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ITCC Turns Twenty-Five

Believe it or not, the event formerly and affectionately known as the Jamboree turns 25 this August in Milwaukee. To celebrate, ISA has some special activities scheduled. In June, you will be treated to an article by Jamboree co-founder and ISA vice president Bailey Hudson. Bailey is busy rounding up Jamboree founders to help refresh his colorful memories. He promises to provide a eucman’s view (with an oakman’s tendencies) of the history and significance of what has become the most widely accepted ISA program worldwide.

To further celebrate the milestone, the ITCC Committee will launch the first international women’s competition, to be held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled ITCC events in Milwaukee. We have a few other special events planned to commemorate the occasion, but what fun would it be if we didn’t leave something to surprise you when you come to Milwaukee? You can be sure it will include friends, family fun, brats (the sausage kind!), and possibly a beer or two.

Protest Process Explained

Each year, the committee reviews the rules and publishes what it considers the final, all-inclusive draft, which is then distributed to competitors and judges a month or so before the championship. It never fails, however, that once the event gets underway, a situation arises that requires an interpretation of the rules that we hadn’t considered. As Roseanne Roseannadanna of Saturday Night Live would say, “It’s always something!”

Last year was no exception. A number of situations required a ruling be made on protests filed during and after the competition. Filing a protest is not a bad thing; it is the right of any competitor, and it allows an orderly and timely review of a ruling by a judge. To make sure a protest is properly considered, a protest form was designed by the ITCC Committee several years ago. The form asks for specific information needed by the Protest Review Committee. That committee can then review the facts and speak to all parties involved during their investigation. Protests forms are available from the chair of the competition or at the scoring table. ITCC rules state that a protest must be filed within one hour of an alleged rule infraction. Time is of paramount importance to a quick and objective review of facts.

The Protest Review Committee includes the ITCC Committee chair, the head judge, and the technical advisor. The Protest Review Committee’s role is to review the information provided on the protest form, perform a detailed investigation, and provide a ruling based on the facts presented. As with most situations, there are always at least two sides to the story, and it is the committee’s responsibility to objectively investigate the information before rendering a decision.