Chess tournaments for the future - OzChess

**ChessGuru** · 09-24-2009, 01:27 AM

My latest blog post talks about chess tournaments. I need your help -- what are the 'tournaments of the future' ....

**Ninja** · 09-24-2009, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by ChessGuru

My latest blog post talks about chess tournaments. I need your help -- what are the 'tournaments of the future' ....

From your blog...."Our primary objective is to address the needs of 1600-2000 players – they tend to like weekenders. So we need to have a strong Victorian GP series. Good idea to spread it around so it helps all the clubs … have one at least on every long weekend which CV promotes:
Australia Day, Labour Day (Ballarat), Easter, ANZAC Day, Q B’Day, Melb Cup Day…. plus I’d like to see a couple more. Round it up to 8. Eight is a nice number – I think it suits chess."

Any reason you wish to cut back on the number of weekender's in VIC ??
There are 9 this year just counting the ones entered in the GP without looking at others not on that list. Please at least do your homework before preaching to us all how you can do better

**SHump** · 09-25-2009, 12:24 AM

Let me state it here that I am a nominated CV delegate of my club for the CV AGM. Apart from putting my club's interests first at the AGM, as I would suppose each delegate will be doing, I would think I would have the least conflict of interest of all if not most chatters here (I am a recent import to Vic, and just getting back to OTB chess this year). As to deciding who to vote for at the AGM, my approach is two simple steps:

a) wait to see who nominates on the day (just because there is a thread here with a similar title doesn't in my book mean it will happen like that). I have no idea of what correspondence concerning nominations has already passed to the chairman of the AGM, but I would suspect many would only nominate when the chairman, at the AGM, asks for nominations.

b) discuss with my colleagues and fellow delegates as to the merits of each candidate.

As to discussing this at a club committee meeting, that would be OK as far as it goes -- if you can predict who will nominate then they may have something to discuss. But a lot of supposition would be the order of the day I am guessing.

If there was some way of getting all of the candidates to pre-publish their manifesto/platform/their record/vision/aims or whatever you choose to call it, in advance of the AGM, then it would be helpful for all I would suspect in making an informed decision.

However, I don't think CC or the other forum is the right place for this. On here, the squeaky wheel gets the most attention, which is good if you have a lot of oil and you are prepared to apply it often and liberally. The chat sites are good for all to comment about the topic, items near to the topic, and stuff far removed from the topic all on the same page!!

But as far as trying to convince me that someone has a better approach than someone else when it comes to running a chess group/administration, once a candidate has published their manifesto, I personally would prefer the candidate to say less than more. Sure, some enthusiasm for the job would be welcome, and making things happen behind the scenes is also good (and yes, transparency and accountability have to be there as well). Would it be too much to ask for pleasant personal attributes as well? But each to their own yardstick on this.

After all we are talking about incorporated associations for chess players and not a US Presidential styled campaign. Sigh, what I have written above is something perhaps self-evident to the majority of both the posters and the many people that read but do not post on here (the silent majority). If my reaction to what has been posted so far on this and other threads regarding the CV elections is shared by the silent majority, then maybe I should also nominate for the CV President job. At least there may be like minds then working together.

But more importantly, I think most posters are taking themselves and their targets way too seriously and need to lighten up. I have come back to OTB chess for enjoyment and the social interaction. Neither of these attributes seem to be in abundance in the related discussions so far.

**flavid dude** · 09-25-2009, 12:25 AM

I would not want you to look inefficient.

**flavid dude** · 09-25-2009, 01:09 AM

quick action once I pointed it out.

**ChessGuru** · 09-25-2009, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ninja

Any reason you wish to cut back on the number of weekender's in VIC ??
There are 9 this year just counting the ones entered in the GP without looking at others not on that list. Please at least do your homework before preaching to us all how you can do better

Good point -- I didn't think to look up the GP to see how many were being run this year. Have you checked CVs website to see how many CV is promoting?

C'mon Ninja - we'd like to generate some new ideas and constructive discussion. It would be appreciated if you didn't nit-pick and focus on negatives ... Can you please try again and this time pick some things you WANT to see happen to put in your post.

Thanks.

**ChessGuru** · 09-25-2009, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by flavid dude

quick action once I pointed it out.

Sorry David - I've been to Glen Waverley, Broadmeadows and Geelong today - wasn't near a computer between when you posted the comment and now. Didn't think to check for comments on my phone (which I could have done).

There will be a post coming soon about Melbourne's newest chess club...a decent 30 players there today and only in its 3rd week. I think there's potential....

