The Quizbowl Resource Center

Are there any plans to update the PACE website? I'd like to see the stats from last year. Also, is the 2005 date set in stone? We need to go ahead and make some plans... Especially since NAQT is the weekend before...

They're all there. T-Chuck changed the hosting site so maybe you're stuck seeing the old one.

http://www.pace-nsc.org

Thanks. That did it. The link on this site's main page still links to the old site...

quizbowllee wrote:Thanks. That did it. The link on this site's main page still links to the old site...]

I've now taken care of that, thanks for the heads-up.

Thanks.... the new site has info about the NSC.

I am posting preliminary information about the fee structure here before updating it to the website (grant deadline and presentation is getting in the way).

Base entry fee (tentative announcement, still pending changes and information)
$350 per team
$50 discount for automatic bid per team (expires April 30, 2005)
$50 discount for each team that stays in the official hotel (Doubletree Universal, group code pending). Room rate is $99 per night for a single, double, or triple in our room block (40 rooms in our block so far).
$25 discount for bringing a buzzer system (use both days of the competition), maximum 3 buzzers.
$225 Minimum entry fee per team.

To register for the 2005 NSC, send me an email (for now).

Just to let you know I have finalized the group reservation for PACE at the Doubletree Hotel Orlando, 5780 Major Boulevard, Orlando FL 32819.

EDIT: Contact 1-800-222-TREE and request rooms as part of the "Valencia Community College PACE Quiz Bowl group."

We have 40 rooms (singles to quads) at a rate of $99 a night beginning Friday 6/10 and concluding Sunday 6/12/05 (so you can leave Monday). The group name is "Valencia Community College/PACE Quiz Bowl." Check-in time is 4pm each day, check-out is 11am.

Upon receipt of room confirmation, you can take the $50 discount for using the "official hotel." I am assuming the honor system for this case, so do not make me have to confirm every team.

The hotel is located just outside University Studios Florida.

We hope that you will all take advantage of using this official hotel, and we look forward to seeing you in June!

Should we still try to use the Panasonic discount codes for airlines?

solonqb wrote:Should we still try to use the Panasonic discount codes for airlines?

Only based on my experience with airline code discounts, try to use them. I think they would apply if there aren't any other cheaper rates.

so...pardon my ignorance, but how do you qualify for PACE; is it top 4, or top 8 at a tournament, or does that vary?

I think you have to place in the top four at a PACE qualifying tournament. If you can't/don't do this, there are also at-large bids you can apply for based on national recognition and performance at other large tournaments.

Top 4 at any PACE-affiliated tournament, but each school has a limit of 2 bids (thus you could finish in the top 8 and be eligible for a bid).

(You could ask for a third bid in the event we have room in the field.)

What is meant by the 26 in blazer06's avatar? A majority of states? And if so go Republicans. (Note the Republicans hold a majority in the House Senate and electoral votes (yes this means Bush is President).

My guess would be state governors

Yeah, its state governors, current break is 22-28; I would say 50 too, as in houses of State Legislatures(there are only 99 state legislatures; Nebraska's is unicam and nonpartisan)...but that's a little too obscure.

Any idea when we might see the a list of PACE-invited teams so far? I'm just curious...

-Lee

quizbowllee wrote:Any idea when we might see the a list of PACE-invited teams so far? I'm just curious...

-Lee

I'd have to take some time and compile that list from posted results.

This is from the PAC website:

Discount airfares are offered through Continental Airlines by calling Continental's MeetingWorks at 1-800-468-7022. Advise the agent of the Agreement Code: UMBLNE and Z Code: ZJGY. Auto rental discounts are offered through Avis Rent A Car Systems by calling 1-800-331-1600 and referring to Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) No. J818358 or by visiting the Avis web site.

Another question: Are there any old PACE questions available for download and/or purchase? I'd like to start getting my team (and myself) used to the format.

Thanks.

This is from the PAC website:

That's Pansonic, not PACE, yes?

Yes.

This is the preliminary list of teams. I'm sure I'm missing a few teams, but please email me.

