| Cronyism
Renders NCCA Clearinghouse Useless "It's not a clearinghouse; It's just a list that cost money to post on..." Anon Feb 2014 NCCA Regular Members: 69 - Feb 2014 CCC Regular Members: 70 by NM Leland Fuerstman The Charlotte Chess Club is proud to provide a by-monthly Saturday 3 round event at the Dowd "Y" on Morehead St. Our next Knights Templar event is scheduled for Mar 29. Unfortunately, due to the hard headed, unfriendly attitude of the NCCA "Dictator," CCC events are still not posted on the NCCA "Clearinghouse" webpage?" Regardless, all Knights Templar dates for 2014 have been posted on the CCC "Upcoming Events" page for some time. Though it is not specified in the NCCA Articles of Incorporation nor on their website, the previous "clearinghouse" rules forbade events from taking place on the same day within a 100 mile radius. Hence, since a hastily prepared 5 round event just popped up for Cary, the Ron Simpson Memorial, which is 162 miles away from Charlotte, the distance overrides the rule. However, the Mastertrek, a tournament on that same weekend had already been advertised to be held in Durham, which is only 19 miles from Cary?! I wonder if the Organizers of the Cary event communicated with Durham first, before, at the last minute, they squeezing yet another event onto an already overcrowded calendar? They certainly didn't communicate with me... Exactly what is the purpose of having a "clearinghouse" if not to prevent events from conflicting with each other? Whomever is responsible for allowing the Cary tournament to be posted apparently ignored the spirit of the "clearinghouse" rules and arbitrarily showed favoritism to it's promoters?! And, that is unfair to two other NC organizers who did things correctly by properly preparing in advance. Another indication of biased judgement and bad management by the Dictator. Note: Organizers May Post on the CCC Upcoming Events page for FREE where the 100 mile rule is observed! And, while we're on the subject of organizational incompetence, just take a look at the NCCA Membership Roster?? The PDF grid does not provide enough digits in the "name" fields causing them to spill over and look ugly? (but, "state" has a wide field? I can hardly believe that their "Technical Advisor" doesn't know how to make those simple adjustments?) Much of the required information is missing. (Since when is a person's E-mail address private?) There are members listed by the last name of "Bill," "III" and 4 "Jrs?" And, finally, most of the names on the list have expired and should have already been removed. (Does no one ever review anything nor make necessary corrections?) When the Dictator took over, according to their own records, there were 231 members of the NCCA. After painstakingly counting by hand, there are now only 69 current Regular Members of the NCCA and 28 Life Members (some of whom are deceased). That new total of 97 indicates a disturbing decrease of almost two thirds of the total membership??? Not only do chess players vote with their feet, they also vote with their chequebooks! Many have decided not to waste money on something which has little, or no value. Forget transparency, what the members are now enduring are the many continuing blunders accompanied by no apologies nor explanations from any of the NCCA officers, ever. NM Leland Fuerstman Charlotte Chess Club |