What am I doing?

[Stewart Reuben]

One good way to reflect sentiments expressed by CJ and William Metcalfe is for there to be a general agreement that NO more negative postings appear on this forum at least in 2009.

Stewart

[Carl Hibbard]

One good way to reflect sentiments expressed by CJ and William Metcalfe is for there to be a general agreement that NO more negative postings appear on this forum at least in 2009.

The ECF does need to communicate better in order to make this possible - both CFS and CoM are good examples where nobody actually seems to know what is going on?

[Peter Turner]

One good way to reflect sentiments expressed by CJ and William Metcalfe is for there to be a general agreement that NO more negative postings appear on this forum at least in 2009.

The ECF does need to communicate better in order to make this possible - both CFS and CoM are good examples where nobody actually seems to know what is going on?

I agree with Carl, what is really happening with CFS & CoM? Is CFS what we used to think of as 'Chess Sets for Schools', this appears to me to be now almost the sole responsibility of Holloids. We seem unable to get any honest breakdown of schools who have actually received their sets. CoM - we hope this is going to be a great success. What are the lines of communications between CFS, CoM and the support package etc. Do the schools receiving the chess sets also automatically get in formation about CoM and the support package - If YES then surely someone can say ???schools have enquired about the support material if NO why not?
Stewart this is not intended as a negative posting, you know I am enthusiastic about youngsters getting the best possible start to their chess careers but I'm getting increasingly frustrated about what appears to be lack of progress in key areas.

Peter Turner

[John Upham]

One good way to reflect sentiments expressed by CJ and William Metcalfe is for there to be a general agreement that NO more negative postings appear on this forum at least in 2009.

Stewart

This is obviously desirable but it is only likely to happen when it is clear that the entire board communicates with the membership effectively.

Those who recognise this forum for the value it can provide have added value to the ECFs positions. Those who have ignored it (or been requested to ignore it) have not yet taken this opportunity. This applies to a whole tranche of ECF Officials rather than solely board members.

We managed to eliminate three of the non-communicators at the AGM but there is still room for easy improvement.

The days of hiding away and expecting zero criticism are over.

[Ben Purton]

Can I just say regarding Chess sets, I have taken a position at a private school, they wanted me to get some cheap sets for them.

Gareth Ellis company provided me with some at around 30-40% the price quoted by the London Chess Center. Whats even more shocking is the ones I got were much better than my friends ones from the aforementioned.

My Budget was £60 and I have a class of 22(11 sets)

Kind regards

Ben

[William Metcalfe]

I totaly agree with Carl and John comunication between the board and the people out there that keep clubs,Tournaments running is essential the ECF have a wonderfull resorce at there fingertips which previous boards have totally over looked by there lack of communication with the grass root volounteers.There are a pool of willing and talented people out there looking for inspiration and leadership from the board hopefully after the last election this might just happen.
The early signs are encouraging they are small steps but at least they are small steps forward and not backwards.

[cjdemooi]

It's gone very quiet on here since I asked if anyone had any positive suggestions. I've had a couple of people insult me via Facebook then run away but that's hardly constructive either. Has no-one anything he or she would like to offer?

[Trefor Owens]

I am working today, on a Saturday so will pass some time by using my thinking cap, although my two suggestions so far have not been that popular!

Still I am stuck at my desk until 5 so a brainwave, however unlikely, is possible

Trefor

[Carl Hibbard]

It's gone very quiet on here since I asked if anyone had any positive suggestions. I've had a couple of people insult me via Facebook then run away but that's hardly constructive either. Has no-one anything he or she would like to offer?

Has to be publicity on the back of the London Chess Classic since that should (at least...) generate some TV interest - so anything the ECF and you can do on the back of that would be good?

[Trefor Owens]

I still favour a new version of Master Chess as it was (is) a gripping format and I am sure would be even easier and cheaper to produce now with a computer outputting the graphics.
If we have decided that my idea of celebrity chess players will be too difficult (They will want huge fees, be unavailable etc ) How about a junior version with two teams of kids say aged between 8 and 16 with each team managed by a combination of celebrity and GM

For example
Team A - coached by CJ and Nigel Short
Team B - coached by Lennox Lewis and Michael Adams

we would then have two celebrities and two world class GMs available to commentate and discuss the moves?

Trefor

p.s.
In the event of a draw the match could be determined by either a quick play chess match between Nigel and Michael or a chess boxing duel between CJ and Lennox!!

