COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN SCRABBLE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Friday, 25 March 2016 – 3.00 p.m. Pulteney Grammar, 190 South Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000)

ATTENDEES: Russell Honeybun (Co-ordinator & Western Australia representative), Carol Johnsen (Victoria President & Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer), Martin Waterworth (Website Co-Ordinator, Ratings Officer & Records Officer), Wayne Willis (Queensland President & Rules Officer), Karen Richards (Youth coordinator), Bob Jackman (New South Wales President), Rene Chelton (Treasurer), Graham Bell (Western Australia President), Norma Fisher (Vic representative), Adam Kretschmer (South Australian Delegate), Oliver Jenner-O’Shea (South Australia representative).

APOLOGIES: Richard Birch (ATB Editor), Jane Taylor (South Australia President), Christine Foote (ACT President), Martin Rose (Tasmania President) WELCOME: Russell Honeybun

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS AGM: MOTION: THAT THE MINUTES OF THE 2015 CASPA AGM BE ACCEPTED. Moved: Rene Chelton Seconded: Martin Waterworth CARRIED.

BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF MINUTES – Russell Honeybun • Zyzzyva – owned by Collins, and permission required to use it which they allow for at no charge. • Recording of blanks (as of January 2016) rule introduced • ATB still at 4 editions per year. • Trevor Halsall is doing statistical evaluation of how many resets should be in a tournament • Further savings on Public Liability Insurance in 2016.

CASPA BOARD NOMINATIONS - Russell Honeybun Co-Ordinator: Russell Honeybun Editor ATB: Richard Birch Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer Carol Johnsen Youth Co-Ordinator: Karen Richards Treasurer: Rene Chelton Rules Officer: Wayne Willis Ratings Officer: Martin Waterworth Web Coordinator: Martin Waterworth Records Officer: Martin Waterworth Ex-officio Schools Program Co-Ordinator: Glenys Lawrie

MOTION: THAT THE CASPA BOARD NOMINEES BE ELECTED UNOPPOSED. Moved: Adam Kretschmer Seconded: Carol Johnsen CARRIED

OFFICER REPORTS: Co-Ordinator (Russell Honeybun) tabled – • Amendment – 4th para – “The process was it easy for” should read “The process was not easy” • Russell added that $1 per game per tournament was paid to NASPA as ratings cost. • NFP Act was the Not-for-Profit Act and he encouraged CASPA and the States to seek out what could be a very strong relationship with organisations, such as Autism, Mindshare and Mental Health not-for-profits. • All of the Perth events in November 2015, except for World Scrabble Championship and the World Youth Scrabble Champion by Australia were rated in the Australian ratings system. • The Winter Challenge, not the Winter Masters, was WESPA-rated. • The automatic WESPA-rated tournaments in Australia would be the Australian Championship, Victorian Championship, South Australian Championship, New South Wales Championship, Western Australia Championship, Tasmanian Championship, Australian Masters & State Challenge (counted as one tournament), International Masters MOTION: THAT THE CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. Moved Wayne Willis Seconded: Bob Jackman CARRIED

Editor - Across the Board (Russell Honeybun for Richard Birch) - tabled MOTION: THAT THE EDITOR OF ACROSS THE BOARD’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. Moved: Russell Honeybun Seconded:Wayne Willis CARRIED

Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer (Carol Johnsen) - tabled Carol Johnsen reported further that contact had been made with MSI with regard to youth funding, but she stressed that that was all Mattel was interested in – having an avenue through CASPA into schools. But Carol would prefer that Karen Richards co-ordinate with MSI for youth funding rather than approaches coming from two directions. Karen Richards reported that MSI were making promises re a school dictionary but nothing had eventuated yet – MSI only interested in making money. The meeting asked Carol Johnsen to investigate with Mattel for a bulk purchase of tiles, racks and boards and to ensure they were not inferior quality as had been found to be sold in supermarkets. Carol Johnsen reported that Deluxe Scrabble sets had been donated by the former Mattel officer in 2015. The funds from sale of these were used for Youth funding. Karen Richards also reported that there was a rumour that Hasbro would be buying out Mattel. THAT THE TRADEMARK (MATTEL) LIAISON OFFICER’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. Moved: Norma Fisher Seconded: Russell Honeybun CARRIED

