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No Report for Simpson Memorial? NCCA Continues to Disintegrate by NM Leland Fuerstman Charlotte 4-5-14: Recalling the famous quote, "...'authority' is a dangerous thing in the hands of fools"...Col. Wilhelm Klink, there doesn't seem to be much of that being exercised within the ranks of the NCCA lately?! Why isn't the Dictator stepping in to remove the illegally posted messages from their forum? Even though the rules of use clearly forbid "personal attacks," they are continually violated and ignored by the current administration. --- And, why hasn't the Dictator intervened with the bullies who continue to hijack weekends even though other organizers have already "locked in" their dates and posted their TLAs? Because, apparently no one seems to be steering the ship much less protecting anyone's rights? On March 28-30, the (FM) Ron Simpson Memorial was held in Cary, NC. I admired Ron very much (and would have certainly attended had I not already posted the information about the Knights Templar on the same weekend four months earlier!?) We were friends and competitors. (I am very proud to say that I actually Drew him in our last encounter!) FIDE Master Ron Simpson was the first and only African-American North Carolina Champion! And, to celebrate that, his personal childhood friend, the only African-American Grandmaster in the world, GM Maurice Ashley (2475) was invited to participate in the event! Though he fell prey to a young upstart from Georgia in the final round, it is my understanding that players and spectators alike were all entertained. Unfortunately, one week later now, not one word of the results of that event have been posted on the NCCA website, or any other website to my knowledge. The NCCA website continues to be an embarrassment to the entire North Carolina chess community. The revolving ads which are in no way related to chess, are offensive to some who do not believe in killing other creatures for sport!? Furthermore, how much did the NCCA charge for those ads and for how long must they be endured? There is still a major ad posted for a tournament which took place on December 6, 2013?? Worse, an obituary remains posted for "Ron Simpson" from 6 months ago? Pitiful... O.K. I understand there was a shakeup after Brad Dill abruptly resigned his position as VP, but, to my knowledge, he, also, had no experience with chess administration. However, his replacement, Peter Giannatos, though much younger, was involved with directing and conducting tournaments for the defunct QCCA, so at least he has some knowledge of what goes on. Therefore, if he, himself, were the webmaster for the QCCA, why hasn't he stepped forward to upgrade the miserable NCCA website? Or, at least found someone who can? In the opinion of many, his first responsibility should be to the "state" organization, and after all of that business is taken care of, his "local" private business!? Again, didn't they just have a major tournament in honor of "Ron Simpson" (I believe it would have been more appropriate to address him as FM Ron Simpson). Well, where is their tournament report? The Charlotte Chess Club posts a full report by the following morning of all CCC sanctioned events and others! People want to read the news while its fresh! Not wait 1-2 weeks for someone to finally post results gleaned from the USCF printout... with no home towns, ages, prizes won, quotes, images, games nor other anecdotes. You get what you pay for people... And, I guess that would include the T-shirts which were sold in order to create a college fund for Ron's children? Please bear in mind, that the brilliant T-shirt idea did not come up until I posed the question weeks in advance (See Msg 544) asking "how much of the profit from the tournament would be given to the Simpson family?!" At that point in time, the promoters of the event had not made any plans, whatsoever, to accommodate that need...so they scurried to do the T-shirt deal. Another typical "after the fact" patch up job by the "Chess Bully." I call it neglect and deception. Yet, I feel confident that his honorable partner will make things right... Someone said, long ago, that the NCCA had "hired" a webmaster?! Since it is obvious that person doesn't have a clue, maybe they should also hire an "Editor." Because, other than an incomplete list of tournament events, with no control over who barges in on an already reserved weekend -- and a restricted "Forum" which allows personal attacks of individuals who are not even privy to respond, their site has absolutely NO value. If they would be so kind, during one of their mutual admiration society threads over some minor achievement which really deserves more scrutiny than celebration, they might include an actual game of chess... which I do not recall seeing posted on the NCCA website for years!? Furthermore, the Dictators policy of requiring everyone to pay their dues on January 1 has resulted in the loss of more than two thirds of the membership??? Right now, I believe the NCCA has 69 regular currently paid members... the Charlotte Chess Club has 72! But, we're comparing apples with oranges. The state organization should have 10 times the number of our members!? Needless to say, the current administration has earned the title of the "most incompetent in NCCA history." Furthermore, adopting the stale right-winged policy of government "non-control" allowing certain wealthier individuals to operate without respecting the right of others is unfair to a number of organizers in North Carolina who follow the rules. Worse, the Dictator doesn't seem to lift a finger to do anything other then promote his own events? You do recall last years state championship being contested in his home town of Henderson which attracted a record low number of 42 players and lost over $2,000 or the privately promoted Master's event which lost over $7,000??? --- Look, nothing is going to change. You do not have the right to vote and you are forbidden from observing the accounting of any NCCA sanctioned event much less the checkbooks?! There is absolutely no transparency whatsoever in the NCCA. But, hopefully, in the not so distant future, that will change. According to an ancient sage, "fools must be dealt with differently than those who are wise. We cannot deal with all men in the same way. Our response to people must be based on the kind of character they have demonstrated..." The Charlotte Chess Club is a great place for mature adults to meet and socialize, talk about their families and their lives and play chess with a myriad of friendly opponents! Right now, in spite of the fact that a new chess business has intentionally chosen to conduct rated competition on Wednesday evenings, we are literally bursting at the seems and spilling out into the other area! And, the following morning, a complete synopsis of the night before including anecdotes, images, games and other tidbits of information are only one click away at www.charlottechess.com !!! Lately, we have been averaging over 100 unique hits per day! I run the Charlotte Chess Club because I enjoy it! I have been doing this for a long time, now. It is great to see the faces of players who played over 20 year ago, return to CCC tournament competition! The food is delicious at the Skyland Family Restaurant and our personal waitress, Cindy, knows everyone's name and makes everybody feel welcome! The CCC is a real club! Early in the evening, some are giving chess lessons, others arrive and order their dinner, a few attempt to solve Sinanovic's puzzle (many contributors), others play speed chess and laugh, ...lively conversations in every corner of the room... we really have fun! And then, at 7:45pm sharp! the pairings are announced, the room becomes quiet and the work begins! But, this is all a culmination of 40+ years of successful operation in Charlotte. Long live the Charlotte Chess Club!!! Have a nice day! NM Leland Fuerstman Charlotte Chess Club |
