A Brief History James Menchinger once said, “like most debates, it began with argumentation” – this was the beginning of the Michigan Speech Coaches Association, which later became MSCI. In fall of 1967, a group of Michigan educators joined to discuss how this organization would benefit students in the state of Michigan. After much conversation, the decision was made to elect Harlow Claggett (from Lansing Sexton) as the organization’s first president. With support from college forensics coaches, a group that included 11 Michigan educators from around the state, settled on the early direction for what we now know as MSCI. Michigan speech coaches from across the state join MSCI seeking educational support, professional comradery, and mentorship. MSCI offers a yearly festival and professional development conference to our members and are always excited to welcome new participants to join our events.
MSCI has offered members a professional conference since its inception in the late 1960s. Conference locations sprinkled the northern region of Michigan until the organization solidified its long-standing relationship with the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and has hosted the event their since the early 1980s.
In 1979 Michigan Speech Coaches Inc. began inducting members into the Hall of Fame.
The organization incorporated in 1998 with a name change from Michigan Speech Coaches Association to Michigan Speech Coaches Incorporated (MSCI).
In 2014 Michigan Speech Coaches developed a Spring Festival, consisting of both an Open and Novice IE tournament, for members and the students they coach.
The strength of the organization was evident as it managed to stay together during a worldwide pandemic in 2020.
Through it all, the core mission to “develop, elevate and encourage speech education” has always been strong. The organization continues to evolve with new ideas, new members, new leadership and an ever-lasting gratitude for the service, teachings and time given by MSCI members.
