PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

TO:

MN DI Regional Champions

FROM:
RE:
DATE:

Pamela Schroeder, Affiliate Director

Minnesota Affiliate Tournament 2016
April 2016

TEAM MANAGERS &

MEMBERSHIP
COORDINATORS:
IMPORTANT
MN DI Affiliate Tournament
Information
Please share with all
Team Managers and teams!

Excitement is building as we prepare for the Minnesota DI Affiliate Tournament on Saturday, April 9 at Jackson Middle School
in Champlin! Teams from around the state will join together to celebrate truly inspiring creativity and teamwork. Please review
the following important information with team members and parents to prepare for the competition. IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT TEAM MANAGERS READ THIS ENTIRE PACKET!
Also check the MN Facebook page
(http://www.facebook.com/#!/minnesotaDI) and Twitter (#_mndi) for updates!
HAVE FUN!
The first order of the day! You have all worked hard to get here, and we could not be more delighted to share in your creative
journey. We want to hear and see what you have learned, and to celebrate with you.
GETTING THERE
Jackson Middle School is at 6000 109th Avenue North in Champlin. Directions can be found on their website and below.
There is a sign and entrance at the intersection of 109th and Douglas do not enter there! Proceed farther up 109th and take that
entrance. You will enter via the visitor entrance through the Main Door, Door 1, for team and volunteer registration.
UNLOADING PROPS
Heading east on 109th Avenue, the school is on your left. The first lot you pass will be for Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy,
where we will site Musical Mashup. Feel free to park here once you have registered your teams.
Door 65 is the best entrance for Get A Clue Middle Level and Pace of Change.
Doors 3 or 16 are the best entrances for Close Encounters.
There is a small lot behind JMS, closer to the portable structures. Get A Clue Elementary and Secondary teams may want to
unload their props there.
PARKING: There is plenty of campus parking available. JMS has large parking lots on each side of the school, and there is
more parking across 109th Street at Champlin Park High School, where we will hold the Awards Ceremony. If you have
very large props you can ask the parking director which lot is closest to your Challenge performance site. Please note that
there are some reserved spots marked by signs or cones. A penalty will be assessed to any car in a reserved spot. Any cars
parked illegally or off school property may be tagged or towed. Please do NOT park near or block the loading dock.
SCHEDULE
Attached please find the Team Challenge/Instant Challenge Performance Schedule (you will receive your storage room
assignments later). Every attempt has been made to accommodate special requests; performance times must balance both Team
and Instant Challenge schedules and it is not possible to honor every request. Both Team and Instant Challenge performance
times and locations are given on the schedule, and team numbers appear before each teams name. Please check your team(s)
time(s) and team number(s) and call immediately if there is an error. On tournament day, check the Master Schedule posted
outside competition rooms to confirm your performance times in the event of a change. Whenever possible, Team
Challenge performances are scheduled to enable as many teams as possible within schools to view each others presentations.
Maps of the performance sites will be posted throughout the building.

WHEN TO REPORT TO YOUR CHALLENGE

The schedule is very tight, and teams must report to their performance sites 20 minutes prior to their scheduled Team
Performance time and 15 minutes prior to their scheduled Instant Challenge time. Please plan accordingly and leave
yourselves plenty of time to get to your performances. Its a large school!
TEAM STORAGE ROOMS
Please consider assembling props just prior to your performance times in the locker banks closest to your performance sites,
instead of carrying gear through the halls. Please DO NOT BLOCK THE HALLS. Space is at a premium, and up to five teams
may share team storage rooms. Do not touch or move anything in the team storage room. Please be sensitive to others needs,
and plan to transport props out of the building immediately after team performances. As always there is NO EATING in the
team storage rooms.
Please note that floor monitors will penalize teams whose rooms have evidence of food/beverages, or writing on white boards or
other disturbances. All teams sharing a team storage room will be assessed a penalty. Props must return home with you, and
not be left or disposed of on campus.
Absolutely NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES except water are allowed outside the cafeteria.
TEAM REGISTRATION/VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION
Registration for all challenges will take place in the lobby inside the Main Door (Door 1) from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Volunteer registration will also be in the main lobby. Volunteers will need to bring or sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct.
TEAM MANAGERS should register their team(s) at least one-half hour before their first scheduled competition time. To speed
the process, complete the enclosed TEAM ROSTER FORM before arriving. See enclosed Affiliate Challenge Master Memo
to Affiliate Tournament Qualifiers for other items needed at registration. Note that Declaration of Independence forms will not
be required at this tournament.
NAMETAGS should be worn by each team member throughout the day (except during performances, if it interferes with their
integrity). Teams must furnish their own nametags. Legibility and creativity are encouraged.
SITE RESTRICTIONS
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is smoke free.
Food and beverages are limited to the Cafeteria ONLY. No food or beverages, with the exception of water, are allowed
in any other areas. A penalty will be assessed to all teams in a storage room where evidence of food is found.
Note that all Anoka-Hennepin schools are latex-free sites. No latex balloons or other latex items may be brought into the
building.
Non latex balloons are allowed in the building; helium balloons are NOT allowed.
No dry ice is permitted in the building.
No rolling shoes are permitted in the building.
Per the Rules of the Road, appropriate footwear for team members is required during all Challenge performances
no flip flops will be allowed during performances, and shoes must be worn at all times.
TEAM VOLUNTEERS
We are very, very grateful to all of our volunteers! Please know that you are appreciated! We hope the time you spend helping
make this tournament a special event makes you feel even more connected to our program.
Tournaments of this size require many people. The team volunteer you committed to work (one per team) is expected and will
be receiving specific assignments by separate email before the tournament. Every effort is being made to schedule duty
times so as not to conflict with their Team Challenge performance. If for any reason your volunteer cannot perform his/her task,
it is the Team Managers responsibility to recruit someone else and pass along the volunteer letter you received at your Regional
Tournament Award Ceremony. If two people are sharing the assigned task, the one receiving the information must notify the
other individual. Teams may receive a 10 point penalty if volunteers fail to check into Volunteer Registration or perform
assigned duties. Volunteers will be asked to sign the DI Volunteer Code of Conduct when they check in for their shift.
Volunteers are VERY important! Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

