CFC online governor's meeting in progress

[Ken Craft]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

What service improvements do you suggest, Gary?

[Roger Patterson]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Another conversation that I've had trouble getting started.......

some other topics that nobody seems to want to discuss:

- it apparently costs the CFC approx. $2/player to rate an event (as per a previous post by Fred McKim) - an amount that on the face of it seems grossly inefficient.

- that policy of rating all junior events with no membership required at $0.50 per player is pretty expensive. At the $2/player cost of rating, that's a subsidy of approx. $10,000/year. Yes, I know "juniors are our future" yada yada yada, but when there is no money allocated for any other national program, that seems a little one sided.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

What service improvements do you suggest, Gary?

If you re-read what I wrote, you'll see it says: "It's not about service improvements but an increase in funds for chess programs and events."

You have to keep up, Ken. Am I going too fast or is the concept of a fee increase too shocking? :)

[Zeljko Kitich]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

If you re-read what I wrote, you'll see it says: "It's not about service improvements but an increase in funds for chess programs and events."

You have to keep up, Ken. Am I going too fast or is the concept of a fee increase too shocking? :)

Ken likes to lag behind the issue. That way he can pick off any strays or stragglers :)

[Ken Craft]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

What programs or events would you like this proposed increase to fund, Gary?
(Trying to play catch-up)

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Lets be fair: the fee will become a tax. (not many like taxes)

Will it increase membership? vs Will hard-core players still stay and pay? G.Ruben, your membership lapsed. Will you renew it if the fee (tax) would double? ;)

[Gary Ruben]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Will it increase membership? vs Will hard-core players still stay and pay? G.Ruben, your membership lapsed. Will you renew it if the fee (tax) would double? ;)

No. I don't play in OTB rated events. I haven't since the late 1970's. Last time I renewed my membership I was buying a subscription to a printed magazine. They don't have that these days.

I have a life membership in the CCCA and my chess donation this year, which would have paid for several years membership, went to the CCCA.

Governments can print money. Organizations have to get it from their members. It's really a simple concept. :)

Ken is desperately seeking uses for the increase in funds. The prizes for the zonal tend to be so low most of the GM's don't play and he needs to ask.

Ask a Canadian GM if he's planning on playing in an event and the reply is likely to be "not in this country".

[Jean Hébert]

Re : Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Governments can print money. Organizations have to get it from their members. It's really a simple concept. :)

Simplistic solutions to complex problems rarely work. CFC members are already paying a hefty price for what they get. Asking for more may bring a little more money short term, but in the long run it would stiffle growth. No serious organisation can live on dues only. Others sources of income must be developped, sponsorship for events and advertizing in CCN for general expenses. But as it is, CCN is a rather unattractive vehicle for advertizers. It does not appear often enough and it does not reach enough people. Somehow it should appear weekly (in a smaller size of course) and be free. As it is non-members can find ways to have it free anyway. The CFC might as well spread it around and multiply its readership, while making it more attractive to advertizers.

[Christopher Mallon]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

some other topics that nobody seems to want to discuss:

- it apparently costs the CFC approx. $2/player to rate an event (as per a previous post by Fred McKim) - an amount that on the face of it seems grossly inefficient.

- that policy of rating all junior events with no membership required at $0.50 per player is pretty expensive. At the $2/player cost of rating, that's a subsidy of approx. $10,000/year. Yes, I know "juniors are our future" yada yada yada, but when there is no money allocated for any other national program, that seems a little one sided.

I offered to an Executive member to submit a bid to fully automate the rating system (with obvious checks and balances put in to avoid problems) and the response was "why would we want to do that?"

I hadn't considered the Junior subsidy but yes I suppose that could, in a way, be considered a "program" as well. Still, it's definitely a point that Juniors have perhaps been addressed and some money should be spent in other areas.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

I offered to an Executive member to submit a bid to fully automate the rating system (with obvious checks and balances put in to avoid problems) and the response was "why would we want to do that?"

Um, to save money so we could have other programs, would be a good answer to that question.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Re : Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Jean, you're right about decent sponsorship and advertising not being likely. The circulation doesn't seem large enough for CCN.

As for the "hefty price", a cell phone plan might qualify. A CFC membership at around $3.50 a month does not. Nor would $7.00 per money be a "hefty price" for an adult membership. Although, who would give up their cell phone plan to play chess?

In any case, I don't think there will be an increase. From what I'm reading here more money is not necessary because the governors who have responded to me don't know for what they would use the money. Maybe that approximately $9,000. they will get from the FQE is enough. Is my figure correct because I've only seen it on the message boards?

[Christopher Mallon]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Um, to save money so we could have other programs, would be a good answer to that question.

The feeling was the benefits of saving money do not outweigh the "downside" of less human involvement.

[Alan Baljeu]

Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

I bet you could implement an automated system for a very marginal cost, and keep the same level of human support. You will find the amount of support required will go down some, and the support person will still validate cross tables but overall have less work to do because action is only required when a problem exists.

In 2 years' time, the job will be half of what it is now.

[Alan Baljeu]

Re: Re : Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

Jean, you're right about decent sponsorship and advertising not being likely. The circulation doesn't seem large enough for CCN.

As for the "hefty price", a cell phone plan might qualify. A CFC membership at around $3.50 a month does not. Nor would $7.00 per money be a "hefty price" for an adult membership. Although, who would give up their cell phone plan to play chess?

How many memberships are "two event" memberships like mine? $7/month sounds low, but $42/event is high when my sole benefit is a rating.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Re : Re: CFC online governor's meeting in progress

How many memberships are "two event" memberships like mine? $7/month sounds low, but $42/event is high when my sole benefit is a rating.

People are paying close to $200. to play in one event. People are paying chess teachers.

In any case it doesn't matter. Obviously there is no vision for Canadian chess which requires more money than they are currently receiving.

I assume yours is a FQE membership. That, like the OCA, is not part of this discussion.