**flavid dude** · 09-25-2009, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by ChessGuru

Sorry David - I've been to Glen Waverley, Broadmeadows and Geelong today - wasn't near a computer between when you posted the comment and now. Didn't think to check for comments on my phone (which I could have done).

There will be a post coming soon about Melbourne's newest chess club...a decent 30 players there today and only in its 3rd week. I think there's potential....

I may disagree with you on some things but on this point you are right on the money. Visiting a new chess club is very good. I bet the club is situated in Waverly.

May I suggest that they consider subscribing to the Chess Victoria newsletter. I am prepared to continue to distribute this irrespective of the results of the Chess Victoria election.

**ChessGuru** · 09-25-2009, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by flavid dude

I may disagree with you on some things but on this point you are right on the money. Visiting a new chess club is very good. I bet the club is situated in Waverly.

May I suggest that they consider subscribing to the Chess Victoria newsletter. I am prepared to continue to distribute this irrespective of the results of the Chess Victoria election.

Sorry, wrong - the club was in Broadmeadows!

Thank you for your offer to distribute the CV email newsletter - I accept your offer; but warn you that there will be significant change to the way email addresses are collected, the way emails are sent (and tracked!), formatted (with pictures and colors) and the technology behind the system. It won't leave you with much to do (except click SEND) unless you want to get involved in writing some content as well?

**flavid dude** · 09-25-2009, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by ChessGuru

Sorry, wrong - the club was in Broadmeadows!

Thank you for your offer to distribute the CV email newsletter - I accept your offer; but warn you that there will be significant change to the way email addresses are collected, the way emails are sent (and tracked!), formatted (with pictures and colors) and the technology behind the system. It won't leave you with much to do (except click SEND) unless you want to get involved in writing some content as well?

The software that Chess Victoria uses will do formatting and colours and photos. I appreciate that you had an old email address in the system and may not have seen the emails Chess Victoria sends out. (This has been fixed. It astonishes me how many people forget to update their email addresses.).The techncial problem with sending out large elegant newsletters is that once they get above a certain size they often get blocked by corporate firewalls. Some corporate firewalls even block all attachments.

The astonishingly simple solution that we use at Box Hill is to put the bulletins on the club web page and then send out short emails suggesting where people should look. The program that I use is designed for use by clubs and non profit organizations and is relatively cheap. The programs used by commercial organizations tend to be far more expensive but have more features.

The rule in Information Technology is that you can get 90% of the benefits for 60% of the cost.

Of course if your company is willing to let Chess Victoria use your software for free then this would be an elegant solution.

**ChessGuru** · 09-26-2009, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by flavid dude

The software that Chess Victoria uses will do formatting and colours and photos. I appreciate that you had an old email address in the system and may not have seen the emails Chess Victoria sends out. (This has been fixed. It astonishes me how many people forget to update their email addresses.).The techncial problem with sending out large elegant newsletters is that once they get above a certain size they often get blocked by corporate firewalls. Some corporate firewalls even block all attachments.

Thanks - my email address is cordover at chesskids.com.au - it hasn't changed for about 12 years.... If you have email addresses on the system more than a decade old then I think that tells us something about the SYSTEMS which CV is using to keep in touch with people.

I'm pretty sure that the blocking of emails is a problem which many hundreds of thousands of businesses have overcome; I'm confident that CV can do the same.

**Ninja** · 09-26-2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by ChessGuru

Thanks - my email address is cordover at chesskids.com.au - it hasn't changed for about 12 years.... If you have email addresses on the system more than a decade old then I think that tells us something about the SYSTEMS which CV is using to keep in touch with people.

I'm pretty sure that the blocking of emails is a problem which many hundreds of thousands of businesses have overcome; I'm confident that CV can do the same.

What wrong with having email addresses that are 10 years old ??
Mine still works after 15+ years and you have admitted yours has been the same for 12 years. It is obvious that your only experience is with kids who tend to change emails on a regular basis. Most adults who have spent much time on the net see no reason to regularly change their email address.

How many less potential customers do YOU have since you wiped your Chess Kids list and started again ??. Proper maintaining of a email list should automatically remove emails after multiple bounces but there is absolutely no reason to remove people just because you have not heard from them. I am sure there are plenty of people on the CV list who have not played OTB for a while and continuing that contact may be what brings them back.

You comment re overcoming blocking of emails means one of two things.
1) You have no idea what you are doing? (I vote for this one)

or
2) You are a GOD who can overcome Corporate firewalls and company IT policy with a wave of your hand and we all should vote for you to be president and sit back and watch the glory

**Thomas Bishop** · 09-26-2009, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Ninja

What wrong with having email addresses that are 10 years old ??

