Hi all,

I have been nominated as disability office and I thank you for that. I see my role as assisting organisers and disabled organisations with a view to helping promote chess to all with my focus in the disabled community. I would like to set up my stall from the offset and ask for everybody's help here. I would like to collate statistics and find out the following.

1. how many disabled people currently play chess and what percentage are children
2. What different types of disability will Chess Scotland be asked to accommodate now and in the future.
3. What resources should Chess Scotland be providing and are we failing to do
4. What past experiences have both disabled and able bodied players had and any comments would be appreciated on making sure it doesn't happen again.
5. Has any disabled players made any past complaints about playing conditions
6. Have any chess clubs or organisations such as regional leagues made any contact with disabled organisations
I would welcome any comments to my email address <!-- e --><a href="mailto:ian.brownlee@systemsit.co.uk">ian.brownlee@systemsit.co.uk</a><!-- e -->

Morning Everyone.

Some great work on Motion 1. Is really good to see what we can do here and people have noticed. I intend (with Steves approval of course) to take the wording to Council in the form: Proposed Andy (on behalf of the noticeboard!) Seconded Steve

Looking through the posts I have the following wording which I ask you to continue refining


CS GUIDELINES – Proposed for CS organised events

1 These guidelines shall be used for all tournaments run by Chess Scotland

2. No one has the right to refuse to meet either a disabled player against whom he has been correctly paired or an able bodied player against whom they have been correctly paired

3 All chess venues should ideally be accessible to all. Failing that an alternative venue with full supervision for those who cannot access the nominated venue would be acceptable.

4 The entry form and website listing(s) should ask whether any potential competitor has an impairment that will require special circumstances. The competitor should inform the organisers about any special circumstances as soon as possible before the start of the event. The less advance notice given to the organiser, the less the competitor can expect cooperation.

5. No disabled player shall be penalised in accordance with the Laws of Chess because of disability.

6. Any disabled competitor, who reasonably requests in time the placing of their equipment in a particular seat or orientation, has the right to do so - provided that they does not disadvantage their opponent or other competitors. The event organiser must ensure the needs of both players are catered for.

7. In any events solely for disabled players there should be a tournament physician, if possible

The tournament director and the chief arbiter shall address sympathetically any requirements (preferably stated well in advance) for assistance with
• Accessing refreshments
• Pressing the clock
• Size of print on official notices.
• Size of scoresheets
• Any other assistance required by the disabled player.


Frequently these requirements will be addressed by the disabled player supplying their own assistant.

However, if the opponent is acting as an assistant the arbiter may decide to give him extra thinking time.

8. After making the pairings the Arbiter shall decide manually on which board each player shall play: Visually impaired players should always play at the same board as unless they request otherwise. Players in wheelchairs require a larger space but not necessarily 3 m wide aisles throughout the venue as implicated in the FIDE guidelines.

9 Assistants should
• Have at least a minimum knowledge of chess.
• Know the name of the pieces in the disabled player’s language.
• Inform the player when they are leaving the chess board temporarily.
• . Where necessary record the moves: This can be a useful tool for the arbiter.

10 Time Trouble
In a time trouble situation featuring a visually disabled players the arbiter should bear in mind that the opponent, if not disabled, can reply almost immediately.

The competition rules should state: If a visually disabled player has less than five minutes left at any stage of a time control, then he does not have to keep score, even when there is an increment of 30 seconds or more. After the time trouble, they must then update their scoresheet.

I see this event advertised as taking place on Sep 6th but there is no option to download an entry form. Has say entry forms already been circulated to schools?

I have been having discussion on what the deal is with CM + NM titles on another forum. Can anyone clarify for me?

Someone is insisting CM = 2200 and NM = 2100, and along with FM, the CM + NM titles don't require norms. Is this correct?

Apparently your FIDE rating also only has to hit 2200 or 2100 at any point in the tournament and you get the CM or NM (even if your rating falls below required level by end of tournament). This is so long as you or your federation pay whatever fees are involved. Is this correct?

We have 1xCM in Scotland and 0xNM as far as I am aware. Surely we would have more of both if the above were the requirements? Also NM in general seems pretty rare, although I see a lot of them on Chess.Com - is NM possibly a country specific title?