PRE-COMPETITION TIME
Team Managers may look into the performance sites prior to the start of competition on tournament day to become familiar with
specific sites. You may not, however, leave any items in the areas in which other teams are competing. This includes all
backdrops and A/V equipment.
Challenge Masters will be available one-half hour prior to their first performance at their competition areas to clarify any
concerns Team Managers may have prior to the official start of the tournament. They are available for questions by phone or
email prior to the competition; please see the enclosed MN Directory for contact information.
TEAM CHALLENGE Please note that teams must bring everything they need. We cannot supply A/V, furniture, etc.
Presentation Summary: As at regional tournaments, teams have the option to submit the enclosed form that will be read by
officials directly before performances.
Zero Tolerance Policy: There will be a zero tolerance policy for guns, weapons, and inappropriate behavior and language in all
challenge performances for the Affiliate Tournament. We must comply with state and Anoka-Hennepin District regulations with
respect to weapons or facsimiles of weapons.
Teams must be on time. Arrive at your Team Challenge competition site at least 20 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
Prep areas will be shown to teams by each respective prep appraiser as they enter the competition room. Before that time,
however, please wait quietly outside the team entrance. Arrive at Instant Challenge 15 minutes prior to your schedule time.
Musical Mashup teams: Check the attached Weight Schedule for weigh in times. Teams must be on time for weigh in. The
structure weigh-in will be in the Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy Cafeteria.
Lights may not be dimmed, or turned off or on in any Team Challenge site. If you feel lighting is too dim, please ask the
Challenge Appraisers for assistance.
Team Viewing Areas will be provided at each site for team members not performing and for their team managers. Areas will
also be designated at each site for the presentation of Team Challenge raw scores after teams compete. These areas will be for
TEAM MANAGERS and TEAM MEMBERS ONLY.
Scores, in most cases, will be available within 30 minutes of the teams performances. They should be picked up at your
performance site. If you perform late in the day, ask your Challenge Master where to pick up those scores.
Team Challenge performances will receive greater scrutiny and be assessed more strictly at this level of competition (see
enclosed Challenge Masters Memo). Should concerns be raised, we will strictly follow the guidelines in the Rules of the Road.
Any discussion with the Challenge Masters must occur within one-half hour after being shown the raw scores. Rule
interpretations ONLY may be questioned; subjective scores are not open formally to question, nor are proceedings dealing with
other teams. Once the Challenge Masters rule on a question, that decision is final. If they are not able to rule, an appeal process
will ensue, as outlined in the Rules of the Road. The Challenge Masters will give the proper forms to the Team Mangers to
complete if appeals are warranted. Please consult the Rules of the Road to acquaint yourself with proper procedure.
Interference: Please be advised that evidence of interference will result in penalties, and possible disqualification. If you
witness interference, please alert the closest MN DI official immediately.
INSTANT CHALLENGE
Instant Challenge competition will be held in the back hallway on Rebel Road, between Evergreen Avenue and Monroe Avenue.
Check-in and holding will be signed; this will be the only entrance to IC. To ensure privacy, teams should not arrive in this area
until 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time. No one else is allowed in the IC area. This will be strictly enforced.
Team Managers with multiple teams may be present with their team only in the last scheduled IC performance of the
day. This is to ensure that if the teams have the same IC, there can be no inadvertent coaching. As always, teams will be able to
debrief privately with their Team Managers only following their IC performances.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties may be assessed by tournament officials against teams or team managers at any time
during competition day. Please respect other teams and the school buildings and grounds. Refer to the Rules of the Road and
Tournament Guide for specific tournament guidelines.
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TEAM CLARIFICATIONS
Performances will be appraised at this tournament based on all clarifications DI has issued this season. See enclosed Challenge
Masters Memo to Affiliate Qualifiers for specifics. Please be sure to bring any team clarification your team has received.
ADVANCEMENT
The top three scoring teams in each challenge and level will advance to Global Finals EXCEPT for split sites, where we will
advance the top two scoring teams. Any team who wins the right to advance to Global Finals is under NO OBLIGATION to
attend. However, if you do not plan to attend Globals, please let us know as soon as possible.