Nothing

Most adults who have spent much time on the net see no reason to regularly change their email address.

I agree

I am sure there are plenty of people on the CV list who have not played OTB for a while and continuing that contact may be what brings them back.

I agee with this statement as well

You comment re overcoming blocking of emails means one of two things.
1) You have no idea what you are doing? (I vote for this one)
or
2) You are a GOD who can overcome Corporate firewalls and company IT policy with a wave of your hand and we all should vote for you to be president and sit back and watch the glory

No, I don't agree with this part

**flavid dude** · 09-26-2009, 05:45 PM

David Cordovers address that I corrected was chessguru....... I cannot remember the rest of the address as I have deleted it.

**santa** · 01-03-2010, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by ChessGuru

I'm pretty sure that the blocking of emails is a problem which many hundreds of thousands of businesses have overcome; I'm confident that CV can do the same.

It surprises me how many businesses, big ones at that, advise people to look un their junk folder for the email they send.

These simple rules offend nobody:
1. Plain text only
2. no HTML - see 1
3. No graphics - see 1.
4. As far as possible, don't talk about money, seks, drugs. Those are key words often filtered for.

A short summay of key points and a link to the website's article. People with slow internet speeds, small devices (phones) and so on won't have problems with such email.

On the website
Don't for a moment think that what looks good in a custom-shaped flyer looks good on any computer screen. I've found catalogues from the likes of woolworths/BigW and their ilk next to unreadable.

Don't for a moment imagine that a document that displays nicely on a screen is good to print.

Don't make any assumptions about the size or shape of peoples'screens. I'm using a Dell 1901FP. It's rotated to portrate mode - 1024x1280, it's good for much IT work and astonishingly good for web browsing - there's room for all the guff at the top and for a decent amount of content,

Oh, do not publish word documents, spreadsheets or the like. Not everyone has (or wants) MS Office, newer versions' documents are indeciferable to older versions, and it's not unknown for older versions' documents to be indeciferable to newer versions.

09-24-2009, 01:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
ChessGuru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 232	Chess tournaments for the future My latest blog post talks about chess tournaments. I need your help -- what are the 'tournaments of the future' ....

09-24-2009, 10:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ninja Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 124	Originally Posted by ChessGuru My latest blog post talks about chess tournaments. I need your help -- what are the 'tournaments of the future' .... From your blog...."Our primary objective is to address the needs of 1600-2000 players – they tend to like weekenders. So we need to have a strong Victorian GP series. Good idea to spread it around so it helps all the clubs … have one at least on every long weekend which CV promotes: Australia Day, Labour Day (Ballarat), Easter, ANZAC Day, Q B’Day, Melb Cup Day…. plus I’d like to see a couple more. Round it up to 8. Eight is a nice number – I think it suits chess." Any reason you wish to cut back on the number of weekender's in VIC ?? There are 9 this year just counting the ones entered in the GP without looking at others not on that list. Please at least do your homework before preaching to us all how you can do better

09-25-2009, 12:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
SHump Hamilton Chess, NZ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand Posts: 216	Conflicts of interest.... Let me state it here that I am a nominated CV delegate of my club for the CV AGM. Apart from putting my club's interests first at the AGM, as I would suppose each delegate will be doing, I would think I would have the least conflict of interest of all if not most chatters here (I am a recent import to Vic, and just getting back to OTB chess this year). As to deciding who to vote for at the AGM, my approach is two simple steps: a) wait to see who nominates on the day (just because there is a thread here with a similar title doesn't in my book mean it will happen like that). I have no idea of what correspondence concerning nominations has already passed to the chairman of the AGM, but I would suspect many would only nominate when the chairman, at the AGM, asks for nominations. b) discuss with my colleagues and fellow delegates as to the merits of each candidate. As to discussing this at a club committee meeting, that would be OK as far as it goes -- if you can predict who will nominate then they may have something to discuss. But a lot of supposition would be the order of the day I am guessing. If there was some way of getting all of the candidates to pre-publish their manifesto/platform/their record/vision/aims or whatever you choose to call it, in advance of the AGM, then it would be helpful for all I would suspect in making an informed decision. However, I don't think CC or the other forum is the right place for this. On here, the squeaky wheel gets the most attention, which is good if you have a lot of oil and you are prepared to apply it often and liberally. The chat sites are good for all to comment about the topic, items near to the topic, and stuff far removed from the topic all on the same page!! But as far as trying to convince me that someone has a better approach than someone else when it comes to running a chess group/administration, once a candidate has published their manifesto, I personally would prefer the candidate to say less than more. Sure, some enthusiasm for the job would be welcome, and making things happen behind the scenes is also good (and yes, transparency and accountability have to be there as well). Would it be too much to ask for pleasant personal attributes as well? But each to their own yardstick on this. After all we are talking about incorporated associations for chess players and not a US Presidential styled campaign. Sigh, what I have written above is something perhaps self-evident to the majority of both the posters and the many people that read but do not post on here (the silent majority). If my reaction to what has been posted so far on this and other threads regarding the CV elections is shared by the silent majority, then maybe I should also nominate for the CV President job. At least there may be like minds then working together. But more importantly, I think most posters are taking themselves and their targets way too seriously and need to lighten up. I have come back to OTB chess for enjoyment and the social interaction. Neither of these attributes seem to be in abundance in the related discussions so far. __________________ Scott.. Hamilton Chess club (http://hamiltonchess.net/) secretary and chess enthusiast!

