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[http://www.scrabbleassociation.com NSA website]. | [http://www.scrabbleassociation.com NSA website]. | ||
| − | == | + | == The transition from the NSA to NASPA == |
# What is the difference between NASPA and the NSA? <br />As of 2010-01-01, [[Hasbro]] will no longer be providing regular funding to [[SCRABBLE]] [[clubs]] and [[tournaments]]. As a result, over the course of 2009, the NSA will transfer responsiblity for clubs and tournaments to the newly formed NASPA, leaving the NSA to concentrate on developing new markets for SCRABBLE in areas such as School SCRABBLE. | # What is the difference between NASPA and the NSA? <br />As of 2010-01-01, [[Hasbro]] will no longer be providing regular funding to [[SCRABBLE]] [[clubs]] and [[tournaments]]. As a result, over the course of 2009, the NSA will transfer responsiblity for clubs and tournaments to the newly formed NASPA, leaving the NSA to concentrate on developing new markets for SCRABBLE in areas such as School SCRABBLE. | ||
# How were the members of the NASPA [[Steering Committee]] chosen? <br /> The committee members were chosen by the NSA. The selection criteria were not made public, but the committee includes NSA Persons of the Year, top directors and non-directing players, people who have and have not worked directly for the NSA, and people from north, south, east and west. It clearly did not include several people who could have made significant contributions to the committee, but the initial size of the committee is already a little too large, and there will be plenty of later opportunities for others to work with NASPA. | # How were the members of the NASPA [[Steering Committee]] chosen? <br /> The committee members were chosen by the NSA. The selection criteria were not made public, but the committee includes NSA Persons of the Year, top directors and non-directing players, people who have and have not worked directly for the NSA, and people from north, south, east and west. It clearly did not include several people who could have made significant contributions to the committee, but the initial size of the committee is already a little too large, and there will be plenty of later opportunities for others to work with NASPA. | ||
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# Will NASPA be taking over Word Gear too? <br /> Not in the foreseeable future. The NSA and Word Gear are separate businesses that happen to share staff and facilities. | # Will NASPA be taking over Word Gear too? <br /> Not in the foreseeable future. The NSA and Word Gear are separate businesses that happen to share staff and facilities. | ||
| − | == | + | == How NASPA works == |
# Who is in charge of NASPA? <br />The [[Steering Committee]] is tasked with managing the transition from the NSA to NASPA. Its co-chairs are [[Chris Cree]] and [[John Chew]]. | # Who is in charge of NASPA? <br />The [[Steering Committee]] is tasked with managing the transition from the NSA to NASPA. Its co-chairs are [[Chris Cree]] and [[John Chew]]. | ||
# Do players have a voice in how NASPA works? <br /> The [[Steering Committee]] is made up entirely of players and directors, chosen from across Canada and the United States, with a total of centuries of experience as tournament players and directors. All of the existing NSA committees, including the Advisory Board, are made up entirely of experienced tournament players. In fact, the whole point of creating NASPA, at least from Hasbro's point of view, is to devolve responsibility for players from the NSA to the player community. If you’re asking if you yourself will have a voice in NASPA, please see the next question. | # Do players have a voice in how NASPA works? <br /> The [[Steering Committee]] is made up entirely of players and directors, chosen from across Canada and the United States, with a total of centuries of experience as tournament players and directors. All of the existing NSA committees, including the Advisory Board, are made up entirely of experienced tournament players. In fact, the whole point of creating NASPA, at least from Hasbro's point of view, is to devolve responsibility for players from the NSA to the player community. If you’re asking if you yourself will have a voice in NASPA, please see the next question. | ||
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# Will there be executive stipends, will the members decide them, and will they be published? <br /> Yes, because there are and will be people working long hours and spending money for the association; no, the membership at large will not vote on compensation; yes, NASPA will report its budget in accordance with statutory requirements. | # Will there be executive stipends, will the members decide them, and will they be published? <br /> Yes, because there are and will be people working long hours and spending money for the association; no, the membership at large will not vote on compensation; yes, NASPA will report its budget in accordance with statutory requirements. | ||
| − | == | + | == The future of NASPA == |
# Will NASPA be adopting the Collins/SOWPODS/WESPA word list? <br /> NASPA has its hands full getting started as an organization this year, and there will be no changes to the tournament word list in 2009. In future, the word list will continue to be revised on a regular basis, by the [[Dictionary Committee]]. In the last update to the word list, some formerly SOWPODS-only words were added to our vocabulary, such as QI and QADI. In the next update, there will almost certainly be more. | # Will NASPA be adopting the Collins/SOWPODS/WESPA word list? <br /> NASPA has its hands full getting started as an organization this year, and there will be no changes to the tournament word list in 2009. In future, the word list will continue to be revised on a regular basis, by the [[Dictionary Committee]]. In the last update to the word list, some formerly SOWPODS-only words were added to our vocabulary, such as QI and QADI. In the next update, there will almost certainly be more. | ||
# What relationship will NASPA have with cross-tables.com? <br /> [[Seth Lipkin]] is a member of the Steering Committee and is taking an active role in organizing NASPA. | # What relationship will NASPA have with cross-tables.com? <br /> [[Seth Lipkin]] is a member of the Steering Committee and is taking an active role in organizing NASPA. | ||
| − | == | + | == Membership == |
