Registration Info

Author:
Posted on February 28, 2018

June 17, 2018

Dear Bible Quiz Leader:

Bible Quiz Finals at Greenville University is only two weeks away! We are looking forward to a great time of worship, fellowship, celebration, and competition with 56 of the top teams from across the United States. About 310 youth and adults have registered. There are several Quiz Finals matters for the immediate attention of attending coaches; please take special note of each one, and please pray for God's blessing and working during this special event.

The schedule for the week is available online at: http://dev.fmquizzing.net/resources/assets/pdfs/Act-Schd-GRU-18-B.pdf

May God abundantly bless you and your faithful ministry to youth.

Rev. Eric Young -- Director

Free Methodist Youth Bible Quizzing

(585) 943-7374 fmquizzing@gmail.com

P.S. If you are not attending Quiz Finals, please also remember this important ministry event in your prayers. Thanks.

***************************

(1) REGISTRATION: As a reminder, your registration covers your stay on campus on Sunday night. Registration will be a hybrid of what we have done the past few years. When you arrive on campus, you can proceed directly to Student Union to pick-up and distribute to your team: housing assignments, keys, t-shirts, booklets and pins. Registration will be open from 5:00-8:00pm. The head coach will be e-mailed their team and individual registrations, along with the location where they should set-up their quiz seats. Quiz seats need to be set-up on Monday, prior to the opening service at 7:00pm.

Quizzing related changes/updates/confirmations to team and individuals will take place AFTER the opening service in the lobby outside of Whitlock Auditorium. A form will be provided in your registration packet for review. Paul will be set-up and available for those final updates. All coaches need to turn in their form – confirming the information or with necessary changes.

Note: Any coaches who registered more than one team in the same division need to make sure that their strongest team is the team # 1 and the weaker is team # 2. The competition has been set up with this assumption in mind.

**MONDAY DINNER** Dinner is provided as a part of your registration in the Armington Center and will be served from 5:00–6:30pm.

(2) QUIZ FINALS COMMUNICATION: We used the Remind app last year to communicate during Quiz Finals week and will use it again this year. You may be familiar with it from your local school district for classes or sports teams. The app will allow FMBQ leadership to send important updates/information to those in attendance. We would recommend and encourage your adult leadership to sign-up. Students are able to sign-up as well. If they are under the age of 13, their parents will need to sign-off on their sign-up – the link will show them how. https://www.remind.com/join/fm...

(3) INDIVIDUALS REGISTRATION: The tournament staff needs coaches to confirm ahead of registration which quizzers are honestly prepared and willing to participate in individual competition. Each year six hours or so is spent trying to balance the rooms, and each year a few quizzers who were "signed-up" by their coach don't end up "showing-up" at the quiz. This ends up giving an advantage to the fewer number of quizzers who are left in the room. There's no problem if quizzers want to drop out of individuals during registration, but once registration is complete, we really need them to follow-through with their commitment.

(4) WHAT TO BRING: Please make sure your quizzers bring a light jacket or sweatshirt. Also bring sunscreen. Linens and pillows WILL NOT be provided for those teams who are driving. Linens and pillows are being be provided by families from the Greenville FMC to those individuals who are flying in (and have previously notified Eric). Please plan accordingly. Bring nice clothes for the awards ceremony, and appropriate quizzing and recreational clothing (See next item!). Please do not bring skateboards or roller blades. Make sure quizzers do NOT bring any "water-fight" materials or "fire-works" materials. Coaches will be held responsible if their quizzers are involved in any of these activities. Large stereo systems are also discouraged since we want to keep music levels appropriate.

(5) DRESS GUIDELINES: Coaches, please talk with your quizzers about appropriate dress! We ask girls not to wear low-cut tops, halter tops, spaghetti-string tops, midriff tops, or mini-skirts. These have been of particular concern while girls are in a quizzing position. Also, we ask guys not to wear pants that show boxers or briefs, and we ask guys to wear shirts at all times. Swimming attire needs to be modest.

