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WGPO Board of Directors’ Meeting December 4, 2022

Ruth Hamilton

From Helen Flores:

WGPO Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Sunday December 4, 2022

  1. Call to Order: President Steve Pellinen called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm CST, December 4, 2022.  Board Members Attending: Will Anderson, Jan Cardia, Laurie Cohen, Helen Flores, Bennett Jacobstein, Keith Hagel, and Steve Pellinen.
  2. Surveymonkey Software: Laurie Cohen has prepared and analyzed member surveys following Word Cups in the past. She recommended that the Board approve $25 per year for continued use of the software. Members noted that surveys provide a useful method to collect suggestions and information directly from the membership. The cost for this communication tool is well worth it. Approved unanimously.
  3. Word Cup 2023: The Board resolved details for next year’s Word Cup.

** Word Cup Branding: From inception WGPO branded each Word Cup with a consecutive number, through #10 in Naperville this year. The numbering system is traditional. However, using the year as the title provides an easier method to track and research the events. Following discussion, the Board adopted Word Cup + YEAR as the title, i.e., Word Cup 2023.

** Prize Fund Amounts & Publicity: As decided earlier, a total amount of $50,000 of CCSFF grant funds will be allocated to Word Cup. The top prize for TWL/NWL will be $10,000. If the total number of Collins player is 50 or more, the top Collins prize will also be $10,000. This worked in 2022, with two Collins divisions. Board members discussed preferences for publicizing prizes. Consensus was to lead the initial announcement by specifying that “at least $50,000 in total prize funds will be awarded.” Additional information in that announcement – and in subsequent publicity — should highlight that “first place prize winners in each lexicon will be awarded $10,000 prizes,” in order to attract top-notch international players. Members plan for strong promotion and wide-spread publicity, including local venue media coverage.

** Word Cup Logo: WGPO funded two-thirds of the cup logo design that was used for CoCo and WGPO in 2022. Board members look forward to other design options. Will has received a proposed design and will forward it to the Board following the meeting. Depending on the Board’s reaction it will be included in the upcoming announcement.
** Word Cup Announcement: The 2023 announcement is much later than Word Cup announcements in previous years, and members are eager for information. Will said the announcement is expected within the week and before the Annual Meeting.

  1. Annual Meeting Procedures

Board Members reviewed a draft Annual Meeting agenda, based on the first Annual Meeting in December 2022. The process will be consistent with last year’s.

** Meeting Schedule: PART I – Business Meeting begins on Saturday December 10, 3:00 pm Eastern/ 2:00 Central/ 1:00 pm Mountain/ Noon Pacific. PART II extends the voting period until close of the meeting Midnight, EST Wednesday December 14.

** Meeting Structure: PART I will be an interactive TWITCH video conference – approximately two hours long and accessible to all members. Members must sign into TWITCH to submit questions to the TWITCH Moderator Charles Reinke during the Board business agenda or afterwards during the Question & Answer session. A YouTube video of the meeting will be made available after the fact on the website.

** EMail Questions/Comments: WGPO members who are not on TWITCH may send questions to wgpo_board@wordgameplayers.org before or during the meeting. Directors will address comments during the business meeting or include them in the Q&A session.

  1. Annual Meeting PART I Agenda 

** Call to Order and Welcome – Keith Hagel, Vice-President

** Word Cup 2023 – Bennett Jacobstein

** Elections Committee – Lynda Finn/ Winter on the candidates for office and electoral process details. See Candidates’ Statements and their Q & A responses on the WGPO website.

** Financial Report – Steve Pellinen, President. The written report will also be available on the WGPO website.

** Lexicon Committee Update: Steve Pellinen

** Ratings & Tournament Committee – Bennett Jacobstein: 2022 Tournament statistics, recommended CCSFF prize fund allocations for 2023, and application procedures.

** Educational Mission – Steve Pellinen: WGPO’s Articles of Incorporation educational requirements and how to incorporate those efforts into all we do.

** WGPO 2022 Accomplishments – Helen Flores, Secretary.

** Question & Answer Session – Member comments, suggestions, questions

** PART I Adjournment – Saturday December 10.

  1. Adjournment: The Board adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m., CST (Keith/Jan).