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Dark Knight / Le Chevalier Noir
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and I think at the time you originally posted it, I replied that that answer is inadequate. As Bindi points out, most of your 2nd paragraph does not involve cash outlay by the CFC or organizational effort by CFC staff. The rating system pays for itself [allegedly], and I belong to a chess fraternity even without the existence of the CFC.
Which leaves the CFC magazine and FIDE. The FIDE costs are only marginally larger than what the Foundation hands over, so if that is all the CFC needs money for, then why is it deemed to be in the national interest to coerce every tournament player to buy a subscription for $36 a year? (and it's not even delivered to all members!).
Back when Lavin was first running he made a statement along the lines of it being necessary to evaluate the basis of the CFC, what where the core things it had to do and what it cost to do them. As far as I know, that exercise was never done. Back in the day, when a magazine was the only was to communicate Canadian chess news that might have been a compelling reason for a forced membership model. But it's not true anymore.
Well, I just remember some people really liked my answer! ;)
All kidding aside, I think my answer does sum up accurately what you get for your CFC membership dues! :) Your complain is really that the CFC does not provide adequate services for what it charges! Correct?
Again, in case anybody has the mistaken impression that I am happy with the performance of the CFC, I can assure you that I am not!
I hope we will see a budget for the upcoming year soon. :D
Maurice told me last night he is currently working on the 2010-11 budget, and will advise me as soon as he has a projected presentation date - he is aware of the governors' request that it be done as of March 31, and he is trying to see if he can meet that, but won't commit to it yet, 'til he's got more of a sense of when he thinks he can complete it.
What benefits do I get as a member of the C.F.C.?
When you become a member of the CFC.....
Maybe the best way for people to find whether fees should be raised or lowered is to compare what residents of other comparably developed countries pay to be members of their national federations, and what they get for what they pay.
For example, compare to USCF, and to whatever federations exist in countries like Britain, Germany, France, Japan.
In all these comparisons, you'd have to take currency exchange rates into consideration to even things out, such as rating fees.
I doubt that all these federations are in collusion to limit what they provide to their members to the same basic things. But if these same basic things turns out to be what they are all providing - nothing more nothing less, nobody is paying for dancing girls at national events - then someone would have to make a case for adding something new to what the CFC provides. Patrick Kirby is trying to make such a case for the newsletter being free, but the problem is there isn't any survey or study showing that this would drive up membership. I tried to make a case for the CFC including chess960 events in parallel with all major chess events, but same problem, there's no evidence to suggest this might bring in more people.
At some point, if membership is getting low enough, somebody has to take some risk and just try something. Doesn't sound like the CFC is near that point yet, and chess being a very conservative and cash-poor business, the status quo is all you can expect.
On another thread, Carl Bilodeau argues that the CFC must kick out all the socialists and politicians and put in some business people. Somewhat simplistic, in that business people are notorious for taking other people's money and either absconding with it or spending it on some unfounded ideas only to discover that they might as well have been throwing the money to the wind (like a Trillium grant, for one example).
Carl does make a comparison to the FQE, which he states is undergoing such a renewal process and is producing great results in Quebec. Something does seem to be up in Quebec, whether it's due to Carl's simple math or not is not for me to say. It could well be that the FQE, being taxpayer funded, is in a much stronger financial position than the CFC and can do much more because of it, which would be the ultimate irony to Carl's ideas.
Maybe the rest of Canada just needs to convince their provincial governments to put some money into chess, with Quebec as a poster child. On the other hand, since other threads seem to show that curling provides all the mental benefits of chess and makes people healthier besides, maybe the rest of Canada can move en masse into curling. In 20 years time, maybe the people of Quebec, 50% or more involved in weekend chess, will be suffering heart attacks while the rest of Canada will be doing Participaction commercials, juggling 3 curling rocks while mocking "girly men" chess players.
Only the rushing is heard...
Onward flies the bird.
Maurice told me last night he is currently working on the 2010-11 budget, and will advise me as soon as he has a projected presentation date - he is aware of the governors' request that it be done as of March 31, and he is trying to see if he can meet that, but won't commit to it yet, 'til he's got more of a sense of when he thinks he can complete it.
Bob
I'd have thought for the CFC's budget all anyone would need is the back of an envelope and a pencil.
A month is a budget for a company with a billion dollar maket cap.
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