{"id":660,"date":"2015-01-01T13:38:36","date_gmt":"2015-01-01T13:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/v2.schoolsdebate.com\/?page_id=660"},"modified":"2015-01-24T03:42:24","modified_gmt":"2015-01-24T03:42:24","slug":"wsdc-ltd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/v2.schoolsdebate.com\/organisation\/wsdc-ltd\/","title":{"rendered":"WSDC Ltd"},"content":{"rendered":"

The history of\u00a0the company<\/strong><\/p>\n

For its first 14 years, there was very little central organisation of WSDC between the individual tournaments – imagine the Olympics with no IOC (which might be a good thing). \u00a0The only central body that existed (in the later years of that period) was an Appeals Committee of past, present and next Convenor, who decided on issues referred to them.<\/p>\n

In 2002 the ‘Executive Committee’ was created in order to involve more people, elected by the World Council of participating nations. \u00a0The members of the Executive were charged with taking central decisions for the benefit of WSDC and developing the tournament through working groups of volunteers, which looked at issues like hosting, the draw, motion setting,\u00a0EFL\/ESL status,\u00a0judging standards, online activities and so on. \u00a0One of those working groups was the Finance Group, tasked with exploring fundraising on a central, global basis. \u00a0All of the people involved were volunteers and there was no legal status to the organisation.<\/p>\n

In 2007\/2008, an Executive working group chaired by James Probert looked into the possibility of incorporating WSDC as a registered company. \u00a0A postal ballot was held for the members of the World Council to vote on incorporation. \u00a0The announcement of the ballot, with accompanying documents explaining the arguments in favour, can be seen here in Mark Gabriel’s message to the mailing list of 10th April 2008:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/sqe.li\/1qPI32f<\/a> (*)<\/p>\n

29 countries voted in favour of incorporation; \u00a00 against. \u00a0WSDC was then incorporated as a not-for-profit limited company in the United Kingdom (chosen as the country with the highest concentration of WSDC alumni) on 6 August 2008.<\/p>\n

The purpose of WSDC Ltd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrea Coomber wrote this summary of the reasons for incorporation, in October 2010:<\/p>\n

It is important to bear in mind that the charity – WSDC Ltd. – is a legal body that has been established to meet the long-term objectives of our community. Its purpose is emphatically not to tinker with the rules of a debating competition: to discuss whether we should have power pairing, to set guidelines for judging, etc. These responsibilities remain with the Council and the Executive. Rather, it has three stated objectives as outlined in the Memoranda and Articles of Association of WSDC Ltd. (attached to this message):<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. to encourage and advance the education of young people in communication skills\u00a0through conducting debating events;<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. to achieve excellence in debating by young people through annually conducting the World Schools Debating Championships;<\/em><\/li>\n
  3. to promote international understanding and free speech through debating to help young people develop their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When our community decided to create an incorporated body to advance these objectives it did so not to create a bureaucracy that would control all the activities of the WSDC.\u00a0 It is important to note that WSDC Ltd. plays no role in the annual organization of the championships, has no interest in the rules of debate, the management of the tournament, the eligibility of nations, etc. Under the Rules the Council and the Executive address these. While it is very early days, ultimately the WSDC Ltd. will act as a business engine for financing, expanding and profiling schools’ debating internationally.
    \n\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nMembership<\/strong>
    \n\u00a0<\/strong>
    \nThe first directors were Michael Birshan (former England debater and coach), Andrea Coomber (former Australian coach) and Yuri Romanenkov (former Lithuanian debater). \u00a0A full board was elected shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n

    The new company was a membership association and countries were invited to apply to become members at no cost. \u00a0All participating countries in 2008 were granted membership, and likewise in 2009 any new countries were welcomed as new members.<\/p>\n

    Reform of governance<\/strong><\/p>\n

    In June 2010, James Probert circulated a paper on proposed reforms to the new structure of WSDC. \u00a0You can read the initial email and paper here:<\/p>\n

    http:\/\/sqe.li\/14AN4Ho<\/a><\/p>\n

    There was a fair amount of discussion on the main WSDC (Netpals) mailing list in following months which can be read in the archives. \u00a0The reform paper including specific proposals was then formally submitted to the AGM held in February 2011, of which the minutes are here:<\/p>\n

    http:\/\/sqe.li\/1xy9sNL<\/a><\/p>\n

    As you can see, a number of distinct votes were held to reform the WSDC organisation, the results of which are minuted. \u00a0Some of the key proposals included:<\/p>\n