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Difference between revisions of "Frequently asked questions"

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Here is a list of '''frequently asked questions''' ('''FAQ''') about the  
 
Here is a list of '''frequently asked questions''' ('''FAQ''') about the  
−
[[North American SCRABBLE Players Association]] (NASPA).  Please check
+
NASPA.  Please check
 
to see if your question is answered here before you
 
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
+
[[contact]] us.
−
[http://www.scrabbleassociation.com the NSA web site] instead.
 
  
−
== A. Questions about the transition from the NSA to NASPA ==
+
== General questions about the Association ==
−
# 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.
+
# <span class=q>What is NASPA?</span> <br />NASPA is a nonprofit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501(c)_organization 501(c)(4) corporation] incorporated in Texas. We are an association of tournament, club and avid home Scrabble players in North America.
−
# 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.  
+
# <span class=q>How many members does NASPA have?</span> <br />The exact number varies from day to day as members join, lapse and re-up. We typically have between 2,000-2,500 active paid members and 4,000 past or lapsed members. Our player database lists another 10,000+ players who have competed before our founding, or in affiliated overseas events. We have estimated another 10,000 players competing in our clubs, where membership and registration is not required, based on ratios of members to nonmembers at selected clubs.  
−
# Will I have to pay more to play SCRABBLE? <br />Yes. It takes money to run an organization. Hasbro is no longer providing that money, so for the foreseeable future, players will be charged higher fees than under the NSA regime. In particular, annual [[membership]] in NASPA costs US$30 (regardless of residence: U.S., Canada or overseas) compared to $20&ndash;25 for the NSA (although for a limited time, the &ldquo;annual&rdquo; membership fee will pay for membership through December 2010), and the NSA rating fee of US$1.00&ndash;1.75 per player will be replaced by a NASPA participation fee of US$0.50 per player per game effective July 1, 2009.
+
# <span class=q>Who is in charge of NASPA? </span><br />NASPA is formally governed by the [[Board of Trustees]]. Day-to-day management is in the hands of its [[Executive Committee]] (EC), which delegates most tasks to its [[Committees]]. Decisions of working committees may be appealed to the [[Advisory Board]] (AB); AB decisions may be appealed to the EC; EC decisions may be appealed to the Board of Trustees.
−
# What will I get for my money? <br />NASPA is a player-run organization committed to expanding the playing community by continually improving its services and your playing experience. If you have suggestions as to new services you would like to pay for, please contact our [[Membership Committee]]. As of now, buying a membership will show your support for the new organization, entitle you to play in sanctioned tournaments and have your achievements officially recognized, and you will receive a special low membership number.
+
# <span class=q>Do players have a voice in how NASPA works? </span><br /> Yes. Players who have the time and energy to devote to volunteering for one of NASPA's [[Committees]] can have the most direct impact on our future by helping to develop our policy. Others are encouraged to either contact the committee in charge of their concern, or their [[Advisory Board]] representative for general concerns.
−
# Should I renew my [[membership]] in the NSA? <br />You may do so if you want to continue to receive the NSA newsletter, but you do not have to do so to play in sanctioned tournaments.
 
−
# What membership do I need to play in a sanctioned tournament? <br /> For tournaments beginning before July 1, 2009, you must have either NSA or NASPA membership. For tournaments beginning on or after July 1, 2009, you must have NASPA membership.
 
−
# I just renewed my NSA membership.  Do I get a prorated refund, or can I use my NSA membership to play in NASPA-sanctioned events? <br /> No, but if you purchase an annual NASPA membership before July 1, 2009, it will be valid until the end of 2010, so you will have paid fees for two years of membership and received benefits for almost two years of membership.
 
−
# When will NSA clubs become NASPA clubs? <br /> July 1, 2009, if they pay a fee.
 
−
# How do I register a new upcoming tournament? <br /> Contact the [[Tournament Committee]].
 
−
# Will the rules and lexicon change? <br /> The NSA [[Rules Committee]] and [[Dictionary Committee]] will be transferred to NASPA, and continue their work as usual. There will be regular updates to the Rules, and the [[Long List]] will be updated in the next few years. 
 
−
# 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.
 
  
−
== B. Questions about 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]].
 
−
# 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&rsquo;re asking if you yourself will have a voice in NASPA, please see the next question.
 
−
# How can I help? <br />If you would like to volunteer with any of NASPA's activities, thank you! Please contact a member of whichever NASPA [[committee]] interests you to see how your skills can best be put to use, or check our [[Help Wanted]] page. If you have [[suggestions]] that you do not want to help work on, you can still send them to any committee member, but they will get implemented sooner if you can help us.
 
−
# How do I edit pages on this web site? <br />If you are a NASPA [[committees|committee]] member, then you should have a username and password to log onto the web site. Do so and follow the instructions for [[editing NASPAWiki]].  If you are not a committee member, please ask one to make your changes.
 
