SCRABBLE REJUVENATION MEETING

[GASP --- GAUTENG ASSOCIATION OF SCRABBLE PLAYERS]]

Minutes of “Scrabble Rejuvenation” Meeting held at Paterson Park Recreation Centre, Johannesburg, on Saturday 30^th October at 12:45 PM

Present: Larry Benjamin, Paul Rabenowitz, Barbara Joffe, Ros Finn, Arlene Fine, Sandra Meyberg, Urwin Savage-Reid, Gerry Moore, Marilyn Chaimowitz, Charles Silverstone, de Wet du Preez, Steven Gruzd, Anita Butler, Lynn Roff, Lawrence Obidike, Trevor Hovelmeier, Diana Mason, Hymie Jocum, Ella Edelstein, Marion Miller, Beryl Armitage, Brian Hossy, Helen Sevell.

Apologies: Leah Fitzpatrick, Fern Wheelwright, Jackie Nortier, Gwen Heiman, Andrew Goldberg, Dylan Early, Ayesha Kajee.

Introduction

Larry Benjamin welcomed everyone and thanked people for the enthusiastic response to his initiative to revive Scrabble in the province. He expressed his hope that the commitment to change things would be sustained.

Larry outlined the aim and rationale for this meeting – quite simply, to draw up a vision to revive Scrabble in Johannesburg and its surrounds. Many people have identified that organised Scrabble has lost its vibrancy and dynamism and has for a while been just going through the motions. We want to make Scrabble fun again, get those under-represented (such as the youth, black, Indian and coloured communities) more involved.

If everyone pools their talent, skills, resources, time and energy, there’s no limit to what can be collectively achieved.

Larry urged everyone to “think big”, not let personalities or pettiness get in the way, and adopt a “can do” attitude that would not look for obstacles but for ways around them.

Larry suggested GASP – the Gauteng Association of Scrabble Players – as a name for this new initiative. A new name indicates a new start. It could be housed within the existing SANSPA Gauteng committee, but would need an expanded team, with several sub-committees. He stressed that we’re looking for people with ideas, input and commitment at various levels.

Suggested priorities included:

A vision statement for GASP
The need for better communication (a questionnaire will be circulated to all players, asking what can be done better? Who can do what? And to solicit new ideas)
Addressing where past members are, and why we fail to retain new players.
Promotion of Scrabble
Better liaison
Fund raising
More efficient administration and database.

Getting new players

New Clubs

Larry mentioned that at least 4 new clubs would be launched shortly.

A Sunday Club at Paterson Park, to run from 4 pm to 10 pm, starting from Sunday 21 November 2004. Johannesburg has no club that meets at night, yet many players work full time. He proposed the idea of reviving the very successful Johannesburg Scrabble League at this club. Gwen Heiman has indicated a willingness to run this club with Larry. (A suggestion to set aside say 30 minutes per evening for coaching was raised).
Wits University – to launch in 2005. Steven Gruzd and Ayesha Kajee have expressed interest in this venture. All Wits staff will be emailed and features will run in Wits Edge and Vuvuzela, respectively the alumni and student newspapers.
Bryanston – Fern Wheelwright would like to start a club
Centurion – Jackie Nortier and Urwin Savage-Reid will start a club.

Schools

Lynn Roff has been involved in SANSPA Gauteng’s school Scrabble programme. There is a need to evaluate progress so far, and consider expanding to High Schools.

Larry mentioned the idea of setting up 2 epicentre schools surrounded by neighbouring peripheral schools that would play in teams in a mini-league. Potential teachers should be approached

Creating Greater Public Awareness of Scrabble

Larry spoke of several opportunities for generating sustained public interest:

Virgin Active Gym, Old Eds – we can hand out fliers and set up a demonstration using the Big Board.
Old Eds Newsletter – Scrabble can be promoted in this publication. Other similar networks should be approached.
Sandton Virgin Active Gym is also interested.
Exclusive Books Hyde Park will permit a demonstration in 2005. Other branches should be approached.
Rosebank flea market has similarly been approached.
The South African Zionist Federation will send an email mentioning Scrabble to its 4000+ members. Rhema Church will also be approached.
We should also contact the producers of the “a Word or 2” TV show for their list of previous contestants. We could also pitch the idea of a television show of high schools competing in a knockout competition.

