All WGPO members in good standing are eligible to vote during the election period leading up to the Annual General Meeting on December 10, 2025. Voting will occur from December 5, 2025 – December 15, 2025. WGPO Members can expect to receive an email inviting them to vote by email.
For more info on the Call for Nominations and AGM, see our earlier post about it here. WGPO Members may nominate themselves as candidates up to November 30, 2025. So, check back to this page after that to see the final nominee list.
The following candidates have submitted their names for consideration in the 2025 WGPO Election. Each candidate has provided a brief statement to share their background, interests, and commitment to the Word Game Players’ Organization. We thank them for their readiness to serve:
Jan Cardia
I have been on WGPO’s board for four years serving as Treasurer. I am also on several side committees. I have been pleased to be part of a forward-thinking team that is advancing WGPO’s vision.
My history of Scrabble leadership and contributions to this great game goes back to 1985 when I served on the very first Advisory Board for NSA.
William Cody
I am a current board member looking for another term. My Scrabble journey began at the age of 5. I would play Scrabble with my grandmother. At the age of 13, I got involved with school Scrabble. Shortly after that, I was playing at NASPA club just outside of Philadelphia. In 2016, I moved to Florida and began playing at another NASPA club in Fort Lauderdale. In 2021, the director’s health had been going downhill, I took over and changed the club to a WGPO club and been running a club every Thursday since. Looking forward to possibly running another term.
Bennett Jacobstein
I have been active with WGPO since its creation in 2010, and have been involved in tournament Scrabble® for nearly thirty years. I currently serve on the Board of Directors as Vice-President and am Co-Chair of the Tournaments and Ratings Committee. I have organized and directed many tournaments including several Word Cups, and will be co-directing the 2026 Word Cup in Williamsburg, Virginia.
My goal is to cooperate with other Scrabble® organizations as much as possible while still adhering to the WGPO principles of a democratic player-run organization. I am dedicated to serving the needs of the entire Scrabble community from beginners to experts. Tournament and club growth should be a top priority and I believe resources should be dedicated to this goal.
It has been an honor to serve the WGPO community and I would appreciate your vote for another term.
John Karris
Scrabble is my passion. When I discovered Scrabble Clubs in 1994, I was completely hooked and quickly became not only a player, but also a director. Over the years, I have served on committees. Two years ago, I was elected to be a WGPO Director. While a director, I worked hard on the Conduct Policy and the (soon to be published) Tournament Rules. I also helped organize and direct the 2024 Word Cup in Albuquerque and then helped organize the 2025 Word Cup in St. Louis.
As a board member, I would like to see: (1) a growth in membership, (2) more clubs and tournaments, (3) more resources for club and tournament directors, and (4) more sources of revenue. WGPO is on the right track and I want to help it continue moving forward.
Peter Schwarzman
I think I am reasonable and I know a lot about the Scrabble scene. I am accepted by both NASPA and WGPO communities.
Tina Yates
As a long-time Scrabble geek, I’m running for the WGPO Board because the Scrabble community feels like home…so I want to help it grow in a thoughtful way that keeps things organized, friendly, and inviting for new and returning players.
I have a great deal of experience with nonprofits through my work as a grant writer and my service on the board of directors for the ACLU of West Virginia, where I worked on donor cultivation, organizational direction, and long-term development planning. In my day-to-day work, I manage projects that require careful follow-through, clear communication, and a level of organization that borders on suspicious. (I believe a great spreadsheet is a beautiful thing.) I also bring 20+ years of experience as a paralegal to the table, so I can read bylaws without crying, and also understand, interpret, and contribute to compliance and other complex issues.
I care a lot about expanding WGPO membership and making sure new players feel comfortable joining events. I want to help grow and strengthen local Scrabble clubs, share tools and teaching resources, and promote the idea that Scrabble is not only a competitive game but also a community where people can find friends who understand the obsession.
Thank you for considering me. I would be glad to serve and to help our community grow in a way that reflects its heart and sense of fun.