Mark Morris, Public Relations Director of Games for Hasbro, making opening comments. Standing behind him, the MSSC committee (l-r): Ben Lyons, intern; Yvonne Gillispie, MSSC Project Coordinator; Jim Lowe, Merriam-Webster senior editor; Susan Brady, Merriam-Webster associate editor; Mike Roundy, Merriam-Webster associate science editor; Sherrie Saint John, Internet correspondent; John D. Williams, NSA's Executive Director; Jane Williams, NSA Director of Operations; Joe Edley, NSA Director of Clubs and Tournaments; Patty Hocker, NSA Membership Manager; and Gregg Foster, tournament volunteer. Missing: Kathy Hummel, NSA's Media and Production Director; Alexandra Williams, Intern. Team member and webmaster John Chew was working on the site from London while on vacation.

NSA Webmaster John Chew at work at Cyberia (a London Internet cafe), building the MSSC web site using reports from Internet reporter Sherrie Saint John (not pictured). On the right, his girlfriend Kristen Pederson. Photo: Kristen Pederson.

John D. Williams, NSA's Executive Director, from the podium.

Joe Edley, NSA Director of Clubs and Tournaments, discussing some of the tournament's finer points.

Cathy Souza and son Daniel Souza entertain themselves with a game of war while Daniel's big brother, Joshua, plays on St. Joseph's red team.

View of one side of the room during opening comments.

Another view of the room during opening comments.

Joe Edley during opening comments. Note his backwards hat!

Merriam-Webster word judges and their Official SCRABBLE^® Players Dictionaries: Susan Brady, associate editor; Mike Roundy, associate science editor; and Jim Lowe, senior editor.