−
# 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.
 
  
−
== C. Questions about the future of NASPA ==
+
The rest of our topics are listed alphabetically.
−
# 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.  
 
  
−
== D. Questions about membership ==
+
== [[cross-tables.com]] ==
−
# Should people buy NASPA memberships now? <br /> Yes.  
+
# <span class=q>What is cross-tables.com? </span><br />Cross-tables.com is a partner website developed and maintained by [[Seth Lipkin]], providing a wealth of statistical information about the history of competitive Scrabble play in North America.
−
# How do I buy a NASPA membership? <br /> For now, the [[membership]] page says where to mail a check. We are developing an online payment system that will accept credit card payments for personal and gift memberships.
+
# <span class=q>What does it mean when it says "Check with NASPA" next to an unrated player's name in a tournament roster? </span><br />It means that cross-tables.com does not track information about unrated players, and you should use the regular membership tools to verify an unrated player's membership status.
−
# Do life members in the NSA get life membership in NASPA? <br /> No. The NSA and NASPA are two separate organizations. NASPA will probably develop its own system of life membership in future, but it is not an immediate priority.
 
−
# Can I buy member-only publications such as the [[OTCWL]] from [http://www.wordgear.com WordGear] as a NASPA member? <br /> Effective July 1, 2009, WordGear will no longer restrict sales of such publications to NSA members.
 
−
# Can you send me a password to log onto the membership services section of NASPA? <br /> No, but you can send it yourself by going to the [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl membership services page], entering your member number and clicking on &ldquo;Email me my password&rdquo;.
 
−
# What is my membership number (NASPA ID)? <br /> You can look it up in the [http://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/members.pl member database.]
 
−
# My current email address is not in the member database, how can I receive my password? <br /> Contact a member of the [[Membership Committee]] to have your email address updated in the database.
 
−
# How do I change my password? <br /> Go to the Member Services page, then click on the &ldquo;Change Password&rdquo; button at the bottom of the page.
 
−
# Can you set my password to XXXXXX? <br /> No. You can change it yourself by clicking the &ldquo;Change Password&rdquo; button at the bottom of the Member Services page. If you don&rsquo;t remember your password, enter your member number and click on &ldquo;Email me my password&rdquo;.
 
−
# Are newcomers allowed to attend one open rated tournament before joining as members? <br /> No, but they will have an option to purchase a 6-month trial membership for US$15.
 
−
# How do I change my NASPA contact information? <br /> Click on the Member Services link in the navigation sidebar, then Edit Profile.
 
  
−
== E. Questions about ratings ==
+
== Equipment ==
−
# Where can I find a list of NASPA members and ratings? <br /> Please consult the NASPAWiki article about [[ratings]].
+
#<span class=q>How do I assemble a NASPA round board?</span><br />You can find instructions [https://starboards.co/how-to-assemble-star-boards-pro/ here] from our partner, Star Boards.
−
# Is the July 2009 Reno tournament going to be rated? <br /> Yes.
+
#<span class=q>My ZMF-II clock stops when it reaches 00:00 and does not go into overtime. How can I set the clock to show up to 10 minutes of overtime?</span><br />Your NASPA ZMF-II should have come configured for sanctioned Scrabble play. If not, or if you manage to change the settings and aren’t sure how to change them back, click [[ZMF-II instructions | here]] for the instructions you should follow.
 +
#<span class=q>My ZMF-II clock resets to 0:00 in the middle of the game. What can I do to prevent this?</span><br />Make sure that the batteries are snugly installed. We find that batteries vary in dimensions by small amounts and may be loose. Put the batteries in the compartment and roll them with both thumbs. Placing some padding in the compartment can also help to secure the batteries in place.
  
−
== F. Questions about the [[NSC]] ==
+
== Finance ==
−
# How do you justify raising everyone&rsquo;s fees to pay for the elite few who can attend the National SCRABBLE Championship? <br /> We don&rsquo;t, because it&rsquo;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.
+
# <span class=q>How do I make payments for NASPA? </span><br />Please see our [[Payment]] page for a detailed answer to this question.
−
# 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.
+
# <span class=q>Is financial information available for NASPA? </span><br />You may view NASPA's Form 990 on our [[Financial Reports]] page.
−
# Where and when is the 2010 NSC? <br> The 2010 NSC will be at the [http://www.intercontinental.com/dallas InterContinental Hotel] in Dallas August 7&ndash;11, 2010. We have a two-year contract; the 2011 NSC will be at the same location.
+
# <span class=q>Are there executive stipends, will the members decide them, and will they be published? </span><br /> NASPA reports its budget in accordance with statutory requirements governing nonprofit corporations. Executive stipends, if any, are determined by the board of trustees. As of 2014, there are no stipends as such, but NASPA is reimbursing some expenses necessary for its operation, and disbursing approximately $2,000 per month in consulting fees.
 +
# <span class=q>When will NASPA start spending its capital reserves?</span><br />It is important for the organization to maintain reserves for unanticipated liability or expenses, such as the COVID-19 moratorium on play. We do, however,  allocate resources for various publicity activities.
 +
# <span class=q>Will NASPA spend its capital reserves to subsidize prize pools at major events?</span><br />In general, no, because we believe that this would lead to the very top players being paid better without an increase in overall membership. We would rather spend money on reaching out to a broader group of potential players to encourage them to join the association.
 +
# <span class=q>Can my tournament sponsors make a charitable donation through NASPA?</span><br />No, we are a 501(c)(4) corporation, not a charity. Donations are accepted instead by the [[NASPA Foundation]].
  
