No assumptions – I was just commenting on the suggestion about the USCF holding regional events, at a later date as you said. Inasmuch as, based on my experience, I do not agree with you, I commend you on your involvement in chess. We do need more people involved in organizing and directing events, as well as in teaching, coaching, and coordinating chess programs. Perhaps you do not have the time or resources to, right now, bid on a National event, but maybe some time in the future you might. If you do, please know that the USCF, and others, will be happy to help.
My point is that I don’t understand what the USCF could do that another (local or otherwise) organizer couldn’t do. It’s not that hard to find good TDs to bring in if that’s part of the problem.
To be honest, there are many organizers out there who run far more tournaments every year than the USCF office does.
I am reminded of a former Board member who had a wonderful idea for a tournament that he wanted to run - but he declared that he would only run it if the USCF named it an official “National” event, and provided all the perks that come with that designation.
As far as I know, the USCF (rightfully) declined to create a new “National” event designation for a brand new tournament, and the organizer decided to pick up his marbles and go home - the event (an excellent idea, perhaps) was never held.
The USCF Office should run events that meet the following requirements:
a) the event is important
b) either no organizer wants to run the event OR there are significant, overriding reasons why the event should not be outsourced
So, USCF runs events as an “organizer of last resort” for important events that independent organizers do not see as profitable, AND USCF runs events that have proven to be a royal pain in the &&& to run as a partnership with independent organizers.
so…if you have an idea for a cool event…you either believe it will be profitable, or you don’t. If you believe it’s profitable, you should probably run it yourself (and might want to RESIST the temptation to have it designated as an “important event” by USCF). If you do NOT believe it will be profitable, but should be run anyway…well, right now perhaps you should wait until USCF has resources to spare in order to take the loss on your tournament.
A local organizer negotiating with a hotel for 1 or 2 tournaments in a year might not get as good a rate as the USCF negotiating with a hotel chain for 30 or more events in a year. I think this is the kind of idea that the original author of this thread was trying to bring up. I do not know if such a mass negotiation system would work, as it needs massive cooperation from the local level in terms of certainty of tournaments being run. The USCF is not in business of running local tournaments, the only thing the USCF does do is try to move around the National events so as to provide possible playing venues in geographically diverse areas.
I do recall traveling from Illinois to Ohio to play in a “Regional” championship event. Back then the USCF had regions, and regional VPs, and this event was billed as a championship for the region(s) in the general area. I think the idea of regions and regional championships should be reconsidered by the USCF. The USCF would not need to run the tournaments, only recognize the winners as champions of a USCF (regional) titled event. Other than the USCF and Goichberg how many organizers run events in more than 1 state on a regular basis? Personally I have organized and run tournaments in 3 states, but never on a regular basis.
According to tournament records, in the last year Cajun Chess has run events in four states. Two affiliates have run events in three different states and 26 have run events in two states. Most of those are border state situations, for example an affiliate running events in both NY and NJ.
What did happen to the “Region” I, II, III, etc. championships? When and where was the last one held? Were they USCF sponsored and directed events or events that required bids? Did the winners go on to some final, or qualify at one time for a U.S. Championship? Are there archives where one could find information about the winners of these old events?
Region I continues to hold an annual championship event, but it is not referred to as “Region I”. It is the New England Open, traditionally held Labor Day Weekend.
Micheal, I’m coming late into this conversation, but a non-scholastic event that is planned to have a few hundred players is a big order in the northest! What chances does Alabama have to reach that?