TTAO Summer Newsletter – July 2020

Board and S&P Updates

Summer Board Meeting Minutes can be found here.

Core Values Action Plan

In June of 2020, the Board of Directors officially adopted the Core Values Action Plan as a continuing plan for TTAO. Each year, the organization will select a specific Core Value and focus on incorporating new projects to begin emphasizing a narrow focus within that Core Value in the organization.

The Core Values Action Committee

Core Values Action Committee is comprised of appointed members of TTAO with requisite experience and appropriate knowledge for the development of specific projects within the focus of the given year. In the academic year of 2020-2021, the Core Values Action Committee will address racial and cultural diversity issues and offer strategies for equity and inclusion.

More information and a list of committee members can be found here.

The Real Change Committee

The Real Change Committee has been making progress on their campaign and plan to have more details available August 15th. In the meantime, you can watch their pre-launch video below.

TTAO’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

TTAO’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

June 17, 2020

It has been stated that “time and tide wait for no man.” In these disquieting times of racial injustice and social unrest, we recognize the urgency of this moment. The Texas Theatre Adjudicators and Officials (TTAO) organization stands united with the Black Lives Matter Movement and supports the ideology that racism and injustice have no place in our society. Therefore, we commit to building a culture of inclusivity that aligns with our core values of education, diversity, integrity, transparency, and service. To that end, we will continue to invest our efforts in work that represents not only our core values but integrates the tenants of humanity and impartiality.

As good stewards of education, it is incumbent upon us to build a culture of inclusivity and push beyond the unfair practices of the day. White privilege is a dehumanizing force in our society, a cavernous divide between opportunity and the lack of it. Destructive at its core, it systematically devalues the beauty and diversity of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and deletes any opportunity for growth.

We will no longer be silent to the voices of the oppressed. In the wake of the senseless and brutal murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many others, and during a time of civil unrest in our society, we stand firmly with the Black community in outrage. Integrity, in the face of these disasters, compels us to engage in honest dialogue in order to learn, grow, and develop actions that address systematic racism.

As live storytellers, we, as theatre artists, embrace the opportunity to humanize complex issues for marginalized people. As theatre educators, the members of TTAO have a responsibility to be receptive to the needs of our community and elevate conversations that champion racial equality. Let it be known that the Leadership of TTAO is committed to enacting the following during the academic year of 2020-2021:

  • Developing an Core Values Action Committee that will address diversity issues and offer strategies for equity and inclusion
  • Committing up to $10,000 to the Core Values Action Committee for the use of funding speakers, recruitment efforts, trainings, workshops, and any project that supports our urgent goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Requiring diversity trainings for TTAO Board of Directors, TTAO Standards and Practices Committee, and TTAO Adjudicators and Contest Managers
  • Offering diversity training for our membership at the Texas Educational Theatre Association Convention
  • Including statements of support for diversity, equity, and inclusion in formal literature
  • Developing a campaign for TTAO Adjudicators and Contest Managers to donate to a fund for diversity, equity, and inclusion that benefits theatre students and/or theatre teachers in the state of Texas
  • Collecting data about the cultural self-identification of our membership and devising best practices for enhanced recruitment and retention of BIPOC Adjudicators and Contest Managers in the organization, as well as in TTAO Leadership positions

These policies are only the beginning of an ongoing trajectory of our vital work. We will continue to offer transparency in our mission to build more diverse ethnic inclusivity by launching critical programs and soliciting input from our membership. We know that service to our community is vital.

Yasmina Reza suggests: “Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society.” Our driving force in TTAO continues to be that we are committed to building a community that reflects the best in each of us . . . equal, empowered, insightful, and prosperous.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Martin Luther King

Area/Region/State Assignments

Many assignments rolled over from last season, although a handful of assignments had to be changed for different reasons. All assignments can be found on the UIL website. https://www.uiltexas.org/theatre/judges

TTAO Connect Systems Updates

  • New statements have been added to all adjudicator agreements regarding payment:
    • TTAO requests that the school responsible for payment handle reservations and payment for travel and lodging directly with vendors (hotels, airlines, etc.).
    • TTAO requests that if any travel reimbursement needs to be distributed to the adjudicator, that the reimbursement be paid separately from judging fees for IRS income purposes.
    • If a contest is cancelled, TTAO requests that the school responsible for payment reimburse the adjudicator for all non-refundable out-of-pocket expenses that were agreed upon in the contractual agreement (hotel, airline ticket, etc.).
    • All payments should be issued to the adjudicator following the critique or no later than thirty days following the contest, unless this contractual agreement is modified to reflect the adjustments.
    • Failure to adhere to the above conditions may result in notification of the State Executive Committee.

Reminders

Adjudicators

  1. You must accept contracts in 72 hours or they will be auto-rejected
  2. To clear rejected contracts, open the menu next to “pending agreements”, click “show rejected” then click on the X of the agreement you want cleared out of your account.
  3. Do not mark days on your calendar as a way to “save the date” as the CM cannot send you the contract one they have it created

TTAO at TETA

In light of the evolving factors related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, TheatreFest 2020 will be offered as a virtual event.

No worries, friends! We will still have outstanding training to grow and learn together and share hugs virtually!

Be on the lookout for TTAO workshops including diversity and inclusion training!

TTAO Members- Join us on Facebook!

If you are an adjudicator, join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681476041915336/

If you are a contest manager, join us at the new site here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/561273894440216/

Upcoming Important Dates

  • August 15th – First day to contract Zone & District Lead Judges
  • Sep 26 – 29th – TETA Virtual conference
  • November 2nd – First day to complete your Zone & District Panels

TTAO has a new Logo!