−
== G. Questions about newsletters ==
+
== Membership ==
−
# Does NASPA have its own newsletter? <br /> The NASPA [[Newsletter Committee]] is developing a budget and production schedule for a newsletter, which will likely be launched in January 2010. The monthly two-page electronic [[NASPA Bulletin]] debuted in April 2010, is restricted to NASPA members for the first of its publication, and is a free download thereafter.
+
=== Benefits ===
−
# Where can I find the NASPA Bulletin? <br /> Click on the Bulletin link in the sidebar of any page.
+
# <span class=q>What do I get with my membership? </span><br />You get the right to participate in official [[Tournament|tournaments]], access to member-only sections of the website, access to the [[NASPA Store]] where you can buy a printed [[NASPA Word List]] and tournament equipment, the right to volunteer for or stand for election to our [[committees]], and the right to have your [[club]] and tournament accomplishments officially recognized.
−
# My friend doesn&rsquo;t have Internet access, but is a NASPA member. How can my friend read the NASPA Bulletin? <br /> Although the NASPA Bulletin is protected by copyright, you may print it for your own personal use and for the personal use of other members. Registered directors are encouraged to do so for their players.  
+
# <span class=q>Do I get a printed membership card? </span><br />We will not mail them out to you, but you can either print your own using our [http://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/mcard.pl online tool] or ask us in person at [[Championships]].
−
# I know someone who does not have Internet access and does not go to clubs or tournaments.  How can they read the NASPA Bulletin? <br /> NASPA is an association for club and tournament players. If a person does not want to attend clubs or tournaments, they will not be interested in the NASPA Bulletin.
+
# <span class=q>Can I buy member-only publications such as the [[NASPA Word List]] from [http://www.wordgear.com WordGear] as a NASPA member? </span><br /> No, because Word Gear went out of business on July 1, 2013. You can now buy it from the [[NASPA Store]].
−
# What happened to the June issue of the Bulletin? <br /> John Chew was too busy running tournaments and preparing for 2009-07-01 to edit an issue. The next issue will be published in 2009-07.
+
# <span class=q>Are newcomers allowed to attend one open-rated tournament before joining as members? </span><br /> No, but they have an option to purchase a 6-month trial membership for US$15.
 +
# <span class=q>What services do you provide to inmates of correctional facilities? </span><br />We answer inquiries about NASPA or the game as we do from the public at large.
 +
 
 +
=== Joining and renewing ===
 +
# <span class=q>How do I buy a NASPA membership? </span><br /> The [[membership]] page explains 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.
 +
# <span class=q>My credit card is being rejected, but I'm sure it is valid: what should I do? </span><br />As explained on the [[Payment]] page, we do not have control over the format in which our bank expects you to enter your address; please be especially careful about using the standard abbreviation for your state or province, and entering it in the correct box. These are the two most common &ldquo;errors&rdquo;.
 +
# <span class=q>I'm a tournament director and I need memberships for some players so that my upcoming tournament can be rated. What do I do? </span><br /> Click on the [https://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl Member Services] link, then click on Add New Members in the Director section. Fill out the membership information for your players, then choose &ldquo;Payment with your next tournament&rsquo;s participation fee&rdquo; as your payment option.
 +
# <span class=q>I want to renew my NASPA membership but don't remember my membership ID, what should I do? </span><br />You can enter your name instead of your membership ID in the [http://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/renew.pl renewal form].
 +
 
 +
=== Life membership ===
 +
# <span class=q>Do life members in the former NSA get life membership in NASPA? </span><br /> No. The NSA and NASPA are two separate organizations. [[Life membership]] in NASPA costs $20/year of age up to age 80.
 +
# <span class=q>What proof of age do I need to show to obtain [[life membership]]? </span><br />You can send us a copy of government-issued identification showing your date of birth, or show it to any NASPA-certified [[Director]] and ask him/her to attest to us on your behalf.
 +
 
