- Meeting Details and Attendance: The meeting was held on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 3.00pm at the Eastlake Football Club in Griffith, ACT. The meeting was chaired by Jane Taylor with Carol Johnsen acting as minute taker. Attendees included Paul Richards, Barry Harridge, Jane Taylor, Tim Reddan, John Hamilton, and Bob Jackman, with Carol Johnsen and Julie Brice attending via Zoom. Apologies were received from Geoff Shepheard, Nick Ivanovski, Jon Ford-King, Richard Birch, and Karen Richards.
- Membership and Voting Entitlements: Total voting numbers were calculated based on state membership as of March 31st, resulting in a total of 11 votes. NSW held 3 votes; Victoria held 2; Queensland held 2; while ACT, SA, Tasmania, and WA held 1 vote each.
- Minutes of Previous AGM: Note: Women’s Championship funding motion should read “for 2026” not “2025”.
Mover of CASPA BOARD NOMINATIONS should read Jane Taylor, not Bob Jackman.
MOTION: THAT THE AMENDED MINUTES OF 2025 CASPA AGM BE ACCEMPTED.
Moved: Jane Taylor Seconded: Paul Richards Carried
- Business Arising:
- Progress on world-wide tournament software via WESPA was reported as held over until the new administration is voted in.
- QR codes are being implemented for active tournament results on the national website.
- Tournament registration forms are deemed more appropriate for State websites.
- Rules or procedures put in place where action could be taken when CASPA-sanctioned clubs were discriminating against players.
- Office Bearers (CASPA Board Nominations): The following unopposed nominations were elected:
| Position |
Officer |
| Co-Ordinator |
Paul Richards |
| Editor ATB |
Richard Birch |
| Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer |
Julie Brice |
| Youth Coordinator |
John Hamilton |
| Treasurer |
John Hamilton |
| Rules Officer |
Coordinator |
| Web Coordinator |
Barry Harridge |
| Ratings Officer |
Barry Harridge |
| Youth Coach (Sub-officio) |
Karen Richards |
MOTION: THAT THE NOMINATIONS UNOPPOSED BE ELECTED.
Moved: Julie Brice Seconded: Bob Jackman Carried
- Officer Reports:
- Coordinator: The meeting discussed the need to formalise the format of the Nationals, including the inclusion of gibsonization, which the new Coordinator aims to resolve within three months.
The meeting thanked Carol Johnsen for her tenure as the Coordinator.
- Treasurer: With regard to the moneys owed by CASPA general funds (since John Hamilton took over as Treasurer in 2022) to the Youth funds as a result of the 7 dollar per tournament file payable to the Ratings Officer (Barry Harridge had designated that the funds be a donation to the Youth funds), it was reported that with the decrease in CASPA membership (hence CASPA income), there had been no reimbursement made in 2025 (since the last AGM). However, John Hamilton reported that with the introduction of the $2 per player ratings from October 1, 2025 levy the CASPA funds should start to appear more healthy and something should be able to be worked out.
MOTION: THAT the Ratings Officer/Website/Tournament Calendar Officer tournament levies are paid by CASPA General Account to the CASPA Youth Account from 1 January 2026. Further, that John Hamilton and Barry Harridge will confer as to the amount which will be reimbursed to Barry Harridge (or paid into the Youth funds) accounted for since John Hamilton had taken over as Treasurer in 2022.
Moved: John Hamilton Seconded: Carol Johnsen Carried.
- Website/Ratings: Barry Harridge. Investigations are ongoing for a location for YouTube content on the national website.
Trademark Liaison: Julie Brice. Julie reported that it was proving difficult to be able to communicate with the appropriate people at Mattel though they were ready to provide merchandise, but she would keep trying especially with a view to promoting the ideas she had.
Discussion ensued on the production of rotating boards in Australia, however it was pointed out that care was needed not to infringe on Mattel copyright in this regard.
.
MOTION: THAT THE FOLLOWING REPORTS BE RECEIVED:
Coordinator; Treasurer; Website Coordinator and Ratings Officer; Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officerand and Trademark (Mattel) Liaison Officer.
Moved: Julie Brice Seconded: Bob Jackman Carried
- State Reports:
Bob Jackman sought more information from States, membership numbers, website, charges, how to collect memberships, etc.
Bob would do a template of questions to ask States for more of this information by February to be sent out by the Coordinator. Whilst Julie Brice suggested it should also include a questionnaire for clubs, the meeting agreed that that would be more appropriately done by the States.
- Other Business:
- A Public Liability Insurance Review Sub-committee was formed with Julie Brice and Paul Richards. The main concern expressed was as to whom from clubs and events – members and non-members - were covered. Did the convenor need to be a member?
- National Chat Site: Nick Ivanovski no longer wished to be a moderator. Bob Jackman (an administrator) would temporarily take on the role but also would ask Edward Okulicz if he was interested.
- The meeting agreed to continue promoting non-affiliated clubs on the national website for free to encourage growth.
- A motion for a social CASPA levy fee lapsed due to lack of a seconder.
- Committees:
MOTION: THAT the Ratings (and Tournament) Committee is revived.
Moved: Paul Richards Seconded: Bob Jackman Carried
Note: The Rules committee is an active entity.
- Event Funding:
Discussion ensued on funds required for streaming events such as the Trans Tasman. New Zealand were successful in streaming and were willing to provide assistance to Australia however the costs could be prohibitive.
John Hamilton was willing to stream the Trans Tasman but there needed to be a good internet connection and the appropriate equipment. The meeting agreed that the Trans Tasman funds should be increased and that consideration could be given to more funding if need be.
The meeting approved funding for several upcoming events:
- 2026 Australian Youth Scrabble Championship: $1,000.
- 2026 Trans Tasman: $1,000.
- 2027 Australian Championship: $3,000.
- 2027 Masters / State Challenge: $1,500.
- 2027 Women's Championship: $500.
- Host State Rotations:
- Australian Championships: Tasmania (2027), NSW (2028), Queensland (2029), Victoria (2030), WA (2031), SA (2032), and ACT (2033).
- Youth Championship: NSW will host in 2026.
- Masters/State Team Challenge: ACT will host in 2026.
- Trans Tasman: Australia will host in 2026.
FURTHER BUSINESS
- Bob Jackman reminded those States which had CASPA-funded events to provide the financial statements. Carol Johnsen undertook to provide the 2025 Masters/State Challenge statement.
- Carol Johnsen would cancel the CASPA Zoom account which had been set up to deal with the AGM. Google Meet or Microsoft Teams were suggested as suitable cheaper alternatives.