professionals is key for any organization looking to develop and maintain a strong, professional staff. We believe that our people are the foundation of our ability to serve our members, as well as create and build more attention for the activity of speech and debate. “Our goal is to create the same kind of energy and momentum for our work in Des Moines that we have had during the previous 90 years in Ripon,” said Crabtree. “The staff we’ve hired there over the last three years of transition have already made great contributions to the organization.” The new headquarters has a training room perfect for hosting the Board of Directors and other events, which is a logistical and financial boon for the organization. The Board meets in an official voting capacity four times a year, twice virtually and twice in person. “We’ve grown exponentially since the organization first began more than 90 years ago,” said Wunn. “Our Des
Moines-based headquarters gives us the space and access we need to honor our history while positioning us to serve our members, and advocate for speech and debate, in the best possible way.”
WHAT’S NEXT? In early 2017, all chapter advisors and school bookkeepers on file will receive notification from the national headquarters of an official address change to our new location at 401 Railroad Place, West Des Moines, IA, 50265. The organization will continue some operations from Ripon throughout the 2016-2017 school year, but will begin working with schools to use the new address for primary operations. The office location and operations will be fully transitioned by July 31, 2017.
Amy Seidelman is the Director of Operations for the NSDA.
ABOUT DES MOINES
Sampling of Recognition Received in 2015-2016:
• #2 Best Affordable Place to Live in the U.S. — U.S. News & World Report, 2016 • #1 Best City for the Middle Class — Business Insider, 2016 • #11 Best Place to Live in the U.S. — U.S. News & World Report, 2016 • Top 10 Best City to Live and Work — Robert Half’s Career City Index, 2016 • #2 “Top 10 U.S. Cities to Land Work” — NBC News, 2015 • #6 “Midsize Metro where College Grads Move for Jobs” — AIER, 2015 • #1 Metro with the Most Community Pride — Gallup, 2015 • #3 Top City for New College Grads — SmartAsset, 2015 • #2 Best City for Jobs in 2015 — Forbes, 2015 Source: https://www.desmoinesmetro.com/en/ dsm_metro_info/rankings
NSDA staff and Board members gathered in front of the West Des Moines headquarters in September.
18
Rostrum | FALL 2016