 +
=== Member profile ===
 +
# <span class=q>How do I change my NASPA contact information? </span><br /> Click on the [https://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl Member Services], then Edit Profile. Contact us at [mailto:info@scrabbleplayers.org info@scrabbleplayers.org] if you need to change your name.
 +
# <span class=q>Why did I not receive my prize winnings or other correspondence? </span><br />NASPA sends mail to the address given in your member profile; check to make sure that it&rsquo;s up-to-date.
 +
 
 +
=== Membership numbers and passwords ===
 +
# <span class=q>What is my membership number (NASPA ID)? </span><br /> You can look it up in the [http://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/members.pl member database.]
 +
# <span class=q>I don&rsquo;t have Internet access; will you mail me my membership number? </span><br />If you cannot ask a friend to look up your number, you can [[Contact|contact]] us and we will look it up for you.
 +
# <span class=q>Can you send me a password to log onto the membership services section of NASPA? </span><br /> You can access your own password by going to the [http://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl member services page], entering your member number and clicking on &ldquo;Email me my password&rdquo;.
 +
# <span class=q>My current email address is not in the member database. How can I receive my password? </span><br /> Contact us at [mailto:info@scrabbleplayers.org info@scrabbleplayers.org] to receive a password and have your email address updated in the database.
 +
# <span class=q>How do I change my password? </span><br /> Go to the [https://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl Member Services] page, then click on the &ldquo;Change Password&rdquo; button at the bottom of the page. If you don&rsquo;t remember your password, enter your member number and click on &ldquo;Email me my password&rdquo;.
 +
# <span class=q>I tried entering my NASPA ID and password but keep being told &ldquo;You&rsquo;re trying to connect to an unknown session. Please log on again.&rdquo; </span><br /> We use &ldquo;browser cookies&rdquo; to keep track of sessions at our website. If you see this message and use AOL as your ISP, make sure that you are using Firefox as your browser and not the default AOL browser. Otherwise, make sure that you have cookies enabled in your browser preferences.
 +
 
 +
== [[Championships|NASPA Championships]] ==
 +
# <span class=q>When/where is the next [[North American SCRABBLE Championship|NASPA Championship]]?</span><br />The [[2024 Scrabble Players Championship]] is scheduled to take place in South Bend, IN, from July 20 to 24, 2024.
 +
# <span class=q> Who decides the format of the Scrabble Players Championship (SPC)?</span><br />The NASPA [[Championship Committee]] is charged with organizing and running our annual championship tournament.  The Championship Committee makes hundreds of decisions with respect to the organization of the SPC.  The Championship Committee functions much like the organizers/directors of other NASPA tournaments, choosing a venue, negotiating terms, setting entry fees, establishing division cutoffs, determining pairing format, etc. Major decisions of the Championship Committee are typically reviewed by the [[Advisory Board]].
 +
 
 +
== [[National SCRABBLE Association]] ==
 +
# <span class=q>What happened to the NSA? </span><br />It transferred many of its duties to NASPA in 2009, and went out of business in July 2013.
 +
# <span class=q>What happened to Word Gear? </span><br />Word Gear is out of business as of July 2013. If you are interested in ordering the official word list, you can do so from the [[NASPA Store]]. Other Word Gear products are no longer available, but NASPA is developing its own merchandise, which will be added to the NASPA Store.
 +
 
 +
== Newsletters ==
 +
# <span class=q>Does NASPA have its own newsletter? </span><br /> Yes. The [[IContact |NASPA News]] is published on Thursdays via email.
 +
# <span class=q>Where can I find the NASPA News? </span><br /> Click [[IContact |here]] to see back issues.
 +
# <span class=q>My friend doesn&rsquo;t have Internet access. How can my friend read the NASPA News? </span><br /> You may print it for your own personal use and for the personal use of others. Registered directors are encouraged to do so for their players.  
 +
# <span class=q>Do I need to be a member to get the NASPA News? </span><br />No. You can subscribe to the NASPA News [https://www.scrabbleplayers.org/w/IContact#How_to_Subscribe here].
 +
# <span class=q>Is the NASPA Bulletin still published? </span><br /> No. The [[NASPA Bulletin]] was published between 2009 and 2014. You can find back issues [[NASPA Bulletin | here]].
 +
# <span class=q>Why did I not receive [[IContact|NASPA News]]? </span><br />NASPA sends the newsletter and other email correspondence to the address given in your member profile; check to make sure that it&rsquo;s up-to-date. If you told the email service (iContact) that you do not wish to receive email from NASPA, you will need to contact [mailto:support@icontact.com them] to start receiving email again.
 +
 
 +
== Other Scrabble Entities ==
 +
# <span class=q>Can you help me with a question about a Scrabble Brand game?</span><br/>No, we are not affiliated with the Scrabble trademark owners.
 +
# <span class=q>Can you help me with a question about playing online?</span><br/>Please contact [https://scopely.com/customer-support/ Scopely Customer Service] for information about their Scrabble Go app. For competitive online play, we recommend [https://woogles.io Woogles.io].
 +
# <span class=q>Can you help me with a question about the [[Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary]]?</span><br/>Please contact [http://www.merriam-webster.com/contact/index.htm Merriam-Webster Customer Service] directly for assistance.
 +
 
