U.S. Chess Trust Managing Director Position
Hello chess friends, here is a chess position requiring responsibility and commitment. The U.S. Chess Trust is looking for a managing director.
U.S. Chess Trust update: Barbara DeMaro is retiring from her long time position of Managing Director (MD) of the charitable US Chess Trust. We are now looking to contract out the position.
The primary focus of the Trust is to provide assistance to low income programs, such as Title 1 schools, in order to help them establish chess programs.
The Trust also actively supports scholastic chess programs in general. The Trust’s newest focus is on how chess can be used to combat cognitive disabilities due to aging.
The MD position is considered part-time and is compensated at 25K/yr., with the potential to earn more based on fund raising performance. Along with fund raising, there are a number of administrative duties including:
- making sure all appropriate forms are correctly filed for IRS, Massachusetts, CFC, and other organizations (Florida? Orange County?)
- sending out the annual mailing and processing donations from the mailing
- acknowledging donations
- administering the Samford fellowship program (including obtaning names and addresses of fellows and making sure checks are sent on time)
- handling the chess sets distribution (including obtaining a source and taking care of requests)
- making sure any other needed checks are written (for example for half my expenses at Hall of Fame inductions, for half of inductee expenses if there are live inductees)
- actively participating in Annual Meeting and arranging for telephone hookup
- attending Denker-Barber closing ceremony and writing needed checks
- -administering Denker-Barber program during the year (former award winners sending in documentation of college attendance)
- dealing with phone calls and correspondence
- dealing with Trustee inquiries
- making sure payments to USCF are made on time
- administering the Scholar Chessplayer program in terms of getting checks to awardees
If interested, please send a resume to jeade@uschesstrust.org andhwinston@uschesstrust.org.
Labels: barbara demaro, scholastic chess, US Chess Trust
Pan-Am Scholastic Chess Championships begin in Port of Spain
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hi everyone,
Moruga Chess Club president Godfrey Lee Sing, second from right, receives chess equipment from TTCA president Russell Smith last Saturday. Eight other zone co-ordinators also received their equipment for expansion of the TTCA’s Chess in Schools programme. With them are Under-20 girls champion Javanna Smith, Douglas and Daniel Lee, right. This is timely as the Pan Am Scholastic Chess tournament, which will attract some 70 players from 13 countries in the Americas, will be held in Port-of-Spain during the upcoming Easter vacation.
The Trinidad & Tobago Chess Association, in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Ministry of Education, is hosting the 7th Pan American Scholastic Chess Championships at the National Academy of the performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. The tournament is sponsored in part by First Citizens Bank and will be run in age groups: Under-9, Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17. This is the first time the Pan American Scholastic Chess Championship is being held in T&T.
At last year’s tournament in Margarita, the T&T squad placed second to Venezuela, with Peru third. Javanna Smith and Sanjay Roopchand brought home silver medals while Della Marie Walcott got bronze. Local players have been doing well in this and other regional tournaments for the past three years.
A total of 150 players from 10 countries are expected to participate, along with 100 local players. Among the countries invited are Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Barbados, Suriname, Jamaica, Cuba, Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. This event is expected to boost the TTCA’s current Chess in Schools Programme, and with the Easter vacation started, schools are also invited to bring along their students to witness the competition.
The Pan American Scholastic Chess Championships will be FIDE-rated, with chief international arbiter Russell Smith, deputy international arbiter Erick Hernandez from San Salvador and FIDE Arbiter Rawlson Paul presiding.
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Labels: panam chess, scholastic chess, trinidad tobago chess
Cool Chess Video: Why Chess is Compulsory in Armenia Schools
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013Hi everyone,
Here's a short video on why Armenia has added chess to the school curriculum: Readin', Ritin', and Rithmatic have long been the staples of a young person's education. In Armenia they've added chess to the list...by law.
Labels: armenia chess, Chess video, scholastic chess
Georgia First for Kasparov Chess School Program
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013
Hello everyone,
Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has added chess to the curriculum of 100 Georgian schools as part of an initiative during his visit to Tbilisi recently.
In recent years, Kasparov has trained grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, but now he hopes to bring the benefits of the ancient game a little closer to home. His new program “Chess in Schools” will teach children of various ages across Georgia in public schools in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Poti a game in which Georgians have long prospered, according to a report in Georgia Today.
Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Zurab Azmaiparashvili, also a grandmaster, was also present at the experimental project’s launch.
Azmaiparashvili stated: “Former World Champion Garry Kasparov today held the first session of chess tutorials online in an experimental format. His system is being introduced to 100 schools in Georgia. He personally participated in the preparation of the experimental schools for the onset of the program more than a year ago.”
