MACC Fall Meeting Notes

October 26, 2013

UMaine, Orono

Attendees: Tom Sandford Dan DeLuca

Kathy Richards Kurt Klappenbach

Ron Lewis

1. Kathy gave the Treasurer’s annual report for the 2013 tournaments. The net gain was $242.55 with a year’s end balance of $4,176.55. The increase in entry fee reversed the past few year’s trends in net losses. In reviewing the expense items, we noted that the apparent main increase in cost over the previous year was trophies. However, we also detected a decimal error in a trophies invoice line item amounting to over $250. Kathy will contact the provider and request a credit on next year’s trophies.

2. Dates for the 2014 tournaments are as follows: March 8 for team events; March 15 for a possible snow date; and March 22 for the Individuals and Sidekick Quads events.

3. Due to waning interest in the All-Girls tournament, and the evaluation that it is no longer needed, there will be no further All-Girls tournaments. This tournament was used to select the State nominee to the Susan Polgar National Invitational Tournament for girls. It was agreed that the nominee to the Polgar event will be the highest rated girl participating in either the Team or Individual event.

4. Task slots for the 2014 year were filled as follows:

a. Overall coordinator: Ron Lewis

b. Treasurer: Kathy Richards

c. Tournament leader (all sections): Kurt Klappenbach (see 5 below)

d. Trophies: Andy Bryan

e. Entry forms/mailing: Ron Lewis (Dan Lavallee assisting)

f. Publicity: Ron/Kurt

g. Sidekick Quads: Andy or Tom

h. Coordinate playing areas: Tom

5. A major change in registration will occur. Kurt has set up a web site that will be used to collect all entry information for Team and Individual tournaments. Details will be forthcoming and tested prior to the February registration period and announced on the ChessMaine.net web page. Entry forms will be revised to direct registration to the site and provided cues for necessary information to complete the registration. All information will need to be supplied before the form is accepted on-line (partially filled forms may be saved for further editing or completion).

6. Tournament directors: These are provided through the Maine Chess Association (MECA). To date, the following roles have been filled:

a. High School Teams, Championship and Reserve: TBD

b. Junior High Teams: Possibly Barry Magda

c. Elementary K-6: TBD

d. Elementary: K-3 championship and novice: Dan Deluca

e. HS, JHS, and K-6 Novice sections: Tom Sandford

f. Individuals, K-3 and K-6: Dan Deluca

g. Individuals JHS: TBD

h. HS Championship and Reserve: TBD

7. Agreed that TLA announcements are expensive and non-productive. Discussion to post announcement of tournaments on the State Principals web page – Kurt will investigate.

8. In an effort to stimulate further interest in chess in the schools, Ron will prepare a short introductory flyer to espouse the benefits of chess in the schools and the relative inexpensive nature of this activity.

9. Some discussion was conducted regarding a series of tie-breaks for the team events (such already are in place for the Individuals). There was requested feedback only from two people. Ron Googled chess team tiebreak info and got some additional information, especially from the Illinois High School Association guidance that might be modified. He will send out information and request more feedback before we decide the set of tie-breaks that will be specified.

10. The January 2014 Organizing meeting is scheduled for January 11, same UMO Memorial Union venue and time (1 PM).

11. Ron announced that this will be his last year as the Chair of the Organizing Committee.