TRAVELING DA VINCI AWARD TROPHY
This impressive MN designed award will be on display in the Registration Area during the day. This award travels to each of
the Affiliate Tournament Da VincI Award winners to be on display in their communities before it returns next DI season. One of
the Da VincI winners may take the trophy home after the Global Finals Team Manager meeting on at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday,
April 16.
DI SALES
Shirts, pins, caps, and many MN DI items will be available for sale at the DI sales tables. Sales items will be available
beginning at 8:00 a.m. on a first come, first served basis. No pre-sale requests, please.
Team sales will be in the Cafeteria come and browse all kinds of unique and creative team-created items for sale by MN DI
teams, including the famous DI tails!
FOOD SERVICE
The Cafeteria will be open for snacks and meals from 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Concessions (beverages, Bakers Square pie,
candy, chips, granola bars, etc.) will be on sale from 2:00 until 4:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria. Please plan to eat at JMS! The Food
Services folks are up awfully early to provide tasty food!
MESSAGES, EMERGENCIES
A message board will be set up in the Registration area for team use during the day.
FIRST AID
A nurse will be available 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., as well as an EMT on site through the end of the Awards Ceremony.
SENIORS
All graduating seniors will be recognized at our Pre-Awards fun. Come celebrate our DI seniors! There will be a Senior
Processional into the Awards Ceremonies so they can be recognized and applauded by the audience and fellow DI participants.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Come on along and browse the Book Fair and meet Clifford the Big Red Dog. Books for all ages! The Book Fair will run all
day.
AWARDS CEREMONY Champlin Park High School CELEBRATE!!
You may park across the street in the CPSH lot at any time during the day. Again, there will be some reserved spaces marked,
so please be respectful of saved spots.
Please remind teams and parents that verifying and computing scores takes time, and teams will be performing until
after 4:00. Final scores cant be calculated, teams cant be ranked, and special awards cant be considered until
all Team Challenge and Instant Challenge performances are concluded. We greatly appreciate your patience!
Teams advancing to Global Finals will receive information about Globals and about our Globals Team Manager meeting as
teams cross the podium.
Final scores and rankings will be available for Team Managers to pick up following each Awards Ceremony. You will be
directed where to find your envelopes.
MEDIA RELEASE
Sanctioned tournament officials and media representatives will be filming/photographing participants and spectators throughout
the day. Please notify all team parents/guardians. MN DI may use photographs and video clips for marketing purposes,
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including websites. Please read carefully the enclosed Media Release statement on the back of the Team Roster Form you will
turn in at registration.
VIDEO TAPING DURING PERFORMANCES
Only spectators associated with the performing teams or designated officials are allowed to video tape. Affiliate Challenge
Masters have been instructed to ensure that cameras are set up for one performance only, observing that no one is taping to get
team films of everyone in the challenge. This kind of taping could violate the spirit of our competition and, more immediately,
make participants uncomfortable. Video tapes will not be admissible evidence in the event of a DIalogue.
GLOBAL FINALS 2016 TEAM MANAGERS MEETING
All Team Managers of Affiliate Champion teams qualifying for the Global Finals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville,
TN are invited to meet on Thursday, April 14, at 4:30 p.m. at the Intermediate District 287 Service Center in Plymouth. Travel
arrangements, fundraising, pin purchasing and other important Destination Imagination Globals Finals 2016 specifics will be
addressed.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event of inclement weather, call 763/550-7212 after 5:00 a.m. for updates. Please use your best judgment before
traveling.
QUESTIONS?
For site and schedule concerns, please call Pamela Schroeder, MN DI Affiliate Director, at 763/550-7212 or email
pfschroeder@district287.org. Questions regarding team registration, fee, and volunteer issues should be directed to Kim
Kallroos, Program Assistant, at 763/550-7245 or email kkkallroos@district287.org.
THE VERY BEST OF LUCK AND A GREAT DAY TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!
Please invite family and friends to celebrate and to learn more about DI! This is a free public event!
Enclosures
Memo from Affiliate Challenge Masters
Affiliate Tournament Team Roster/Media Release Form
Presentation Summary
Team Challenge/Instant Challenge Performance Schedule
Musical Mashup Weigh In Schedule
Maps for Jackson Middle School and Champlin-Brooklyn Park Academy
MN DI DIrectory
Tournament Tips and Tricks
Directions to Jackson Middle School