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Forming a Chess Club

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gundamv

I am thinking of forming a local chess club.  Right now, there is a chess club about 20 miles away, but there are no chess clubs in the suburb where I live.  The suburb where I live does have a "chess school" but it is only for children K-12.  There are no events for adults.  

I want to form a chess club that has some programs for adults.  The chess club could also offer some programs for children, as there are many children in my community.

I have some questions about forming a chess club, and I would appreciate it if you would give me some help.  My questions are as follows:

1. How did you start your chess club?  (This is an open-ended question.  I am interested in the process of forming a chess club, and any light you could shed on that would be great.)

2. Where did your chess club meet?

3. How do you find people to join your chess club?  What marketing techniques did you use?  What groups did you reach out to?  How did you reach out to them?

4. How long did it take for you to form a chess club?  

5. What sorts of programs did your chess club offer?

6. What equipment or supplies do you need to start a chess club?  

7. What were the sources of funding for your chess club?

8. What is the biggest challenge you faced when forming a chess club?

SFork13

I'm in the same boat. I'm also looking for advice. Thank you for posting this.

Talfan1

go to the club you know 20 miles away talk to the chairman or secretary they have gone through starting up a club and can offer good answers

funding ,why not combine with the youth chess club local this could open up funding for youth development ask those who work with youth about this

advertising local media also take the club to one off school days with the intent to spot new players to form an after school chess club this will be well supported by your local educational facilities

contact your local chess federation see if they will advertise your club on their website this may take affiliation

gundamv

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

gundamv
rdecredico wrote:

Even Sisyphus had to give up idea of chess clubs in the modern era.

 

Could you please explain why you think it is difficult to set up a chess club in the modern era?

 

Also, while I want my chess club to have programs for adults, I am by no means ruling out programs for children - after school programs, etc.

gundamv

bump

gundamv

Looking for your honest answer:

Are adults generally interested in over-the-board chess?  Or is it really more a thing for kids?

 

Note: I am just referring to casual chess, not tournaments.

Wayward_Bishop

Adults are busy with life events it's hard to justify outside of a tournament for many I find. I'd like to set up monthly tournaments in my area sometime though, where you play a game or two a week that lasts a month or so...

gundamv

So, I founded the chess club.  Any way I could post something about it on chess.com?