Scrabble club looking for more word warriors

THEATER

From the time I first entered the newspaper business -- delivering

them, not writing for them -- I’ve been a word person, putting them

together in all sorts of ways. Words and their usage have been key

elements of my life ever since I first delved into journalism,

writing sports for a small daily paper in northwestern Pennsylvania.

On my high school paper, and later for an Army weekly in Korea, I

created crossword puzzles, built around local themes. Shortly after I

migrated to California, and signed on at the Daily Pilot, I traded

sportswriting for the more fascinating art of the theater.

About 20 years ago, I spotted a feature story in the Pilot about

local Scrabble clubs. I had enjoyed playing Scrabble as a kid, but

had no idea it was an organized activity. I checked them out and

learned that not only were there Scrabble clubs, but the game was

governed by a national body. It wasn’t long before I became a

card-carrying member of the National Scrabble Assn.

There are quite a few Scrabble clubs in Southern California, but

the one I frequent each Tuesday (unless it’s opening night at the

Orange County Performing Arts Center) is one of the nation’s oldest

-- Club 34 in Huntington Beach, which meets at 6:45 p.m. at the

International House of Pancakes on Beach Boulevard.

The Huntington Beach club has been presided over for many years by

a diminutive, and dynamic, octogenarian named Penny Baker, assisted

by a fellow writer, Paul Trachtenberg of Huntington Beach. And

they’re looking for a few good men -- and women -- to increase their

number.

“Club 34 is the friendliest, kinkiest and the oldest Scrabble club

on earth,” Trachtenberg declares. “ We encourage new blood. We treat

our greenhorns with gentle claws. We try to make them lifers.”

It doesn’t take long for avid word wizards to work their way up

the Scrabble ladder in tournaments, such as the one next month in

Fountain Valley hosted by Joyce McFadden and sponsored by the local

Rotary Club.

If you’re interested, e-mail joycemac@earthlink.net.

Getting back to the Huntington Beach club, it’s a fun bunch with

players of varying backgrounds and skill levels. Newcomers won’t be

thrown to the wolves on their first visit -- and they’re not expected

to lay down the weekly $2 fee until they’ve won their first game.

And, when they finally decide they’re ready to compete in

tournaments, they’ll play within their own rating group. Enterprising

players can move up to the intermediate, competitive and even the

expert categories, while the more socially inclined can remain with

the novices until they’re ready to ascend.

When you’ve been at it a while, you’ll want to check out the

larger tournaments, such as the annual competitions in Reno, Las

Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Portland, Seattle and beyond. Every other

year there’s a national tournament which draws hundreds of wordsmiths

from all skill levels. The one in 2002 was held just down the road in

San Diego.

But every road to Scrabble glory starts with the placement of a

single tile, and directors Penny and Paul will be more than happy to

help you get started at the local IHOP. Win or lose, it’s an evening

filled with fun and friendship. Just watch your Ps and Qs --

especially the Qs.

If your interest is piqued, you can learn more about the weekly

Huntington Beach club by contacting Penny at (949) 380-1764 or Paul

at (714) 968-7546. Happy Scrabbling.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.