2016 Advisory Board Elections

In 2016, NASPA held an election for three members of its Advisory Board (AB).

Election Results

See our iContact announcement giving full results of the election

Electoral Districts

This year’s election will elect members in:

• US Northeast: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
• US Midwest: IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
• Canada: Any Canadian NASPA member in good standing

Nominations

An electoral candidate must meet all of the following criteria:

• They must be a NASPA member in good standing.
• They must accept the nomination during the nomination period of May 1–31, 2016.
• They must be at least 21 years of age.
• They must be prepared to comply with the obligations of NASPA committee members.
• They must submit a brief statement describing their qualifications, background, platform, and any other information that might be of use to voters, for posting to this webpage.

They do not need to be a certified director, have a high tournament rating or serve on another committee, but neither do these qualifications exclude them. Incumbent members may stand for reelection.

“Good Standing”

For the purposes of this election, a NASPA member is considered to be in good standing if

• their membership has been valid since the beginning of the 2014 National SCRABBLE Championship (in a special ruling by the Advisory Board on 2016-06-01, candidate Cornelia Guest was exempted from this clause);
• their membership will be valid at least through the end of the 2016 North American SCRABBLE Championship; and
• they have not been under suspension at any time since the beginning of the 2014 National SCRABBLE Championship

Nominees

Incomplete nominations:

• none at present

Declined nominations:

• Dan Stock
• Joel Sherman

Withdrawn nominations:

