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U3A Debating Club
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  • Have you ever been involved in a debate—not with your partner, but a real one?
  • Have you ever been in the audience of a real debate?
  • Have you ever been labled a stirrer simply because you enjoy having a point of view?
  • Have you ever argued the point even though you didn’t have a point of view?
  • Have you ever enjoyed just watching?

We are looking to bring together people who would be interested in setting up a debating club within the Nepean U3A. Hopefully there would be a number of teams based geographically throughout the region, which would debate each other on a regular basis, say once or twice or even more a term.

A possible format for the club would be that members of each team would meet regularly (say weekly) to discuss the current debate topic and provide information from research to help prepare the team’s tactics and strategies. The members would also select speakers to represent their team for the particular debate.

The actual debates would be carried out before audiences from the U3A generally, and perhaps any interested members of the public. It is anticipated that non-speaking members of the teams and the audience generally, would not provide distraction to the speakers through unseemly interjection, and of course any such behaviour would be immediately discouraged by the adjudicators!

The concept is still very much in the developmental stage at the moment, but it is hoped that debates could start some time in first term 2008. It is also hoped that up to four teams would compete, representing the St. Marys, Penrith, Mid Mountains and Upper Mountains areas. Weekly strategy meetings would be held in suitable geographic locations, and the actual debates would be held at various selected venues.

At present we are looking for expressions of interest firstly from people who would be interested in participating in such a club, and secondly from people who would be interested in assisting in setting up the structure, rules and the actual teams.

If you feel that you may be interested in participating in the club, regardless of whether you have any experience or not in debating, would you please ring Mike Boyle on 4751 4229 or email him at mwboyle@optusnet.com.au so that we can gauge if there is sufficient interest in this exciting new initiative. If there is sufficient response, formal nominations will be called at the 2008 registration days. Volunteers prepared to provide some assistance in developing the concept further would also be greatly appreciated.

Please lodge your expression of interest and support for this programme as quickly as possible, and also indicate if you could provide any advice or assistance in setting up the project.

 

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