chair
2019-12-19~
Advisory Board
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The Advisory Board is a NASPA committee. Its mandate is to advise the Executive Committee, act as an appellate body for the rulings of Working Committees, and to act as a general disciplinary body for association members. To contact the committee, please send an email message to ab@scrabbleplayers.org.
Members
The following members currently belong to the committee:
The following members are scheduled to serve future terms on the committee:
| Photo | Name | Position | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel Markwei (EX) | At-Large representative | 2025-08-01~2027-07-31 | |
| Paul Wood | U.S. Midwest representative | 2025-08-01~2027-07-31 | |
| Rich Baker | U.S. West representative | 2025-08-01~2027-07-31 | |
| Portia Zwicker | U.S. Northeast representative | 2025-08-01~2027-07-31 | |
| Lila Crotty | U.S. South representative | 2025-08-01~2027-07-31 | |
| Heidi Robertson | Canadian representative | 2025-08-01~2027-07-31 |
Composition
The members of the Executive Committee sit on the AB as ex officio members, and its chair is the AB's chair.
Beginning in 2011, some AB members have been chosen through elections.
Since 2015, the AB has consisted of six elected members (five regional: US Northeast, US South, US Midwest, US West, and Canada, and one at large seat), and six appointed seats, where outgoing members recommend successors from their region.
The 2025 Advisory Board Elections selected US Northeast, US Midwest, Canada, and At Large members to the AB.
The appointed seats on the board are selected by the Executive Committee, taking into consideration the recommendations of outgoing members and the need for balance of all kinds in the composition of the board.
From time to time, the AB elevates long-serving members to emeritus status. Emeritus members do not attend the AB's regular meetings, but may be consulted occasionally in areas of their expertise.
History
The NASPA Advisory Board's predecessor, the NSA Advisory Board, was “established in 1986 to determine policy issues regarding the administration and organization of Tournaments, Rules and Scrabble® Clubs.” — SCRABBLE News Issue 104.
The Advisory Board was transferred from the NSA to NASPA on February 15th, 2009.
The composition of the AB over the years under NASPA is available at this website.
Meetings
The Board has a monthly conference call toward the end of each month and convenes in person at the NASPA Championship each year.
The Board may discuss and vote via email if an issue cannot wait until the next scheduled meeting.
Other Activities
The Board offers guidance to working committees when requested. For example, the Tournament Committee has asked the Board about new tournament formats and the application of the Gibson rule. The Championship Committee consulted the board about the NASC structure and fees.
In April 2015, the Board introduced the first NASPA IDEA Grants - opportunities for NASPA members to apply for small grants to fund new initiatives.
The Board monitors the NASPA Member Concerns Facebook group for issues of concerns to the NASPA membership.
The Board is responsible for choosing the annual Michael Wise Memorial Person of the Year.
In October 2017, the Board created the position of Community Advocate to provide a safe environment for members reporting cases of sexual and other harassment within the association.
On June 29, 2021, the Board stressed its commitment to safe playing environments and detailed actions taken in a letter to the membership.
Rulings
From 2009 through 2015, significant AB motions were numbered mostly sequentially in order of their conception. When such motions were passed, they resulted in an AB ruling. A complete list of those AB Rulings is available at this website.
Past Members
The following members have served past terms on the committee:
| Paul Avrin 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Mike Baron (EX) 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Edie Miller Berman 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Jan Cardia (EX) 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Jan Cardia (EX) 2011-08-07~2013-07-20 | |
| Jan Cardia (EX) 2013-07-20~2015-08-01 | |
| Jan Cardia (EX) 2015-08-01~2016-07-31 | |
| Robert Mulet 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Michael Wise 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Bob Schoenman 1986-01-01~1993-12-31 | |
| Joe Edley (SM) 1986-01-01~2013-07-20 | |
| Joe Edley (SM) emeritus 2013-07-20~2016-07-31 | |
| John D Williams 1986-01-01~2013-07-30 | |
| Bob Kilpatrick 1994-01-01~1994-12-31 | |
| Lisa Odom (SM) 1994-01-01~1994-12-31 | |
| Elaine Patterson (EX) 1994-01-01~1994-12-31 | |
| Bernard Gotlieb (EX) 1994-01-01~1994-12-31 | |
| Ron Tiekert (SM) 1994-01-01~1994-12-31 | |
| David Johnson 1994-01-01~1994-12-31 | |
| Siri Tillekeratne 1996-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Siri Tillekeratne 2011-08-07~2013-07-20 | |
| Siri Tillekeratne 2015-08-01~2015-08-15 | |
| Jerry Lerman (SM) 1996-01-01~2002-08-01 | |
| Mark Morris 1998-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Robert Kahn (EX) 1998-08-01~2011-08-06 | |
| Robert Kahn (EX) emeritus 2011-08-07~2013-08-01 | |