The computerized online program is designed to enhance a child’s analytical skills and, Kasparov claimed, his or her understanding of the world. Kasparov claimed that Tbilisi is a place which holds “special memories” for him. It was here, in 1976, that he was crowned junior champion of the Soviet Union at the age of 13.
He noted: “It is always a pleasure for me to visit Georgia and this visit has sporting significance. The agreement was signed with the Georgian government last year and I am glad that they are supporting chess. This should make it more popular in the country.”
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Labels: georgia chess, kasparov chess, scholastic chess
Challenge Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk in Nashville Simul April 4: 40 Seats Only
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
You can plan your April chess holiday right now. Today, the USCF has announced that 12th Women’s World Chess Champion and Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk has been invited to the Nashville Chess SuperNationals, which take place Friday, April 5th through Sunday April 7th, 2013 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. The SuperNationals is the largest event run by the USCF. More than 5,000 scholastic chess players are expected to attend, putting it among the largest chess events ever held. Alexandra will play a simul on Thursday at 2 PM. Here is the official page about the SuperNationals. Since the simul is limited to a maximum of 40 players, it’s recommended to sign up early.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Labels: Alexandra Kosteniuk, Chess Queen, chess simul, nashville chess, scholastic chess, supernationals, Women's World Chess Champion
Armenian Chess Teaching Experience: European Union Chess Experts Study Educational Program
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012Hi everyone,
The Yerevan State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan hosted the members of the European Chess Union board. Rector of YSPU Ruben Mirzakhanyan welcomed the foreign guests and introduced the activity of one of the largest educational institutions in the Republic of Armenia. After, he spoke about the implementation of "Chess" subject in the educational programs, according to an interesting Armenia Press report.
The Yerevan State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan informed "Armenpress" that the rector laid a heavy emphasis on the fact that annually more than 4000 students have opportunity to study chess alongside with the main profession and lecture in the schools. Among other things Ruben Mirzakhanyan was glad to announce that Armenia is the only country in the world to teach chess in the whole schools providing general education.
In turn, the President of the European Chess Union Silvio Danailov stated that he is glad for visiting one of the leading chess countries of the world - Armenia. The President of the European Chess Union stated: "We are like inexperienced pupils, who follow your success in this realm and want to acquire experience to teach this subject in the EU member-states."
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Labels: armenia chess, european chess union, scholastic chess
Scholastic Chess Recognition: 5th Annual Schein-Friedman Awards Announced
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Jeffrey Xiong, Photo Courtesy of The Saint Louis Chess Club
These are one of the most valuable scholastic chess awards in the US. Here are all the details by Mark Schein and Aviv Friedman as announced on the US Chess Trust website. Once again the Schein – Friedman Scholastic Recognition Project (with the help of the American Chess Academy) is happy to announce its annual scholarships recipients!
First, words of thanks to all the very worthy young players who have applied – once again the choices were not easy ones. The winner of our first place, and a $4000 scholarship is Sam Sevian, from California. 12-year-old Sam’s meteoric rise breezed by records such as the youngest American expert, and later youngest National Master, to a current IM-elect status. His long list of successes has culminated with a gold medal, and a title of a World Champion in the boys under 12 category, in the last World Youth Championships in Slovenia.
Texan Jeffery Xiong, and Californian Cameron Wheeler tied for 2nd -3rd and will each receive a scholarship in the amount of $2500.
Age 12, Jeffery is the leading player from the Dallas chess club ‘greenhouse’ of young talents. A Senior Master at age 12, among his achievements Jeffery is a former national scholastics champion, and a former silver medallist and world vice champion (tie for first) in the boys under 12 section of the World Youth (Greece, 2010).
Cameron, who is a National Master at age 12, holds multi state and national scholastics championship titles. He is twice a top 10 finisher in the World Youth – 5th in Greece, 2010 and a tie for first, with second place and a silver medal in Slovenia, in 2012.
The Schein – Friedman project is designed to help some of our younger champions improve and dedicate themselves more to chess, while offsetting the financial expenses that usually come with those. Hopefully the project will reward excelling youngsters, and help them become tomorrow’s best players and Grandmasters. At the same time they would be serving as role models and an inspiration to the entire scholastic community.
The American Chess Academy is a non-profit organization, dedicated to “developing strong US chess talent, and exposing the game of chess to as many neighborhood children as possible”.
Congratulations to all the recipients!
Read Greg on Chess: The State of Young American Chess Talent for thoughts on how programs like the Schein-Friedman Scholarship is growing a strong generation of young players.
