Revision as of 20:53, 19 October 2009

The Canadian Committee is a NASPA committee established in February 2009 to manage matters pertaining solely to Canadian and not American players.

To contact the Canadian Committee send an email to naspa-canada@yahoogroups.com.

Members

Current members

• John Chew (ex officio)
• John Aitken, March 2009–
• David Boys
• Tony Leah
• Jeff Parsons, June 2009–
• John Robertson
• Siri Tillekeratne

Past members

• Albert Hahn February–March 2009

Ending dates for current members’ terms

The terms for both John Aitken and Tony Leah will end on December 31, 2009.

The terms for both John Robertson and Jeff Parsons will end on December 31, 2010.

The terms for both David Boys and Siri Tillekeratne will end on December 31, 2011.

2009 Canadian Committee Election

Two members’ terms on the Canadian Committee (CC) are ending on December 31, 2009. Those members are John Aitken and Tony Leah. They will be replaced in a November election. All candidates and voters must be NASPA members in good standing who are (a) Canadian citizens or (b) permanent residents of Canada.

The nomination process has now ended. The names of three candidates will be listed on the ballot: Tony Leah, Randall Thomas, and Shelley Ubeika.

When voting, each voter may select as many as two candidates. The two candidates who receive the most votes will be elected to the CC. Their terms will run from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012.

If two or more candidates receive identical vote totals, and a tie-breaker is necessary, a lottery will be used to break the tie.

Any disputes in all electoral matters will be decided by the members of the CC who are not candidates in the 2009 CC Election.

Canadian Committee’s 2009 Election Procedure

List of Candidates on Ballot

Candidates for the 2009 Canadian Committee (CC) Election will be Tony Leah, Randall Thomas, and Shelley Ubeika.

Candidates’ Election Platforms

Each candidate will be allowed to outline his/her election platform on the CC’s WikiPage using a maximum of 300 words.

Election Period

The election period will begin at 12:01 a.m. on November 1, 2009 and run until 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2009. All times shown are eastern time.

Who Is Eligible To Vote?

All NASPA members residing in Canada and NASPA members who are Canadian citizens residing abroad are eligible to vote. This includes any Canadians who acquire a NASPA membership up to and including November 30. All Canadian NASPA members are strongly encouraged to vote.

Methods of Voting

Voters will have two voting options:

1) Online ballot: An online voting system will be established and will be the preferred method of voting. Links and instructions will be advertised on the CC WikiPage of the NASPA website. When voting online, NASPA membership will be verified to ensure voter eligibility. The online system will be a “secure system” in which a voter’s identity cannot be matched to how he/she voted.

2) Paper ballot: Eligible voters may create their own paper ballots to vote. It can be a representation of the online ballot or a note stating the voter’s choice(s). Any paper ballot will be accepted provided the voter’s intention is clear. All paper ballots must be received by John Robertson, 17 Fourth Avenue, Cambridge, ON N1S 2C9 before the election period ends. Ballots may be mailed or given to him in person. These ballots will not be opened and counted until December 1. John Robertson will appoint members of NASPA Club #471 to assist in maintaining the secrecy of the voting process.

Rules of Voting

Eligible voters may only cast one ballot regardless of the method they choose. (Voters who vote online may not also vote with a paper ballot. Likewise, voters who vote with a paper ballot may not also vote online.)

Voters can select no more than two candidates on their ballots. Ballots that have no candidates chosen or more than two candidates chosen will be rejected.

Once a ballot is cast, it cannot be amended or rescinded.

Candidates (to date) who have registered for the 2009 Canadian Committee election

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname, with his/her region in parentheses. Nominations are now closed.

• Tony Leah (Ontario)
• Randall Thomas (Western Canada)
• Shelley Ubeika (Ontario)

Agenda

The Committee has the following items on its agenda:

• Consider a ratings fee surcharge on Canadian tournaments to help fund Canadian WSC players
• Establish a mechanism for communicating with Canadian Scrabble players
• Organize and conduct a 2009 election to replace the two outgoing Canadian Committee members

Recent activity

• Established John Robertson as NASPA's Canadian financial "middle man." John is now authorized to collect NASPA membership fees from Canadian players and participation fees from Canadian tournament directors in Canadian dollars (with the exchange rate factored in).
• Established the procedures for nominating candidates for the 2009 Canadian Committee election and the basic rules for how that election shall be conducted.
• Conducted a lottery to determine the ending dates of the various members' terms on the Canadian Committee.
• Prepared a qualification system for the Canadian team at the 2011 World SCRABBLE Championship
• Prepared a qualification system for the next Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship
• Prepared a proposed outline for the future structure of this committee

Links

• 2011 World SCRABBLE Championship Canadian Qualification System
• 2011 Canadian World SCRABBLE Championship Qualifying Tournament Venue Vote
• Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship Qualification System
• Proposed Structure of Canadian Committee