5,411
edits
Changes
→Election Results: 2020-07-13 - Updated election results
In '''2020''', NASPA plans to hold held an '''[[Advisory Board Elections|election]]''' for four members of its '''[[Advisory Board]]''' (AB).
The [[Advisory Board Composition|composition]] of the AB over the years under NASPA is available at this website.
== Election Results ==
== Electoral Districts ==
====Canada====
'''Heidi Robertson''' wins this district by acclamation.
<style>
table.candidates td { vertical-align: top; column-width: 50%; }
table.candidates div.wins { display: none; }
</style>
{|class=candidates
|-
!Candidate
!Candidate Statement
|-
|class= name|'''[[Heidi Robertson]]'''
<br/>
{{#naspa:photo|23333}}
|class=statement|
Hi! I'm Heidi Robertson. You may remember me from such appearances as CNSC 2018 and "NASPA tonight - Mar 12, 2019".
I help run virtual Ottawa club sessions; sing self-scribed SCRABBLE parodies with the best of you; and have the ear of all your favourite Grandmasters.
Vote for me or don't — but I did accept Sue's nomination to offer y'all some Canadian representation...
And you may not end up with a choice anyway ...
So you might as well pretend that I was who you wanted all along. 😉
|}
====US Midwest====
table.candidates div.wins { display: none; }
</style>
{|class=candidates
|-
!Candidate
!Candidate Statement
|-
|class= name|'''[[Daniel Stock | Dan Stock]]'''
<br/>
{{#naspa:photo|4351}}
|class=statement|
I am honored to have been nominated by [[Dallas Johnson]] to represent the Midwest Region on the Advisory Board.
My SCRABBLE career spans over 25 years. I direct two clubs in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. I've directed dozens of tournaments and assisted in running over 100. That includes being a Division Leader at the last 11 North American SCRABBLE Championships, where I have also been the primary author of the 100-tile statements or "tableaux" placed on the Big Board. [http::/www.cross-tables.com Cross-tables] tells me that I've played over 4000 tourney games. Based on my playing history, NASPA has awarded me the [[Player Titles |title]] of "SCRABBLE Expert" – although my rating has dropped a little since that title was earned.
I've been on NASPA's Rules Committee since 2009. That experience should show that I have the three qualities that NASPA recommends for Advisory Board members: "Good communication skills; the ability to work well in a group situation; and a willingness to make tough decisions on sensitive or controversial issues."
I certainly would like to see the game move forward and increase in popularity, and I fully support current NASPA efforts to do so – including supporting School SCRABBLE and the efforts of the [[Forward Energy Committee]]. But that's easy to say. The reality is that this is a political position, so let me tell you where I stand on three key issues that are facing NASPA.
First is the question of resuming over-the-board play after the pandemic. On this issue, I am an advocate of significant caution. NASPA was a little slow in officially closing down its clubs and tourneys, and I do not want to risk the health of our players by reopening prematurely. The decision to reopen needs to be made based on sound, scientific recommendations that say it is safe to do so, paired with appropriate healthful practices when we do.
Second is the question of lexicons. On this issue, I favor the status quo where NASPA supports both the Collins and NWL (formerly TWL or OWL) dictionaries. Collins is wonderful for those who can compete internationally and choose to do so, as well as for a limited number of players who prefer the much larger word list. However, I feel that most NASPA players prefer the more compact and more familiar NWL lexicon. Accordingly, the best approach is to continue to provide many opportunities to play with both word lists.
Third is the question of competing organizations. I am definitely a NASPA partisan, and I personally don't attend tourneys run by other organizations – but I disagree with NASPA's traditional stand on this issue. I would like to see outreach from NASPA to competing organizations, especially efforts to coordinate scheduling to minimize the conflicts between major tourneys run by any such organizations. Let's see if we can work toward having one plan for scheduling tourneys!
As I write this, there is one other candidate for the position of Midwest representative on the Advisory Board. My opponent also loves the game and would serve well. Please vote for the candidate with whom you agree more and/or the one you feel to be better qualified.
My campaign slogan is one of my tableaux. It uses the 100 tiles in the standard set and can be placed on alternate rows of the board: "Valuing one plan, we realize Daniel Stock is hopeful to be a quite exacting Advisory Board juryman for the Midwest Region." The blanks are the L in "hopeful" and the N in "exacting."
|-
|class= name|'''[[Paul Wood]]'''
<br/>
{{#naspa:photo|8647}}
|class=statement|
Playing SCRABBLE has been a unique way for a player to grow in self belief and confidence. As a Board member I will seek to support, strengthen and enable each member of NASPA and those who wish to become members, in growing in both their playing skills and their own personal skills and development. Working with other Board members, I will engage in actively promoting SCRABBLE in all its formats within the United States, and beyond the borders as appropriate.
I see the growing importance of School SCRABBLE tournaments and development of the youth as a solid foundation for the growth of SCRABBLE worldwide.
|}
====US Northeast====
table.candidates div.wins { display: none; }
</style>
{|class=candidates
|-
!Candidate Statement
|-
|class= name|'''[[Andy HoangJames Flomo]]'''
<br/>
|class=statement|
====US West====
''' John Ortman''' wins this district by acclamation.
<style>
table.candidates td { vertical-align: top; column-width: 50%; }
table.candidates div.wins { display: none; }
</style>
{|class=candidates
|-
!Candidate
!Candidate Statement
|-
|class= name|'''[[John Ortman]]'''
<br/>
{{#naspa:photo|3300}}
|class=statement|
Thanks for considering me for the Advisory Board. Between playing tournaments since 2003 and having been on message boards and forums from the beginning, I think I have a pretty good grasp of the variety of perspectives that SCRABBLE players have.
I launched the Roseville SCRABBLE Club around 2006, and I’ve directed a few local club and open tournaments. I’m open to people’s opinions and think I have some fair insights on how to regrow the game.
Also,and this is big (for me), in about a month I’ll be going on a trial work retirement. I’ll be able to devote the due time to the Advisory Board and potentially other volunteer positions later with NASPA. Also I plan on traveling quite a bit to tournaments outside of my region in the near future.
As far as platform stances, here are mine:
* I advocate for freedom and creativity. In the context of the post and continuing COVID period I believe that if directors want to direct, they should have that freedom, but just be clear about what precautions will be instituted and then let people decide what their risk-appetite is and if they then want to participate. With respect to creativity, within reason I would advocate variations on tournament play. E.g., I like the allowance for laddered tournaments that may take weeks to finish, and I like the allowance for 5-point penalty challenge with the NWL (although I have yet to direct these variations myself).
* I advocate for no limitations on dictionaries. If you are a proponent of Collins only or NWL only, I’m not your candidate.
* I would like the exploration of ways to promote NASPA more. Crazy possibility, though it might be out of our price range: semi-targeted advertising on the SCRABBLE Go app.
<br/>
That’s all I can think of as far as platforms. Regardless of whether I’m elected, I would enjoy chatting with you about Scrabble issues or just plain chatting.
|}