Brindlee Mountain
Brookwood 2
Central Hardin
Culver Academy
Heritage 2
Mission San Jose
Raleigh Charter (?)
Solon (?)
Thomas Jefferson

Dr. Chuck,

If we get there Friday and leave Sunday will there be enough time to take the team to Universal Studios? I don't know the schedule of the tournament, and I'd like to have some free time. If not, we may try and stay an extra day.

Also, is there somewhere we can get the questions from years past?

Thanks.

-Lee

My understanding is that matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday, so if you're there early Friday, you'll have that whole day to do Universal. The two parks (Universal actually comprises Universal Studios, with backstage junk, tours, and some rides, as well as Islands of Adventure, which is nearly all rides) are open from 9 am till 8 pm. And the restaurants and clubs at the front of the park, including Emeril's, Hard Rock, etc., are open at least till 11 pm.

Last year in Maryland the tournament finished by 4 pm or so, meaning if you don't leave till Monday, you could get some more time in Sunday evening.

Does anybody know which campus of Valencia Community College that PACE will be held out? It appears that there are four different campuses. Also, how far is the college from the "official" tournament hotel?

[obsolete -- nothing to see here. --RD]

OK - I've asked this a few times, but it always seems to get buried before I get a reply. So - here goes again:

Is there anywhere I can download/buy/trade/otherwise GET questions from PACE tournaments of years past?

-Lee

Yes, the 2005 PACE NSC will take place at the West campus of Valencia Community College. The campus is 3.2 miles north on Kirkman Road from the official hotel, the Doubletree, which itself is across the street from the Universal Studios complex. I am not aware of any public transportation or shuttles between the hotel and the campus (maybe Mr. Borglum can fill us in on that), and it appears there are not many eating establishments within walking distance of the campus, so it would probably be a good idea to rent a car.

As for old PACE question sets, I will talk to Dr. Chuck about getting some up on the website.

As Dan wrote earlier, the tournament will be at Valencia's West Campus, which is at 1800 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL, 32810. The Doubletree is walking distance to a TGI Friday's and, I think, a Bennigan's; however, there is no shuttle to the campus, so a car will be necessary. Worse, Valencia last year got rid of its 15-passenger vans, so we don't have any way to do any informal shuttling, either.

Again, feel free to direct any logistical or Orlando questions to me at [email protected]

You are entitled to all the former NSC sets at no additional cost once you register for the tournament.

To register for the tournament, you need to email me to be included in the mailing list. I'll subscribe you to our closed Yahoogroup, and the files which you seek will be there (in the Files section, all zipped files).

To much fanfare, I have finally updated the website. Sorry about the delay. Those who know realize how busy and distracted things are for me right now, so I appreciate your patience with this.

Officially calling for teams for the second time!

ROSTERS DUE MAY 15:
This is the first official call for rosters for all teams that intend to compete at the 2005 NSC. The following information is needed from all teams:

1) For each student:
First name (or preferred name)
Last name
Grade level in 2004-2005
College to be attended for graduating seniors
Years as a previous PACE NSC participant
T-shirt size (see below)
* While you may opt to designate a captain, it is not necessary. You can also change rosters on-site before the first game is played.

2) For each coach or chaperone:
First name (or preferred name)
Last name
Affiliation with school
T-shirt size (see below)

3) A photograph JPEG format of the team members, preferably with coaches. Please caption the photograph so I don't make wild speculations.

T-SHIRT PRE-ORDERS:
As extra incentive for submitting rosters on time, PACE is making T-shirts for participants for the 2005 NSC. Currently we are planning on providing shirts to all students listed on submitted rosters and a coach (up to 7 per registered TEAM). Any extra T-shirts could be purchased (preferably in advance) for $10 each, though we are working on the details for that.

I presume that the bulk of our orders will be "large" or "extra large", so those of you with "medium" or "extra extra large" builds should let us know through the pre-order process.

We are taking all T-shirt pre-orders until Sunday, May 15.

As it stands, send all rosters and sizes to me (Dr. Chuck) by email. As soon as I receive that, I will then send out an invoice for your team (should you require it to process your check).

