I had a couple of ideas about how the CFC could restructure itself for the Internet age. But it seemed that the RFP framework could also result in an economic CFC that was closer to the status quo. The RFP seems to have gone by the wayside (?), so here is my plan, in brief.
One person, whom I will call the RG (so as not to confuse it with any existing job title) opens a post box. This must be in a major city so that if the RG retires, we can recruit a new RG and not change the CFC's permanent address. The RG picks up the mail, puts everything through a scanner, deposits all cheques. He emails the scanned work to be done to the people who do the work (!). Those people could be anywhere.
Here's some inspiration from the real world:
1. The internet magazine Chess Today has more than one editor, and more than one typesetter. This allows work to be shared and distributed. For example, typically one typesetter takes a week, then the other takes the next week.
2. Both ICC and Playchess have online currency (chekels and ducats, respectively).
By extension, the CFC would have more than one person capable of doing each of the jobs (even the RG's). In the event of vacation, illness, firing, dereliction, what-have-you, the result would not be chaos, but a smooth transfer.
It would be handy for the CFC to have a currency system (which I will call choonies) as part of an improved accounting / website / rating / membership (if desired) system (obviously with security and multiply-redundant backups, etc). One route would be to develop its own (and license it to other organizations to raise badly needed funds!). Another would be to work out a deal with one of the online sites (ICC or Playchess).
With no rent to pay, the CFC could one again afford to give organizers commissions on memberships and even rating fees remitted. In my Universe, this would come to the RG via mail in advance, with accounting done in choonies. In my Universe, everything would be done by Internet, email, and post. But the system could stand even PayPal (yuk), credit cards, fax, and telephone, at a cost.
In less than 19 days, CFC President David Lavin will present his restructuring plan. I have no idea what it will contain. But I feel better for having presented these ideas.
One person, whom I will call the RG (so as not to confuse it with any existing job title) opens a post box. This must be in a major city so that if the RG retires, we can recruit a new RG and not change the CFC's permanent address. The RG picks up the mail, puts everything through a scanner, deposits all cheques. He emails the scanned work to be done to the people who do the work (!). Those people could be anywhere.
Here's some inspiration from the real world:
1. The internet magazine Chess Today has more than one editor, and more than one typesetter. This allows work to be shared and distributed. For example, typically one typesetter takes a week, then the other takes the next week.
2. Both ICC and Playchess have online currency (chekels and ducats, respectively).
By extension, the CFC would have more than one person capable of doing each of the jobs (even the RG's). In the event of vacation, illness, firing, dereliction, what-have-you, the result would not be chaos, but a smooth transfer.
It would be handy for the CFC to have a currency system (which I will call choonies) as part of an improved accounting / website / rating / membership (if desired) system (obviously with security and multiply-redundant backups, etc). One route would be to develop its own (and license it to other organizations to raise badly needed funds!). Another would be to work out a deal with one of the online sites (ICC or Playchess).
With no rent to pay, the CFC could one again afford to give organizers commissions on memberships and even rating fees remitted. In my Universe, this would come to the RG via mail in advance, with accounting done in choonies. In my Universe, everything would be done by Internet, email, and post. But the system could stand even PayPal (yuk), credit cards, fax, and telephone, at a cost.
In less than 19 days, CFC President David Lavin will present his restructuring plan. I have no idea what it will contain. But I feel better for having presented these ideas.
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