Youth Co-Ordinator (Karen Richards) - tabled Karen Richards reported that it would be ideal for youth to have something to aim for – the next level, a ratings gain – with the awarding of a prize, certificate. Under 18 Highest Rating Gain suggested. Discussion ensued on the requirement to have 60% rated players in a section in a tournament for it to be rated. It created problems with small groups of people; youth tournaments; and some regional tournaments. The main issue was that if under 50%, it could show strange ratings which can affect people’s qualification criteria (inflated, etc.). WESPA did have a 30% rule but now quashed because of Hong Kong’s recent tournament. THAT UNDER 18.Y.O. TOURNAMENTS BE EXEMPT FROM THE 60% RULE AND THAT EXEMPTIONS FOR OTHER TOURNAMENTS ARE AVAILABLE BY APPLICATION TO CASPA BEFOREHAND. Moved: Carol Johnsen Seconded: Adam Kretschmer CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Karen Richards further reported that NSW had appointed Tony Hunt at a meeting as the Go-To person for youth and schools. Karen would provide text to Martin Waterworth for a revamped CASPA Youth website . National Youth Championship – cut-off for entry for Australian Open the day before Friday before Australian Open Championship. MOTION: THAT THE YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. Moved: Adam Kretschmer Seconded: Russell Honeybun CARRIED Treasurer (Rene Chelton) - tabled Rene Chelton further reportedthat Councils are no longer to be noted specifically on the Public Liability policy. She would check up on whether WESPA levy paid for World Championships – it should not have been paid for events. Anticipated balance at end of 2017 is around$10,000. There was no need for a subsidy increase in the coming financial year. CASPA encouraged to approach companies for sponsorship Martin Waterworth would investigate if companies were named or advertised on our website, would it be a problem because of .org website Bob Jackman wants a national ratings levy per player per tournament – CASPA - in 2008 – 953 members , March 2015 – 716 members. It was agreed that CASPA would form a sub-committee to look at introducing a national ratings levy. The Masters funding had originated with Mattel providing $3,000, and that seems to have carried on with CASPA funding that same amount, even though Mattel had stopped the funding. MOTION: THAT THE TREASURER’S REPORT (INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS) BE RECEIVED. Moved: Wayne Willis Seconded: Adam Kretschmer CARRIED.

Rules Coordinator (Wayne Willis) - tabled Wayne Willis implored State Presidents to talk to tournament directors regarding adjudication and that they carry the rules to the table when called. MOTION: THAT THE RULES CO-ORDINATOR REPORT BE RECEIVED. MOVED: Karen Richards SECONDED: Adam Kretschmer CARRIED.

Ratings Officer (Martin Waterworth) - tabled Martin Waterworth asked State Presidents to reinforce with tournament players that they must check number of games won/lost before leaving tournament. .He relies on State President for State residency and o/s player notifications / changes. MOTION: THAT THE RATINGS OFFICER’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. Moved: Graham Bell Seconded: Wayne Willis CARRIED.

Website Co-ordinator (Martin Waterworth) Martin Waterworth reported that he was reluctant to move to new provider, but if the server created a problem again we will have to consider moving – Martin to check out new server through Edward Oculicz. Rene left meeting at 5.40 Upon a query re WASPA – Martin to check out what it was – Graham Bell suggested it might be the Western Australian group chat. There was a need to update website in taking out out-of-date information. Carol Johnsen to assist with CASPA meetings stuff on website and Adam Kretschmer would assist with photos and details of committees – Martin Waterworth to allow access. MOTION: THAT THE WEBSITE CO-ORDINATOR’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. MOVED: Bob Jackman SECONDED: Russell Honeybun CARRIED.

Records Officer (Martin Waterworth– tabled. Martin Waterworth further reported that all-time records only done about every 6 months. MOTION: THAT THE RECORDS OFFICER’S REPORT BE RECEIVED. MOVED: Graham Bell SECONDED: Wayne Willis CARRIED.

OTHER BUSINESS:

• Approval of wildcard entries for qualification events Discussion ensued on the merits and it was agreed that, based on an agreed criteria for qualification, that wild card entry would be allowed. MOTION: THAT DISCUSSION ANDA CRITERIA FOR WILDCARD QUALIFICATION FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY BE FORMULATED FOR CIRCULATION TO STATE PRESIDENTS AND THE CASPA BOARD FOR A VOTE AND THAT BARRY HARRIDGE BE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION. MOVED: Russell Honeybun SECONDED: Carol Johnsen CARRIED.

• MOTION: THAT $1,000 BE GIVEN TO ASPA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, HOST OF THE 2016 TRANS TASMAN. MOVED: Carol Johnsen SECONDED: Bob Jackman CARRIED.

• MOTION: THAT $3,000 BE GIVEN TO ASPA VICTORIA INC, HOST OF THE 2016 MASTERS / STATE TEAM CHALLENGE. Moved: Russell Honeybun SECONDED: Bob Jackman CARRIED.

• Host – future events: Australian Championship 2017 - Western Australia 2018 - A.C.T. (Co-Ordinator to confirm that they would still be happy to host it.) 2019 - Tasmania

Masters / State Team Challenge 2017 - South Australia 2018 - Queensland

Trans Tasman 2018 - New Zealand 2020 - Queensland.

The meeting closed at 6.25pm.