I have started my own Chess Club but it is only me for now so need help on how to set Club Rates, how to get School teachers to get involved for after School Chess, and how to Attract paying chess members? It is my biggest dream and Goal in life. I am wanting to use chess as away to help adults and children.
I just started a local chess club (having moved since I previously ran a club). I asked for a meeting place at the church I attend, and got free space. I met one interested parent (who has two children who play). She took the publicity information to the school, since she knows them and I do not. Then I posted flyers on local bulletin boards (grocery store, dollar store) in our town and in a couple of nearby towns. My husband called to invite the only other rated player living in the county (besides the two of us). Our town has an official population of only 1,809, but many people live on ranches in the surrounding area (total county population 3,206). Last night at our first meeting, we had 12 players, with a mix of adults, teens, and kids. That was a good number for a first meeting. I personally paid for 10 boards and sets from USCF, and I had four analog clocks left from the old days. I also allowed people to use clock software on their smart phones (but advised them this wouldn’t be legal in a tournament). I already owned pairing software. In the future, I will have a donation can for people to offer a dollar or two to pay for more equipment.
Good luck with your club!
Brenda Hardesty
Senior TD
Eldorado, Tx
If your opponent agrees, you can generally use an app like yNotate for Android to record your games during a tournament. I’ve never had anyone object once I explain that the tournament mode locks out all the other apps on the tablet/smart phone during the game being played.