# Should people buy NASPA memberships now? <br /> Yes. | # Should people buy NASPA memberships now? <br /> Yes. | ||
# How do I buy a NASPA membership? <br /> The [[membership]] page says how to pay online using a credit card to activate your membership right away, or submit your data and follow up with a check to have your membership activated when we receive payment. | # How do I buy a NASPA membership? <br /> The [[membership]] page says how to pay online using a credit card to activate your membership right away, or submit your data and follow up with a check to have your membership activated when we receive payment. | ||
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# I'm a tournament director and I need memberships for some players so that my upcoming tournament can be rated. What do I do? <br /> Click on the Member Services link in the navigation sidebar, then click on Add New Members in the Director section. Fill out the membership information for your players, then choose “Payment with your next tournament’s participation fee” as your payment option. | # I'm a tournament director and I need memberships for some players so that my upcoming tournament can be rated. What do I do? <br /> Click on the Member Services link in the navigation sidebar, then click on Add New Members in the Director section. Fill out the membership information for your players, then choose “Payment with your next tournament’s participation fee” as your payment option. | ||
| − | == | + | == Ratings == |
# Where can I find a list of NASPA members and ratings? <br /> Please consult the NASPAWiki article about [[ratings]]. | # Where can I find a list of NASPA members and ratings? <br /> Please consult the NASPAWiki article about [[ratings]]. | ||
# How are state / province rankings computed? <br /> These ranking lists are updated automatically whenever new ratings are computed after a tournament. | # How are state / province rankings computed? <br /> These ranking lists are updated automatically whenever new ratings are computed after a tournament. | ||
| − | # A player is listed for a wrong state. How can that be corrected? <br /> Each player should be able to log in to the member services as described [[:# | + | # A player is listed for a wrong state. How can that be corrected? <br /> Each player should be able to log in to the member services as described [[:#Membership_Questions|above]] and update the address in his or her own profile. The new state will be used the next time the state rankings are computed. |
| − | == | + | == [[NSC]] Questions == |
# How do you justify raising everyone’s fees to pay for the elite few who can attend the National SCRABBLE Championship? <br /> We don’t, because it’s not true. [[Chris Cree]] signed the six-figure contracts necessary for a Players Championship to be held in Dayton in August 2009, long before we ever heard of NASPA. [[Hasbro]] has kindly allowed us to rename the event the National SCRABBLE Championship, but the budget remains unchanged and is similar to that of the 2007 PC. | # How do you justify raising everyone’s fees to pay for the elite few who can attend the National SCRABBLE Championship? <br /> We don’t, because it’s not true. [[Chris Cree]] signed the six-figure contracts necessary for a Players Championship to be held in Dayton in August 2009, long before we ever heard of NASPA. [[Hasbro]] has kindly allowed us to rename the event the National SCRABBLE Championship, but the budget remains unchanged and is similar to that of the 2007 PC. | ||
# Is NASPA subsidizing the 2009 National SCRABBLE Championship in Dayton? <br /> No. This year's NSC is a self-sustained event, although it will receive limited sponsorship from Hasbro and a few other organizations. The Dayton NSC will pay full tournament participation fees to NASPA. | # Is NASPA subsidizing the 2009 National SCRABBLE Championship in Dayton? <br /> No. This year's NSC is a self-sustained event, although it will receive limited sponsorship from Hasbro and a few other organizations. The Dayton NSC will pay full tournament participation fees to NASPA. | ||
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# How was the 2010–2011 location chosen? <br /> The venue submitted the best bid in a nationwide search conducted by an independent agency. No other venue came even close to matching their price and terms. No personal preferences were factors in the consideration. | # How was the 2010–2011 location chosen? <br /> The venue submitted the best bid in a nationwide search conducted by an independent agency. No other venue came even close to matching their price and terms. No personal preferences were factors in the consideration. | ||
| − | == | + | == Bulletins and Newsletters == |
# Does NASPA have its own newsletter? <br /> No, but NASPA has a bulletin which will appear periodically at first. | # Does NASPA have its own newsletter? <br /> No, but NASPA has a bulletin which will appear periodically at first. | ||
# Where can I find the NASPA Bulletin? <br /> Click on the Bulletin link in the sidebar of any page. | # Where can I find the NASPA Bulletin? <br /> Click on the Bulletin link in the sidebar of any page. | ||
Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the North American SCRABBLE Players Association (NASPA). Please check to see if your question is answered here before you contact us.
If your question is about the NSA (or School SCRABBLE or casual SCRABBLE play), please look for the answer on the NSA website.
Copyright © 2024 NASPA All rights reserved. SCRABBLE is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. in the USA and Canada, and of Mattel, Inc. elsewhere. NASPA and its activities are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Hasbro or Mattel. For more information about NASPA or for comments or issues with this page, please email us.