Press Coverage

Gugu Sibaya at the Sowetan newspaper has been approached to run a feature. Similar approaches will be made to newspapers in Lenasia and the Caxton local newspapers. The idea of a Scrabble-related competition in one or more papers was mentioned.

Fund Raising

Needs to be targeted in terms of projects. Focus areas:

Youth development – schools
Black and Indian players
2008 African Scrabble Championships.

Organisations like Liberty Life, DBSA, the Lottery, Coca-Cola should be targeted.

Database

We need to keep track of interested players, newcomers and established members more efficiently and effectively.

Weekend tournament away

We used to have weekend events in Warmbaths, Mmabatho, Swaziland in the past. This sort of enjoyable event will be a welcome addition to the calendar.

To do all this and more requires an expanded team of committed people!

Comments

Charles Silverstone thanked Larry for his enthusiasm and for this initiative, and stressed we should not forget the hard work done by existing committee members like Trevor, Lynn and Diana, who’ve kept the game going with little help from the rest of us. He mentioned a number of ideas, including:

Putting up posters in libraries, schools, universities, shopping centers, and recreation centres etc.
Adverts and articles in suburban newspapers. Invite reporters to clubs as guests.
Bring a friend campaign. (Larry mentioned idea of a sizeable prize for the person introducing the most new members in a year).
Family membership discounts
Invite postal Scrabblers to clubs
Have inter club/region/city and province competitions
Treat new players with TLC and follow up by phone after playing. Encourage and mentor novices.
Have more competitions. Players can bring own lunches and help with catering to reduce costs.
Learn from bridge and chess clubs how they recruit and retain members.
Organise Scrabble marathon to attempt to break world record. Link to a charity and get media support.
Involve distributors and booksellers – Just Fun Toys to be added to the sanspa email list.
Arrange mass tournament.
Public invited to meet and challenge players (can be handicap system).
Exhibition match between 2 experts.
Convert social players into regulars.

Steven Gruzd also mentioned a number of ideas:

Possibly organizing an African Universities championship
Setting up an email list that is for information only and does not permit replies, to cater for those who unsubscribed from the sanspa list due to high email traffic.
Learn from other associations around the world- don’t reinvent the wheel.
Set goals and targets – we can have more than 30-something players at the nationals. The US had 837 players in 7 divisions in 2004.
Challenge Jeremy Mansfield/Neil Andrews to a game – to raise funds and awareness.
Experiment with different tournament formats – e.g. New Zealand has many small divisions (about 8 players in a round robin per division).
Have fewer 2 day tournaments so players with families more likely to play.
We do have lists and contact numbers of people who have expressed interest in Scrabble previously.
Create a web page on the SANSPA site for these new GASP initiatives.

Lawrence Obidike raised several points:

Rules should be applied consistently. For example, the 5 point penalty challenge was adopted, but is not always applied at club level. Tournaments are played with clocks, yet clubs don’t generally use them. (Others pointed out that some clubs prefer a more relaxed atmosphere).
Newer and social players should be permitted to use word books initially to make them feel more confident and comfortable – many of us started that way too.
Lawrence has developed a Scrabble starter pack document, including directions on how to get to Paterson Park.
Food at tournaments is an issue – it pushes up entry fees and is not to everyone’s taste. Caterers should be more sensitive to this.

Various people speculated as to why newer players did not stay. Reasons put forward included intimidation by the standard of play, the strange words and an unwelcoming attitude by older players. People agreed on the need to attract more black players.

There should be clearer delineations of the ratings for advanced, intermediate and social sections in tournaments. This has become fuzzy as numbers have dwindled.

Scrabble in the province needs to cater for players of all strengths and levels.

Other issues raised included prizes at competitions, and the costs of competitions.

All attendees supplied their contact details and indicated their desired level of involvement.

Late Saturday mornings were considered the best time for meetings, and the next meeting will be convened on 13 November 2004 at Paterson Park at 12:30 Sharp.

Larry thanked everyone for his or her attendance, and the meeting concluded at 14:40.

