I have been playing tournament SCRABBLE since 1975 and I have the distinction of playing more tournament games than any other player, a total of 8,450. Moreover, I served on the first Advisory Board in the early 1980s, directed several tournaments in the NYC area, served on the Tournament committee, and am currently a member of the Rules committee.

SCRABBLE has been an integral part of my life, and my experience, spanning four decades, has given me a good perspective on how SCRABBLE has evolved through the years. I think that as a member of the Advisory Board, I can make significant contributions to the organization. I want to see our community grow and flourish and I want to be a good advocate for the membership.

Mike Gincel is originally from NJ and currently resides in Clermont, Florida. He has played in 324 rated games of Scrabble in his 3 ½ years as a NASPA member and considers it an honor, a pleasure and one of the most amazing experiences of his life playing this game, making friends for a lifetime and growing as a person.

As an AB member, he will: 1) be fair in his decisions and to ensure that all voices that need to be heard are heard; and 2) make himself available to NASPA community members for questions/suggestions. As a young, 24-year old non-director and novice player, he will represent demographics not currently represented on the AB. In terms of relevant leadership experience, he was a founding father and board member of his fraternity, and his passion to learn, tenacious spirit and gratitude to the community that helped him realize so many beautiful things about himself and this game will serve him well as an AB member.

He would see it as a privilege and an honor to be elected, and it is his sincere hope that he be voted on this board and given the opportunity to serve his NASPA community.

During my first term of service on the NASPA Advisory Board, it has been my pleasure to represent the member’s wishes often. It is important to reach out and hear the voice of the membership, then push for what they want to take place. My outreach to find out if members wished to continue some form of playoffs in the National Championships, revealed that the polled members were overwhelmingly against them. I advocated this position, and playoffs were narrowly defeated for the past NASC, and the one upcoming.

I always try to say what needs to be said, and do what needs to be done. Recently, I was selected as a co-spokesperson for the Advisory Board. I also chair the Forward Energy Committee which finds opportunities for improvements in NASPA, then develops and implements solutions.

If I am fortunate enough to receive your vote, I will pledge to do everything possible to hear you personally, and make your voice heard as we push to continually improve NASPA performance.