Membership Renewal

[Ian Thompson]

According to the ECF lists available to organisers, as at yesterday there were 4016 members (including Junior Free Silver members) and 137 supporters. I don't have figures for the start of September 2019 to compare against but the 1/10/2019 counts were: 7524 members and 12 supporters.

I wonder if there'll be a small surge in the next week from people who decide the Chess & Bridge offer makes it worth renewing now? I'm surprised the ECF hasn't highlighted this on their website; maybe they will in a day or two.

[Simon Rogers]

According to the ECF lists available to organisers, as at yesterday there were 4016 members (including Junior Free Silver members) and 137 supporters. I don't have figures for the start of September 2019 to compare against but the 1/10/2019 counts were: 7524 members and 12 supporters.

I wonder if there'll be a small surge in the next week from people who decide the Chess & Bridge offer makes it worth renewing now? I'm surprised the ECF hasn't highlighted this on their website; maybe they will in a day or two.

Oh Poo. I thought I had renewed my membership. I forgotten all about it. I think it's because I've been posting too much on the forum and probably the posts have been too long.
What is the Chess & Bridge offer for Silver Members?

[John Reyes]

According to the ECF lists available to organisers, as at yesterday there were 4016 members (including Junior Free Silver members) and 137 supporters. I don't have figures for the start of September 2019 to compare against but the 1/10/2019 counts were: 7524 members and 12 supporters.

I wonder if there'll be a small surge in the next week from people who decide the Chess & Bridge offer makes it worth renewing now? I'm surprised the ECF hasn't highlighted this on their website; maybe they will in a day or two.

Oh Poo. I thought I had renewed my membership. I forgotten all about it. I think it's because I've been posting too much on the forum and probably the posts have been too long.
What is the Chess & Bridge offer for Silver Members?

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-mem ... needs-you/

LIMITED TIME SPECIAL OFFER – ENDS 13TH SEPTEMBER 2020
To support the ECF in these extraordinary times, Chess and Bridge is offering a one-time discount equivalent to the subscription cost to any member who renews their subscription to the ECF. This will be redeemable on orders made via shop.chess.co.uk, by phone on 0207 486 7015 and in store. The offer will be valid to 13th September 2020.

Bronze members who renew can claim a discount of £18 on a purchase of over £40*

Silver members who renew can claim a discount of £27 on a purchase of over £60*

Gold members who renew can claim a discount of £39 on a purchase of over £80*

Platinum members who renew can claim a discount of £75 on a purchase of over £150*

[Joey Stewart]

Quite generous discounts from chess and bridge, I wonder what is in it for them to be supporting the ECF this way?

[Simon Rogers]

Article on the English Chess Federation website posted Friday 4th September reminding people that the Chess & Bridge offer ends Sunday 13th September.
I've just rung up and renewed my silver membership.
It took less than five minutes.
Excellent service.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

Paul not sure that you are using Lancashire CA/star plus clubs. Why not ASK Bill? He is No 1 in Lancashire.

Looked at the clubs listed by Lancashire Chess Association + Lancashire & Lancashire*
...........Hopefully members will re-join after the recent BH weekend & the ECF have collected monies by members paying by Direct Debit.

Uptake of membership in the "Lancashire Area" still looks very low.

[Nick Grey]

10-20 percent? Unusual year for all.

[Angus French]

According to ECF lists available to organisers, as at yesterday there were 4016 members (including Junior Free Silver members) and 137 supporters. I don't have figures for the start of September 2019 to compare against but the 1/10/2019 counts were: 7524 members and 12 supporters. The final tally of members for 2019/20 was 12574 (22 August 2020 list). I don't have a final count of the number of supporters for 2019/20.

Now - a week on, with the 9 Sep lists - at 4621 members and 201 supporters.

[Peter Harrington]

Perhaps those unsure about renewing could adopt a compromise position. For years I have been a silver member but when I renewed a couple of days ago I opted for bronze membership. That way I am supporting the ECF and I still have the option to upgrade to silver should congresses become more viable in the short to medium term. Yes, I took advantage of the chess and bridge offer even though I had bought some books earlier in the lockdown. But beware the postage & packing charges £9.95 are not covered by the offer and these eat in to your savings. Chess and bridge seem to charge twice as much as other vendors for postage and packing. Now I've just got to read the books!

Peter Harrington

[Peter Harrington]

The idea of adopting a compromise position regarding renewing applies also to previous bronze members. They could become an ECF supporter for £10. When the situation re OTB league chess improves, then can upgrade to bronze by paying just the difference.

[Peter Harrington]

Note also, that to play in any ECF online league, you need as a minimum to have at least ECF supporter status or be a member of the ECF.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

According to ECF lists available to organisers, as at yesterday there were 4016 members (including Junior Free Silver members) and 137 supporters. I don't have figures for the start of September 2019 to compare against but the 1/10/2019 counts were: 7524 members and 12 supporters. The final tally of members for 2019/20 was 12574 (22 August 2020 list). I don't have a final count of the number of supporters for 2019/20.

Now - a week on, with the 9 Sep lists - at 4621 members and 201 supporters.

Number of renewals still kooks far too slow.

The idea of adopting a compromise position regarding renewing applies also to previous bronze members. They could become an ECF supporter for £10. When the situation re OTB league chess improves, then can upgrade to bronze by paying just the difference.

A sensible suggestion.

[Paul Robert Jackson]

Anybody have any updates on the numbers who are renewing their memberships?

[Joey Stewart]

I cant imagine the uptake is going to be huge, outside of those that are feeling altruistic and want to help support the ECF it feels like a massive waste of money paying full price for a membership that is going to last half a season at the very best.

On the bright side, if the big national team tournaments like the Olympiad get cancelled that will be a lot of money saved by the ecf on expenses so swings and roundabouts...

[Tim Spanton]

I cant imagine the uptake is going to be huge, outside of those that are feeling altruistic and want to help support the ECF it feels like a massive waste of money paying full price for a membership that is going to last half a season at the very best.

On the bright side, if the big national team tournaments like the Olympiad get cancelled that will be a lot of money saved by the ecf on expenses so swings and roundabouts...

I'm not so sure about that - I thought much of the Olympiad expense was paid by sponsors for that purpose entirely. If that is correct, the money will simply not come into chess: painful for the players concerned but not for the ECF.