• Judy Cole

U.S. Northeast

Candidate Data	Candidate Statement
Jan Cardia (EX) is a past SCRABBLE Expert and Certified Tournament Director from Ponte Vedra, FL, USA. She has had the following most recent tournament wins: 2018-08-04 09:00~2018-08-08 18:00: North American Scrabble Championship (22.0–9.0 +949) 2018-01-27 09:00~2018-01-29 18:00: Atlantic City, NJ, USA (13.0–7.0 +774) 2016-12-26 09:00~2016-12-26 18:00: Wilmington, DE, USA (6.0–2.0 +287) 2016-10-08 09:00~2016-10-08 18:00: Philadelphia, PA, USA (5.0–2.0 +348) 2016-07-08 10:00~2016-07-10 15:00: Mildness - New Castle, DE, USA (15.0–6.0 +611) 2015-03-14 09:00~2015-03-14 18:00: Queens, NY, USA (6.0–2.0 +318) 2015-03-08 09:00~2015-03-08 18:00: Brooklyn, NY, USA (7.0–1.0 +771) 2014-04-27 09:00~2014-04-27 18:00: Brooklyn, NY, USA (7.0–1.0 +777) 2014-04-15 09:00~2014-04-15 18:00: Brooklyn, NY, USA (3.0–1.0 +403) 2013-06-09 09:00~2013-06-09 18:00: Bethel, CT, USA (6.0–1.0 -13) 2013-05-02 09:00~2013-05-11 18:00: Bermuda &Amp; Caribbean Treasures Cruise (19.0–5.0 +2288) 2012-11-02 20:00~2012-11-04 18:00: Cambridge, MD, USA (11.0–5.0 +1086) 2012-09-24 09:00~2012-10-05 18:00: Eastern Mediterranean Cruise (12.0–4.0 +1047) 2012-01-21 09:00~2012-01-23 18:00: Atlantic City, NJ, USA (15.0–4.0 +1239) 2011-07-08 09:00~2011-07-15 18:00: Alaska Cruise (11.0–4.0 +704) 2009-10-03 10:00~2009-10-03 18:00: Berlin, NJ, USA (7.0–0.0 +816) 2009-09-05 09:00~2009-09-07 18:00: Shelton, CT, USA (14.0–3.0 +1139) 2008-05-24 09:00:11~2008-05-24 17:00: PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA (6.0–3.0 +312) 2008-04-04 09:00~2008-04-04 17:00: BERLIN, NJ, USA (5.0–2.0 +228) 2008-03-29 09:00~2008-03-29 17:00: PRINCETON, NJ, USA (11.0–3.0 +236) 2008-02-20 07:55:21~2008-02-20 07:56:03: ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, USA (12.0–3.0 +962) 2007-11-29 11:03:25~2007-11-29 11:04:07: W. MEDITERRANEUM CRUISE (12.0–3.0 +975) 2007-07-10 16:43:55~2007-07-10 16:44:37: BOSTON, MA, USA (6.0–2.0 +330) 2007-02-01 09:10:39~2007-02-01 09:11:21: ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, USA (4.0–1.0 +99) 2006-09-12 20:19:04~2006-09-12 20:19:46: YORK, NY, USA (6.0–1.0 +455) 2006-07-06 07:29:35~2006-07-06 07:30:17: ALBANY, NY, USA (11.0–0.0 -48) She is not a current member of any committees. She has served past terms on the following committee(s): Advisory Board, 2011-08-07~2013-07-20 Rules Committee, 2009-01-01~2010-05-18 Rules Committee (chair), 2010-05-18~2020-12-23 Advisory Board, 2013-07-20~2015-08-01 Advisory Board, 2015-08-01~2016-07-31 Forward Energy Committee (assistant chair), 2016-07-23~2020-12-23 Advisory Board, 1986-01-01~1993-12-31	Jan Cardia has been playing tournament Scrabble for 35 years, amassing more than 6000 rated games. Jan was on the original Advisory Board for the NSA and is a current Advisory Board member. Having served as a member of the Rules Committee for many years, Jan is now the Rules Committee chair. Jan feels that the current Advisory Board is making inroads with the Executive Committee, and would like to continue the momentum to help guide the way to a more inclusive organization. Jan is committed to improving and growing the organization; but, moreover, is a true representative for the players.
Cornelia Guest is a Certified Tournament Director from Bethel, CT, USA. She has received the following awards: Year Award 2018 Michael R. Wise Memorial Person of the Year She has had the following most recent tournament wins: 2022-10-14 19:30~2022-10-16 18:00: Lake George, NY, USA (11.0–4.0 +737) 2022-06-22 10:00~2022-06-22 13:00: Newtown, CT, USA (3.0–0.0 +211) 2020-01-29 09:00~2020-01-29 18:00: Brookfield, CT, USA (4.0–0.0 +423) 2019-02-18 09:00~2019-02-18 18:00: Flushing, NY, USA (9.0–1.0 +346) 2015-03-20 09:00~2015-03-22 18:00: Poughkeepsie, NY, USA (12.0–4.0 +825) 2008-03-30 09:00~2008-03-30 17:00: MANCHESTER, CT, USA (4.0–2.0 +70) 2008-01-03 21:16:33~2008-01-03 21:17:15: ALBANY, NY, USA (6.0–1.0 +587) 2007-02-20 17:13:10~2007-02-20 17:13:52: NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA (7.0–1.0 +432) 2006-10-29 17:49:16~2006-10-29 17:49:58: PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA (6.0–1.0 +793) 2006-01-21 14:45:37~2006-01-21 14:46:19: BAYSIDE, NY, USA (5.0–2.0 +78) 2005-09-17 05:16:18~2005-09-17 06:16:18: BAYSIDE, NY, USA (5.0–2.0 +302) She is a current member of the following committee(s): Forward Energy Committee, 2016-07-23~ She has served past terms on the following committee(s): Director Manual Committee, 2009-06-01~2014-04-01 Advisory Board (U.S. Northeast representative), 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 Advisory Board (U.S. Northeast representative), 2018-08-01~2020-07-31	Cornelia Guest, from Connecticut, has been involved in the SCRABBLE world since 2003, when she read Word Freak and entered a newcomers’ tournament in Danbury, CT. Since then she has competed in over 130 tournaments, playing in both the TWL and CSW lexicons. The mother of triplets, Cornelia has been strongly involved in School SCRABBLE since 2004. She has run School SCRABBLE programs at seven different schools and libraries and has brought close to 100 kids to the annual School SCRABBLE Championships, including the 2007, 2008, 2015, and 2016 champions. She is a member of the WESPA Youth Committee and helped MSI recruit teams for this year’s North American School SCRABBLE Championship. Cornelia has directed over 150 tournaments in New York and Connecticut, including NASPA-rated tournaments, School SCRABBLE tournaments, Youth tournaments (for players under 18), and newcomers’ tournaments. She was the Division 4 director at the 2012 National SCRABBLE Championship. For the last nine years she has organized and directed the New England School SCRABBLE Championship. Cornelia also runs two weekly SCRABBLE clubs and is the publisher and editor of The Last Word, an e-newsletter for SCRABBLE players, which she founded in 2009. She is currently preparing for her next multiday tournament, in Stamford, CT, which will be featuring a main event with TWL and CSW divisions, a newcomers’ tournament, a School SCRABBLE tournament, and a NASPA-rated CSW Youth Championship that will qualify winners for the 2016 World Youth Scrabble Championship in Lille. Cornelia strongly believes that events that encourage new players and young players to participate are essential to the growth of tournament SCRABBLE, and she is interested in exploring ways to jumpstart tournament participation. She has an open mind to fresh ideas, and hopes that her enthusiasm and dedication will make her a good addition to the Advisory Board.