| Sherrie Saint John 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Kaye Kiker 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| David Firstman (EX) 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Ann Ferguson 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| David Boys (GM) 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Steve Pellinen (EX) 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Bonnie Rudolph 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Wendell Smith 1999-01-01~1999-12-31 | |
| Matt Hopkins 2003-08-01~2010-02-03 | |
| Matt Hopkins emeritus 2010-02-04~2016-07-31 | |
| Mary Rhoades 2004-08-01~2010-01-01 | |
| Chris Cree (SM) cochair 2009-01-01~2019-07-22 | |
| John Chew cochair 2009-01-01~2019-12-19 | |
| Rod MacNeil (SM) 2009-02-01~2011-08-06 | |
| Lynda Wise 2009-02-15~2011-08-06 | |
| Betty Bergeron 2009-02-15~2011-08-06 | |
| Vicki Blizzard 2009-02-15~2012-08-11 | |
| Carl Johnson (GM) 2009-02-15~2012-08-11 | |
| John Karris (EX) 2009-02-15~2012-08-11 | |
| Marjorie Schoneboom (EX) 2009-02-15~2012-08-11 | |
| GS Edwards (EX) 2009-03-01~2010-05-01 | |
| Bryan Pepper 2010-01-01~2012-08-11 | |
| Dallas Johnson 2010-08-08~2015-08-15 | |
| Shelley Stevens 2011-08-07~2013-07-20 | |
| Kate Fukawa-Connelly (EX) 2011-08-07~2013-07-20 | |
| Kate Fukawa-Connelly (EX) 2013-07-20~2015-08-01 | |
| Kate Fukawa-Connelly (EX) 2015-08-01~2016-07-31 | |
| Tony Leah (EX) 2012-08-11~2014-08-11 | |
| Tony Leah (EX) 2014-08-11~2016-08-10 | |
| Tony Leah (EX) At-Large representative 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 | |
| Chris Patrick Morgan (EX) 2012-08-11~2014-08-11 | |
| Rafi Stern (SM) 2012-08-11~2014-08-11 | |
| Ruchi Gupta 2012-08-11~2014-08-11 | |
| Ben Withers (EX) 2012-08-11~2014-08-11 | |
| Judy Cole 2013-07-20~2015-08-01 | |
| Chris Lipe (SM) 2013-07-20~2015-08-01 | |
| Arthur Moore 2013-07-20~2015-08-01 | |
| Steve Bush (EX) 2014-08-11~2016-08-10 | |
| Orry Swift (SM) 2014-08-11~2016-08-10 | |
| Mike Frentz (SM) 2014-08-11~2016-08-10 | |
| Michael Willis 2015-08-01~2017-07-26 | |
| Michael Willis U.S. South representative 2017-07-22~2019-07-31 | |
| Michael Willis U.S. West representative 2019-08-01~2020-07-31 | |
| Michael Willis U.S. West representative 2020-08-01~2021-06-30 | |
| Scott Appel (GM) 2015-08-01~2017-07-26 | |
| Geoff Thevenot (SM) 2015-08-01~2017-07-26 | |
| Geoff Thevenot (SM) U.S. Midwest representative 2017-07-22~2019-07-31 | |
| Josh Greenway 2015-08-01~2017-07-26 | |
| Josh Greenway At-Large representative 2017-07-22~2019-07-31 | |
| Josh Greenway At-Large representative 2019-07-20~2022-07-31 | |
| Josh Greenway At-Large representative 2022-08-01~2024-07-31 | |
| Josh Greenway At-Large representative 2024-08-01~2024-12-31 | |
| Leah Kruley 2015-08-01~2017-07-26 | |
| Randall Thomas (EX) 2015-08-15~2017-07-26 | |
| Mina Le U.S. South representative 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 | |
| Cornelia Guest U.S. Northeast representative 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 | |
| Cornelia Guest U.S. Northeast representative 2018-08-01~2020-07-31 | |
| Troy Thompson U.S. Midwest representative 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 | |
| Troy Thompson U.S. Midwest representative 2018-08-01~2020-07-31 | |
| Doug Brockmeier (SM) U.S. West representative 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 | |
| Sue Tremblay Canadian representative 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 | |
| Rich Baker ex officio 2016-11-29~2019-07-20 | |
| Rich Baker cochair 2019-07-20~2019-12-19 | |
| Rich Baker ex officio 2019-12-19~2021-06-30 | |
| Rich Baker U.S. West representative 2021-07-01~2023-07-31 | |
| Stefan Rau (SM) U.S. Northeast representative 2017-07-22~2019-07-31 | |
| Stefan Rau (SM) U.S. Northeast representative 2019-08-01~2022-07-31 | |
| Stefan Rau (SM) U.S. Northeast representative 2022-08-01~2024-07-31 | |
| Peter Sargious Canadian representative 2017-07-22~2019-07-31 | |
| Peter Sargious Canadian representative 2019-08-01~2022-07-31 | |
| Peter Sargious Canadian representative 2022-08-01~2024-07-31 | |
| Bruce D Ambrosio U.S. West representative 2017-07-22~2019-07-31 | |
| Jennifer M Lee U.S. West representative 2018-08-01~2019-06-19 | |
| Lila Crotty U.S. South representative 2018-08-01~2020-07-31 | |
| Lila Crotty U.S. South representative 2020-08-01~2023-07-31 | |
| Ezekiel Markwei (EX) At-Large representative 2018-08-01~2020-07-31 | |
| Ezekiel Markwei (EX) At-Large representative 2020-08-01~2023-07-31 | |
| Jackson Smylie (SM) Canadian representative 2018-08-01~2020-07-31 | |
| Andy Hoang (EX) U.S. South representative 2019-07-20~2022-07-31 | |
| Andy Hoang (EX) U.S. South representative 2022-08-01~2024-07-31 | |
| Jason Idalski (EX) U.S. Midwest representative 2019-07-20~2022-07-31 | |
| Jason Idalski (EX) U.S. Midwest representative 2022-08-01~2024-07-31 | |
| Will Anderson (GM) U.S. Northeast representative 2020-08-01~2021-12-31 | |
| Portia Zwicker At-Large representative 2020-08-01~2021-12-31 | |
| Portia Zwicker U.S. Northeast representative 2022-01-01~2023-07-31 | |
| Paul Wood U.S. Midwest representative 2020-08-01~2023-07-31 | |
| Heidi Robertson Canadian representative 2020-08-01~2023-07-31 |