*****UNDER CONSTRUCTION******

Mission

We will endeavor to see positive synergy in chess expertise though promoting an interdependent small work group.

Vision

One Host and up to seven participants will meet regularly through Skype. These “sessions” cover a series of chess topics generated from readily available resources. Much of the content will include analysis of chess positions related to the specific topic.

Goals

The group conscience can provide a general theme for a series of sessions based on topics from chess books, literature, classic tournament games, etc. Themes and series should be for a determinate time period allowing participant changes while alternating curriculums.
Provide a cost-free platform for a group gathering. Hosts and participants are only responsible for acquiring any class material pertinent to a specific series of sessions.
The group is led by the Host for each session to accomplish the activity set forth in a timely manner. No one should perform a “teaching” or “governing” role as in a class, office or lecture environment. However from time to time, top professional players may be included to share and teach their insights in specific sessions.

Strategies

Recruiting/excepting participants

Scheduling

Syllabus, format and criteria

Tactics

Participants

Participants of any session must demonstrate good sportsmanship with each other in their participation during any session. When it is a Hosts duty to “captain” one evening, all participants must respect the role of that Host and submit to the Hosts’ encouragements during that session. Hosts may become participants next week and vice-versa; please respect the chair of the designated Host.

Additionally, we will have guest participants arriving during sessions. The guests are top players and chess professionals who offer their time to share insights, challenges and feedback on our current subjects.

Hosts

Hosts must be disciplined, prepared and determined. That is, Hosts will always have their own homework completed and the session material (i.e., games) prepared (i.e., loaded) ahead of time. They will begin all sessions five minutes ahead of schedule, follow and moderate the session’s time goals and agenda and conclude the session at the appropriate time. Furthermore, Hosts must have ChessBase (at the time of this writing, CB 14 is the latest version) and a quality Skype interface for all participants. Weak connections, other database software and old browsers will not provide a consistent session environment. I might add that ChessBase is a compatible database for all participants allowing easy and seamless PGN, FEN and other game sharing annotations consistently among participants.

Hosts will rotate the weekly session hosting duties. This group will have three active Hosts initially and another Host on deck prepared to participate in a future slot. Hosts rotate weekly and a schedule of all upcoming sessions and accompanying Hosts is posted. Hosts will serve an adminstrative function of the group helping to plan sessions, monitor forums and "hire and fire".

Good Hosts will have the humility to allow participants to fully seek there own understandings and still persevere through the time management challenges keeping participants active and moving forward. Sometimes it might be helpful to think of a Host in the vein of a Television Network Nightly “Host” who invites celebrities and serves the public by providing the audience insights into each celebrity in a fun and positive environment making the event about the celebrity and not about the host.

Time goals

Sessions will start on time. Hosts will not “wait for” or seek to find participants who are not available at the beginning of the session. At their discretion, a Host can add a late participant during the session without having to acknowledge or disrupt the ongoing session. Hosts must be aware of visiting special guests and bring them in when they arrive.

Sessions must conclude on time. No one wants to feel like a cog in a wheel if some participants want to stay on-line longer than the session is scheduled. Nor does anyone want to complain if a session seems like a marathon or they have other scheduled events and may miss some good information. Please respect the group by concluding session’s on-time. Lol, you know sometimes us old people need to be told when to go to bed! However, if the subject and material has been thoroughly completed, a session may end early if all participants agree.

Chat

The menu on the group’s homepage lists a “Chat” link. This is where all Hosts and participants should gather prior to a Skype session. The Host can easily find those to contact or include from this chat area. Additionally, the chat room is monitored by the Host during the session and can add a late arrival when they arrive to that room. The chat room can be available to all during a session for comments, notes, chatter, thinking out loud or whatever. This can prevent Skype from getting overwhelmed with comments and allow participants to focus on the group’s session without distractions. Comments from the chat room can be saved by anyone, and the room used at any time for any reason.

Skype'n Chess

Super Admins