The 1st Sunday Scrabble Tournament in November will benefit The Braille Institute , in memory of Cecile Betts.  Come play scrabble, have a great time, and make a difference, all at the same time.

EF (entry fee):  The 1st Sunday Tournament charges an entry fee of $45 when you enroll by the Friday prior to the tournament date.  An addition $10 late fee is charged to players enrolling after that date.  Players may walk in and enroll as late as Sunday morning until 8:45 AM.  

Prizes: Cash prizes of $90 and $50 are award to 1st and 2nd Places, respectively, in every division of 8 players.  A $15 prize is awarded to the player with the highest game in the tournament and $15 for the highest scoring play in the tournament.  Category Prizes are awarded in rounds 1 thru 6 for playing the highest score for words related to posted categories. 

Location:  You’ll find us playing at Clubhouse #5, Laguna Woods Village.  24262 Punta Alta,  Laguna Woods, California  92637.  This is a gated community.  Nonresidents who have signed up by the day before the event will be on a list at the security gate.  Walk-ins can gain entrance by calling (949) 510-1673.

Schedule:  Games begin sometime promptly 9AM   We play 3 games and then take a 1 hour lunch break.  The time for the start of game #4 will be announced and posted by the director.  Approximately 5 minutes after the last game is completed, prizes are awarded.

Equipment:  Players are asked to provide their own equipment: boards, racks, tiles, and clocks.  If you do not have equipment that meets NSA tournament requirements, advise the director at the time when you enroll.  Some loaner equipment is available.  Some equipment is available for purchase.

DIRECTIONS

You may or may not have know Cecil Betts.  Cecile was the inspiration for this tournament to benefit The Braille Institute.

Cecile was a long time scrabble player, and as you can see, she’s had a time or two in the winner’s circle.  Cecile also happens to be legally blind, but even that never stopped her from playing scrabble and living her life.

In fact Cecile taught scrabble to others at The Braille Institute, encouraging her students to meet the challenges that life has provided to them.

In December 2006, Cecile pulled me aside.  At age 89, she was dealing with lung cancer and an iffy operation.  Cecile made the request of me that I create a memorial tournament for her, to benefit The Braille Institute which has meant so much to her and others.  I agreed to produce the tournament, on the condition that it be an ‘honorary tournament’ and that she would be there to play in it.  We held that tournament on Cecile’s 90th birthday, Nov. 4, 2007 and Cecile was there.

Ways YOU Can Honor Cecile

1. • Make A Direct Tax Deductible Donation                        (make your check payable to The Braille Institute)
   

    (mail your check to me so we can include it with the tournament earnings)

    c/o Gary Moss, 3367 Punta Alta #3B, Laguna Woods, California 92637

1. • Come Play And Make A Pledge Based Upon Your Performance        (pledge $x per point or $x per win)
   

1. • Collect Pledges From Other Based On Your Tournament Scores
   

1. • Donate Via Our Tournament.  Our Goal is $1,500.
   

Tournament funds and Charity funds are not co-mingled.  100% of all funds generated for The Braille Institute will be presented to them in a ceremony within days after our tournament.  All tax deductible donations should be made by check, payable to The Braille Institute.

All entry fees for the scrabble tournament should be made payable to JFTSOI.

3rd Annual

Cecile Betts Tournament

To Benefit The Braille Institute

November 4, 1917   -   October 10, 2009