Shame, Shame On NSA
For about the last 30 years they coaxed us to join their ranks as they built the NSA (National Scrabble Association). For 30 years, because of their ownership of the ‘Scrabble Brand Word Game’ trademark, we had no option to break away and still play their game, calling it what it is, “SCRABBLE”. For 30 years we paid our dues, did their bidding ‘for free’ as players, club directors, tournament directors, and ambassadors of their game. For 30 years they fed our scrabble addiction, no different than the tobacco companies have fed the nicotine addiction of smokers.
And now during tough economic times, we’ve been booted; we’re no longer any use to them; they can’t afford to keep us going.
They (NSA) did make a feeble attempt to help. The NSA held a meeting on their own dime in December of 2008, inviting their own hand-picked committee of players from different regions of the country. They handed-off the baton to that group without any funding. The group consisted of some of the best players in the land, but not necessarily people with any knowledge about rebuilding an abandoned association.
Personally, I like the individuals who were at that meeting. But being a nice guy is no substitute for having the ability for making the engine run smoothly.
The NSA was an elitist organization, catering primarily to the best players in the game; in my opinion, others were never taken seriously. And the new team in town, the NASPA, is made from the same fabric. From the start, their only solution to funding themselves is by increased taxation on a relatively small group of highly ranked players. Their formula is being challenged, as evidenced by their small membership list, in part due to our weakened economy.
In my opinion, the relative past successes of the NSA was due to its ownership and dictatorial hand in decision making. Likewise, the tenuous authority of committees of the NASPA face formidable challenges from a host of individuals, without any means to enforce anything.
The questions and answers are blowing in the wind, for now. At some point in time, things will settle down and take shape again. Meanwhile, keep on memorizing the dictionary.