Revision as of 21:35, 24 June 2011

In 2011, NASPA will hold elections to replace members of its Advisory Board (AB) for the first time. This page describes the process governing these elections, and will be revised in future years with greater generality.

Elections Committee

Because of the short planning horizon this year, these elections are being run on a provisional basis by the Executive Committee. Volunteers to take over this job in this and future years are welcome to apply to the Executive Committee.

Electoral Districts

This year’s election will elect two members, one from each of two districts with roughly equal membership population. The Western district consists of Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Manitoba and Nunavut, and all states, provinces and countries to their west as far as Asia and Australia; the Eastern district consists of all other areas.

For the purposes of the election, candidates and voters will be assigned to districts based on their membership addresses.

“Good Standing”

For the purposes of this election, a NASPA member is considered to be in good standing if they are not under suspension and their membership is valid at least through the end of the 2011 National SCRABBLE Championship on August 10. AB Members are required to comply with the obligations of NASPA committee members.

Nominations

This year’s nomination period begins on June 17 and ends at midnight on the evening of July 10. (These dates have been chosen to permit nominations to begin as early as possible, while allowing for as long a nomination period as possible following the publication of an announcement of this election in the June issue of the NASPA Bulletin.) During that time, any NASPA member in good standing may nominate themselves or have others nominate them to run for election to the AB. One nomination suffices per nominee. Nominees may refuse nomination. Incumbent AB members may stand for reelection, as may members of NASPA committees. There is no limit as to the number of nominees in each district.

To submit a nomination, please email info@scrabbleplayers.org. The nomination will take effect when the nominee’s name is added to the list of nominees on this page.

Nominees are encouraged to submit a brief statement describing their qualifications, background, platform, and any other information that might be of use to voters.

Nominees (Eastern District)

Jan Cardia

Jan lives in Wilmington, DE, has been playing in SCRABBLE tournaments for 30 years, is a NASPA tournament director, was a member of the NSA's original Advisory Board and is the chair of the Rules Committee.

Shelley Stevens Ubeika

Shelley lives in Mississauga, ON, has been playing in SCRABBLE tournaments since 2005, and is a NASPA tournament director.

Nominees (Western District)

Bennett Jacobstein

Bennett writes: “I have played in tournaments for 13 years. Additionally I have organized and directed multiple tournaments including the California Open and will be working as a division leader in the 2012 NSC. I believe in respecting all viewpoints and striving to create win-win outcomes whenever possible.”

Siri Tillekeratne

Siri has been playing in SCRABBLE tournaments since 1988 and has in some years played more rated games than anyone else, is a director of NASPA Club #374 in Calgary, AB and its many tournaments including the Western Canadian Championship, was the 1996 NSA Person of the Year, was a member of the NSA Advisory Board and is a member of the Canadian Committee and Tournament Committee.

Voting

Voting will take place from July 15–31 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 runoff election will be held. Deadlines to submit votes will be announced as necessary. If the runoff 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.