As an honorary society that celebrates students' participation and achievements in interscholastic speaking contests, the National Forensic League motivates students to succeed in one of the most important lifelong skills: communication.

When students are exposed to hands-on, real-world communication experiences, their learning extends "beyond the tournament," and so in the spirit of honoring service, one of the five values of the , the NFL rewards participation in forensic service projects as described below.

Recognized Service Projects

• A speech before at least 25 adults or on radio, television, or cable, however, school public address (PA) announcements are not allowed.
• Contests held before audiences of at least 25 adults or on radio, TV, or cable may be counted as both service and competition.
• Minimum speaking time must be four (4) minutes (length of individual participation in a panel/discussion must be estimated).
• Students who hold Degree of Excellence on record in the national office may judge up to 4 rounds of novice competition per day and receive 2 points per round.
• No more than 4 service projects may be recorded each day.

Type of Speaking

• Master of Ceremonies
• After Dinner or Public Address Speech
• Oratorical Interpretation or Declamation or Analysis of Address
• Book Review or Commentating or Sportscasting
• Original Oration or Persuasive or Expository or Informative Speech
• Debate or Discussion Panel
• Poetry or Prose Reading or Storytelling
• Dramatic or Duo or Humorous Interpretation
• Sales Talk or Sermon
• Extemporaneous or Impromptu Speech
• Television or Radio Announcing
• Optimist Oratorical Contest or American Legion Contests
• PTA Meeting or Civic Group Meeting
• HS Assembly -- No points are earned for speaking to a student audience of any kind other than the official high school assembly, so this exact term, "HS Assembly," must be used. Such vague entries as "school auditorium," "church," or "school" invalidate the entry.

NFL-Sanctioned Service Projects

• - in 2010, help us package one million meals for Haiti!
• - 10 points per public debate, up to 2 per school year; 5 points per service project, up to 2 per school year (30 possible points per student, per school year).
• - 6 pts. for each round participated in (Qualifying, Top 32, Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, Finals). This is recorded as Policy or Public Forum Debate (as competition, NOT service).

Judging

A student holding the Degree of Excellence on record may be awarded two service points per round or section of judging in a novice or middle school tournament, limit of 4 rounds per day.

Allowed Audiences

• Except for NFL-sanctioned service projects (described above), at least 25 adults must be present in a public audience assembled.
• These Audiences Qualify:

• High School Assembly
• Radio Station (note station call letters)
• Broadcast or Cable Television Station (note station call letters)
• Rotary, Kiwanis, and other service clubs (identify)
• Church Congregation (be sure to identify)
• Adult Community Clubs (be sure to identify)
• Adult Political Organizations (be sure to identify)

• If the audience is one usually composed of young people and 25 adults are also present, the audience may be designated as "Scouts and Parents" or "Hi-Y and Adults."

Information Required for Reporting

• Date: Month, day, and year.
• Description: Include exact type of speaking (see that section above for descriptive phrases). Do not include title or subject; the word "Service" is too vague.
• Number of Adults: Enter the approximate number, at least 25. Only persons beyond high school age are regarded as adults.

Schedule for Awarding NFL Points

° To receive the extra points allowed for Advanced Degrees, a member must actually have the advanced degrees on record in the National Office at the time of the service project.

For a speaking project before the high school assembly the minimum one point prevails unless the report indicates that 25 adults were in the audience.

If an interscholastic debate or contest is held under conditions qualifying it as a service project (over radio/TV/cable or before an adult audience or high school assembly), it is to be listed in a competitive category and also in the service category. Points are to be awarded in both categories.

A student may not receive points for more than four service speaking projects a day. Summer Service speaking may be recorded.