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This event is open to all members of a FIDE national federation, but CS nominates one "official" CS representative, whose registration/entry fee it will pay (subject to budgetary constraints). All entrants must find their own travel and accommodation costs

Would any interested parties please register via the Rijeka organisers' website themselves (it's straightforward) and notify me by 15 September so that David Congalton can make a bulk transfer by end September.

This takes place 25 April - 4 May

Chess Scotland is entitled to nominate two players for this tournament. This would allow free entry to the tournament. If you are interested please contact me by 30 Novemebr. I already have one request.

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These tournaments have struggled for interest of late which is a shame. It is clearly a time to revitalise them but how that can be done is a bit of a conundrum. There is at least one new idea under consideration but if there are any ideas that can go into the mix please let me know.

Do you qualify for one or the other (MacIsaac = club champion or substitute graded 1850 or more, Nancy Elder = under 1850 (1775 for juniors)) but won't take up your entitlement? If not, why not? What would encourage you to to take part?

Any thoughts?
Keith Rose

With so few norm opportunities in Scotland (usually only the Scottish) I was hopeful of hosting a norm tournament alongside a couple of events for other participants.
For the norm tournament the idea was to hopefully attract three GMs/IMs (some conditions available) and three FMs (free entry) with the other four spaces going to aspiring 2200+ players.

I've drawn up some rough details below and added a poll to try to gauge if there would be interest in the events below... Any comments/suggestions welcome

Scottish Winter Chess Festival

Edinburgh Chess Club

Friday December 27th – Sunday 5th January


Group A – FIDE rated 10 player closed all play all norm tournament

3pm starts each day except New Years Day (rest day)

1st - £500

Group B 1800 and over

3pm start each day except New Years Day (rest day)

10 players – all play all

1st – £400
2nd - £200
GP – £100

Group C 1800 and below

10am start each day except New Years Day (rest day)

1st – £350
2nd – £200
2 x GP – £100 each

A nine round swiss event (20 players maximum).


Entry Fees: £85 for all events

Glad to see the positive outflows with regards proxies and constitution but can I ask what the other priorities are for the coming months for CS, and what is the order of priority?

Personally I fear that a lot of energy and time could go into resolving problems we didn't know we had or which are not most significant on the list of problems, and which when solved will not actually contribute to resolving more fundamental problems e.g. funding, lack of progression of juniors, falling membership of clubs.

I have no doubt that CS would be a better organization if it had a dynamic agm that involved more of the members: that is certainly the first step towards getting more people involved and the proxy vote is part of that for sure but only part.

I personally feel that there has been a lack of transparency and engagement and that could be addressed without changes to rules&regulation.

Folks,

It's time for some home truths.

I haven't posted for some time but in the interests of moving forward, particularly in junior chess, both at national and international level, I wish you to sit down and consider the following...

A huge amount of unselfish, unpaid work is done behind the scenes and has been for many years.

Donald, Jacqui, Phil, Michael, Alan, Andrew, Calum, Clement, Adam, Neil, Matthew, Heather, Jonathan, David, Andy, Hugh, Mike, Bryan, Mahir......the list is endless and apologies for the dozens of others I have not mentioned but it would be impossible to mention everyone. I wouldn't like to even dream of the sacrifices given by a well known family from Maybole in Ayrshire. All of these folk give up their time, unpaid, to support junior chess at home and abroad including giving up their own holidays.

Now I know most or all of them may be a wee bit embarrassed that I am bringing this up but it's time that they were recognised for the fantastic work they have done both in the present and in the past.

I would also like you to consider the commitments and sacrifices that have been made over a long number of years by families to support junior players. Flights, transfers, accommodation, entry money etc all paid for by parents.

I am going to give you one example...A set of parents spent £5500 of their own money supporting their child at one year's international events alone recently. That's not including trekking up and down the country supporting Scottish congresses.

I am not posting this to chastise anyone in anyway, far from it. I just want everyone to draw a deep breath and consider the passion and commitment these folks have in supporting junior chess.

If you feel you wish to help in any way at all in junior chess, whether within or outwith ChessScotland, be it setting and clearing tables at an SJC event, being a chaperone at a national event or giving a lift to folk to the airport for an international event, whatever, step forward because Scottish junior chess will always need your very much appreciated support.

The deep pride and delight you will feel at every success is worth it, I assure you.

I paid £299.99 for this pile of crap.


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There are still a few places available for the one day event to be held on Sunday September 1 2013 in the Wandering Dragons venue at 11 Drummond Place in Edinburgh.

If you are graded 2000 or over and would be interested in playing please contact Alan Minnican <!-- e --><a href="mailto:alanminnican@hotmail.com">alanminnican@hotmail.com</a><!-- e -->

List of entrants: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://chessscotland.com/tournament.php?tid=9340113072866">http://chessscotland.com/tournament.php ... 0113072866</a><!-- m -->


Address: Polish Combatant Association Ltd,
11 Drummond Place,
Edinburgh,
EH3 6PJ
Start Date: Sunday 01/09/2013

Events: Open
Entries to: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:alanminnican@hotmail.com">alanminnican@hotmail.com</a><!-- e -->
Limited to 32 players and is by invitation only.

Posted on behalf of Alan Minnican

Hi all

Can someone please advise who organises the Tiger Cubs at 1 Alva St these days? I'd appreciate if you could PM/email me their phone number and email address. Have friends who have a son who would like to find out about joining.

Thanks
Andrew

Sorry Andy, this is definitely the incorrect title for what you are aiming for.

There have been all too many schisms within Scottish Chess over the last 15 or so years. What is needed now is a revision of the Constitution rather than a reformation.