Pittsburgh Speech & Debate

For those of you who missed it, CBS Mornings David Begnaud did another story about Speech and Debate on 6/23..... Check You Tube in the next few hours to catch that story. And watch it with a tissue supply on hand!

BUT, while the story is almost unbelievable -- it talks about an amazing coach who really deserves the story and the surprise she received - I can't help but think about all of the local coaches in the Pittsburgh area who have their own back stories to share... I don't claim to know all of those stories, so if you want to add them (without names or identifying facts) please feel free to do so...

I think of the coach who would travel and face time her daughters so that she could be with them and with her team at the same time, I think of the wife who often missed her wedding anniversaries because she was at nationals, I think of the coach who left four children and her husband at home so that she could be with her team at nationals, I think of the coach who worked it out with his wife to figure out how to share home duties and child-raising times, I think of the coach who never celebrated a birthday at home because he was always at nationals, I think of the coach who bought hundreds of books with her own money so that her team would have some resources for scripts, I think of the coach who almost always brought her children to every tournament so that her team could still compete while she balanced her family and career, I think of the coach who left Pittsburgh at some ungodly hour so that his team could still go to graduation and still compete at nationals, I think of the coach who travels nationally all the time looking over his shoulder at the family that he leaves behind....
I think of my own coach who had a voice that was stifled by his bosses because he talked about and acted on dreams that should be (and eventually were) realities.

There are more stories out there... And while I don't know of any as powerful as the woman highlighted in David Begnaud's story, I think all of these stories and the ones untold make all of these people unsung and sometimes forgotten heroes. If no one has recently told the coach who might be reading this that you are amazing, let it be said now.... YOU are the reason that so many have found their voices! And that, in itself, is a reason to know that you are appreciated and that YOUR voice will live on in others. Thanks for what you have done, for what you continue to do...

Lois J. Harrison Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contributions by a Female Member As Amateur Astronomer of the Year

This Harrison Award recipient is known as the “Voice of Wagman” and has been an always-dependable helper in the observatory’s David L. Smith Reception room for almost 40 years. She is one of several 3AP members who staffed the all-important visitor reception desk this year. In this role, she makes periodic event announcements over the observatory’s outside PA system, uses the system to call for club member assistance when a guest seeks help with their telescope, and arranges for special talks to scout troops (to name a few). This recipient also runs astronomy video shows in the reception room and makes sure there are plenty of handouts and literature available. In addition, she helped this year at Allegheny Observatory’s Open House, greeting visitors in the observatory’s famous basement crypt. Like Nicholas Wagman, she has participated in the Open House over multiple decades. Congratulations to 2024 Lois J. Harrison Award winner Joyce Osborne-Fischer. Joyce also won Harrison Awards in 1996 and 2009.

Many of you know this lady because of all that has done and continues to do for forensics in Pittsburgh!!! Congratulations, Joyce!

Lois J. Harrison Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contributions by a Female Member As Amateur Astronomer of the Year

This Harrison Award recipient is known as the “Voice of Wagman” and has been an always-dependable helper in the observatory’s David L. Smith Reception room for almost 40 years. She is one of several 3AP members who staffed the all-important visitor reception desk this year. In this role, she makes periodic event announcements over the observatory’s outside PA system, uses the system to call for club member assistance when a guest seeks help with their telescope, and arranges for special talks to scout troops (to name a few). This recipient also runs astronomy video shows in the reception room and makes sure there are plenty of handouts and literature available. In addition, she helped this year at Allegheny Observatory’s Open House, greeting visitors in the observatory’s famous basement crypt. Like Nicholas Wagman, she has participated in the Open House over multiple decades. Congratulations to 2024 Lois J. Harrison Award winner Joyce Osborne-Fischer. Joyce also won Harrison Awards in 1996 and 2009.

Many of you know this lady because of all that she has done for the forensics community!! Congratulations Joyce!!!

Lois J. Harrison Award for Outstanding Achievements and Contributions by a Female Member As Amateur Astronomer of the Year

This Harrison Award recipient is known as the “Voice of Wagman” and has been an always-dependable helper in the observatory’s David L. Smith Reception room for almost 40 years. She is one of several 3AP members who staffed the all-important visitor reception desk this year. In this role, she makes periodic event announcements over the observatory’s outside PA system, uses the system to call for club member assistance when a guest seeks help with their telescope, and arranges for special talks to scout troops (to name a few). This recipient also runs astronomy video shows in the reception room and makes sure there are plenty of handouts and literature available. In addition, she helped this year at Allegheny Observatory’s Open House, greeting visitors in the observatory’s famous basement crypt. Like Nicholas Wagman, she has participated in the Open House over multiple decades. Congratulations to 2024 Lois J. Harrison Award winner Joyce Osborne-Fischer. Joyce also won Harrison Awards in 1996 and 2009.

Congrats and thanks to Peters Township for hosting the opening tournament of our local season!! Groninger was amazing - the planning, the organization, the hospitality! WOW!

NOW - on to Duquesne University on 11/2! See you there!

NSDA - it exists beyond a virtual reality! We found this when touring Des Moines!

Congratulations! May it be the first of many!

Congratulations!!! and here's to many more!

Ah dear Alice Ursin... You will be missed! Thanks for all that you gave to forensics over the years, thanks for all that have given to so many of us.

And I think that you might have offered this Scottish thought to all of us when you left us this day...

Gude night, and joy be wi ye all, your harmless mirth has cheered my heart, may life's fell blasts oot oer ye blaw, in sorrow may ye never part. My spirit lives, but strength is gone, the mountain fires now blaze in vain. Remember, sons, the deeds I've done, and in your deeds I'll live again.

Meet the Pittsburgh coaches! Kristen Groninger from Peters Township!

Congrats to one of our own!!

Recognizing the people in the Pittsburgh District!
Meet Bob Hall