 +
== Ratings ==
 +
# <span class=q>Where can I find a list of NASPA members and ratings? </span><br /> Please consult the [[ratings]] overview.
 +
# <span class=q>How are state / province rankings computed?  </span><br /> These ranking lists are updated automatically whenever new ratings are computed after a tournament.
 +
# <span class=q>A player is listed in the wrong state.  How can that be corrected?  </span><br /> Each player should be able to log in to [https://www.scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl Member Services] as described 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.
 +
# <span class=q>I haven't played in a tournament in many years; do I have to use my old rating or can I start over? </span><br /> Once you have received a rating, you must use it in your next tournament, no matter how long the time has been.  Players are responsible for notifying the director if they have ever played in a sanctioned tournament and received a rating to ensure that the director has their correct rating/name on record.
 +
# <span class=q>I have a [[WESPA]] rating but no NASPA rating; what happens at my first NASPA [[Collins]] tournament?</span><br />Your [[Director]] may at his/her discretion place you in a division based on your WESPA rating, but your initial NASPA rating will be computed as an unrated player.
 +
 
 +
== [[Records]] ==
 +
# <span class=q>I think I have set a new record, who do I tell? </span><br />Read the instructions at the top of our [[Records]] page.
 +
 
 +
== [[Tournaments]] ==
 +
# <span class=q>What do I need to do to play in a sanctioned tournament? </span><br /> Be a member in good standing, satisfy any qualification criteria for the tournament (most have divisions to accommodate all players), complete an entry form and submit payment to the event organizer.
 +
# <span class=q>I want to organize a tournament; what do I need to do?</span><br /> If you are already a [[Directors|Director]], you may contact the [[tournament listing request |Tournament Committee]] to submit details for the tournament you wish sanctioned.
 +
# <span class=q>Is my sanctioned tournament covered by NASPA&rsquo;s liability insurance policy?</span><br />Yes. See the Directors section of [http://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/services.pl Member Services] to download a copy of the [http://scrabbleplayers.org/cgi-bin/insurance.pl certificate].
 +
 
 +
== Volunteering ==
 +
# <span class=q>How can I help? </span><br />If you would like to volunteer with any of NASPA's activities, thank you! Please contact a member of whichever NASPA [[committee]] interests you to see how your skills can best be put to use. If you have [[suggestions]] that you do not want to help work on, you can still send them to any committee member, but they will get implemented sooner if you can help us. You can also submit a [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CvfjnaoSFnJmT3p9AzEoesV9YyicDqXJSarQzN4cyNk/edit suggestion] for review by the [[Forward Energy Committee]].
 +
# <span class=q>How do I edit pages on this website? </span><br />If you are a NASPA [[committees|committee]] member, then you may request from the [[Web Committee]] a username and password to log onto the website. Do so and follow the instructions for [[editing NASPAWiki]].  If you are not a committee member, please ask one to make your changes.
 +
 
 +
== Words ==
 +
# <span class=q> What are all these official word lists?  </span><br /> Any group of players can agree to use a particular word list or dictionary in their games. In officially sanctioned competitive play though, we all use one of a few official word lists designed for use with our game. Unlike regular dictionaries, for example, official word lists list all valid inflections for all listed words. Within NASPA's territory of the United States and Canada, the following word lists are officially recognized: [[NASPA School Word List]] for school play, [[NASPA Word List]] for regular competitive play, and [[CSW]] for international play.
 +
=== Word List Contents ===
 +
# <span class=q> Why is (my favorite word) not acceptable?  </span><br /> See [[How lexicons are compiled|how lexicons are compiled]].
 +
# <span class=q> Why is (a common nine-letter word) not in the [[Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary]] (OSPD)?  </span><br /> OSPD lists only words of up to eight letters, and their inflections. For longer words, please consult the [[NASPA Word List]] (NWL).
 +
# <span class=q> What's up with DA?  </span><br /> DA was deleted from the playing lexicon as of OSPD3 as a result of a major review of the original research that led to OSPD1; it reentered the lexicon in 2014, because it was listed in one of our new source lexica.
 +
# <span class=q> Why is a particular word in [[NWL]] but not in [[OSPD]]? </span><br /> Although both NWL and OSPD are edited by both NASPA and Merriam-Webster, the publications are edited at different times by different individuals according to different criteria. The commonest causes for a word appearing in NWL but not in OSPD are: being longer than 8 letters, being potentially offensive, being a possible trademark in some jurisdictions, having entered a source lexicon between the editorial deadlines for the two works, or differing editorial opinions concerning ambiguities in source lexica.
 +
# <span class=q> Can you send me a list of words that are in one lexicon but not in another?  </span><br /> For licensing and copyright reasons no, but you can probably make the list yourself using [[NASPA Zyzzyva]].
 +
=== Word List Purchasing, Publishing, Licensing ===
 +
# <span class=q> Do I have to be a NASPA member to buy a copy of the NASPA Word List?</span><br /> Yes, access to the NASPA Store, the exclusive for NWL, is a benefit of NASPA membership.
 +
# <span class=q> Where can I buy a copy of the [[NASPA Word List]] (NWL)? </span><br />You can buy it at the [[NASPA Store]] online.
 +
# <span class=q> Will the next printing of [[OSPD]] be any different from the current edition? </span><br />That's a question for [[Merriam-Webster]], but in past editions, most new printings within an edition have included minor updates.
 +
# <span class=q> When can I use the latest word lists with Quackle, Ulu, ...?  </span><br /> Software developers can license the NASPA Word List. Click [[Software |here]] to see a list of licensed applications. If you are a software developer, you can find out about the licensing options [[Licensing |here]].

