| 8-17-14 Disturbance at CCC Promptly Addressed and Resolved According to the USCF rulebook, when a player encounters a situation during tournament play which includes a rule violation or a distraction, instead of personally confronting the other party involved, he must stop his clock and quietly report his concerns to the Tournament Director. Otherwise, chaos may ensue and one player may even end up threatening the other with violence... When players begin arguing back and forth about one rule or another, it becomes a distraction to everyone else whose game is still in progress ...which is exactly what "again" occurred last week between Expert Patrick McCartney and Emmanuel Cooper. Unfortunately, this confrontation involved both players using the "F" word in the presence of a 14 year old member? Such behavior will NOT be tolerated at the CCC. There is no player in the CCC or any other chess club who does not occasionally "raise his voice" a bit after the conclusion of his game to either lament his loss or celebrate his victory. We are not conducting an international event where absolute silence is demanded. On the contrary, we are playing at the club level. When this situation occurs in the future, I am advising you to simply stop your clock for a few moments, until the players acknowledge their "minor noise violation" and resume the game when things quieten down. Loud "shushing" will no longer be allowed. Furthermore, it is clearly stated on our website that "mutual respect" is an absolute requirement to be a member of the CCC regardless of race, color, creed, experience or chess rating. It seems as thought in the heat of the battle, some members are quick to forget that. All of this has caused me to address this issue AGAIN on our website. Composing two extremely sensitive messages is hard work... work which I should not be required to do. So, in the future, think before you act, and address your complaints to the Director, first. As Chief TD, I will make the decision whereupon, if you disagree, you may proceed to appeal accordingly, without disturbing your fellow members. It is my responsibility to make sure we provide an uncontentious, friendly and wholesome atmosphere for all of our members. I refuse to continue to allow one person to spoil the fun for everyone else... I take no pleasure in sanctioning anyone, but in this extreme case, it must be done. Therefore, as of 8-16-14, Expert Patrick McCartney's membership to the Charlotte Chess Club has been terminated. (He may re-apply in 90 days whereupon a majority vote of his peers will determine his reinstatement. In addition, Mr. Cooper will not be allowed to participate until September 3, 2014). I remain, NM Leland Fuerstman Chief Tournament Director Charlotte Chess Club |