News

The 8th Annual WCSC is Approaching!

So far we have received paid registrations or firm commitments from California, Delaware, Florida, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, Ontario and Saskatchewan, with over two months to go. (The first paid registration came in January!). Looks like we may exceed the 116 we had last year for the Main Event, itself a record. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 26, 2003.

Some reasons you should consider coming to Calgary this year:

1. A total of 37 rounds (8 + 12 + 17), six more than the Nationals. In fact, it's the longest Scrabble® event on the continent except for the summer Reno tournament. So you get the maximum bang for your Scrabble® buck.

2. We return 100% (yes, 100%) of your entry fees as cash prizes, plus give you medals and door prizes (in addition to the Hasbro stuff) in the Main Event. Our total prize package last year was Can.$ 9,400 (almost US$ 7,000). The first prize in Division 1 in each of the last two years was Can. $ 1,000 (approx. US$ 700). How do we do it? Our poor club members work their butts off for Alfred Butts's game through the year cleaning streets, shoveling snow, babysitting, cutting grass, hunting polar bears (nah, that's illegal) and contribute money to the club for tournament expenses, so you guys can come here and have a good time :-) Real Western Canadian hospitality, eh? In the Early Birds we return about 70% of the entry fees, after deducting the immediate expenses only.

3. Our members pick up out-of-towners from the airport and host them in their homes for free, although this year we're already beginning to run out of space unless you hurry, due to the popularity of the program. Victims of our own success, I guess. Last year we hosted over 30 visitors in members' homes.

4. We give a nice complimentary buffet dinner (complete with beer and wine) for out-of-towners Saturday night. Plus there'll be plenty of doughnuts and pop at the Main Event. All paid for by the club members.

5. Calgary is only 1 1/4 hours from the world-renowned Banff National Park, the gateway to the magnificient Canadian Rockies. You can continue on to Lake Louise and Jasper on the Icefield Parkway, surrounded by glaciers, and imagine you're driving through a picture postcard. You can even take a ride on a glacier in specially-equipped vehicles. And you can come back to Calgary on the same day if you wish. The fall colors are gorgeous, and usually there is plenty of wildlife to see.

6. If you're a fishing or golfing enthusiast, or is accompanied by one, we can provide that too. In fact, George Bush Sr. comes here in the fall to fish. And golf is still in full swing in early October.

7. And for our American friends, your greenback is still worth about $1.40 Canadian, even with the recent closing of the gap. And our prices aren't any higher than yours. So you can combine the tournaments with some sightseeing, shopping, dining etc. at bargain prices, and laugh all the way to the bank. And Calgary is a very clean, safe cosmopolitan city of nearly 1 million with lots of local attractions.

Now, please let me know the reasons why you can't come. And if there's a better tournament deal anywhere else, I'd like to know. I'll be there in a flash!

Try something really different this fall. Come to Calgary.

Tournament details are available online. If you need more info, please e-mail me, or call me at (403) 281 2459.

See you all soon.