Leland, As I continue to read the "Political Chess Science 101" message board, there are a few other items to point out: 1. Closed Tournament - There is a closed tournament in NC.  It's called the NC Invitational.  If you win it the prior year, finish in the top 2 among "North Carolina" residents/students/military, or have one of the top 3 ratings of NC residents/students/military, you are in.  It is, indeed, CLOSED! 2. Annual Business Meeting - While I have been unable to attend the last 4 NC Opens (for various, uncontrolable reasons), I can say that the whole approach of doing it before round 4 is the BIGGEST MISTAKE possible to make for when to have the annual meeting.  Years when I went to the NC Open, (which, by the way, was closed one year SINCE your 2001 directing of it...don't recall which exact year, but I want to say 2005) I attended the meeting.  However, I have also been to the SC State Championship in 2006 and 2008, and while I could not vote because I'm not an SCCA member, I did observe that their meetings are always full of people.  Why may that be?  Because it's smack dab in the middle of the day where the players will all be there.  It's not a matter of a "10 o'clock habit", it's a matter of a "last minute" habit for the first round of the final day.  DO IT BETWEEN ROUNDS.  South Carolina does it between rounds 1 and 2.  Because some Friday evening players may not show up until the start of round 2, I say you do it between rounds 2 and 3!  Round 2 start time 2pm (35/90, SD/60 is 5 hours).  Meeting at 7:15.  Round 3 at 8.  Hotel stayers will be there, along with those that drive a half hour and go home each night.  Bet you the ratio of NC players at the tournament to the number of players at the meeting would be significantly higher! 3. NCCA Income - If the NCCA wants a higher income, they need to approach it agressively.  Have a full weekend tournament once a month.  Annual membership of something like $25 (or more).  Check out the Alanta Chess Center, where I believe their annual fee is like $40 or $60, and they have a tournament every month.  If they would get a few new tables and an air-conditioning unit, they would have sky-rocketing profits, but alas, those 2 things have caused a number of people I've spoken to to quit going to Atlanta tournaments (especially in the Summer). Patrick