I just didnt know exactly when Micah Jude Poder Fhima would meet his Papa. But last Friday December 22 at 2:59pm in a hospital in Santa Monica Micah Jude made his inaugural appearance at 20 inches and 7 and one half pounds. We met soon after, a match made in heaven.
So now its been 4 grandchildren in the past 3 years, 2 boys and 2 girls. Not bad I must say! My life has taken a definite turn. Less sports and scrabbling, a lot more grandfathering. And I dont mind that at all. 2 of them live in the Marina del Rey area, 2 in Lake Tahoe.
2023 was a strong year for Club 34. After some investigational work, I have reason to believe that Club 34 is now the largest Scrabble club in this country. With the decline of the Jerusalem club that I keep hearing about, I have reason to believe that we are the largest club in the World… Not a bad achievement for a Club I took over nearly 10 years ago this coming April.
But just as important, we are becoming stronger in our level of play. Many of you started out as newbies but with weekly play, your skills are vastly improving. In fact you may be closely approaching the status of the ‘Killer Club of Southern California”.. Two of our regular players also play in Los Angeles. Bruce Dambrosio plays at Club 34 every week. He also is considered one of the stronger players at Killer club?? of Los Angeles Club 44. But more often than not, he has trouble winning 50 percent of his games at Club 34. Even more dramatic is the plight of Ken Louie.
Ken went 4-0 two weeks ago in Los Angeles only to go 0-5 at Club 34 the following week. Alan Stern who directs Club 44 was quite fortunate to go 2-2-1 at Club 34 last week. So we are getting stronger, certainly bigger in the last few years. 2024 can only bring more improvement and excitement as never seen before at Club 34.
We continue to grow with new players joining us all the time. We occasionally lose a player, most notably Tom Titus this year. But Club 34 continues on and at the same location since the early 1990s.
With that I bid you a fond adieu and will see all of you in 2024.
Your Director
NASPA Club #34 Blog 