Latest revision as of 10:15, 22 April 2024

Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the NASPA. Please check to see if your question is answered here before you contact us.

General questions about the Association

  1. What is NASPA?
    NASPA is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation incorporated in Texas. We are an association of tournament, club and avid home Scrabble players in North America.
  2. How many members does NASPA have?
    The exact number varies from day to day as members join, lapse and re-up. We typically have between 2,000-2,500 active paid members and 4,000 past or lapsed members. Our player database lists another 10,000+ players who have competed before our founding, or in affiliated overseas events. We have estimated another 10,000 players competing in our clubs, where membership and registration is not required, based on ratios of members to nonmembers at selected clubs.
  3. Who is in charge of NASPA?
    NASPA is formally governed by the Board of Trustees. Day-to-day management is in the hands of its Executive Committee (EC), which delegates most tasks to its Committees. Decisions of working committees may be appealed to the Advisory Board (AB); AB decisions may be appealed to the EC; EC decisions may be appealed to the Board of Trustees.
  4. Do players have a voice in how NASPA works?
    Yes. Players who have the time and energy to devote to volunteering for one of NASPA's Committees can have the most direct impact on our future by helping to develop our policy. Others are encouraged to either contact the committee in charge of their concern, or their Advisory Board representative for general concerns.


The rest of our topics are listed alphabetically.

cross-tables.com

  1. What is cross-tables.com?
    Cross-tables.com is a partner website developed and maintained by Seth Lipkin, providing a wealth of statistical information about the history of competitive Scrabble play in North America.
  2. What does it mean when it says "Check with NASPA" next to an unrated player's name in a tournament roster?
    It means that cross-tables.com does not track information about unrated players, and you should use the regular membership tools to verify an unrated player's membership status.

Equipment

  1. How do I assemble a NASPA round board?
    You can find instructions here from our partner, Star Boards.
  2. My ZMF-II clock stops when it reaches 00:00 and does not go into overtime. How can I set the clock to show up to 10 minutes of overtime?
    Your NASPA ZMF-II should have come configured for sanctioned Scrabble play. If not, or if you manage to change the settings and aren’t sure how to change them back, click here for the instructions you should follow.
  3. My ZMF-II clock resets to 0:00 in the middle of the game. What can I do to prevent this?
    Make sure that the batteries are snugly installed. We find that batteries vary in dimensions by small amounts and may be loose. Put the batteries in the compartment and roll them with both thumbs. Placing some padding in the compartment can also help to secure the batteries in place.

Finance

  1. How do I make payments for NASPA?
    Please see our Payment page for a detailed answer to this question.
  2. Is financial information available for NASPA?
    You may view NASPA's Form 990 on our Financial Reports page.
  3. Are there executive stipends, will the members decide them, and will they be published?
    NASPA reports its budget in accordance with statutory requirements governing nonprofit corporations. Executive stipends, if any, are determined by the board of trustees. As of 2014, there are no stipends as such, but NASPA is reimbursing some expenses necessary for its operation, and disbursing approximately $2,000 per month in consulting fees.
  4. When will NASPA start spending its capital reserves?
    It is important for the organization to maintain reserves for unanticipated liability or expenses, such as the COVID-19 moratorium on play. We do, however, allocate resources for various publicity activities.
  5. Will NASPA spend its capital reserves to subsidize prize pools at major events?
    In general, no, because we believe that this would lead to the very top players being paid better without an increase in overall membership. We would rather spend money on reaching out to a broader group of potential players to encourage them to join the association.
  6. Can my tournament sponsors make a charitable donation through NASPA?
    No, we are a 501(c)(4) corporation, not a charity. Donations are accepted instead by the NASPA Foundation.

