Spanish Conference in the Spring.

(Original Bylaws implemented in March 2002) (Revised 3/14/15)