The Board of Directors meets every two months to receive updates from committees/ officers and discuss association matters. In addition to the discussion on updates on summer workshop, fall conference, the virtual summer camp, and background checks for ACTAA events, the following outlines updates from the Board’s March 30th meeting.

Print Ballots & Event Rules Update.

Over the last several month the Arkansas State Championship Committee has reviewed the print ballots, and prepared several corrections to inconsistencies between he print ballots event rules and practice in the state and NSDA Unified Manual. However, some determinations will need to be voted on by the member at Fall Conference as practice in state might be better suited to the event than NSDA or ballot wording. (e.g., storytelling, impromptu speaking, prose, reader’s theatre, words and music, song lyric interpretation, and duo improvisation). Board members will review the proposed ballots ahead of the May Board meeting, and time will be set aside at Summer Workshop for membership feedback on ballots/ event rules, and final language will be proposed for membership approval at Fall Conference.

ACTAA College Intern.

At the January Board Meeting, Martene Campbell presented the concept of ACTAA having a volunteer non-paid intern to assist with social media and fundraising. The board ask Campbell to develop a proposal and present the idea at its March meeting. At the March 30th meeting, the Board approved the creation of  college intern positions to assist ACTAA Leadership with social media, particular at ACTAA sponsored events. The Board approved to offer the internship to Lesleigh Sullivan of Arkansas State University in the immediate to support social media for the   Arkansas State Championship, May 2-3. ACTAA Leadership will develop an application process for consideration by the Board at Summer Workshop, and to solicit interest for applicants for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Tournament Advisory Committee.

In January, the association ratified changed to the ACTAA By-laws which included restricting the Tournament Advisory Committee (TAC). As a result, the ACTAA President Zackery Tucker needed to appoint new at-large members to TAC, with confirmation by the Board. The Board approved Casey Griffith of Conway High School, Chris Flowers of Little Rock West-Hall School of innovation, Antha Johnson of Fayetteville High School and Daniel Caudle of Har-Ber High School to serve on TAC in a rotating cycle to be determined by drawing lots at Summer Workshop. In addition to the four appointed at-large positions, the ACTAA President, ASC Director (Rosie Valdez-Block, and Student Congress Director (Martene Campbell) serve on the committee ex officio.