North American Scrabble Players Association

North American Scrabble Players Association is a non-profit organization that promotes the game of Scrabble in North America, with members from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The organization was founded in 1982 by Selchow and Righter, and is currently sponsored by Hasbro, the manufacturer of Scrabble in North America. The organization is led by John Chew, a renowned Scrabble player and Tournament Director, who has also served as the Chairman of the World English-language Scrabble Players' Association.

● History

The history of the organization dates back to the early days of Scrabble, when the game was first introduced in the United States by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1948. The game quickly gained popularity, and the first Scrabble tournament was held in 1953 at the New York World's Fair. The organization was formally established in 1982, with the goal of promoting the game and providing a framework for Scrabble players to compete and socialize. Over the years, the organization has grown to include thousands of members, including World Champion Joel Sherman, Scrabble expert Stefan Fatsis, and Poker player Chris Moneymaker, who is also an avid Scrabble enthusiast.

● Organization

The organization is led by a Board of Directors, which includes John Chew, Chris Lipe, and Steve Pellinen, among others. The organization has a number of committees, including the Rules Committee, which is responsible for maintaining and updating the official Scrabble rules, and the Tournament Committee, which oversees the organization of Scrabble tournaments across North America. The organization also has a number of Regional Directors, who are responsible for promoting the game and organizing tournaments in their respective regions, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Toronto.

● Membership

Membership in the organization is open to anyone who loves the game of Scrabble, including Recreational players, Tournament players, and Club players. Members receive a number of benefits, including access to the organization's website, which features Scrabble news, Tournament results, and Tips and strategies from top players, including Scrabble expert Mark Nyman and Puzzle master Will Shortz. Members also receive a subscription to the organization's magazine, Scrabble Players Newsletter, which features articles on Scrabble strategy, Tournament reports, and Player profiles, including interviews with top players like Nigel Richards and Paul Epstein.

● Tournaments

The organization sanctions a number of Scrabble tournaments across North America, including the North American Scrabble Championship, which is held annually in Orlando, Florida, and the Canadian Scrabble Championship, which is held in Toronto, Ontario. The organization also sanctions a number of Regional tournaments, including the New York State Scrabble Championship and the California State Scrabble Championship. These tournaments attract top players from across North America, including World Champion Makoto Kuroda and Scrabble expert Bob Lipton.

● Rules_and_Regulations

The organization is responsible for maintaining and updating the official Scrabble rules, which are used in tournaments across North America. The rules are based on the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, which is published by Merriam-Webster, and the Official Tournament and Club Word List, which is maintained by the organization. The organization also provides guidance on Tournament etiquette and Sportsmanship, and has a number of resources available for players, including the Scrabble Rules FAQ and the Tournament Director's Guide, which was written by John Chew and Chris Lipe.

● Community_Involvement

The organization is committed to promoting the game of Scrabble in the community, and has a number of programs in place to support this goal. The organization works with Schools and Libraries to promote Scrabble as a tool for Literacy and Education, and has partnered with organizations like Reading Is Fundamental and the National Literacy Directory to support this effort. The organization also supports a number of Charity tournaments and Fundraising events, including the Scrabble Tournament for Literacy and the World Scrabble Championship Charity Event, which benefits organizations like UNICEF and the Red Cross.