U.S. Midwest

Troy Thompson wins this district by acclamation.

Candidate Data

Candidate Statement

Troy Thompson is a Certified Tournament Director from Lebanon, IN, USA. He has had the following most recent tournament wins: 2024-03-10 09:00~2024-03-10 18:00: Charleston, IL, USA (6.0–1.0 +587) 2019-08-30 09:00~2019-08-30 18:00: Indianapolis, IN, USA (3.0–1.0 +200) 2019-03-02 18:30~2019-03-02 22:30: Charleston, IL, USA (3.0–1.0 +76) 2019-03-02 09:00~2019-03-02 16:00: Charleston, IL, USA (6.0–1.0 +295) 2017-11-05 09:00~2017-11-05 18:00: Chicago, IL, USA (5.0–2.0 +250) 2016-03-12 09:00~2016-03-12 18:00: Danville, IL, USA (5.0–2.0 +264) 2014-01-25 09:00~2014-01-25 18:00: Indianapolis, IN, USA (6.0–2.0 +405) 2013-11-08 09:00~2013-11-08 18:00: Indianapolis (Lebanon), IN, USA (3.0–1.0 +232) 2013-04-07 09:00~2013-04-07 18:00: Danville, IL, USA (6.0–1.0 +235) 2013-04-06 09:00~2013-04-06 18:00: Danville, IL, USA (5.0–2.0 +446) 2013-01-12 09:00~2013-01-12 18:00: Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA (7.0–1.0 +765) 2012-03-31 09:00~2012-03-31 18:00: Danville, IL, USA (5.0–2.0 +229) 2011-04-16 09:00~2011-04-16 18:00: Danville, IL, USA (6.0–1.0 +420) 2010-02-27 09:00~2010-02-27 18:00: Indianapolis, IN, USA (7.0–1.0 +172) He is a current member of the following committee(s): Forward Energy Committee, 2017-06-06~ He has served past terms on the following committee(s): Advisory Board (U.S. Midwest representative), 2016-08-06~2018-07-31 Advisory Board (U.S. Midwest representative), 2018-08-01~2020-07-31

I am a life-long resident of Indiana and have been playing competitive Scrabble since late 2008. I have began to direct tournaments in central Indiana in order to foster competitive play in this area, as well as provide destination tournaments for those throughout the Midwest. I relish the sage counsel of those who have long been a part of NASPA and its predecessors, but I also enjoy the perspective of those who are new to the world of competitive Scrabble as their input can be utilized to attract other new players. In my non-Scrabble life, I am a sole-practitioner attorney, a marginal golfer, a better puzzle solver, and an aspiring back-country hiker.

