From: info@scrabble-assoc.com
Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 10:09:02 -0500
Subject: From John Williams/NSA
Message-id: <3.0.2.32.19980113100902.00693538@scrabble-assoc.com>

Based on some recent CGP postings, it appears it's time for me to again address a few SOWPODS comments while touching upon some other issues at the same time.

I had thought we'd done a decent job of accelerating the SOWPODS issue timetable over the last year. The Advisory Board discussed it officially for the first time ever. We talked about the growing SOWPODS movement in the newsletter. I told my HASBRO/Milton Bradley contacts about the debate. And we agreed it was time for more formal pro and con discussions in the newsletter, as well as possible NSA membership referendum.

Apparently, this has not been enough progress for the more zealous SOWPODS proponents. The NSA has been accused, among other things, of having our "priorities screwed up."

Having read this, it occurred to me that perhaps I've been remiss in explaining our current priorities to some NSA members. Let me clear them up now. They're really very simple.

PRIORITY #1--Survival Currently, the NSA has no funding, no commitment from HASBRO and Milton Bradley beyond 11 months from now. I couldn't tell you if there is going to be another WSC, another Superstars, a 2000 NSC. I'd certainly like to think so, but I can't guarantee it because no one has guaranteed it to me.

If you've read the papers, then you know that HASBRO is in the middle of completely reorganizing the entire corporation. You've read also that they are laying off thousands of employees worldwide. And you may well know of HASBRO's legal complications with Mattel over some SCRABBLE issues.

There are also several new executives overseeing NSA activities and decisions, and some SCRABBLE veterans are leaving. Some of the new people have never even been to a SCRABBLE tournament.

If you think I'm going to introduce a SOWPODS mandate into this corporate environment, think again.

However, as always, the NSA membership is free to write to HASBRO managment and express dissatisfaction with our representation of your issues. While you're writing, make sure you explain to them how the swift adaption of SOWPODS will have measurable impact on the sales of SCRABBLE games to the average consumer.

PRIORITY #2--Growth The NSA needs to increase our members. And our new ranks are not going to come from disgruntled SOWPODS purists who've strayed from the flock in protest.

No, our growth is going to come from two areas. The first is kids through our School SCRABBLE program. The second is living room players who want to give the club and tournament scene a try -- and may actually stay as long as they are not too intimiated by high-powered play and esoterica.

If we are to grow and survive, it's these two groups--who don't know the difference between SOWPODS and PEA PODS -- who are going to be a top priority.

FYI:  Other current top priorities include:  meeting with Microsoft to get

I hope this clears up our priorities.