Pickle Jar is Back!
Hello members of Pickle Jar!
This announcement is split into 3 parts to explain 1. my recent inactivity and the decline of the club, 2. the plans to rebuild the club, and 3. what needs to happen. It might be a bit lengthy but please read parts 2 and 3. This announcement is more about my side of things, an announcement about actual adjustments to a couple club rules will be out in the future.
The Decline
At the beginning of the month I stated that I may not be willing to continue this club. I said this for a few reasons. First of all, after about one year of running the club, inviting people and shooting for the next member milestone gets pretty boring. More about that later. Also, I am a busy student. The months of May and June were especially challenging for me since I had to prepare for many important tests. As a result, I barely visited chess.com at all, and certainly didn't have time to invite new members and maintain the club. Once school ended around the beginning of July I once again had time to visit chess.com, but my 'rustiness' at chess as well as the inactivity of the club which resulted from my long absence was not a very inspirational welcome (it wasn't you guys' fault). If you knew me personally, you would know that I have an ever-expanding array of hobbies. Maybe then you would understand why I would rather learn Java, go bird-watching, read books, or become a severe weather enthusiast than try to stay active on chess.com (they call me a professional nerd for a reason).
one of my first accomplishments in Java
a derecho (large storm with powerful winds) moves across Illinois
Sandhill Cranes - adult (left) and juvenile (right)
A New Vision
All my hobbies occur in cycles, and it wasn't long before I rediscovered my enjoyment of chess. I started to study the French Defense and played many games on chess.com and Lichess. As my chess improved, I also speculated about ways to continue the Pickle Jar. I quickly realized that the club needs to be centered on an activity that both I and the members find enjoyable. Growing a club for the sake of growing a club is a weak foundation. I looked through Pickle Jar to find its best parts. While the daily matches and vote chess games were certainly fun, I didn't want to center the club on them either. There are many very active clubs focussed only on playing daily matches. While these clubs may be perfect for those who like daily matches, looking at the notes, forums, and overall community of these clubs, they often appear inactive. With this reasoning, I prefer to set the community as the foundation of the Pickle Jar. Sharing games or puzzles and having discussions is what I would like to make most important in the club going forward. I envision the Pickle Jar as a place where you could comfortably share an impressive game you just finished, share something you're interested in, or ask a question. Of course, daily matches, vote chess, or other events will be a part of the club as well.
What needs to happen
First of all, thank you to all the members who have been active in this club for a while. In order to get this club going again, a few things will need to happen. First of all, we'll need some fresh members. I will take care of inviting people for now, I would like to 'hire' anyone interested in inviting in the future.
Most importantly though, we need activity. Feel free to create forum topics! Share a recent game, or turn a tactic or checkmate you did into a puzzle! Share something you're interested in! Ask a question chess-related or not. There are endless possibilities!
Thank you for reading through this and being interested in the club! If you have a comment on any part of this announcement or a question, please comment below or private message me. Feedback helps a lot!
@DillWithThePickle
