08-09-2011, 02:15 AM
Derek, I am afraid I had to use the breakdown of graded games from a couple of seasons ago in my calculations as they were the only ones available to me. These were roughly 500 playing 25+ games, 300 playing 15-24 games, 700 with 5-14 games to there name and 200 with 1-4. Assuming that these are accurate enough for these purposes and are the relevant bands of games to membership type I suggest that fees should be set as follows:
Team Grading Card - £10 (Up to and including 10 games graded)
Membership Option 1 - £15 (1 League and 1 other comp graded)
Membership Option 2 - £20 (1 League and up to and including 3 comps graded)
Membership Option 3 - £25 (1 League and all other comps graded)
(Other comps can include another league)
The accounts show around £15500 was raised through affilliation, membership and grading fees, so to equal this amount a membership rate of 55% of active players is required. This equates to an increase from todays 600 mark to around 825.
The yearbook is a bit of punt, I grant you, but I believe it could well be worth a go. No new venture is guaranteed.
When it comes to advertising and sposorship, I really do belive it is a numbers game. Either we have a large enough audience or a large enough player numbers to make it worth their while to invest. As we are lacking in the audience numbers, our best bet is to present our participation numbers to the maximum. I believe this will be best served by backing player numbers up with a healthy membership tally. Still no guarantee that this will be enough, but it will help.
We are lucky in Ayrshire that we have 2 or 3 adult training nights during the season and they are proving quite popular. The adult game is still lagging way behind the training that is available to juniors.
I think the adult events need to be enhanced for several reasons. Firstly I believe that as the main contributers to chess in this country the adult players should reep some of the benefit too. It is all very well, and indeed essential, to bring on the next generation of players but is equally essential that the adult game is nurtured as well.
Participation numbers are falling in the adult game and I believe that funding congesses or other adult events can help turn the tide. My membership model will already help by putting around £200 in each congresses pot if entry fees stay the same. However, I think more is required so that winning one congress would allow you to fund playing in another one or two. Higher prize funds will hopefully attract more numbers through the door and also may impress the general public that playing chess can be so rewarding.
There were a few ideas on the old board that could also be funded such as a rolling jackpot for a perfect score as well as increasing the Grand Prix Prizes. I trully do fear putting all our eggs in the junior basket so to speak as there may not be much organised chess for them to play when they become adults.
Team Grading Card - £10 (Up to and including 10 games graded)
Membership Option 1 - £15 (1 League and 1 other comp graded)
Membership Option 2 - £20 (1 League and up to and including 3 comps graded)
Membership Option 3 - £25 (1 League and all other comps graded)
(Other comps can include another league)
The accounts show around £15500 was raised through affilliation, membership and grading fees, so to equal this amount a membership rate of 55% of active players is required. This equates to an increase from todays 600 mark to around 825.
The yearbook is a bit of punt, I grant you, but I believe it could well be worth a go. No new venture is guaranteed.
When it comes to advertising and sposorship, I really do belive it is a numbers game. Either we have a large enough audience or a large enough player numbers to make it worth their while to invest. As we are lacking in the audience numbers, our best bet is to present our participation numbers to the maximum. I believe this will be best served by backing player numbers up with a healthy membership tally. Still no guarantee that this will be enough, but it will help.
We are lucky in Ayrshire that we have 2 or 3 adult training nights during the season and they are proving quite popular. The adult game is still lagging way behind the training that is available to juniors.
I think the adult events need to be enhanced for several reasons. Firstly I believe that as the main contributers to chess in this country the adult players should reep some of the benefit too. It is all very well, and indeed essential, to bring on the next generation of players but is equally essential that the adult game is nurtured as well.
Participation numbers are falling in the adult game and I believe that funding congesses or other adult events can help turn the tide. My membership model will already help by putting around £200 in each congresses pot if entry fees stay the same. However, I think more is required so that winning one congress would allow you to fund playing in another one or two. Higher prize funds will hopefully attract more numbers through the door and also may impress the general public that playing chess can be so rewarding.
There were a few ideas on the old board that could also be funded such as a rolling jackpot for a perfect score as well as increasing the Grand Prix Prizes. I trully do fear putting all our eggs in the junior basket so to speak as there may not be much organised chess for them to play when they become adults.