| 6-11-13 NCCA Website an Embarrassment by Jason Mytrysak NM Fuerstman: I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy playing at the CCC! The promptly edited webpage is right there waiting for me to read bright and early every Thursday morning. The results, narrative, games and images are always entertaining. Other chess websites provide info but lack your personal touch! In comparison, the NCCA webpage hasn't changed for some time. They continue to display the same articles about "scholastic" tournaments which took place many months ago? And, "Walters Corner" is all but defunct. They seem to be concentrating their efforts more on scholastic chess than anything else. What about us adult players? Don't we deserve some attention, too? Because, if the recent hastily planned "Invitational" is any indication of what's to come, the future of the NCCA is pretty bleak. And, while we are on the subject, aren't non-profit organizations required to publish a financial statement twice per year? The official accounting for those scholastic events (25-30K) has still never been published. By the way, who is the "editor" of the NCCA webpage? Apparently, no one... Without being too critical, the only events that seem to have been aggressively promoted were those personally organized by the NCCA President Rudy Abate. And, they were "scholastic" events located in his own hometown of Henderson; a town which is hardly on the beaten path. That causes me to question the design of the upcoming NC Senior Championship? The format for the event seems to be reasonable, however, after I googled "Dobson, NC," I realized that it is a very small town just a few miles below the Virginia line? -- hardly a centralized location for Seniors from all around the state? It would seem more logical to have the event in Raleigh or Durham which would be equidistant for everyone? And, though I am not old enough to participate, I am a bit confused as to why the USCF Senior Championship requires players to be 65 years old, and the NCCA only requires them to be 50? Did the person who designed the NC event not even check to see? Though I am relatively new to organized chess, I have thoroughly enjoyed participating at the Charlotte Chess Club. I really appreciate that my opponents are willing to wait for me to get there after work from just down the street. I generally arrive about 15-20 minutes late and rarely has my clock ever been started! The food is great at Skyland, and cheap! And, the friendliness of the "mostly adult members" continues to be an attraction for me. As far as I'm concerned, the "daily" updated CCC website is the most informative and entertaining in the state. Conversely, I view the NCCA website as an "embarrassment" to all North Carolina chess players... One more thing. Please include my name on the list of "Players Who Intend to Participate" in the 2013 Charlotte City Championship! The EF is fair and the format allows the lower rated players (such as me) to prove themselves against others in their own section, and win some big cash! One final question, why aren't CCC tournaments posted on the NCCA website "Upcoming Events list?" Seems to me that info would be beneficial to all NC chess players. Anyway, keep up the great work. Sincerely, Jason Mytrysak Loyal CCC Member ************************************************************** Jason: Thanks for the kind words. We do have a very cool club! But, any successful club is comprised of individuals, just like you. -- You seem to be echoing my very sentiments about the NCCA... In my opinion, the President is too inexperienced and incompetent to get the job done. And, his performance, thus far, has proven that. Though I was a "life member" at one time, in protest, I withdrew my membership because of a strong difference of opinion over deceptive activities, self serving policies, special favoritism and the absolute lack of transparency. Now, years later, I have offered to pay the membership fee - which the current President has refused to accept? Since he took over, nothing has been done in an open and democratic manner. So, until the current administration is replaced, (that means that you may need to attend a Sunday, 8am meeting in order to vote - Oh, yeah, watch out for proxies??!) you will be required to read about the same scholastic events which took place months ago? If the President is not capable of finding people who will do the necessary work, then he must do it himself. And, thus far, other than his own personal promotions, he has failed to get anything done in a reasonable, timely and conciliatory fashion. Therefore, I agree, the NCCA website IS an "embarrassment to everyone." The 77 member Charlotte Chess Club has pretty much been THE driving force for organized chess in North Carolina for over 40 years! To continually deny our membership for "personal" reasons and ignore the many available events that the CCC promotes is surely not in the best interests of all North Carolina players. NM Leland Fuerstman |