Membership

Benefits

  1. What do I get with my membership?
    You get the right to participate in official tournaments, access to member-only sections of the website, access to the NASPA Store where you can buy a printed NASPA Word List and tournament equipment, the right to volunteer for or stand for election to our committees, and the right to have your club and tournament accomplishments officially recognized.
  2. Do I get a printed membership card?
    We will not mail them out to you, but you can either print your own using our online tool or ask us in person at Championships.
  3. Can I buy member-only publications such as the NASPA Word List from WordGear as a NASPA member?
    No, because Word Gear went out of business on July 1, 2013. You can now buy it from the NASPA Store.
  4. Are newcomers allowed to attend one open-rated tournament before joining as members?
    No, but they have an option to purchase a 6-month trial membership for US$15.
  5. What services do you provide to inmates of correctional facilities?
    We answer inquiries about NASPA or the game as we do from the public at large.

Joining and renewing

  1. How do I buy a NASPA membership?
    The membership page explains 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.
  2. My credit card is being rejected, but I'm sure it is valid: what should I do?
    As explained on the Payment page, we do not have control over the format in which our bank expects you to enter your address; please be especially careful about using the standard abbreviation for your state or province, and entering it in the correct box. These are the two most common “errors”.
  3. I'm a tournament director and I need memberships for some players so that my upcoming tournament can be rated. What do I do?
    Click on the Member Services link, 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.
  4. I want to renew my NASPA membership but don't remember my membership ID, what should I do?
    You can enter your name instead of your membership ID in the renewal form.

Life membership

  1. Do life members in the former NSA get life membership in NASPA?
    No. The NSA and NASPA are two separate organizations. Life membership in NASPA costs $20/year of age up to age 80.
  2. What proof of age do I need to show to obtain life membership?
    You can send us a copy of government-issued identification showing your date of birth, or show it to any NASPA-certified Director and ask him/her to attest to us on your behalf.

Member profile

  1. How do I change my NASPA contact information?
    Click on the Member Services, then Edit Profile. Contact us at info@scrabbleplayers.org if you need to change your name.
  2. Why did I not receive my prize winnings or other correspondence?
    NASPA sends mail to the address given in your member profile; check to make sure that it’s up-to-date.

Membership numbers and passwords

  1. What is my membership number (NASPA ID)?
    You can look it up in the member database.
  2. I don’t have Internet access; will you mail me my membership number?
    If you cannot ask a friend to look up your number, you can contact us and we will look it up for you.
  3. Can you send me a password to log onto the membership services section of NASPA?
    You can access your own password by going to the member services page, entering your member number and clicking on “Email me my password”.
  4. My current email address is not in the member database. How can I receive my password?
    Contact us at info@scrabbleplayers.org to receive a password and have your email address updated in the database.
  5. How do I change my password?
    Go to the Member Services page, then click on the “Change Password” button at the bottom of the page. If you don’t remember your password, enter your member number and click on “Email me my password”.
  6. I tried entering my NASPA ID and password but keep being told “You’re trying to connect to an unknown session. Please log on again.”
    We use “browser cookies” to keep track of sessions at our website. If you see this message and use AOL as your ISP, make sure that you are using Firefox as your browser and not the default AOL browser. Otherwise, make sure that you have cookies enabled in your browser preferences.

NASPA Championships

  1. When/where is the next NASPA Championship?
    The 2024 Scrabble Players Championship is scheduled to take place in South Bend, IN, from July 20 to 24, 2024.
  2. Who decides the format of the Scrabble Players Championship (SPC)?
    The NASPA Championship Committee is charged with organizing and running our annual championship tournament. The Championship Committee makes hundreds of decisions with respect to the organization of the SPC. The Championship Committee functions much like the organizers/directors of other NASPA tournaments, choosing a venue, negotiating terms, setting entry fees, establishing division cutoffs, determining pairing format, etc. Major decisions of the Championship Committee are typically reviewed by the Advisory Board.

National SCRABBLE Association

  1. What happened to the NSA?
    It transferred many of its duties to NASPA in 2009, and went out of business in July 2013.
  2. What happened to Word Gear?
    Word Gear is out of business as of July 2013. If you are interested in ordering the official word list, you can do so from the NASPA Store. Other Word Gear products are no longer available, but NASPA is developing its own merchandise, which will be added to the NASPA Store.

Newsletters

  1. Does NASPA have its own newsletter?
    Yes. The NASPA News is published on Thursdays via email.
  2. Where can I find the NASPA News?
    Click here to see back issues.
  3. My friend doesn’t have Internet access. How can my friend read the NASPA News?
    You may print it for your own personal use and for the personal use of others. Registered directors are encouraged to do so for their players.
  4. Do I need to be a member to get the NASPA News?
    No. You can subscribe to the NASPA News here.
  5. Is the NASPA Bulletin still published?
    No. The NASPA Bulletin was published between 2009 and 2014. You can find back issues here.
  6. Why did I not receive NASPA News?
    NASPA sends the newsletter and other email correspondence to the address given in your member profile; check to make sure that it’s up-to-date. If you told the email service (iContact) that you do not wish to receive email from NASPA, you will need to contact them to start receiving email again.