(6) LINENS: Linens WILL NOT be provided for those who are driving to Quiz Finals. Linens will only be available to those individuals who are flying to Quiz Finals (and have previously notified Eric).

(7) FOLLOW ALONG AT HOME: Let your parents and church know that they can follow along with the competition on the web page at: http://dev.fmquizzing.net/finals/finals-2018. Paul Stackhouse and our tournament team will be making daily updates to the page with the results of quizzing and current standings and photos from the event. The daily schedule is already posted.

Teams are encouraged to bring and use their digital cameras as we will have the capability of off-loading their files and displaying selected photos at various events throughout the week and on the web site. #FMBQFinals2018

(8) TEAM OUTFITS: We are planning on offering the "spit-shine" award this year for the quizzing outfit that best meets the following criteria: Name of team, name of quizzer, creativity, and goes with a theme of the current quizzing material. We'd also like to see the uniforms of a design that would be functional / usable in actual quizzing competition. The "Spit-Shine" competition will be at the end of our OPENING SESSION on Monday evening.

(9) AWARDS CEREMONY: Bible Quiz Finals will conclude with lunch, the STV Alpha-Omega Quiz with the awards ceremony to immediately follow. The STV Alpha-Omega Quiz and awards ceremony will take place in Whitlock Auditorium. We encourage your quizzers to dress up since many photographs will be taken at the awards ceremony.

(10) JUMP SEATS: Please DO NOT FORGET your quiz seats. You will receive an e-mail and printed instructions in your welcome packet with the room assignment to set-up your quiz seats on Monday, prior to the opening session at 7:00pm. If you have a broken set, bring it with you as electrician Lyle McCoon, Sr., will be available to repair sets throughout this event at no cost. Take advantage of this opportunity to have your quizzing equipment made ready for the new season. If you have old sets that you are not using and would like to donate them to new teams getting started, please bring those sets to Quiz Finals as well. ALSO, PLEASE LABEL ALL YOUR JUMP SEATS AND JUMP BOXES WITH YOUR CHURCH'S NAME. (A return address label on each part works well.)

(11) QUIZ SUPPLIES: Wilmore Computer Associates will have a complete line of portions, study materials and practice questions available for sale at finals. These will be available at Finals for pick-up without shipping charges, or from www.biblequizzer.com with $5 per-order flat-rate shipping. Laura Colberg will also have her line of portions and practice materials available for purchase at Quiz Finals. ACME Quizzing is also offering a limited amount of material and can be ordered from: http://www.acmequiz.com/index.....

(12) DISABILITIES: If you have a quizzer with a disability for whom you would like to request special consideration in the competition, please send your request right now to the denominational Director Eric Young for consideration. ADD is one condition that may be considered in this category.

(13) COACHES' MEETING: On Tuesday night, we will have a coaches’ meeting in LaDue Auditorium. If you have specific topics you would like to discuss, please e-mail Eric in advance.

(14) SPECIAL OFFERING: On Thursday morning during chapel, we will receive a special offering to support Eden’s Glory, a Christ-centered two-year residential treatment program for adult women, ages 18 and older who are survivors of human trafficking. Our chapel speaker on Thursday, Rev. Ginger Coakley, is the Executive Director. For more information on Eden’s Glory, go to: http://edensglory.org/home.

(15) SERVICE PROJECTS: Next week the head coach for each team will receive an e-mail with specific information regarding the project their team will be participating in. Information regarding the primary site leader, site location, tools requested, etc. will be provided. Breakfast will be served from 7:00-8:30am in the Armington Center. At 7:11am, there will be a meeting in the Armington Center for coaches to meet with site leaders for final instructions and questions. Service projects will begin at 9:00am following the BSF 5K Run/Walk. Greenville University will be providing sack lunches to take to your work sites.

(16) BSF 5K RUN/WALK: Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Better Student Fund (BSF) 5K Run/Walk at Partriot’s Park, on Monday, July 1^st at 8:00am. The event will take place prior to the start of our service projects. Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $35 in support. Participants will receive a t-shirt and prizes will be awarded to the top finishers and top fundraisers.

