Hi Sandy - thank you for your response. I understand what you are instructing
me to do, but normally I've not had this problem.

Even if a master template has a placeholder with the top level bullet point
at 32 pt font, if one types in to many paragraphs, the font automatically
resizes to 28, then 18 etc., so all of the text fits in the placeholder.  I
can apply a different template design like, "Clouds," for example, and my
text automatically resizes to fit in the placeholder or stays as is, if I
manually apply a different formatting property.

I can also manually change the font size on the template or use a text box,
like you suggested, but I still really can't figure this one out, or
understand what settings are different.

Normally, any type of formatting applied on the template deisgn becomes the
default, and any manual changes made to a specific slide override the
template. In this case, everything reverts back to the template, including
the text color when the file is closed and reopened, at least in my
"Competition" design template.

Thanks so much for the work arounds, but it's still a mystery to me right
now. - Andrew