I
have approached a dozen of ASPA(Vic) members, whom I assumed were wise enough
to contemplate attempting reform of the committee, by ending the perpetual
unchallenged engagement of certain offices.
The
poor response I received tells me that people might have thought that I am
continuing with a personal vendetta against a few incompetent permanent
members, rather than seeking reform for the sake of a better future for the
Association.
So,
instead of me trying to effect a good change, single handed in a hostile
environment, I would rather leave the matter to the “powers behind the scene”. I
assume they might see the merits of my suggestion.
Whatever
the case may be, interested parties might find this email dialogue amusing. Jimmy
Scarff is the number 9 player on the current rating ladder of 152 ASPA(Vic)
players. He is one of the young escapees of the perpetual committee.
============================================
On
Mon, Aug 29, 2016 at 4:31 PM, Mohammed A. Hegazi
wrote:
Dear
Jimmy,
Being
a member of ASPA(Vic), you might have noticed the dwindling numbers of
participants in scrabble tournaments. For example, the Victorian component of participants
in the Vic Champs tournament was down from 83 in the year 2000 and 82 in 2005
to 28 in 2010 and 22 in 2016. How do you feel about moving or seconding
something similar to the proposed motion below? For obvious reasons, I should
not be involved as mover or seconder. Most members are usually quick to dismiss
a valuable message because they hate the messenger.
If
the motion is passed, people who are running tournaments would continue to do
so unless a new reformed committee would decide to make radical changes.
You
are requested to give me your valuable feed back, even if it were to be a short
outright rejection of the idea. As such, your feed back will help me make an
important decision as to whether I should continue to be a member of ASPA(Vic)
in 2017.
The
proposed motion:
As
from the AGM of 20 November 2016, ASPA(Vic) will apply the following special
resolution:
(1) Any ASPA(Vic) member who engaged the position
of President or Vice President for two successive years will not be eligible to
nominate for the position of President or Vice President for the following
year.
(2) The Secretary of ASPA(Vic) will inform the
Registrar of Consumer Affairs Victoria in order to immediately enforce this
required change of the rules without impediment or delay. Should a change from
“Model Rules” to “Own Rules” be involved, so be it without further ado.
======================================
On
30 August 2016 at 00:17, Jimmy Scarff
wrote:
Hey
Mohammed!
Great
to hear from you.
Much
of my scrabbling occurs online now. I currently have no intention of returning
to tournaments, as I have been treated with discrimination and vilification.
My
opinion wouldn't carry any weight for your proposals either, as I am one of
those people that they don't want at tournaments. As you said to me once, they
wanted to kick me out.
In
essence, my involvement in such proceedings is invalid, and I am indisposed to
making any progression with the aforementioned reforms.
Thanks
for thinking of me.
-Jimmy
======================================
On
Tue, Aug 30, 2016 at 12:55 AM, Mohammed A. Hegazi
wrote:
Thank
you Jimmy. Your response is valued by me. Your stand is quite logical and
understandable. However, you might have second thoughts later on, if reform is
achieved.
After
making a thorough reading of the "Model Rules", it transpired that
the procedure for achieving such change is by convening a special general
meeting by at least 10% of financial members, which would be about a dozen
members. So, I might still continue to flog the proverbial dead horse.
======================================
On
30 August 2016 at 01:01, Jimmy Scarff
wrote:
I
think you'll find that I am not welcome at tourneys.
Much
like you were made to feel unwelcome just before you took civil action.
Scrabble
is a fantastic game and I love it dearly. Unfortunately it’s the idiots in
charge who keep ruining it. They will learn when they don't have a community to
abuse their power over.
I
think Words With Friends is the new thing. People can't stand the stupid words.
-Jimmy
======================================
On Tue, Aug 30, 2016 at 10:56
PM, Mohammed A. Hegazi wrote:
I am still unwelcome by the majority of
tournament players. They never understood why I took legal action.
I made approaches to a few people today at the
Greensborough Club, where I played every week for many years. None of them
wanted to be party to any change attempts. So, I think I should not
persevere.
======================================
On
31 August 2016 at 05:28, Jimmy Scarff
wrote:
Why
go?
======================================
This
is an excellent question Jimmy, which I have been repeatedly asking myself. I
have also been getting conflicting answers!
At
this stage, and I could very well be wrong, my thinking is that reforming the
committee could result in creating a better environment. I believe, rightly or
wrongly, that if at the very least two broomstick commuters were to be replaced
by two young players, the balance within the committee would tip towards
sanity.
When
the perpetual committee was humiliated with a court order in 2015, several
heavy weight escapees turned up to the following tournament. Some were of the
nicest people you could come across, people like Alistair and Julian. I was
amazed that many unabashedly congratulated me. I believe, again rightly or
wrongly, that those people may come back if a reformed committee is put in
place. The landscape would then be quite inviting.
If
reform attempts are frustrated, which is more likely to happen, I might give
the game away and go back to looking after the many things I have neglected
because of my dogged pursuit of scrabble.
