12.17.23 Hello Maine Chess Association members! It is time to elect Directors of the Maine Chess Association for the upcoming term. The members we elect this month will assume their positions on January 1, 2024, and provide leadership to MECA for one year. Please complete the Official MECA Ballot by selecting four (4) candidates for the positions of MECA Director. Some candidates have chosen to submit brief statements, and those are provided below. Thanks to all candidates for their willingness to serve the Maine Chess Association and thank you to all MECA voting members for your participation in this election.

Please click on this link to submit your ballot by December 31, 2023 at 05:00 p.m. eastern:

Maine Chess Association Director Election for 2024 Official Ballot

Two notes:

1. We are requiring your name and email on the ballot. It is the only way we can ensure that each member votes only once, and that each vote is submitted by a MECA member in good standing.

2. If you are unsure whether your MECA membership has expired, please contact MECA Secretary Aaron Spencer aaronspencer92@gmail.com If your MECA membership has lapsed, you can renew online before voting HERE

Candidates (in alphabetical order)

Justin Fisette

I am a teacher at Dirigo High School in western Maine and advisor of our school's burgeoning chess club. Over the past year, I have served on the MECA board of directors. I've helped with the running of the scholastic grand prix and making sure that accurate scores for the many teams are maintained and updated in a timely manner. I hope to continue to work with MECA and keep fostering chess in Maine over the next year.

Bruce Haffner

I started teaching when my son was 4 in 1994. I taught his classmates and him at various schools in Illinois until I started chess full time in 2004 in Glenview, IL. When I left, I had 3 classes a day (one before school and two after school) five days a week. Classes were big: 400 students a week.

We moved to Hope, ME, in 2016. I now teach 8 classes a week, all after school, in Camden, Rockport, Hope, Lincolnville and Belfast. I believe in keeping the same sections as Nationals at our State events: K/1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/8 and 9/12. I like playoffs when there are ties for first, like was done last year at State.

I have too many kids to check in on at State to take a job running State Teams and I'll be out of town March 16-30 so I'll miss Individuals. If these restrictions work, I'm happy to serve!

Jacob Holden

Glenn Miller

I'm an experienced chess coordinator, coach, and writer with a longstanding commitment to fostering chess communities. My goal is to help grow chess in Maine, and I've started with Farmington, my new hometown. Having moved here two years ago, I created the Farmington Chess Club, both in-person and online versions. Our local club is now a USCF affiliate and a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization; online we are a chess.com affiliate as well. I serve as TD and president for both. I've also launched the (now annual) Farmington Open Tournament; I run the chess booth at our local Summerfest program; and I send out a periodic chess newsletter keeping locals informed on the chess scene in Maine. I'd be proud to serve as MECA director.

Jorge Oliveira

I have enjoyed serving on the MECA Board this year. I've learned a lot from our Officers and Directors and have also become more acquainted with the chess needs in our state. I keep teaching chess in southern Maine and see an increase in the popularity of our game. As in all sports and games, I believe in investing in the children to safeguard the future of chess. I would love to keep serving in this capacity and strengthen our chess community even more this coming year.

Will Ravn

Hayden Tittle

I work as an ELL Teacher at Lewiston High School. I grew up playing Scholastic Chess in North Carolina, but stepped away from the game for a lot of years when I started playing soccer full time. During the Pandemic, I rekindled my love of Chess and found opportunities to use Chess to connect with students at Lewiston High School and in our community in Lisbon Falls. I've greatly enjoyed developing many positive relationships in the MECA community over the past 3 years and growing the Chess culture in Lewiston/Lisbon Falls. I served on the MECA Board for this past year (2023) and I would love to continue serving on the board to give back to an organization, community & sport that has meant a lot to me throughout various stages of my childhood and adult life.