Looking to improve my endgames (the part of chess I enjoy the most!) anyone recommend a book that gives good explanation of fortresses?

Am going to fly over at play at Hastings this year, and wondering if any of you guys are going?

Copy of invitation, in case anyone who might be interested has not been included on the mailing list.

Dear Friends

You are cordially invited to the Inaugural Annual General Meeting of Lothian Junior Chess.

Hitherto the running of Schools Chess in the Lothians has been undertakent by an informal group of parents and other interested parties. To continue activities and build on them it is now seen to be appropriate to lend a little more formality/democracy to proceedings by putting them in the charge of a Committee elected by those participating in the various competitions. A Constitution has been drawn up and the main purposes of the forthcoming meeting will be to approve the draft attached and elect the Committee members and Office Bearers to conduct affairs for the 2014/5 season.

The members of the existing Committee have agreed to stand for election as members/officers for the new Committee; other members of the local chess community have also agreed to put themselves forward for election..

The current Committee believe the programmes that have operated in the past have made a valuable contribution to the chess-playing skills and social development of many Lothian children. I exhort you to come along to the meeting to show your support and feed in your ideas for the future (and even to put yourself forward for Committee membership or some lesser role) to ensure the continuance and furtherance of schools chess in the area.

Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available prior to the meeting from 7 p.m.

Hoping to see you on the 28th

Bill Platts Chairman on behalf of the current Committee.


LOTHIAN JUNIOR CHESS

AGENDA FOR THE INAUGURAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

TO BE HELD AT 7.30 ON THURS 28/8/14 AT EDINBURGH CHESS CLUB (1 ALVA ST)

1.. Welcome/apologies

2. Chairman' s remarks/ Committee activities

3. Competition report 2013/4

4. Financial report 2013/4 - see attached

5. Programme for 2014/5

6. Adoption of Constitution - see attached

7. Election of Committee/Officers.

8. AOB

Glasgow's iconic, Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed Scotland Street Primary School, now one of Glasgow's premier museums, has given Chess Scotland the go-ahead to platform a celebration of the Commonwealth Chess Championships, held early in July.

Centre stage will be a "master class" for 4-6 (different) youngsters each day (ideally primary school age and with at least one girl), on August 30/31, against a background of celebratory text and photos from the Commonwealth Championships on the theme "How the Commonwealth gave us the modern game". Chess, of course, originated in India, in the form of the ancient Indian game, Chaturanga. As we know, the Indian contingent took virtually all of the main prizes in Glasgow .... a historical wheel turned full circle.

The "master-class" will take place in the game-playing area of the Museum's current (excellent), long-running "Games" exhibition. The history of chess and various chess-related exhibits already feature prominently within that exhibition. The chess-players will enjoy a 'properly' instructive hour or two and have a chance to be shown round the museum (very well worth doing). We'll also have the opportunity to play and talk informally to members of the visiting public ... the overall emphasis will be to have fun all round.

I'll keep the noticeboard informed as further details are settled. Calum McQueen (IJD) is co-ordinating names / numbers of participating youngsters. I am dealing directly with the museum, and will lead the master-class, with help from Alex MacFarlane and Hamish Glen (and possibly others). Alex plans to base a 'travelling' exhibition to take around Scottish congresses on the celebratory text / photos used at the exhibition. This idea was an important element in CS's successful bid for £10K lottery funding for the Commonwealth Championships.

Put the dates in your diary, and if you can, do come along. You will enjoy it! Watch this space!

Norwegian news is reporting that a player from the Seychelles collapsed and died today during the games. There is speculation about who it is but until confirmed I will not mention names.

Sad news and a sad ending to a brilliant Olympiad

Whats the norm with the planning for the Scottish. Is the starting point usualy a bit of discussion on the subject at the upcoming AGM? Maybe there has even been some discussion already and there are draught plans, particularly with regards to location?

1. Given it may have to tie in with family holidays and require future planning and accomodation booking, when is a date likely to materialise?
2. Could we please ensure (if possible) that the next Scottish is well within the school holiday period?
3. As the last 2 Scottish's have been in the West, is it likely the next one will be in the East, or even the North (to spread the joy etc)?

I don't wish to get ahead of ourselves or give any of our great organising volunteers grief and stress. It just seemed a good time to raise these questions with an AGM around the corner.