2 questions for Jean Hebert

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  • #16
    Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

    Originally posted by David Ottosen View Post
    You can get that goodwill feeling 100x more fulfilled (especially for people who are capable of raising money) in just about any other endeavour than chess.
    I hope you realize that this is just an opinion with a totally random figure ? For someone who knows chess and understand what it is all about, supporting it can be just as fulfilling as anything else. Thank God not everyone have the same interests, opinions and tastes otherwise we would all be robots in a corporate world.

    Originally posted by David Ottosen View Post
    For example, could you imagine the Make a Wish foundation kids coming to someone who was volunteering and saying "unbelievable that the DVD you gave me of this was not in HD, and that Wayne Gretzky just came for a 2 hour visit instead of flying me to Disneyland."? No, you use your connections/money/whatever, and you get to see a sick kid have the most incredible day of your life. How does chess compete with that?
    You know what ? I think that unwillingy you have provided the best answer to Larry's question. Excellent people leave chess because they get frustrated, tired and disappointed to deal with unambitious and unimaginative people with no vision beyond the next tournament. Excellent people want to make a lasting difference, they want to be part of special and meaningful projects that will change things for the better, in one field or another. There are simply too many people in chess who feel threatened and inadequate dealing with such people. They would rather see things remain as they are without any challenge that would require them to take a little more responsibilities and get a bit better at what they are doing.

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    • #17
      Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

      Originally posted by Jean Hébert View Post
      Excellent people leave chess because they get frustrated, tired and disappointed
      Well, on this we agree.

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      • #18
        Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

        Originally posted by Jean Hébert View Post
        Excellent people leave chess because they get frustrated, tired and disappointed...
        and there are still lots of excellent people working to improve things. Instead of criticizing every shortcoming, we should be grateful for their efforts. :D

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        • #19
          Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

          There you have it, Larry. Resistance is futile; Marvin, David and Jean agree. The world must end. Too bad nobody addressed your question. That, too, must pass.

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          • #20
            Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

            Originally posted by Bob Gillanders View Post
            and there are still lots of excellent people working to improve things. Instead of criticizing every shortcoming, we should be grateful for their efforts. :D
            Au contraire, Bob. I think that Jean has been fulsome with praise when he has seen improvement. Nor has he criticized every shortcoming.

            The Canadian Chess Association was founded in 1872. It restructured itself as the Canadian Chess Federation in 1932. Perhaps the 140th and 80th anniversaries in 2012 would be apt for another go--maybe third time lucky. I mean everything on the table. Certainly Canada and Canadians are wealthier than those two previous times, but Canada-wide, chess is profoundly dysfunctional today.

            Larry?

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            • #21
              Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

              Originally posted by Jonathan Berry View Post
              Au contraire, Bob. I think that Jean has been fulsome with praise when he has seen improvement. Nor has he criticized every shortcoming.

              The Canadian Chess Association was founded in 1872. It restructured itself as the Canadian Chess Federation in 1932. Perhaps the 140th and 80th anniversaries in 2012 would be apt for another go--maybe third time lucky. I mean everything on the table. Certainly Canada and Canadians are wealthier than those two previous times, but Canada-wide, chess is profoundly dysfunctional today.
              Au contraire, Jonathan. Jean has been very quick to deal harsh criticism at our Hamilton "weekenders" and others, without knowing the real facts. Any reluctant praise always comes with a but......

              We are in total agreement that "Canada-wide, chess is profoundly dysfunctional today." :( I am reminded of it everyday. Nobody, absolutely nobody, is happy with the status quo. If anyone has a plan that can bring everyone together into a big new happy Canada wide chess community, please step forward. The CFC Presidency awaits this individual. I don't have all the answers, and I am quite happy to step aside for someone who does. I am in no way defending the status quo, but what I am saying is.....

              While we are awaiting the arrival of the chosen one, we should treat those of us who fight in the trenches to keep the chess community alive, with some respect and appreciation. That's all I am saying. :D

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              • #22
                Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                I have been known to take a swing or two at the chess " establishment " over the years. But I hope I have also done what Bob recommends - as well, treat sincere volunteers, trying to accomplish something positive for chess, with some respect and appreciation!

                Well said Bob G.!

                Bob A

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                • #23
                  Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                  Originally posted by Bob Gillanders View Post
                  Au contraire, Jonathan. Jean has been very quick to deal harsh criticism at our Hamilton "weekenders" and others, without knowing the real facts. Any reluctant praise always comes with a but......
                  Why don't you tell us the "real facts" that I am missing ? I am all ears and eyes.

