Sean Hewitt wrote:Roger de Coverly wrote:This rather demonstrates the point, denied by several or many membership advocates, that the ECF's scheme in particular and possibly MOs in general increased costs to "average" club players.
Despite your assertions to the contrary, this is not denied by anyone as far as I'm aware. The point that you conveniently forget to mention is that the ECF lost its government grant. Costs to players were always going to increase whether we had membership or whether we had game fee.
However, the bigger fact in my clubs fees this year was the decision to purchase some digital clocks.
The point that you conveniently forget to mention is that the increased costs only apply to less active players; reducing costs to the more active players is hardly a way to increase ECF revenue.
Alan Walton wrote:Bill Porter wrote:Alan Walton wrote: being able to run internal congresses totally free of charge is a good barrier to break and get more players playing competitive chess
How does requiring £2 minimum per graded game or £12 for ECF membership for "internal congresses totally free of charge" instead of the club paying 20p(?) game fee "get more players playing competitive chess"?
Because I am under the impression that they volume of players who just play internal club competitions only is very miniscule, therefore these players will unlikely to be interested in having a grade
Any such player has to pay to play in graded "internal congresses totally free of charge" whether or not he wants a grade.
You imply ( I suspect unintentionally ) you have a percentage threshold below which the interests of such players can be ignored. eg if their only local club has a graded internal tournament.
Alan Walton wrote:If their main aim is to get a grade then in reality they would have to play some league chess and become a bronze member (or congresses but you have to be silver), once players are members @ £12 which is highly recommended in the majority of leagues, then internal congresses are free to run
How a competitive player gets a grade hardly seems relevant here.
Alan Walton wrote:One question Bill, how many players in your club only play in your internal club competition and don't play anywhere else?
Bit late for that question as I no longer play club chess.
I didn't count; all I can say from casual conversations is "two or three, possibly rather more."
Although I played league and internal competitions, I was one of those 'marginal' players whose costs would have increased.
The money was not significant; I don't care to associate myself with the ECF and its secretive approach to actions most members oppose.
( Perhaps they wouldn't? The ECF doesn't accept "No taxation without representation" so no one can be sure. The usual attitude of the ECF when awkward facts become public is "It all happened a long time ago; time to move on.")
I've therefor stopped playing club chess for a year or two or indefinitely.