Canada

Candidate Data	Candidate Statement
Siri Tillekeratne is a member from Calgary, AB, CAN. He has received the following awards: Year Award 1996 Michael R. Wise Memorial Person of the Year He has had the following most recent tournament wins: 2017-03-25 09:00~2017-03-26 18:00: Calgary, AB, CAN (11.0–3.0 +754) 2015-08-08 09:00~2015-08-08 18:00: Las Vegas, NV, USA (6.5–1.5 +706) 2015-01-09 09:00~2015-01-09 14:00: Las Vegas, NV, USA (4.0–1.0 +258) 2014-02-14 09:00~2014-02-14 18:00: Las Vegas, NV, USA (5.5–2.5 +287) 2012-10-11 09:00~2012-10-11 18:00: Calgary, AB, CAN (6.0–2.0 +169) 2009-04-04 09:00:04~2009-04-05 17:00: Calgary, AB, CAN (13.0–1.0 +621) 2008-10-15 09:00~2008-10-15 17:00: CALGARY, AB, CAN (6.0–2.0 +174) 2005-09-02 05:16:15~2005-09-02 06:16:15: PORTLAND, OR, USA (6.0–2.0 +305) He is not a current member of any committees. He has served past terms on the following committee(s): Canadian Committee, 2009-02-25~2011-12-31 Tournament Committee, 2009-04-15~2015-03-14 Advisory Board, 2011-08-07~2013-07-20 Canadian Committee, 2012-01-01~2014-12-31 Canadian Committee, 2015-01-01~2017-12-31 Advisory Board, 2015-08-01~2015-08-15 Canadian Committee, 2018-01-01~2020-12-31 Advisory Board, 1996-01-01~1999-12-31 Canadian Committee, 2021-01-01~2021-06-03	I have been an AB member previously, and voluntarily gave up my membership after being selected in the last cycle to my fellow Calgary club director (and good friend) Randall Thomas. I was also the 1996 NSA Director of the Year.
Sue Tremblay is a Certified Tournament Director from Caledon, ON, CAN. She has received the following awards: Year Award 2020 Michael R. Wise Memorial Person of the Year She has had the following most recent tournament wins: 2022-11-26 19:00~2022-11-26 23:00: Caledon, ON, CAN (4.0–0.0 +474) 2021-10-30 10:00~2021-10-30 19:00: Caledon, ON, CAN (5.0–2.0 +603) 2021-10-16 09:00~2021-10-16 18:00: Ottawa, ON, CAN (6.0–1.0 +475) 2020-01-25 09:00~2020-01-25 18:00: Caledon, ON, CAN (5.0–2.0 +156) 2019-08-30 09:00~2019-08-30 18:00: Ottawa, ON, CAN (6.0–0.0 +527) 2019-04-23 09:00~2019-04-23 18:00: Brampton, ON, CAN (4.0–1.0 +436) 2018-11-07 09:00~2018-11-07 18:00: Playa Del Carmen, QR, MEX (6.0–1.0 +317) 2018-03-17 09:00~2018-03-18 18:00: Medina, OH, USA (12.0–1.0 +842) 2017-11-18 09:00~2017-11-18 18:00: Ottawa, ON, CAN (6.0–0.0 +401) 2016-12-01 09:00~2016-12-01 18:00: Mississauga, ON, CAN (3.0–1.0 +208) 2016-01-30 19:00~2016-01-30 23:00: Caledon, ON, CAN (4.0–0.0 +355) 2013-11-23 09:00~2013-11-24 18:00: Kingston (Gananoque), ON, CAN (12.0–0.0 +1221) 2013-07-03 09:00~2013-07-03 18:00: Albany, NY, USA (4.0–2.0 +229) 2012-10-19 09:00~2012-10-19 18:00: Lake George, NY, USA (4.5–0.5 +100) 2011-03-11 20:00~2011-03-13 18:00: Saratoga Springs, NY, USA (12.0–4.0 +1100) 2006-06-01 14:35:41~2006-06-01 14:36:23: MONTREAL, QUE (10.0–2.0 +365) 2005-09-24 05:18:08~2005-09-24 06:18:08: TORONTO ONT CAN (9.0–3.0 +852) She is a current member of the following committee(s): Club/Director Committee, 2019-01-08~ Community Advocate (chair), 2017-10-27~ IDEA Committee, 2020-07-27~ She has served past terms on the following committee(s): Advisory Board (Canadian representative), 2016-08-06~2018-07-31	Sue Tremblay has been playing tournament Scrabble since 2002 and is a certified NASPA director (formerly NSA director). Her experience includes directing the Ottawa Scrabble Club and tournament, and more recently many evening and one day events in the Mississauga area, as well as the well-acclaimed Niagara Falls tournament for the past two years. She has an interest in both growing and unifying the Scrabble scene in North America and is looking to get more involved with School Scrabble in the future, as that seems the way to grow. She and her partner, Jason Broersma, like to travel and are starting to build international connections in Scrabble to get ideas about how things run and what works well in other parts of the world. They have been actively involved in growing the Collins scene in their area, but are happy to run tournaments with TWL and Collins divisions side-by side. Sue will work hard to ensure better communication between the players and their organization, as she feels there is a gap there between all the ways in which NASPA has worked to provide a good tournament experience for players and many of the players' understanding of what NASPA does for them.

Voting

Voting will take place from June 2–30 inclusive, Eastern Time. Votes will be accepted by paper or electronically. Each voter is entitled to vote for one candidate.

Paper votes may be sent to NASPA by postal mail, and must arrive during the voting period to be accepted. Paper votes are not anonymous, and must identify the voter and their vote.

Electronic votes should be made through the Member Services link at the NASPA website. Electronic votes will be anonymous, except inasmuch as a skilled person with access to the NASPA server could eventually reconstruct voting information.

The winner of each election will be determined by plurality. If an election ends in a tie, a lottery or coin toss will be used to break the tie.

Any disputes about the elections process will be decided by the AB, excluding those members running for reelection.