EXTRA:
Finally, PACE announces one change in the procedure for All-Scholars team selection. We have traditionally selected 8 individuals for all-star status, with a minimum of 4 individuals voted in based upon statistics and the other 4 by vote.

This year, the four all-stars selected by statistics will be determined based on preliminary round results only and will be announced on Sunday. That way, all teams and staff can exclude those four individuals when making their choices to be on the all-star team. This should make the balloting process much easier.

Dr. Chuck,
To what email should we send questions about bids? Do you still check etchuck at yahoo ?

That's the correct address.

The current list of registered teams is now posted at http://www.pace-nsc.org/ under Qualified/Invited Teams. If you have been omitted from this list, please contact me.

The Alabama School of Fine Arts is not on the list and we qualified twice and registered but haven't sent money or roster yet.

Okay... just email me on number of teams and buzzers.

Is there any other way to see the results to last year's PACE? Whenever I try to access them, it tells me to download something for XP. Seeing as how I don't have XP, I can't see them.

You're my hero.

Thanks.

Going through those scores again brought back memories... but also was a pain in the rear. Does PACE plan on using SQBS this year?

Alabama School for Fine Arts, one team
Brindlee Mountain High School (Alabama), two teams
Brookwood High School (Georgia), two teams
Centennial High School (Maryland), one team (tentative)
Central Hardin High School (Kentucky), one team
Culver Academy (Indiana), one team
Fort Mill High School (South Carolina), one team
Gonzaga High School (District of Columbia), one team
Hardee Senior High School (Florida), one team
Heritage High School (Georgia), two teams
Misson San Jose High School (California), one team
Solon High School (Ohio), one team
State College Area High School (Pennsylvania), two teams
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Virginia), two teams




Is this field final? If so, isn't it a tad smaller than years' past?

That was our tournament field as of April 19, which was noted on the page. We have yet to hear from many of the usual suspects; a few more teams have likely registered in the last two weeks; and we expect several more teams to register in the next few weeks.

This is similar to the schedules we have used in the past, but they can be altered depending on logistical constraints).

Saturday
8am to 9:30 am registration (Building 5, Room 111)
10 am team meeting
11:00 am Preliminary Matches (1-3, assume 45 min between matches)
1:00 pm Lunch break
2:30 pm Preliminary Matches resume (4-7)
5:30 pm Tiebreakers as needed
Awards ceremony (Cooper awards and other special awards)
(Building 5, Room 111)
8:00 pm Business meeting (PACE upper-level staff only)

Sunday
7:30 am announcements and setup (consolation rounds, 4
All-star members selected, at Building 5, Room 111)
8:30 am Playoff rounds begin (5 matches)
8:45 am Consolation rounds begin (4-5 matches depending on field)
12:15 pm Tiebreakers as needed / Lunch break /
All-star ballots due for remaining 4 positions
2:00 pm Semifinal rounds
2:45 pm Championship round
3:30 pm All-Star Game, Awards Ceremony to Follow

We do have trophies for Consolation Group winners (overall 1st and 2nd), and the set-up will depend on the number of teams electing to participate on Sunday. Entry fee will NOT be pro-rated if you decide not to participate on Sunday.

Field update? RM will be bringing one team

I've updating the website. We're at 31 teams. We need more buzzers. :)

If you get in a jam and dont have enough, just let me know and I can probably get 3-5 buzzers and a few college readers from UF.

-Doug

If we can get them repaired quickly enough, I can probably bring several buzzer systems... The problem is that they are all kinda quirky right now... I'll see if we can get them fixed in time.

-Lee

quizbowlmike wrote:If you get in a jam and dont have enough, just let me know and I can probably get 3-5 buzzers and a few college readers from UF.
-Doug

We probably don't "need" you guys at UF to bring more buzzers and readers, but if you have a group that would like to help out (and bring buzzers with you), I'm sure the more the merrier. Contact CB if you have a group interested in coming down; I think you'll enjoy the experience too.

Of course, I subscribe to one of the many rules of tournament directing (which one day I will write down): you can never have too many buzzers or experienced volunteers. (Well, okay, four staff to a room may be too many.)

Culver's team is bringing two buzzer systems.