February 22, 2009

Dear NFL colleague,

In this Newsletter, I would like to give you the details for our NFL Student Congress that will determine our district’s qualifiers to the National Student Congress.  If you have any intention of competing in Congress, please read this letter carefully.

We will have our NFL Student Congress qualifier on Saturday, April 3 at Cathedral Prep.

1. Please take note of the following procedures:

            A. SENATE: all schools may send two students in Senate.  As long as 8 schools send a senator, our district can qualify two to Nationals.

            B. HOUSE: schools may send a proportional representation to House (check the webpage at www.nflonline.org).  If 30 students participate, we will have two chambers and may qualify two representatives; if we have 61 participants, we will have three chambers and may qualify three representatives; if we have 91 participants, we will have four chambers and may qualify four to Nationals.  Each school will have to spread out its representatives evenly in whatever number of House chambers we qualify for.  It is therefore to every school’s advantage to increase its number of degrees on record at the national office on April 11 and to send your full quota of representatives.

            C. JUDGES: we will continue to use our system of having judges determine our qualifiers.  As in the past, that means that every one of your students must be in a room with one of your judges once.  For that to happen, every participating school must bring an appropriate number of judges, depending on the number of House chambers we eventually have.  For instance, if we have one House chamber, a school would need one judge; if we have two or three House chambers, a school would need two judges; if we have four House chambers, a school would need three judges—the judge would also have to judge in the Senate in every instance.

2. Fill out the “green sheet”: access it at www.nflonline.org and fax it to me (516-742-1989) so that I have it on or before March 27.

3. So that we can prepare for the Congress, I ask that you send me your legislation no later than Wednesday, March 4.  Go to www.lifa.org.  You may submit one or two pieces of legislation only.  If the need arises, a third piece, marked “alternate,” may be used.  Please be sure to follow the format instructions on the webpage for legislation.  Also note the distinction between Resolutions (containing “whereas” clauses and of philosophical intent) and Bills (no “whereas” clauses and of specific legislative intent).  If the legislation does not meet NFL specifications, it will not be accepted.  You may access all legislation at www.lifa.org on Friday, March 6.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: do not fax legislation to me.  Instead go to www.lifa.org for instructions.

ONLY LEGISLATION POSTED ON MARCH 6 MAY BE USED AT THE CONGRESS.

4. FEES: There is NO charge for entry.

5. FOOD: a light breakfast will be available to judges.  You will be able to buy lunch at one of the many nearby fast food shops.

6. TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: Registration: 8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
Session I: 9:00 a.m. (House and Senate schedules differ)
Awards: 5:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at 516-742-5555 X445 up to March 31.  After that, contact Bro. John (see next sentence).  On the 3rd, call Bro. John at 516-480-4720.

Sincerely yours,

Bro. George R. Zehnle, S.M.
Chair, NYCNFL