Hi, everyone.
Mostly, these random thoughts pertain to us in America but others can
chime in, too. I know a few of us have talked in private conversations
and the USBCA board has as well addressed growing our organization for
the next generation or two. So here are few random thoughts and a plug
for the friendly games app that Mahendra Galani's put together for us
Skype-playing folks.
How might we individually reach out to our local blindness communities
to create interest in chess. Of course, the Hadley School's there and
we've gotten, I think, a ton of our national and international members
through them. I'm also thinking of what contacts we may have in local
centers for independent living, outreach centers for the blind, and
other grassroots groups beyond the scope of our major consumer
organizations. Of course, we've made good contact with a couple blind
schools andthat's great, too.
An idea that I've had rolling around in my head is how to get folks in
our local areas interested in the game and, even with four or six
folks, start some informal or formal over-the-board play going. That
would develop a feeder system of sorts so that the activity of those
who do compete at our annual OTB tournament can trickle down to the
gutt level and create a supply of more chess players.
Of course, there are some of us who compete mainstream as well.
But, none of us are getting any younger. Of course, we want our U.S.
championship for blind players to be as attended as other federations'
championships for blind players, e.g. in England or France or India.
Of course, part of that is a money thing. Yet, if we were to grow from
the grassroots in getting local interest going, we may get some
foundations/organizational support for bringing more of us together.
It's pretty well-known that the date for this year's U.S. Championship
for Blind Players is still up in the air thanks to the unseen enemy,
COVID-19. Yet, this time of social distancing may be a good time to
look past this current crisis to when we will be in a better condition
to keep chess interest expanding in the blindness community.
Maybe, even if some of us know others who are blind in our same city
or town, we can personally introduce them to the game, our resources,
and so forth.
Anyone want to chime in? How's the interest generated mano a mano
elsewhere in the world?
And unrelated to the preceeding,
If you haven't yet, you guys have got to check out the friendly games
app that Mahendra's developed and has been discussed on other lists.
Nothing like hearing that call on Skype and, when I have the time,
pulling up the interface and playing on the spur of the moment.
As I shared on Facebook a couple days back, sure, it's a freaking
tragedy that all the sports have had to get canceled because of the
pandemic. But, that hasn't stopped us from playing chess by Skype,
playing a bunch of correspondence games and studying this game that we
all love!
You all take care and we'll keep navigating the sixty-four square jungle.
All the best in chess,
David