(17) DAVE MARKELL EXCELLENCE IN ATTITUDE AWARD: Each year at Quiz Finals, a graduating senior is honored for their excellence in attitude. This award is named in honor of the Dave Markell. Rev. David Markell served as the Director of Youth Ministries during the 1980's, before his untimely death from leukemia. His leadership and advocacy of quizzing lives on through the lives of hundreds of quizzers, officials and coaches to whom he ministered. His attitude, even as he faced death, was always one of calm, wisdom and strength. His family has consented to the use of his name to honor the quizzer who most exemplifies the life of Christ through their attitudes and behavior in quizzing.

Directors, coaches and leaders are invited to nominate a graduating senior who will be in attendance at Quiz Finals. Nominations need to be submitted to Eric Young by Thursday, June 28th. Nominations will be considered closed after June 28th; no nominations will be accepted at Quiz Finals.

(18) SPECIAL EVENTS/ACTIVITIES: We are excited about the week that we have planned! We will kick-off the week on Monday with service projects in various locations across the City of Greenville, Bond County and East St. Louis. On Monday night after our opening service, the Greenville University admissions department will sponsor Party on Scott Field with music, food and fellowship. Tuesday night the Greenville University admissions department will sponsor a pizza and pool party at the William S. Wait Park pool on Vine Street. The gymnasiums will also be open and available for use. Wednesday night has been cleared from the schedule for teams to travel to St. Louis or other surrounding towns to take in 4^th of July fireworks. On Thursday night we will celebrate our relationship with Jesus with a unique time of celebration, testimonies, prayer and communion.

(19) ST. LOUIS: On Wednesday evening, there are no scheduled activities to allow teams the time to travel and enjoy 4^th of July fireworks celebrations throughout the aresa. The last quiz for the day is scheduled to begin at 3:40pm. Dinner will be provided between 4:30-6:00pm. For those teams that are traveling to St. Louis on the chartered busses, they will depart at 6:00pm.

(20) CHAPELS: Worship for the week will be led by Greenville’s Pursuit team. Our chapel speakers for the week include Rev. Chadwick Anderson, Dr. Ivan Filby, Rev. Ginger Coakley and Rev. Deborah Somerville. Our focus will be on the theme of KNOW AND BE KNOWN!

(21) QUIC quizmasters are needed for Bible Quiz Finals. As coordinator of the QUIC tournament for this year's finals, Laura Colberg is interested in names of responsible teens who would come recommended by their coach. Please forward interested names to Laura, with a brief summary of experience and qualifications. She'd like to have a pool of 6-9 names to choose from. You may reply to her directly at lchristn12@gmail.com.

(22) AIRPORT SHUTTLE: Transportation to and from the airport is being provided by Greenville Univserity. The college will be calling to confirm arrival times with everyone within the next week.

(23) COLLEGE CONTACT: Our Greenville University contact is Stephen Groves. His office phone number is (618) 664-6848. Conference Services can be contacted during Quiz Finals at (708) 356-7943. His e-mail address is stephen.groves@greenville.edu. Feel free to call or e-mail him with any questions that you might have about Greenville University.

(24) PRAYER: Please be praying for an outstanding Quiz Finals, where the young people are strengthened in their faith, experience loving Christian fellowship, and are encouraged to continue their study of God's Word. We are expectant on how God will move among us during the week. Please pray for the officials and quiz leaders, for safe travel, and for a spirit of unity among us. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be honored in all that takes place.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call.

March 1, 2018

Dear Bible Quiz Leader:

I trust you are having a great Bible quizzing season and that you are looking forward to participating in the exciting conclusion at Bible Quiz Finals at Greenville University in Greenville, IL. It is my prayer that Quiz Finals would be a meaningful spiritual experience for you and your students. On the web site you will find registration information for Quiz Finals.

This year, in addition to the normal PDF file, we have an Excel option for registration! By using the Excel file, you can e-mail most of your registration. The only form that will need to be mailed is the medical release for each person attending Quiz Finals, along with payment, postmarked by May 25, 2018.

