New Chess Organization Hastily Planned; But, Hopefully Not Doomed to Failure!? - By NM Leland Fuerstman Here we go again?! It has been brought to my attention that there are plans to form a new chess organization in the Charlotte area, but they still don't have a place to meet?! Since I have promoted chess in the Charlotte area for almost 35 years, I feel responsible to share my opinion about this new organization with my members and constituants. Furthermore, if someone has the right to attempt to supersede the CCC, I feel that I have a right to defend our organization and share my thoughts about it. One might compare my sentiments to those of baseball great Roger Clemmens whom in his recent "roid rage" (though possibly a different variety from mine), stated, "after 30 years of honorable service, I don't get no respect!?" Over the years, local chessplayers have witnessed the efforts of enlightened, self ordained chess despots who had the audacity to challenge the authority of the Charlotte Chess Club?! ... How dare they?!! LOL Evidently, they didn't agree with the way things were done in the CCC and wanted to bask in the glory of forming their own club. A few of these great visionaries were Jim Tobin (rip), Ken Naugle, Bernard Parham???, Doug Millsaps, Tony Hicks, Mike Eberhardinger, Gary Branton, Wing Chu and now, Gary Newsom (and at least one other whose name I refuse to mention!?) They would generally gleen their new members from the rolls of the CCC instead of attempting to recruit their own "new members" by bearing the expense of advertising and promoting small tournaments. Each had grand ideas about a "democratic club" and made bold promises as to how they were going to repatriate all local players, give them the right to vote, have tons of great tournaments and give bunches of money away!? I humbly submit that a few of these humanitarians actually spent a lot of positive time and energy attempting to populate our local chess community. But, ultimately, in every case, their organizations disintegrated. Others had collected membership fees which were never returned and conducted tournaments promising "special" cash prizes which were never paid? Another expressed a grand idea of building a chess house, accepted $30,000 from local chess parents and $5,000 for the Charlotte Arts & Science Counsel and promptly skipped town??? And a person who is listed as an officer of the newly formed Queen City Chess Club, according to Gary Branton, advertised an event for which he, himself, failed to show up, nor call anyone to notify them of his intention not to?? In the past, that same person was quick to volunteer to help the CCC with his special computer skills but on almost every occasion, made elaborate excuses and ultimately failed to perform? A friend recently said of him, "that guy promotes chess the same way he plays poker, ie. - 'call, call, call, fold...call, call, call, fold'!!?" LOL (No offense, old friend, I know you mean well). Some time ago, 2007 CCC Class "A" Player of the Year, Expert Gary "NightCrawler" Newsom (2050) shared with me his intention to form a new chess "organization" in Charlotte and conduct some tournaments. Gary and I have been friends and competitors for 15 years. Though we may have had our differences both on and off the board, we still continue to maintain mutual respect for each other and I value  his opinion. His courteous ethic prompted him to contact me to make sure that his tournament dates did not conflict with those of the CCC. Last year, the CCC reduced the number of Saturday events from 12 to 6. In the mean time, Newsom's "Reverse Angle" events seemed to be catching on fairly well. He even suggested that I step aside and allow others to run the show for a while. After consideration, I agreed that the CCC would be happy to advertise his tournaments on our website. Furthermore, I stated that I would forgo conducting Saturday 3 rounders entirely if he would agree to allow the results of the "Reverse Angle" events to be used as the official events for the CCC titles!  For whatever reason, he disagreed?! Evidently, he did not want the name of NM Leland Fuerstman to be associated with his organization... According to the advertisement, the $25 entry fee for their upcoming "Greater Charlotte Championship" appears to some to be nothing more than a glorified way of "funding" their still unproven organization, with winners receiving trophies only? Some suggest they should keep a smaller percentage of the money for their grand purposes and distribute the rest. (The CCC always gives away at least 75% of the entries in cash prizes for it's Saturday events). It is somewhat of a paradox that they say they "intend to give all of the money back in prizes" when their very first major tournament offers none?! In addition, they posted that their newly proposed Friday evening chess club "will probably meet in a church in 'inner city' Charlotte," a circumstance which may pose a security problem when returning to one's car after 11pm?! In my experience, churches and chessplayers simply don't mix. Many years ago, Jim Tobin conducted a great "adult" chess club on East Blvd. which met on Friday evenings. After a hard weeks work, players would come by to enjoy tournament games, speed chess and even drink a beer or two. It was very successful for quite a while. There is a much greater need for that than a "democratic" club which caters to everyone?! The CCC already does that! (And, when necessary, CCC members do vote on various issues; I always abstain from voting). Furthermore, there are many scholastic venues already in place in Charlotte. Some adults chessplayers need to take a break from kids for a change. No one can deny that www.charlottechess.com is one of the most concise, informative and updated chess websites in the south. A tongue in cheek synopsis of the previous club meetings results is waiting for all to read the following Thursday morning like clockwork! Though I can't force them to, all members are welcome to contribute most anything they wish. The time involved and work associated with the website never ends. It also costs money to maintain. In recent times, the complaints about the Charlotte Chess club had more to do with the disrespectful and disturbing restaurant workers at Wendy's than anything else. I am quick to admit that we should have relocated long ago. Therefore, after 30+ years, the show must go on! I am happy to announce that the CCC has now relocated to Quaker Steak & Lube Restaurant in the Park Rd. Shopping Center! The upstairs "private room" is very quiet and spacious and the food is excellent and reasonably priced. There is "direct parking" and limited smoking! Our first meeting will be Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008!  - (NOTE: Contrary to rumor, it is NOT mandatory for all participants to dine at the restaurant and there is no penalty for not doing so.) As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out on the Queen City Chess Association. After they operate successfully in a legitimate location for a few years, maybe I'll change my mind. As for now, the strongest competition in town is found at the Charlotte Chess Club. But, you never know; I just might show up at "Reverse Angle" V on January 19! I sincerely hope to see many smiling faces at the "new" Charlotte Chess Club this Wednesday evening at Quaker Steak & Lube! Happy New Year to All!! NM Leland Fuerstman