COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN SCRABBLE PLAYERS ASSOCIATIONS
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, April 18, 2025 3.00pm
Holdfast Bay Bowling Club
Cnr Anzac Hwy and Tapleys Hill Rd, Glenelg North
MINUTE TAKER: Carol Johnsen Meeting opened at 3.10pm
ATTENDEES: Bob Jackman (NSW), John Holgate (NSW), John Hamilton (CASPA Treasurer), Julie Brice (Mattel/Liaison Officer), Paul Richards (Qld), Yvette Copley (Qld Treasurer), Jane Taylor (SA), Carol Johnsen (Coordinator) and Geoff Shepheard (WA).
APOLOGIES: Tony Hunt (Youth Coordinator); Richard Birch (ATB Editor); Nick Ivanovski (Vic); Martin Rose (Tas); Jon Ford-King (Tas. President-elect) and Barry Harridge (Webmaster/Ratings);
| State | Members | Voting |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | 30 | 1 |
| New South Wales | 110 | 2 |
| Queensland | 78 | 2 |
| South Australia | 37 | 1 |
| Tasmania | 22 | 1 |
| Victoria | 126 | 2 |
| Western Australia | 50 | 1 |
(Note: Victoria members number should read 126)
MOTION: THAT THE MINUTES OF 2024 CASPA AGM AS AMENDED BE ACCEPTED. Moved: Jane Taylor Seconded: Paul Richards CARRIED.
MOTION: THAT AS OF JULY 1, 2024 THE NATIONAL MEMBERSHIP LEVY IS REDUCED TO $6 PER MEMBER PER YEAR AND THE TOURNAMENT LEVY IS INCREASED TO $2 PER HEAD PER PLAYER.
Moved: Bob Jackman Seconded: Martin Rose ADJOURNED
As this was a late motion, the meeting agreed that this motion would be dealt with by email with a decision by 31 May 2024. The motion was subsequently LOST.
Co-Ordinator: Carol Johnsen
Editor ATB: Richard Birch
Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer: Julie Brice
Youth Coordinator:
Treasurer: John Hamilton
Rules Officer: Coordinator (Carol Johnsen)
Web Coordinator: Barry Harridge
Ratings Officer: Barry Harridge
Youth Coach (Sub-officio): Karen Richards
MOTION: THAT THE NOMINATIONS OF OFFICE BEARERS (UNOPPOSED) BE ACCEPTED.
Moved: Bob Jackman Seconded: Geoff Shepheard CARRIED
Co-Ordinator Carol Johnsen
Meeting agreed that Carol Johnsen could continue to represent CASPA at WESPA.
Treasurer John Hamilton
Website Coordinator and Ratings Officer Barry Harridge
Barry Harridge to be asked what can be done about the lack of linking in some parts of the website. It was pointed out that SQL should replace the current language that the website was written in and that maybe someone should be employed to undertake the task. The ratings also needed to be redone using updated Aardvark.
MOTION: THAT THE $7 ADMINISTRATION FEE FOR THE RATINGS OFFICER HANDLING EACH .TOU FILE IS INVOICED SEPARATELY OF THE RATINGS LEVY.
Moved: Paul Richards Seconded: John Hamilton ADJOURNED.
Carol Johnsen advised that the $7 came out of the Ratings Levy and Martin Waterworth would invoice CASPA to receive that payment. When Barry Harridge took over the position, he requested that the $7 be donated into the Youth account. Apparently, this had not been undertaken. John Hamilton would advise the amount involved and Carol Johnsen would contact Barry Harridge to confirm same (this was done and Barry agreed re donation and he had understood it was being done). Martin has been asked to determine his last payment to determine when Barry Harridge took over.
MOTION: THAT THE $7 PER .TOU FILE BE PAID RETROSPECTIVELY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH BARRY HARRIDGE.
Moved: Carol Johnsen Seconded: John Hamilton ADJOURNED
Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer Julie Brice
MOTION: THAT THE FOLLOWING REPORTS BE RECEIVED:
Coordinator; Treasurer; Website Coordinator and Ratings Officer; and Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer reports be received.
Moved: Tim Reddan Seconded: Paul Richards CARRIED
OTHER BUSINESS:
MOTION: THAT THE CRITERIA FOR A RATED TOURNAMENT IS:
Minimum 4 players
Minimum 3 games
No minimum number of rated players required
Moved: Paul Richards Seconded: Geoff Shepheard CARRIED
MOTION: THAT TONY HUNT AND TISA NG BE THANKED FOR THEIR ORGANISATION OF THE CASPA 2025 YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP.
Moved: Carol Johnsen Seconded: Paul Richards CARRIED
The meeting agreed that only Australian qualifiers could participate in the Championship though, in the future, this could be expanded to, say, the Australasian Championship. Also, CASPA events will be referred to as Youth, not Junior.
Australian Youth Championship time and locationThe meeting agreed that the CASPA Youth Championship will be held July mid-school holidays in 2026.
(e) Social Media Person Honorarium
MOTION: THAT A SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON BE APPOINTED FOR CASPA
FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM (AND TIK TOK?) AND BE PAID A 6-MONTHLY HONORIUM OF $300 WHICH CAN BE REVIEWED AT ANY TIME.
Moved: Carol Johnsen Seconded:Nick Ivanovski LOST
Carol Johnsen reported that the ads on Scopely Go mostly referred to apps, thus not appropriate for CASPA to use.
(was Agenda item (j)
MOTION: THAT CASPA defunds the Australian Masters and State Challenge.
Moved: Bob Jackman Seconded: Paul Richards LOST.
MOTION: THAT CASPA FUNDS THE FOLLOWING:
Moved: Carol Johnsen Seconded: John Hamilton CARRIED
AMENDMENT MOTION: THAT CASPA FUNDS THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 ($500).
Moved: Jane Taylor Seconded: Paul Richards CARRIED
MOTION: THAT THE MASTERS / STATE CHALLENGE 2026 BE FUNDED $1500.
Moved: Jane Taylor Seconded: Bob Jackman CARRIED
MOTION: THAT CASPA MOVES FROM A SYSTEM OF MEMBERSHIP LEVIES OF $12 PER MEMBER PER YEAR TO ONE OF AN OPERATIONAL LEVY TO BE DETERMINED, PAYABLE IN JANUARY EACH YEAR. THE MOTION IS ADJOURNED TO AWAIT COSTINGS FROM THE TREASURER.
Moved: Bob Jackman Seconded: Paul Richards ADJOURNED
MOTION: THAT HOST STATES PROVIDE A FINANCIAL STATEMENT POST-CASPA EVENTS.
Moved: Jane Taylor Seconded: Geoff Shepheard CARRIED
MOTION: THAT CASPA MANDATES STATE MEMBERSHIP FOR ALL TOURNAMENTS PLAYERS WITH AN EXISTING RATING WHO ENTER A RATED TOURNAMENT.
Moved: Bob Jackman Seconded: Paul Richards LOST
Compulsory Membership for Tournament Rating
MOTION: THAT CASPA MANDATES STATE MEMBERSHIP FOR ALL RATED TOURNAMENT PLAYERS WITH AN EXISTING RATING WHO CONTEST A RATED TOURNAMENT.
Moved: Bob Jackman Seconded: Paul Richards WITHDRAWN
John Hamilton, Treasurer, would chase up all the details on the Public Liability Insurance.
FURTHER BUSINESS:
CLOSE: Meeting closed at 5.21pm.