SCA - SJCA Merger Update

The Councils of the Scottish Chess Association and Scottish Junior Chess Association have both resolved to embrace the concept of a merger from July 2001. A merger is seen by both Councils as the potentially best option for maximising development of chess in Scotland.

Update April 2001: There are only two months to go before proposals for any merger between the SCA and SJCA are put before our respective Councils. Several discussions have taken place amongst different members of both organisations to help find the optimal solutions to various issues. This update has been agreed by the steering group [Rod Tweedie, Iain Mackintosh, Ronnie Macdonald and me]

There is a general agreement that one of the benefits of merger would be the ability to use a central database of members, facilitating family membership. George Anderson has been developing a membership processing facility based on Microsoft Access databases for the SCA, and discussions have taken place on what additional features need to be included to satisfy junior requirements.

The database will also be used to allow a section of the website to be made available for members only. The software for this has already been developed by Donald Holmes, with the intention of making added value services [e.g. annotated games] available in the protected area of the site.

The database work is being done in parallel with the Scottish Correspondence Chess Association who are also pursuing holding e-mail addresses which could be used for future efficient e-communications. The database will be used in parallel with existing systems over the next couple of months, including the distribution of the April issue of Scottish Chess.

Initial consideration has been given to possible membership provisions for people of all ages. Further work is being done on the principles and implications for financial projections. Initial consideration has also been given to the structure of the new organisation, building on the principle that those active in particular areas should be empowered to run those areas, within the context of an approved budget and the organisation's overall priorities.

Discussions on the promotion of chess in schools are taking place in different regions over the next month to bring together the successful ideas operating in these different areas, so that all can benefit from best practice.

And a group is also looking at international chess.

We would like to get reaction from members of both organisations to the name of any merged organisation. The two names favoured by the steering group are the traditional Scottish Chess Federation and the modern Chess Scotland. 105 countries in the world have federation in their title [compared with only 12 with association]. Not surprisingly, only one country has the modern style [namely Chess South Africa]. Please register your view with Sam Collins either by e-mail to Office@ChessScotland.com

John Glendinning President (SCA)

Rod Tweedie President (SJCA)