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Labels: schein-freidman chess awards, scholastic chess, us chess
Chess in Schools Conference at Chess Olympiad in Istanbul
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012Hi everyone,
The Istanbul Chess Olympiad is less than a week away. There will be several other events running parallel to the mega chess tournament. One of these is the Chess in Schools Conference, sponsored by the Rosneft Oil Company. Speakers from around the world will make their presentations at the first in a series of international chess in schools conferences. This first conference lays the emphasis on Chess in Schools from the viewpoint of FIDE's national federations, especially in the light of the CiS100 Projects in Slovakia and Slovenia, now being rolled out in Algeria, Moldova and Peru, with more to follow. Sporting and research aspects will also be covered.
Speakers include Prof.Dr.Caner Açikada, Dean of the School of Sport Science and Technology, Hacettepe University, Ankara and Malola Prasath Thittanimuttam Sundaramadhavan, Director for Research, Development & Dissemination, the Foundation for Learning Research in Chess, India. From Alexandra Kosteniuk'swww.chessblog.comAlso see her personal blog atwww.chessqueen.com
Labels: caner acikada, chess in schools, istanbul chess olympiad, mpt sundaramadhavan, scholastic chess
International Chess and Mathematics Conference: Improving Maths by Playing Chess!
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012
Hi everyone,
Teaching chess at school may significantly improve pupils’ mathematics learning abilities, according to a study by INVALSI (the Italian National Institute for the Evaluation of the Education System) conducted as part of a controlled research project involving some 2,000 8 and 9-year-old children attending a sample of primary schools throughout Italy.
The SAM research project investigating the effects of learning to play chess on maths skills, developed by academic staff members Gianluca Argentin (Milan-Bicocca University), Alberto Martini (University of East Piedmont) and Barbara Romano (University of Pennsylvania), is the most recent in a series of studies on the potential advantages of chess in education promoted and conducted by the Piedmont Regional Committee of the Italian Chess Federation, presided over by Dr. Roberto Rivello, funded by Piedmont Regional Council and Compagnia di San Paolo. Their findings have now been brought together and published by Prof. Roberto Trinchero from the University of Turin and will be the subject of a conference on 28 May 2012 at the Piedmont Region’s “Centro Incontri” congress centre in Turin.
The conference, which is open to the public, will mainly address primary and secondary-school teachers and will also discuss the possible implications of the European Parliament’s recent declaration on the introduction of the “Chess in School” programme in the educational systems of the European Union.
Representatives from the most important organisations around the world involved in teaching chess at school will take part in the conference, also via video-conference. It will be broadcast live on internet, with simultaneous translation into English. This event has been conceived as the natural continuation of the International conference “Chess: a game to grow up with” that was held in Turin in 2009, during which speakers from four continents discussed the advantages and positive effects of the various initiatives and methods of teaching chess at school.
For full details please visit www.piemontescacchi.org
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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Labels: chess and maths, scholastic chess
Chess Queen Kosteniuk Spends Exciting, All-Chess Sunday with Kids in Nashville
Holland's first scholastic chess tournament held
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011
Hi everyone,We have nice news that possibly the first scholastic chess tournament has been held in Holland recently. It shows the growing influence of chess as a tool for children's learning and education.
Holland-area youth compete in a chess tournament Saturday at Holland Christian High School.
Here is the nice report that you can read in full here. Van Raalte Tech High School Junior Patrick Brott had played in chess tournaments before, but this was the first one where he mastered the sheer excitement of playing. Concentrating hard, he won three out of his first four games in the rated tournament at Holland Christian High School on Saturday. “I’m always excited to learn and get more experience,” Brott said. “I had to take deep breaths to calm myself down.”
His brother, Ryan Brott, was at his first chess tournament, and didn’t fare as well, losing to a younger player.
“I lost to a prodigy,” he joked.
The scholastic chess tournament — the organisers from HollandChess.com said it was the first in Holland within recent memory — drew dozens of grade-school-age participants from as far away as Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. They competed in rated and unrated divisions.
Studies have shown that the centuries-old game, based on warfare in the middle ages, helps children develop their minds, said organizer David Posthuma. More noticeably, however, it helps students build their powers of concentration. “They learn how to sit still; they learn how to focus,” Posthuma said.
The tournament was sponsored by HollandChess.com, Haworth and CapTrust Financial Advisors. HollandChess.com was founded by parents at Eagle Crest Charter Academy in Holland about five years ago. It expanded this year to become independent of the school and bring in students in grades K-8 from around the area.
“Our goal is to have a first-rate program here in Holland,” Posthuma said. “We hope to launch this fall a high school group.” He said there were about 60 students involved in the group, and he expected to have more than 100 involved next year.
From Alexandra Kosteniuk's Also see her personal blog at Labels: chess blog, Holland, scholastic chess
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