09-25-2009, 12:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
flavid dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 336	can the moderator of your blog please post my comment I would not want you to look inefficient.

09-25-2009, 01:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
flavid dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 336	thanks quick action once I pointed it out.

09-25-2009, 01:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
ChessGuru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 232	Originally Posted by Ninja Any reason you wish to cut back on the number of weekender's in VIC ?? There are 9 this year just counting the ones entered in the GP without looking at others not on that list. Please at least do your homework before preaching to us all how you can do better Good point -- I didn't think to look up the GP to see how many were being run this year. Have you checked CVs website to see how many CV is promoting? C'mon Ninja - we'd like to generate some new ideas and constructive discussion. It would be appreciated if you didn't nit-pick and focus on negatives ... Can you please try again and this time pick some things you WANT to see happen to put in your post. Thanks.

09-25-2009, 01:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
ChessGuru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 232	Originally Posted by flavid dude quick action once I pointed it out. Sorry David - I've been to Glen Waverley, Broadmeadows and Geelong today - wasn't near a computer between when you posted the comment and now. Didn't think to check for comments on my phone (which I could have done). There will be a post coming soon about Melbourne's newest chess club...a decent 30 players there today and only in its 3rd week. I think there's potential....

09-25-2009, 12:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
flavid dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 336	great work David Originally Posted by ChessGuru Sorry David - I've been to Glen Waverley, Broadmeadows and Geelong today - wasn't near a computer between when you posted the comment and now. Didn't think to check for comments on my phone (which I could have done). There will be a post coming soon about Melbourne's newest chess club...a decent 30 players there today and only in its 3rd week. I think there's potential.... I may disagree with you on some things but on this point you are right on the money. Visiting a new chess club is very good. I bet the club is situated in Waverly. May I suggest that they consider subscribing to the Chess Victoria newsletter. I am prepared to continue to distribute this irrespective of the results of the Chess Victoria election.

09-25-2009, 06:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
ChessGuru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 232	Originally Posted by flavid dude I may disagree with you on some things but on this point you are right on the money. Visiting a new chess club is very good. I bet the club is situated in Waverly. May I suggest that they consider subscribing to the Chess Victoria newsletter. I am prepared to continue to distribute this irrespective of the results of the Chess Victoria election. Sorry, wrong - the club was in Broadmeadows! Thank you for your offer to distribute the CV email newsletter - I accept your offer; but warn you that there will be significant change to the way email addresses are collected, the way emails are sent (and tracked!), formatted (with pictures and colors) and the technology behind the system. It won't leave you with much to do (except click SEND) unless you want to get involved in writing some content as well?

09-25-2009, 10:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
flavid dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 336	software Originally Posted by ChessGuru Sorry, wrong - the club was in Broadmeadows! Thank you for your offer to distribute the CV email newsletter - I accept your offer; but warn you that there will be significant change to the way email addresses are collected, the way emails are sent (and tracked!), formatted (with pictures and colors) and the technology behind the system. It won't leave you with much to do (except click SEND) unless you want to get involved in writing some content as well? The software that Chess Victoria uses will do formatting and colours and photos. I appreciate that you had an old email address in the system and may not have seen the emails Chess Victoria sends out. (This has been fixed. It astonishes me how many people forget to update their email addresses.).The techncial problem with sending out large elegant newsletters is that once they get above a certain size they often get blocked by corporate firewalls. Some corporate firewalls even block all attachments. The astonishingly simple solution that we use at Box Hill is to put the bulletins on the club web page and then send out short emails suggesting where people should look. The program that I use is designed for use by clubs and non profit organizations and is relatively cheap. The programs used by commercial organizations tend to be far more expensive but have more features. The rule in Information Technology is that you can get 90% of the benefits for 60% of the cost. Of course if your company is willing to let Chess Victoria use your software for free then this would be an elegant solution.

