AGENDA FOR MEETINGS

Agenda for Dallas on Thursday, December 13, 2001

We will meet in the Cherokee Room of the Hyatt Regency.

All agenda items should be submitted to the co-chairs at least seven (7) days prior to any scheduled meeting.  A tentative meeting agenda follows.

Welcome.

Review minutes of last meeting in Framingham prior to arrival in Dallas.  (Meeting minutes should generally be distributed by email two weeks after the conclusion of the meeting and posted on the website within one month.  Any corrections, deletions, or additions should be made in a timely fashion after email distribution, so that the minutes can be posted on the website.)  Make any additional corrections and approve minutes. 

Share progress reports of subcommittees on current projects.  What goals have been completed?  Are there others who would like to participate in the subcommittees?

Topics under old business include:

(1)        Scholastic position of a scholastic dues increase

(2)        Scholastic position on the continuation of School Mates.

(a). Should it be continued as a separate issue or be included as a series of features in a quarterly Chess Life?

(b) Should it be hard copy or on-line?

            (c) Should it be targeted for kids or coaches?

(3)        Should USCF ratings’ classes be treated as titles that are earned and kept regardless of rating?

(4)        Should ratings’ class names be changed from alpha to numeric?

(5)        Use of USCF endorsed “Think-Like -a- King” Software as a member benefit to solicit scholastic chess organizations to join our network.

(6)        Estimated impact of an Auto Sensory Board on scholastic instruction if it is developed at a ballpark figure of $100.

(7)        Scholastic reaction to the newly proposed internet membership class for scholastic and youth players (on-line play only at $10 and $15 respectively)

(8)        Do regional qualification tournaments have a place in our national championship structure, particularly since airline travel has declined since 9/11?

(9)        Should the title of National Champions be reserved for Open Section winners, only?

(10)    Fund Raising Goals to be examined.

(a)    Chess Camp for outstanding scholastic youth

(b)   Larger prizes for Scholar-Chess Player awards

(c)    Subsidy for auto sensory board purchase

(d)   Subsidy for regional team and individual qualifiers

(e)    Purchase of rights to Think-Like-a-King Software for scholastic distribution

(f)     Project Funding for the development of scholastic coaches’ instructional material for course credit and an on-line coaches’ corner and the creation of certification tests.

• A few minutes talking about the U.S. Junior Open would be useful.

• Review format for selection of scholar-chessplayer awards and decide selection committee.*

• Creating the USCF Scholastic Council Bylaws, Procedures and Regulations.

• The Traci Lee letter

• Reinstating membership commissions

• Allowing bids for some of the national scholastics 

Local volunteers and organizers determine 90% of the success of a tournament! SuperNationals II would have been a dismal failure if we did not have over 100 volunteers!  Unfortunately, I personally believe that USCF taking over the National Scholastics will result in the complete financial downfall of them within three years, because the quality of the tournaments will deteriorate so much due to lack of local involvement. 

I would like to see more discussion on the concept and implementation of University chess scholarships, printed course curriculums for elementary - high school chess clubs and classes and the addressing of how we are going to transition scholastic players from elementary to adult chess. 

• Posting tournament results faster

• Review survey to be distributed at the National Scholastic K-12

New items of business.  Are there additional projects that we need to start?

1) Tournament information that appears on the USCF website about the National Scholastic Tournaments, as it currently exists, is lacking in much of the information that coaches and players want and need about a tournament.  It presupposes that everyone who reads the site is familiar with the Scholastic Tournament Regulations and the host community. I would like us to compose a list of required items for these tournaments that must be posted on the USCF website.

2) CEA – discussion

Special presentations:  Learning more about the chess in education and college committees and how we can work together to develop the coach certification tests and training programs. (Tim Redman and/or Alexey Root)  3:00 PM

Review decisions and recommendations made during the meeting and clarify who is responsible for taking appropriate actions.

Close the meeting with a brief evaluation.  How has the meeting helped to advance the mission of scholastic chess?  What issues have been raised for future agendas?

*URLs for proposed 2002 form and explanation for scholar-chessplayer awards are as follows:

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