DATES: Registration will be primarily handled by mail/e-mail. Packets, t-shirts and keys can be picked up on Sunday (July 1) from 5:00 -8:00pm in the Student Union. Service projects will take place during the day on Monday. The awards ceremony will take place mid-afternoon on Friday, July 6. Everyone will be free to head toward home Friday evening. Sunday night (7/1) housing is included in the registration fee. Friday night (7/6) housing is available, but is not included in the registration fee.

FORMS: There are seven registration forms: Payment, Housing, Team, Individual, Airport & Extra Night, QUIC Adult Quizzing, and Medical/Release. All of these need to be mailed (or e-mail the Excel file) to Eric Young with your payment by May 25, 2018. A completed medical form for each person in your group (quizzers, adults, and children) must accompany these forms. If you need housing for Friday night, please fill out the additional form for this need. (Extra night housing is available at $20.00 per person per night.) These forms are not attached to this letter, but can be downloaded from the 2018 Quiz Finals web page at: http://dev.fmquizzing.net/finals/finals-2018.

HOUSING & MEALS: Registration for quizzers and adults is $265.00 for programming, five nights lodging, fourteen meals, and a t-shirt. Housing on campus will be limited to the first 450 persons that register. After 450 persons have registered, teams will need to make their own housing arrangements at nearby hotels or campgrounds. (The individual registration fee will be reduced by $85 for those not staying on campus, and that can be applied toward the cost of the hotel rooms.)

LINENS: Towels, sheets, blankets, and pillow cases will NOT be automatically provided. Everyone should expect to provide their own towels, sheets, blankets and pillows. FOR TEAMS THAT ARE FLYING: Linens can be provided, but must be indicated on the Airport & Extra Night registration form. Regina Robart will be working with the local church to offer these on a limited basis.

CHILDREN: The rate for children ages 4-10 who sleep on the floor in their parent’s room is $180, and free for three and under. University regulations limit the number of children that can be on the floor of one room to one (1).

TEAM QUIZZING: Each team registration will be $185. This fee covers the quizmaster cost and Quiz Finals expenses. All teams will register in their specific division (STV, STR, YTV, YTR) with no distinguishing between A or B divisions. All teams will quiz in a round robin tournament to determine the top teams who will compete in their division final. Remember that in order to be a rookie team; the team can have only one experienced quizzer. If a team includes more than one quizzer who has quizzed more than one half of a season before this quiz season, then that team must be a veteran team. (Quizzing before 6th grade does NOT count toward this experience.)

SPECIAL TEAM REGISTRATIONS: Any coach wishing to register a team that is not made up of members as defined by the Rulebook must contact the Denominational Director before registering such a team. This includes teams made up of quizzers who do not all attend the same Free Methodist church and other possible scenarios which may occur. Quizzers without teams can attend and be placed on a "pooled" team of like quizzers, but will be assigned to compete in a "B" level division final.

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION: Please register quizzers for Individual Competition. The Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions awards valuable scholarships to the top three finishers in the Senior Teen Veteran Individual division. These may be applied to any Free Methodist college or university.

SPIT-SHINE AWARD: Each church may enter a single quizzing uniform to compete for the award. Entries must meet the following criteria: displays the name of team and quizzer, includes a theme of the current quizzing material, and is functional / usable in actual quizzing competition. Two members of each church may use up to two minutes to present their uniform on Monday evening.

DISABILITIES: If you have a quizzer with a disability for whom you would like to request special accommodation in the competition, please send your request as soon as possible to the denominational director for consideration. Sending this information well in advance of finals allows the leadership time to prepare discrete instructions for quizmasters. ADD is one condition that may be considered in this category.

QUIZ SETS: Quiz boxes and pads are needed. Please bring them. Each part of your set should be well labeled. Also please bring your broken sets. A skilled electrician has volunteered to work throughout Quiz Finals to repair jump seats at no cost to you. Let's make sure that all our jump seats are in good working condition--not only for this tournament, but also for the coming quiz season.