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Minutes of GASP (Gauteng Association of Scrabble Players) Meeting held at Paterson Park Recreation Centre, Johannesburg, on Saturday 13^th November at 12:45 PM

Present: Larry Benjamin, Barbara Joffe, Charles Silverstone, Steven Gruzd, Lynn Roff, Lawrence Obidike, Diana Mason, Andrew Goldberg, Fern Wheelwright

Apologies: Leah Fitzpatrick, Arlene Fine, Trevor Hovelmeier, Paul Rabenowitz

Larry indicated that

A suitable time and alternative venue for future meetings must be found.
Other members not attending but keen to help out ad hoc include Sandra, Marilyn, Gwen, Urwin and Jackie.
Future meetings will have standing items on the agenda.
Planning is essential now so that activities can be launched in 2005.

Larry updated the meeting on progress since the last meeting on 30 October.

It is important to contact all current and past players with a questionnaire to find out what their needs and problem areas are.
Old Eds Virgin Active Club has agreed to a Scrabble Demonstration day, as has Exclusive Books Hyde Park.
Janine Davis of Rooftop Markets has consented to a Scrabble stall at Rosebank and Hillfox Markets.
An appointment has been set with Nicky Hall at Just Fun Toys (Scrabble distributors) for 9 December.
Larry will approach Collins shortly.
The Sowetan Newspaper has been approached, and we will discuss running a competition to attract their readers to the game. Larry and Diana to meet Gugu Sibiya and Taryn (Special Projects) in November 2004.
An email sent to Wits staff has already elicited over a dozen people interested in a club at the University. Most students have already completed their studies, and will be targeted in February at Orientation Week. Steve and Larry to meet Bronwyn Cartwright of Wits Sport before the end of the year.
The Sunday Club at Paterson Park will only start in mid to end January 2005, as the recreation centre closes in December.

He proposed that several subcommittees should be formed, and meet separately to report to monthly GASP meetings.

Five GASP Subcommittees were formed. Larry would serve on and attend all subcommittee meetings. Each subcommittee to meet in the next 2 weeks, and set targets for 2005.

1. Promotions

Members: Barbara Joffe, Fern Wheelwright, Charles Silverstone, Arlene Fine

Aims:

To attract new players to organised Scrabble in Gauteng
To retain those new players
To grow existing clubs
To promote Scrabble in communities that are currently under-represented
To develop a year plan of events for 2005, in conjunction with the competition committee
To arrange and confirm all venues for promotion activities
To contact players to assist in promoting the game
To start up new clubs
To arrange social events for players - e.g. weekend tournament away
To creatively promote the game.

2. Competitions

Members: Lynn Roff, Di Mason, Trevor Hovelmeier

Aims:

To organise, manage and run Scrabble competitions in the province
To cater tournaments
To set tournament prices
To develop a year plan of events for 2005, in conjunction with the promotion committee
To publicise and advertise tournaments widely
To develop a concession policy for those unable to afford event fees
To develop ground rules for how competitions are run
To welcome and mentor new players
To maintain regular and sustained contact with all clubs

3. Fundraising & Finance

Members: Andrew Goldberg, Lawrence Obidike, Diana Mason

Aims:

To raise money or have donated essential Scrabble equipment, including sets, dictionaries and wordbooks, clocks and other prizes
To identify companies and individuals to approach for sponsorship or donations, and develop and execute presentations
To manage the finances of GASP in a transparent and accountable manner
To concentrate efforts on securing funding for youth development and taking Scrabble to black and Indian communities.

4. Youth Development

Members: Lynn Roff, Paul Rabenowitz, Fern Wheelwright

Aims:

To concentrate efforts on youth development and taking Scrabble to black and Indian communities.
To promote and grow school Scrabble, focused on high schools
To establish a programme called Teen Scrabble, centred on a few central schools which would host regular Scrabble on a Saturday morning.
To set up and expand University Clubs

Larry advocated that Aurora Levy and Jackie Nortier would be assets to this particular committee and hoped they would join.

5. Communication

Members: Steven Gruzd, Paul Rabenowitz , Leah Fitzpatrick

Aims:

To develop and maintain an accurate updated list of all Scrabble players and a contacts.
To maintain these contacts on a database
To liaise with players regularly
To communicate with other stakeholders
To develop a webpage for GASP.

Other people who have indicated willingness to be involved will be co-opted onto particular committees to assist with specific projects. Anyone keen to serve on a committee please contact Larry diplo6@yahoo.com or 082 888 5355.

Larry thanked everyone for his or her attendance, and the meeting concluded at 14:10.

Subcommittees to meet before the next GASP meeting, on 18 December 2004.

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