MACC Fall Meeting Notes

October 23, 2010

UM Orono, ME

 

Attendees:     

Ryan Tripp                    Kurt Klappenbach         Ron Lewis

Steve Abrahams            Dan DeLuca

Tom Sandford               Kathy Richards

                                                           

1. Treasurer’s report (Kathy)

Net revenue for the 2009-10 (with a few minor outstanding items) was approximately minus $200, leaving a balance of approximately $5550 (a final report will be available at the January meeting). This was largely due to the significantly lower turnout for the event this past year. No monies were awarded to section winners attending Nationals due to the deficit. However, it was moved, seconded and approved unanimously that awards will be made in future to section winners attending Nationals provided the MACC balance does not drop below $3000.

 

2.  Tournament dates – (coordination by Tom Sandford) FYI – 2011 Nationals: JHS at Columbus, OH 4/15-4/17; HS at Nashville, TN 4/29-5/1; and Elem at Dallas, TX 5/6-5/8. UMO Spring Semester Recess starts Friday, Feb. 25, 2011 and classes resume Monday, March 14, 2011.

            Teams: March 5, 2011_______________________

            Snow Day (if needed): March 12, 2011__________

            Individuals: March 19, 2011___________________

            All-Girls: March 12, 2011, or April 2, 2011 if the Snow Day is used

 

3.  Fill/confirm slots for volunteers as noted below.

 

            A) Overall Tournament Coordinator: Ron Lewis________________

            B) HS Teams Leader:  Kurt Klappenbach_____________________

            C) Elem Teams Leader: Kathy Richards______________________

            D) JH Teams Leader:   _Kathy Richards______________________

            D) Individuals Leader: _Kurt Klappenbach____________________

            E)  All-Girls Leader:  Dan DeLuca___________________________

            F) Trophies: Andy Bryan_ _______

            G) Entry Form Production/Mailing: Ron Lewis__________________

            H) Treasurer: _Kathy Richards______________________________

            I) Publicity/reporting: _Ron Lewis____________________________

            J) Sidekick Quads on day of Individuals TL: TBD________________

           

4.  TDs/Asst. TDs from Maine Chess Association (Andy Bryan).

            President of MECA, Andy Bryan, will coordinate the TD assignments.

 

5.    Procedural Stuff:

            A. Tournament announcement due in to USCF by December 10 (to appear in Feb issue), so dates/contacts need to be finalized by then. Ron Lewis will submit these.   

            B.  Mailing of entry forms availability: Ron Lewis will update forms, send out postcard notices of posting to ChessMaine.net web site.

 

6.       Discussion on a general rule to limit number of players per team.

This has been a problem in the K-3 and K-6 sections for a few years (Championship and Novice). With a large number of entries from one school, it often happens that teams with just a few members will play only those players from the team with the large number as team members do not play each other). While some effort has been made to resolve this, it appears to be a lingering problem. The Board of Directors discussed this problem and decided that in order to provide more meaningful pairings, a team with 9 or more members in the K-3 section or 13 or more in the K-6 section will be required to split the team into two separate teams, e.g., A and B, and these will both be eligible to win trophies. The makeup of the separate teams will be at the discretion of the Coach, but will need to be identified as such on the entry forms (which will need to be modified).

 

7.    Discussion on attracting additional help for organizing these events.

Dwindling interest and attendance at Coaches meetings (this is supposed to be the Maine Association of Chess Coaches) make this a more difficult task. Pleas for assistance in organizing the events will continue on the ChessMaine.net web site, and MECA will make appeals to its members. This tournament is a large undertaking; we need additional help including new blood to establish a sustainable mass for the Organizing Committee.

 

8.    Steve Abrahams opened a discussion of the relationship between the MACC and MECA, noting that in several other states, the organization of the state scholastic championship events is typically performed by the state body. In discussion it was raised that this is the largest single chess tournament in the state and organization by MACC has been historically based. It began with George Cunningham and then passed on to Mike Schaab. With the expansion of the tournament to more sections and to a much greater number of players, it required more people for organizing than previously, and passed on to the present Organizing Committee when Mike left for MMA. MACC oversees only this single event, and, in essence, MACC acts as an independent arm of MECA in charge of its own budget. Some reluctance to directly merge the two entities (and treasuries) was raised due to past experience and future uncertainties. The Committee recognized the value of association with MECA (especially with the coordination of TDs), and expressed that the association should develop in other areas as well. It was commented that there is a scholastic liaison position in MECA that ought to be more clearly and extensively defined and that that liaison person should be present at MACC meetings. Steve indicated that he would take this information and continue the discussion at the annual MECA meeting (October 24).

 

9.       January meeting date: January 8, 2011. Saturday, 1 PM Memorial Union, University of Maine, Snow Day: January 15.