First a question, Does the CFC make money from the newsletter? I'm assuming so since they still have it going.
Has the CFC governors thought of having a per tournament rating fee increase and eliminating the membership fee?
This would make it more tenable for new or less serious tournament players to come play in tournaments. Right now it doesn't really make sense to play in even ONE tournament unless you can see yourself playing in at least 10 for the year.
I'm thinking something like $8 adult rating fee, and $1 all-junior rating fee.
The downside is that it would make tournaments appear more expensive. The current serious members wouldn't have a problem with it as they would know that it's in exchange for a $50 membership fee. New players wouldn't notice the difference at all as they would just think that some tournaments are expensive. The cost of running the CFC would be hidden in entry fees where people feel less overwhelmed.
You have no idea how many University students I've had to watch walk away when they ask what it would take to play in a tournament and I tell them that they'd have to pay a $50 membership fee to the CFC, plus pay $10 more to play in the tournament. I'd rather just tell them, "Oh, it's $15 to play". They can play in that tournament and maybe come back for another one, or that could be it and they just walk away after the first one. Either case is really a win for the chess community.
Another upside is that the rating fees would only be known by the TDs/Organizers. These individuals are already the most dedicated chess activists.
Right now we need to broaden the base of people that are willing to play in tournaments. I think the current CFC membership fee is actually hurting chess.
I've been made aware that the B.C. Chess Federation does this currently, charging $4 per tournament entry, so it's not a crazy untried idea. As I've heard, it's actually working out nicely in BC.
What do you think? and what does the CFC think?
Denton Cockburn
Has the CFC governors thought of having a per tournament rating fee increase and eliminating the membership fee?
This would make it more tenable for new or less serious tournament players to come play in tournaments. Right now it doesn't really make sense to play in even ONE tournament unless you can see yourself playing in at least 10 for the year.
I'm thinking something like $8 adult rating fee, and $1 all-junior rating fee.
The downside is that it would make tournaments appear more expensive. The current serious members wouldn't have a problem with it as they would know that it's in exchange for a $50 membership fee. New players wouldn't notice the difference at all as they would just think that some tournaments are expensive. The cost of running the CFC would be hidden in entry fees where people feel less overwhelmed.
You have no idea how many University students I've had to watch walk away when they ask what it would take to play in a tournament and I tell them that they'd have to pay a $50 membership fee to the CFC, plus pay $10 more to play in the tournament. I'd rather just tell them, "Oh, it's $15 to play". They can play in that tournament and maybe come back for another one, or that could be it and they just walk away after the first one. Either case is really a win for the chess community.
Another upside is that the rating fees would only be known by the TDs/Organizers. These individuals are already the most dedicated chess activists.
Right now we need to broaden the base of people that are willing to play in tournaments. I think the current CFC membership fee is actually hurting chess.
I've been made aware that the B.C. Chess Federation does this currently, charging $4 per tournament entry, so it's not a crazy untried idea. As I've heard, it's actually working out nicely in BC.
What do you think? and what does the CFC think?
Denton Cockburn
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