                  Originally posted by Bob Gillanders View Post
                  We are in total agreement that "Canada-wide, chess is profoundly dysfunctional today." :( I am reminded of it everyday. Nobody, absolutely nobody, is happy with the status quo.If anyone has a plan that can bring everyone together into a big new happy Canada wide chess community, please step forward. The CFC Presidency awaits this individual.
                  My first reaction to this is that of course no such plan could exists, and if it existed, it would be voted down by the Governors, or simply ignored by the Executive. Generally speaking, people do not like to implement other people's ideas, even when they like those ideas. However I cannot help but think about the plan that I proposed to the CFC a few years ago when after a year without any publications, the CFC finally decided to do something, whether a webzine or something else. What I proposed (yes at times I do more than simply criticize :)) was to produce a bilingual Newsletter (partly english, partly french) in two versions, one short, free to reach out to anyone willing to provide an e-mail, and and extended one for the paying members. What could it have accomplished ? At least this: 1) Today the CFC could pretend for the first time in its existence to be a truly national organisation by providing services in both official languages; 2) The CFC would probably have around 5 000 chess playing canadians on its e-mailing list and 5 or 10 times as many foreigners worldwide, making its newsletter that more attractive to advertizers.
                  Instead the CFC started with the disastrous webzine (which I warned from the start could not work) before moving on to a better but still limited concept, a unilingual newsletter with a content geared towards the hardcore tournament player (no criticism there for Tony Ficzere who is doing quite well within that framework) sent to a handful of surviving CFC members.
                  The CFC simply turned down a chance to become a truly national federation and chose instead to remain small, with no real hope to grow other than the infamous "membership drive" that at best produces short term results.
                  Not happy with the status quo ? Prove it by making positive changes, not just positive words.

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                  • #24
                    Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                    Originally posted by Jonathan Berry View Post
                    Why does every thread have to be "British Bulldog on Jean Hébert" ?

                    Larry's question is about sponsors, not organizers.

                    If you want to gang up on Jean, or talk about volunteerism, and chess volunteerism in particular, please start a new thread. Thank you.
                    What Larry seems to be asking here is not just about the people themselves, but also about the time and money they were willing to put into chess. Why have they, and their resources, been lost to the cause? And what, if anything, could their resources have done more effectively for chess?

                    He does specifically want Jean Hebert to answer these questions, publicly on this board. David did jump the gun with some interesting (and well-worn) points. But Jonathan makes a good point: this is Larry's board, he's asking Jean, so let's let Jean give the two questions his thought-out responses.

                    Take it away, Jean.
                    Only the rushing is heard...
                    Onward flies the bird.

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                    • #25
                      Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                      Originally posted by Paul Bonham View Post
                      he's asking Jean, so let's let Jean give the two questions his thought-out responses.
                      Indeed. I'm curious to see if he has something better than "well, those people should have stayed in chess and actually done more because being part of chess and giving money to chess makes you feel like a special flower."

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                      • #26
                        Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                        Originally posted by Jean Hébert View Post
                        Not happy with the status quo ? Prove it by making positive changes, not just positive words.
                        Positive changes are preceded by positive words.
                        Excellent progress has been made towards building a more cooperative and productive team within the CFC executive, governors, staff, and volunteers. Considering all the deep divisions within the chess community, this is a monumental task. The task is far from complete, but my sincere thanks to those excellent people who have brought us this far. :)

                        Regrettably, there remain too many individuals who seem willing to sabotage our progress with their negativity. :(
                        Last edited by Bob Gillanders; Tuesday, 10th May, 2011, 04:54 PM.

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                        • #27
                          Did I Get That Right Larry?

                          Did I get that right Larry, a bank donated money for chess? Will wonders never cease to exist! As a co-worker once commented, "We're a Bank damit, we're not made of money!"

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                          • #28
                            Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                            Originally posted by Bob Gillanders View Post
                            Regrettably, there remain too many individuals who seem willing to sabotage our progress with their negativity. :(
                            "Canada-wide, chess is profoundly dysfunctional today." -Gillanders

                            The CFC is his own worst enemy.

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                            • #29
                              Re: Did I Get That Right Larry?

                              Originally posted by David MacLeod View Post
                              Did I get that right Larry, a bank donated money for chess? Will wonders never cease to exist!
                              Funny. I find absolutely nothing surprising about that. Banks too must foster their image and try to appear as good corporate citizens. And chess is one cheap way to do that.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Re: 2 questions for Jean Hebert

                                Originally posted by Jean Hébert View Post
                                "Canada-wide, chess is profoundly dysfunctional today." -Gillanders

                                The CFC is his own worst enemy.
                                Nice reply! 1-0
                                Gary Ruben
                                CC - IA and SIM

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