QUIZMASTERS: will be contacted directly concerning their participation in Bible Quiz Finals. Bob Swank will be processing and confirming recommendations from conference and regional leadership. A quizmaster is not confirmed until he/she has received confirmation from Bob. Selected approved staff will not be charged the registration cost. Do not register someone as staff until that person has received confirmation from Bob.

QUIC (QUizmasters Including Coaches): QUIC material will be over Ruth, Luke 5, 6 & 7 and all quotes from the season.

AIRPORT PICKUP: Transportation to and from the STL airport and AMTRAK station WILL be provided by Greenville University. Please note your arrival and departure information on the Airport & Extra Night form.

COLLEGE CONTACT: Our Greenville University contact is Stephen Groves. His office phone number is (618) 664-6848. His e-mail address is stephen.groves@greenville.edu. Feel free to call or e-mail him with any questions that you might have about Greenville University.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: Quiz Finals will conclude with an Awards Ceremony on Friday mid-afternoon. An opening party on Scott Field will take place on Monday night. Tuesday night will provide options for swimming, playing in the gym, etc. Wednesday night is an open night for teams to take in a fireworks display in a surrounding community (the Greenville Independence Day celebration is the weekend prior) or to see the fireworks in downtown St. Louis. On Thursday evening we will celebrate with the testimony/communion service.

ST. LOUIS FIREWORKS/FAIR ST. LOUIS: Wednesday night is a free night for teams to watch fireworks in St. Louis or in a surrounding community. Due to the crowds and the limited parking available in downtown St. Louis, we will be chartering busses to take interested groups to downtown St. Louis. We have up to (5) 56-passenger busses available to us, so seating is limited to the first 280 to register and the cost is $10/person to help off-set the cost of the bus. Greenville University will be covering the balance of the cost. Information regarding the activities downtown can be found here: https://www.fairsaintlouis.org/. You are welcome to opt-in or to plan something different with your team. We have to make a commitment to the bus company by June 1st. If you are interested in taking/using the bus, please let Eric know as soon as possible.

DAVE MARKELL EXCELLENCE IN ATTITUDE AWARD: Each year at Quiz Finals, a graduating senior is honored for their excellence in attitude. This award is named in honor of the Dave Markell. Rev. David Markell served as the Director of Youth Ministries during the 1980's, before his untimely death from leukemia. His leadership and advocacy of quizzing lives on through the lives of hundreds of quizzers, officials and coaches to whom he ministered. His attitude, even as he faced death, was always one of calm, wisdom and strength. His family has consented to the use of his name to honor the quizzer who most exemplifies the life of Christ through their attitudes and behavior in quizzing.

DEADLINE/PAYMENT: If you choose to use the Excel registration form, please submit it via email. Mail all forms (including medical forms for each person in your group) and your payment to Eric Young - QUIZ FINALS, 72 Diana Drive, Scottsville, NY 14546. It must be postmarked by May 25th. If you are paying by check, please make the check out to "Eric Young - Bible Quizzing". Late registrations may not be accepted. Please make and keep a copy of the completed registration forms before mailing. Forms are available on our web site. Remember that housing on campus will be provided only for the first 450 persons that are registered. Any registrants after that will need to make reservations in area hotels and campgrounds. No refunds will be made after June 1st.

CONFIRMATION: Please check the web site for additional information on Quiz Finals. Updated team registrations will be posted following the May 25 deadline. Your only registration confirmation will be that your teams will be posted on the web site. Corrections to team and individual registration can be made via e-mail to Eric Young at fmquizzing@gmail.com. While refunds for team registrations cannot be made after June 1st, legitimate requests to drop or move teams between divisions should be communicated as soon as the coach is aware of the need. Accommodating teams moving between divisions after June 1st are granted at the discretion of the tournament leadership and are rarely allowed within a week before the tournament.

Please be praying for God to touch lives in a special way at Quiz Finals. Pray for God's leadership as we co-direct this important ministry event. May God richly bless you and your ministry for Him.

Eric Young – Denominational Director

Free Methodist Youth Bible Quizzing

(585) 943-7374 E-mail: fmquizzing@gmail.com