Sensory Boards

[Jim Webster]

However, given that the whole thing seems rather complicated and unclear, it's maybe not an unreasonable issue to raise. Look at it another way. If a benefactor simply donates a sum of money and says, "get on with it" and it's then clear exactly what this money's being used for, then that's fine. That's not the case here, I don't believe.

I must have missed something in all this since the original announcement was, I thought, rather clear

Chess Scotland is pleased to announce that the 2012 Scottish Championships will be greatly enhanced thanks to the support of an anonymous benefactor.
This person wishes to remain unknown and we will honour that request. I am not able to say how much the arrangement is for, other than it is a significant amount........

The sponsorship is for the Scottish Championships, there is no indication that it is to be used for anything other than that. Chess Scotland is being allowed to draw an repayable advance for a specific purpose and to be repaid by the 2012 Championship.

Why do we need to know more than that? Lets just say thank you very much, we will put on events to justify your faith and support.

No further clarity seems to be required and don't think for one minute that our sponsor isn't reading all this and if it was me (and it's not!) - I would be starting to have doubts about the value of all this questioning.

[Ian McLachlan]

If the boards are paid for by congresses - as donations, hire charges or additional grading fees - it will ultimately be the participants in the congress who pay, because organiser will need to increase entry fees to cover the additional cost. That's a bit like asking players in a football match to pay the crowd's gate money! Some way should be found to have those who watch the games, i.e. those who are benefiting, meet the cost.

[Alex McFarlane]

Jim Webster gives the situation as it is. I thought I already had. I'm struggling to see what the complications are.

There is nothing more I can add other than I was asked by the benefactor to construct a budget. This was done and approved. I will do my utmost to adhere to that budget.

[SRB]

Jim, if you think it's clear and hunky dory, then that's fine; and the same goes for anyone else who feels that way.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not clear - people can cut and paste as much as they want, people can repeat the same thing as much as they want - that won't make it clear. I asked some very straightforward questions, which (in my opinion) haven't been addressed. This is only my opinion, and others may well feel that the questions were pointless or the situation has been clear from the beginning or has now been fully clarified - or, perhaps, that it just doesn't matter. That's fine as well.

[David G Congalton]

SRB - Which questions do you feel have not been addressed?

[Andy Howie]

Only thing I can find is numbers. As we have never done this before in Scotland I could not even begin to guess.

As for it not being Hunky dory I have yet to see the argument as to what the issue is. The boards have been ordered. I am hoping to have them in time for Grangemouth, but it will be a hit or miss as I have not used this system yet. I pity the League matches at EK that I am going to be using to test out with (Oh yea, I have not told them about this yet...)

[Andy Howie]

And if I can wade through the sea of negativity for a moment, is there anyone else who is interested in learning how to use these? One thing I need to do is make sure a couple of others can use the equipment. It was one of the reasons I wanted the wireless ones so that a person learning or using does not need a degree in networking to set it up. I will of course be writing manuals on the usage and until we have raised enough to cover it, I am also providing the computer for use.

The fees after the boards are paid for are simply to have funds their for repairs and, if we raise enough, to allow us to purchase further boards. More boards means more coverage (especially in the lower sections).

Although it would be a logistical nightmare, I love Andy McHarg's suggestion of being able to cover a congress completely

[David G Congalton]

I'm interested in learning how to use them but I will have to learn how to use the digital clocks first.

It's a pity Prestwick isn't until May next year, as the venue is booked and available for 24 hours each day and we could organise some sort of training before play started on the Friday or after the playing sessions on the Saturday or Sunday. Though after Saturday play could interfere with some Saturday night entertainment plans we may have.

I'd be happy to organise a training event before that, down here in deepest, darkest Ayrshire.

Perhaps we could combine it with an Ayrshire v East Kilbride match or I could see if I can line up 8 of the top and/or most promising Juniors to take on 8 of the top and/or most promising adults. The venue could be the Dunlop village hall in Ayrshire, if it's available. (Google it! =) ) Other alternative venues could be found, such as Prestwick Airport or the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock. Venue hire costs would not be an issue.

Anyone wishing to listen to Andy talk tech could come along. As David Deary has been quite quiet on the notice board I will volunteer both him and his brother as pupils and I'll throw Robin Moore's hat in the ring also.

I'd be happy to bring this up, ender AOCB, at the Ayrshire AGM on the 22nd of this month, if that helps.

[Donald Wilson]

At the risk of turning clear water into mud, can I add a few items to the mix?

Jim Webster asks how many sensory boards Chess Scotland has at present, and what will happen to them. The answer is none (zilch, gar nichts, rien du tout) - the ones we have used in recent years at the Scottish have been kindly lent to us by the ECF (yes, that much-maligned bunch of foreigners across the border). The eight boards we are in the process of acquiring will be the first sensory boards CS has ever owned.

The benefactor has promised a certain sum of money for next year's Scottish. And he/she has (or even, for all I know, they have) paid a chunk of that money up front, which we are using to buy sensory boards. These boards will be used at the Scottish (perhaps with some ECF ones on loan again as well), but the money being used to buy them has to be paid back into the budget for the Scottish so that the full amount of the donation is available to spend on that event. In the end, therefore, the boards must be paid for out of other CS income, not out of the donation for the Scottish.

To put it simply, we have received an interest-free loan to buy the eight sensory boards, but we must repay the loan by about the beginning of July 2012. Ideally, we want to raise the money either through new income generated by effective use of the boards (advertising, increased numbers of players in congresses) or through voluntary donations. Any form of compulsory levy would be bad news for all of us, but we have to look ahead beyond July 2012 and seek to cover running costs and depreciation. So there will be a hire fee for the use of the sensory boards, but the aim has to be for that fee to be paid out of increased income - there's certainly no sense in having congresses lose money because they opt to use the sensory boards.

[SRB]

Donald, thanks for that.

I'll say no more on the subject - I've said all I want to say! In fact, I think I've said all I want to for quite some time!