no title pasted by anonymous on Fri Apr 13 22:11:14 2012

	(cond
		.
		.
		.

			( (>= (first (first ($db "select count(*) from boards where name=?" values: (list ($ 'name "xxx")))) ) 1 )
				(display ($ 'name "xxx"))
			)
			( else
				(stuff)
			)
	)

A suggestion added by mario-goulart on Fri Apr 13 22:22:36 2012

(let ((name ($ 'name "xxx")))
  (cond ((> (caar ($db "select count(*) from boards where name=?"
			values: (list name)))
	    0)
	 (display name))
	(else (stuff))))