09-26-2009, 11:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
ChessGuru Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne Posts: 232	Originally Posted by flavid dude The software that Chess Victoria uses will do formatting and colours and photos. I appreciate that you had an old email address in the system and may not have seen the emails Chess Victoria sends out. (This has been fixed. It astonishes me how many people forget to update their email addresses.).The techncial problem with sending out large elegant newsletters is that once they get above a certain size they often get blocked by corporate firewalls. Some corporate firewalls even block all attachments. Thanks - my email address is cordover at chesskids.com.au - it hasn't changed for about 12 years.... If you have email addresses on the system more than a decade old then I think that tells us something about the SYSTEMS which CV is using to keep in touch with people. I'm pretty sure that the blocking of emails is a problem which many hundreds of thousands of businesses have overcome; I'm confident that CV can do the same.

09-26-2009, 02:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ninja Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 124	Originally Posted by ChessGuru Thanks - my email address is cordover at chesskids.com.au - it hasn't changed for about 12 years.... If you have email addresses on the system more than a decade old then I think that tells us something about the SYSTEMS which CV is using to keep in touch with people. I'm pretty sure that the blocking of emails is a problem which many hundreds of thousands of businesses have overcome; I'm confident that CV can do the same. What wrong with having email addresses that are 10 years old ?? Mine still works after 15+ years and you have admitted yours has been the same for 12 years. It is obvious that your only experience is with kids who tend to change emails on a regular basis. Most adults who have spent much time on the net see no reason to regularly change their email address. How many less potential customers do YOU have since you wiped your Chess Kids list and started again ??. Proper maintaining of a email list should automatically remove emails after multiple bounces but there is absolutely no reason to remove people just because you have not heard from them. I am sure there are plenty of people on the CV list who have not played OTB for a while and continuing that contact may be what brings them back. You comment re overcoming blocking of emails means one of two things. 1) You have no idea what you are doing? (I vote for this one) or 2) You are a GOD who can overcome Corporate firewalls and company IT policy with a wave of your hand and we all should vote for you to be president and sit back and watch the glory

09-26-2009, 05:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
Thomas Bishop Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 253	Originally Posted by Ninja What wrong with having email addresses that are 10 years old ?? Nothing Most adults who have spent much time on the net see no reason to regularly change their email address. I agree I am sure there are plenty of people on the CV list who have not played OTB for a while and continuing that contact may be what brings them back. I agee with this statement as well You comment re overcoming blocking of emails means one of two things. 1) You have no idea what you are doing? (I vote for this one) or 2) You are a GOD who can overcome Corporate firewalls and company IT policy with a wave of your hand and we all should vote for you to be president and sit back and watch the glory No, I don't agree with this part

09-26-2009, 05:45 PM	#14 (permalink)
flavid dude Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 336	David Cordovers email address David Cordovers address that I corrected was chessguru....... I cannot remember the rest of the address as I have deleted it.

01-03-2010, 11:37 AM	#15 (permalink)
santa Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Meadow Springs wa Posts: 64 FICS Handle: johncs	Originally Posted by ChessGuru I'm pretty sure that the blocking of emails is a problem which many hundreds of thousands of businesses have overcome; I'm confident that CV can do the same. It surprises me how many businesses, big ones at that, advise people to look un their junk folder for the email they send. These simple rules offend nobody: 1. Plain text only 2. no HTML - see 1 3. No graphics - see 1. 4. As far as possible, don't talk about money, seks, drugs. Those are key words often filtered for. A short summay of key points and a link to the website's article. People with slow internet speeds, small devices (phones) and so on won't have problems with such email. On the website Don't for a moment think that what looks good in a custom-shaped flyer looks good on any computer screen. I've found catalogues from the likes of woolworths/BigW and their ilk next to unreadable. Don't for a moment imagine that a document that displays nicely on a screen is good to print. Don't make any assumptions about the size or shape of peoples'screens. I'm using a Dell 1901FP. It's rotated to portrate mode - 1024x1280, it's good for much IT work and astonishingly good for web browsing - there's room for all the guff at the top and for a decent amount of content, Oh, do not publish word documents, spreadsheets or the like. Not everyone has (or wants) MS Office, newer versions' documents are indeciferable to older versions, and it's not unknown for older versions' documents to be indeciferable to newer versions.

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