The club held its annual business/club officers election on 5 March 2010.  See the club minutes in "About Us" and see our "Links" page under "Miscellaneous" for those businesses in the area that have either done work for us from printing up new scoresheets to allowing us to hang our club posters in our efforts to let people know we're still here....yeah people still play chess face to face and yeah the game is impossible to master and no there isn't any money in it, but yes, there is beauty to be found in those 64 squares as elusive as it remains no matter how many years you attempt to learn the game.  We've found in the last few weeks that some people have seen the poster as a few people have dropped by to play. And, of course, most people play chess just for the fun of it, not to master the game or to pursue its beauty.  But, I digress.  The businesses we list in our "Links" are to let people know where we've been and who is supportive.  And soon we'll be posting photos of places where the Club used to meet from the downtown YMCA (the room has changed but it is still there and see "Games with Notes" for some of the games and history of past players), to Fassnight Park, to Meador Park, to other places like the Colonial Hotel which was torn down many years ago.

Our Champions plaque was updated to one overall plaque with 20 blank spots open.  Will the Club be around for another 20 years, no one knows, but the first 38 years has seen the Club thrive in the early to mid 1970's to a low ebb in the late '70's to mid '80's to a revival in the late '80's continuing ten years, and now back to few serious games being played and low membership, but as Jake LaMotta, the Raging Bull, said, "Hey, Ray, I'm still standing here. Ray, I'm still standing."
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Club Update 02/24/2010
 
The updated bylaws have been submitted for the club officers to review and approve.  More Chess posters were posted around town.  One at the Brentwood library and one taken to Catholic High School and one posted at the Rendezvous Coffee shop down town. Yesterday, I went to J-Wo Designs and approved the T-shirt design and it was decided to put the website on the back of the shirt as the lettering would be too small to see on the sleeve.  The shirts should be done in the next couple days per J-Wo. Of course, it was mentioned once again, that our website name is too long. I can only smile when I hear this as this website thing is all new to me and I do wish I had made it shorter and tagged it as a dot org.  I understand I can change it and link the name change.  Perhaps we may do that in a year or two.  I also priced getting the scoresheets printed again and it appears 1,000 will be around $100 depending on which copy shop we use.  And finally, wonderfully, Walt Ressmeyer sent me multiple photos and club articles.  These have been added to the updated Photos page and include things from 1972 to the mid-2000's.  Please check them out.
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Update Info 02/18/2010
 
More outreach efforts were made on February 17, 2010 with a visit to Missouri State University where flyers were posted in various Halls and outside posting boards.  I also dropped by the Fine European Market @ 3630 S Campbell Ave  Springfield, MO  65807 and noted that Walt had already dropped by and placed our poster there.  I spoke with one of the owners, Veronika Lukanov, she was most gracious in allowing us to post at her business.   If you haven't been there, please drop by for a variety of wonderful foods from all over Europe and check out the deli and fresh baked breads.  Note, too, that many new items have been added to our Memorabilia page and the T-shirts have been ordered and should be available by early March.  A photo of the shirt will be posted when we receive them.
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"Have you never been kissed by a girl?  Atomic wedgies on the regular?  Do you get A's in math?  We have the place for you, Springfield Park Board Chess Club!" --Tyler Reynolds
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More Out Reach 02/10/2010
 
Today I made it to the remaining two high schools in Springfield, Kickapoo and Hillcrest in hopes that our poster will be displayed for those students interested in chess.  I also managed to drop by Junior High, Hickory Hills and was advised they would even make mention of the club on their announcements.  While at Kickapoo, a parent overheard me mention the Chess Club and she was interested for a place for her child to play, but did not think the club would accept such young players.  I assured her we do and in fact we want young players as that is how I started out and developed my love of the game.  I also stopped by Just For Him and added there website link to our Links. They sell chess sets and boards and I would hope if someone sees our poster there, they would perhaps purchase a set and come over to play.  If nothing else, drop by there just to take in the fine cigar aroma!  Finally, I spoke with the fine people at J-Wo Designs on West Kearney about T-shirt costs and I will present that to the club this Friday.  I added a link to their website to our Links page as well.
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In order to advertise the club, we are working on a club logo, t-shirts with the logo on them, perhaps a window/bumper sticker with the logo and of course the club poster which is the front page of the website.  Today, I visited two Junior High Schools, Jarrett and Pershing, three high schools, Glendale, Central and Parkview, one University, Drury, and the downtown YMCA and one business, Crosstown BBQ, Steve, the owner has visited our club on several occasions, and I either left or posted our poster at these locations in hopes of letting people in the community know chess is alive and well in Springfield.  I still need to visit Hillcrest and Kickapoo and some other junior highs and other businesses in the next few days.  I also wrote the Springfield Greene County Park Board and asked if we could have our site linked to theirs and I have added several links to our link page of other chess clubs and/or businesses that have some connection to chess either loosely or directly.   We are hoping that our site shows up on Google soon and we have written them asking that our URL be added to the search engine.  Of course, if you have any interest in promoting our club, let us know or drop by the club to get a poster.  And remember you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Chess Etiquette 02/05/2010
 
Chess Etiquette:  There are some official and unofficial rules of etiquette in the game of chess. The general theme of chess etiquette is to be a good sport and to be respectful. Some of the more common official rules of etiquette are as follows:

• Every game must begin and end with the players shaking hands.

• Between the two handshakes, no talking is permitted. "Check" need not be said. Players are responsible for noticing where all of the pieces on the board are located, and what threats are pending.

• Never do anything to distract any other player in the tournament, especially your opponent.

• Always use the "touch move" rule.

• If an illegal move is made, the tournament director should be summoned. In a tournament using a "Sudden Death" time control, the other player receives an extra two minutes when one player makes an illegal move.

• Never gloat over a victory, or become despondent or hostile following a defeat. It is always best to analyze the game with your opponent, after the game ends, and in a different room from where you played. Leave the playing room quietly when you finish so as not to distract the other people who are still playing.

• Never comment on a game that is in progress, whether the game is yours or one that you are just watching.

• The tournament director has the authority to punish breaches of etiquette, and may add or subtract time as a sanction. In extreme cases, players may be forfeited for violating the rules and spectators may be banned from the site.

These rules of etiquette generally apply to tournaments, but it is always a good idea to follow these. Being a good sport in chess and having fun generally makes for a better chess player.

--taken from http://www.101chesstips.com/chess-etiquette.jspweeblylink_new_window

Moreover, 1) it would be annoying to make your move from your opponent's side of the board; 2) declaring "check" in an arrogant tone would be disrespectful and annoying, of course, if you were suspect of your own playing ability then of course you would want to be annoying to your opponent; 3)  making your opponent wait in a Swiss tournament when everyone else has started when you are in the playing room just because you can; 4)  turning or "screwing-in" the piece you've moved into the board repeatedly after every move; 5)  coming to the board which your opponent has already set-up, pieces in place, clock set, but because you are playing the black side and you are late you decide you need to use another board, pieces and clock; 6)  shouting/talking loudly to your opponent in a harsh tone because something annoys you instead of politely asking your opponent to be aware of the thing he/she is doing; 7)  if you are not a professional chess player who earns his/her living from the playing of chess, then it is only a game and you have not mastered it....show some class and humility and be respectful.

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Chess Quotes 01/30/2010
 
"Why must I lose to this idiot?!"  -Aaron Nimzovitch


"One bad move nullified forty good ones."  -I.A. Horowitz



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