[Alex Holowczak]

I still favour a new version of Master Chess as it was (is) a gripping format and I am sure would be even easier and cheaper to produce now with a computer outputting the graphics.
If we have decided that my idea of celebrity chess players will be too difficult (They will want huge fees, be unavailable etc ) How about a junior version with two teams of kids say aged between 8 and 16 with each team managed by a combination of celebrity and GM

For example
Team A - coached by CJ and Nigel Short
Team B - coached by Lennox Lewis and Michael Adams

we would then have two celebrities and two world class GMs available to commentate and discuss the moves?

Trefor

Would it be affordable? Presumably Short & Adams would want appearance fees. Also, would the show take students who are complete beginners, and make them good? If so, there's probably a better way for the GMs to spend their teaching time than teaching a 12yo how rooks move. If you remove Short & Adams though, it might work, and be more commercially viable. I'm not sure that their expertise and depth of tactical analysis would appeal to the average CBBC viewer.

[Trefor Owens]

I must admit that my idea was to have strong juniors playing, not beginners, although that may work and wasn't thinking about CBBC as the best channel.
I guess that appearance fees could be supported by sponsorship, and possibly those involved may be tempted to be generous if they truly believed that English/British chess would be boosted by a higher profile, especially if a spin off book/DVD/software was available.

Why not select the players from the highest scoring juniors at the various London Chess Classic Events in December?

Trefor

[Michele Clack]

CJ when you ask for ideas do you mean for the ECF generally or specifically things that you might look into?

To recap so far our suggestions include internet advertising which Stewart Reuben has promised to look into once the ECF website has been beefed up. Also various possible ideas for TV programmes have been suggested. Someone asked whether you would be going to many tournaments and you said you would with agreement from organisers, so there might be local or regional advertising opportunities there.

I'm racking my brains for other ideas. How about the COM scheme which seems to be nearing fruition. Once that really gets going how about some publicity there with you presenting the awards to selected groups perhaps at the award ceremonies of congresses. This would have the advantage of having more people there for the awards( ) and showing juniors just starting out on their chess careers some of the events that are available if they stick with it. Publicity gained would advertise the COM scheme as well as chess generally. For the majority of the children completing the COM I know this would not be possible but perhaps a letter of encouragement from you as president could be included with whatever it is they get.

Another thought, have you ever appeared on Mastermind? How about having a go with some sort of chess topic as your specialist subject. The more mentions chess gets in whatever way shape or form raises its profile.

[cjdemooi]

Anything and everything!

I've already attended a few tournaments and visited clubs in Toronto and New York. As yet, I haven't received any invitations to UK clubs but a few of the largest congresses (including Blackpool and Scarborough) have been kind enough to ask me along and I'll certainly be taking them up on that.

With others such as COM, I would never presume to force myself upon them and would always prefer a formal invitation. Not everyone concerned might choose to have the ECF President present and their wishesmst be considered.

As for Mastermind, I'm not allowed unfortunately. Although I'm not a BBC employee (12yard who produce Eggheads are actually owned by ITV!) that is the way it could be perceived by the viewers, hence, my participation is prohibited. It's a pity as one of my chosen subjects would be Bobby Fischer...

I'm hoping to be able to do a few news interviews to help promote the London Chess Classic although I'll be in Welwyn Garden City working at the time.

As for other interests with television companies, I've spoken to Ben about this and have tentatively contacted a few but as I said at the AGM, we're all aware of the televisual shortcomings of chess and these will be very difficult to overcome.

However, I'm meeting Charles Clarke in 2 weeks so hopefully that may lead to something positive. I'm still waiting to hear further from Evan Harris but have had no reply at all from any of the Conservatives I contacted as yet.

[Ben Purton]

Having a coaching database would still be the best way to make money. My company sell software for $500 a pop, lets call them expensive baked cookies. Sky next door sell £30 a month software, one sale for them on average is worth 3 times more than one of our sales.

I think finding coaches a school/player and then having a small cut per lesson for the first 1 year (pupil) 2 years (school) would be a good way of making money it would also provide available backups, it would be an extension of this acredited coach system they have.

These X factor ideas are all well and good but as for raising money we won't do it on tv, chess isnt appealing enough yet and maybe never will be because its not understandable to the masses "yet" the chess for schools idea is the first stepping stone to it being popular, chess in russia is understood by alot more people hence its more sellable.

Thats my view, I think small ideas to make money to full better chess understanding. awareness is not an issue, every school child knows chess excists, its assessbility to understanding its excistance which is more important.

Apoilgises for terrible spelling, I do use Mozilla now but I finish work @ 7pm today and must fly.

Kind regards

Ben