What am I doing?

[E Michael White]

I think CJ on question time is a good idea. They usually try and have questions relevant to the panellists so there would be a good chance of getting a mention for chess, perhaps in connection with education.

I agree with Michele and I cant see any downside to CJ appearing on Question TIme. The risk of CJ having or expressing some outrageous view must be low and any personal views he holds on non chess matters should be seen as his own and not as representative of chess players.

[Stewart Reuben]

I've appeared on Newsnight as have Harry Lamb, David Norwood, Nigl Short. We were all on the same programme and it was Nigel who was actually interviewed. I just got two video clips. I have also been on News at One.
Kasparov was inteviewed by Wogan on his show in 1983. So was somebody else at a similar period.
Nigel also appeared on a major chat show in 1993.
Bill Hartston was inteviewed by Tim Rice (now Sir) when he had his own chat program.

To get the same depth of coverage, we need a major event or a major scandal. Thus the London initiatives are very welcome. To get the deph of cover we had in 1972, 1986 or 1993 is quite different.
Stewart Reuben

[Michele Clack]

Getting back to the advertising on internet chess servers idea, how about sounding one or two out to see if they might be interested in givng us free advertising in exchange for free advertising of their server on the ECF website. After all not only are computer chess players quite likely to be interested in Over The Board chess but OTB players are quite likely to be interested in getting some extra practice on the internet. There are 2 possible models:
(1) Offer an exclusive deal to the biggest server, whichever that might be.
(2)If (1) doesn't work or you think it better, offer it to every server.

Could be worth a try perhaps.

[Scott Freeman]

Stewart wrote "To get the same depth of coverage, we need a major event or a major scandal. "

I assume this is not an invitation for someone to come up with a scandal........!!!!

[Kevin Thurlow]

Stewart wrote "To get the same depth of coverage, we need a major event or a major scandal. "

Scott wrote "I assume this is not an invitation for someone to come up with a scandal........!!!! "

There have been major scandals, but there is usually a serious attempt at a cover up...

[Jonathan Rogers]

To add to Stewart's list, the absurd Nathan Divinsky was interviewed twice on Wogan in 1986. Short was the guest on Clive Anderson's chat show on Channel 4 in 1992, I think - because I believe it was after he beat Karpov but before he beat Timman, and at the time there was still talk of the 1993 final in Los Angeles. The latter experience was quite funny, and ended with NS doing a simul with knockouts in chess, draughts, and Cluedo (where he just stared at the board and announced the solution!)

[Matt Mackenzie]

Kasparov was inteviewed by Wogan on his show in 1983. Stewart Reuben

Pretty sure it was after he became WC (1986??)

[Stewart Reuben]

Michelle >Getting back to the advertising on internet chess servers idea, how about sounding one or two out to see if they might be interested in givng us free advertising in exchange for free advertising of their server on the ECF website. After all not only are computer chess players quite likely to be interested in Over The Board chess but OTB players are quite likely to be interested in getting some extra practice on the internet. There are 2 possible models:
(1) Offer an exclusive deal to the biggest server, whichever that might be.
(2)If (1) doesn't work or you think it better, offer it to every server.

Could be worth a try perhaps.<

In my opinion, this type of excellent initiative has to wait until we have a website of which we can be proud. That is is ot fit for purpose is no reflection on the ECF Office.
Stewart Reuben

[Carl Hibbard]

In my opinion, this type of excellent initiative has to wait until we have a website of which we can be proud. That is is ot fit for purpose is no reflection on the ECF Office.
Stewart Reuben

The site used to advertise the ChessCube service but I am not SURE what happened or what the deal was with that?

[Stewart Reuben]

Carl >The site used to advertise the ChessCube service but I am not sure what happened or what the deal was with that?<

I have no idea either. When things are working again, all this will need looking into.

Stewart

[John Upham]

Stewart,

Have you (or are you in the process of) formulating your strategy as the new Director of Marketing? Are you able to provide some hints as to what you have in store? I assume you will need to increased the spend over the previous two years? I recall ~ £250 was spent in each of last two years by the Marketing Department.

[Scott Freeman]

1 Stewart Reuben wrote "To get the same depth of coverage, we need a major event or a major scandal. "
2 I wrote "I assume this is not an invitation for someone to come up with a scandal........!!!! "
3 Kevin Thurlow wrote: There have been major scandals, but there is usually a serious attempt at a cover up...

Kevin

You think I don't know that? The trouble is that I have found that too often, the cover up works; at least in the short term. One day the lid is going to blown off some of the issues that have been covered up over the years and the truth will out. Then some jaws might hit the floor. The trouble is that, in my experience, too often people don't want the truth if it rocks the boat or brings disharmony and those that speak the truth are the ones condemned and ostracised.

So Kevin - is this a lead to a new thread...........?

[Stewart Reuben]

John Upham >Stewart,Have you (or are you in the process of) formulating your strategy as the new Director of Marketing? Are you able to provide some hints as to what you have in store? I assume you will need to increased the spend over the previous two years? I recall ~ £250 was spent in each of last two years by the Marketing Department.<

In the process of formulating. I am concentrating also on forming a team.
Due to the parlous state of the ECF budget, I do not expect marketing to need a bigger expenditure - income than in the last couple of years.
Publicity had £500 in the BCF budget in 1977. Of course the internet has made this cheaper.
I am sure marketing, which include all sorts of things working together with other directors, has been a provider of income for the federation over the past 32 years. but it is not shown in the budgets as the income is distributed under the separate headings such as:
game fee
membership
sponsorship of international events
sponsorship of national events
and so on.
I will be particularly looking at the first three.
Stewart Reuben

[cjdemooi]

Apologies for my absence but I'm back now and ready to get working.

I understand the comments, both negative and positive, towards certain suggestions that have been made. This is fine and it's important that everything is discussed, but are any alternative thoughts being offered?

We want to promote chess in a public (preferably televisual) arena, so what do you propose? I've said before, I'll do whatever it takes to further the game in the public consciousness, so pease just come forward with something.

Ben is working amazingly hard for us all and must be supported (I think we're all aware of the high turnover in ECF posts) as he is committed, energetic and imaginative.

There are some very dedicated people in the ECF who work, without a penny in pay or expenses, purely for the benefit of our game because they recognise the terrible situation English chess is in and actively want to do something about it.

Perhaps I'm being overly idealistic but that's what I believe and why I wanted this job...I don't have to do anything as President and could simply enjoy having my name on the stationery for a year.

The federation is here to help all players and chess itself. There are tens of thousands of us...if we work together with a common goal, surely it can be achieved?

[William Metcalfe]

We have a wonderfull oppertunity coming up with the london tournament to gain some wonderfull promotion for the game off chess.
So you creative people out there what are the best ways to maximise this opportunity.
How do we get the event onto TV
We know the press will be there but what we need to do is preach to the unconverted.

Nice post CJ you are right there are 100s of unpaid volontears that keep chess running in this country especially at the grass roots most chess clubs are kept ticking over and organised by 2 or 3 people.We really need to tap into this resorce and get people working together if we can get the majority all pulling in the same direction we must be able to achieve something good.