Other Scrabble Entities

  1. Can you help me with a question about a Scrabble Brand game?
    No, we are not affiliated with the Scrabble trademark owners.
  2. Can you help me with a question about playing online?
    Please contact Scopely Customer Service for information about their Scrabble Go app. For competitive online play, we recommend Woogles.io.
  3. Can you help me with a question about the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary?
    Please contact Merriam-Webster Customer Service directly for assistance.

Ratings

  1. Where can I find a list of NASPA members and ratings?
    Please consult the ratings overview.
  2. How are state / province rankings computed?
    These ranking lists are updated automatically whenever new ratings are computed after a tournament.
  3. A player is listed in the wrong state. How can that be corrected?
    Each player should be able to log in to Member Services as described 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.
  4. I haven't played in a tournament in many years; do I have to use my old rating or can I start over?
    Once you have received a rating, you must use it in your next tournament, no matter how long the time has been. Players are responsible for notifying the director if they have ever played in a sanctioned tournament and received a rating to ensure that the director has their correct rating/name on record.
  5. I have a WESPA rating but no NASPA rating; what happens at my first NASPA Collins tournament?
    Your Director may at his/her discretion place you in a division based on your WESPA rating, but your initial NASPA rating will be computed as an unrated player.

Records

  1. I think I have set a new record, who do I tell?
    Read the instructions at the top of our Records page.

Tournaments

  1. What do I need to do to play in a sanctioned tournament?
    Be a member in good standing, satisfy any qualification criteria for the tournament (most have divisions to accommodate all players), complete an entry form and submit payment to the event organizer.
  2. I want to organize a tournament; what do I need to do?
    If you are already a Director, you may contact the Tournament Committee to submit details for the tournament you wish sanctioned.
  3. Is my sanctioned tournament covered by NASPA’s liability insurance policy?
    Yes. See the Directors section of Member Services to download a copy of the certificate.

Volunteering

  1. How can I help?
    If you would like to volunteer with any of NASPA's activities, thank you! Please contact a member of whichever NASPA committee interests you to see how your skills can best be put to use. If you have suggestions that you do not want to help work on, you can still send them to any committee member, but they will get implemented sooner if you can help us. You can also submit a suggestion for review by the Forward Energy Committee.
  2. How do I edit pages on this website?
    If you are a NASPA committee member, then you may request from the Web Committee a username and password to log onto the website. Do so and follow the instructions for editing NASPAWiki. If you are not a committee member, please ask one to make your changes.

Words

  1. What are all these official word lists?
    Any group of players can agree to use a particular word list or dictionary in their games. In officially sanctioned competitive play though, we all use one of a few official word lists designed for use with our game. Unlike regular dictionaries, for example, official word lists list all valid inflections for all listed words. Within NASPA's territory of the United States and Canada, the following word lists are officially recognized: NASPA School Word List for school play, NASPA Word List for regular competitive play, and CSW for international play.

Word List Contents

  1. Why is (my favorite word) not acceptable?
    See how lexicons are compiled.
  2. Why is (a common nine-letter word) not in the Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary (OSPD)?
    OSPD lists only words of up to eight letters, and their inflections. For longer words, please consult the NASPA Word List (NWL).
  3. What's up with DA?
    DA was deleted from the playing lexicon as of OSPD3 as a result of a major review of the original research that led to OSPD1; it reentered the lexicon in 2014, because it was listed in one of our new source lexica.
  4. Why is a particular word in NWL but not in OSPD?
    Although both NWL and OSPD are edited by both NASPA and Merriam-Webster, the publications are edited at different times by different individuals according to different criteria. The commonest causes for a word appearing in NWL but not in OSPD are: being longer than 8 letters, being potentially offensive, being a possible trademark in some jurisdictions, having entered a source lexicon between the editorial deadlines for the two works, or differing editorial opinions concerning ambiguities in source lexica.
  5. Can you send me a list of words that are in one lexicon but not in another?
    For licensing and copyright reasons no, but you can probably make the list yourself using NASPA Zyzzyva.

Word List Purchasing, Publishing, Licensing

  1. Do I have to be a NASPA member to buy a copy of the NASPA Word List?
    Yes, access to the NASPA Store, the exclusive for NWL, is a benefit of NASPA membership.
  2. Where can I buy a copy of the NASPA Word List (NWL)?
    You can buy it at the NASPA Store online.
  3. Will the next printing of OSPD be any different from the current edition?
    That's a question for Merriam-Webster, but in past editions, most new printings within an edition have included minor updates.
  4. When can I use the latest word lists with Quackle, Ulu, ...?
    Software developers can license the NASPA Word List. Click here to see a list of licensed applications. If you are a software developer, you can find out about the licensing options here.
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