Meeting Minutes

Here are official minutes of the WCA board meetings.

Minutes 8/98

  • Written by Jerry Noel
  • Published: 16 November 2004
  • Last Updated: 01 September 1998

The meeting was called to order by Mike Nietman at 1:05pm, on Tom Feeney’s patio, Racine. Members absent were: B. Brzezinski, K. Borman , and J. Kaul.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: John Rummel requested more information for the WCA website. Larry Kress is the Veep for the Milwaukee Chess Foundation, Arlen Walker is the President. The MCF was incorporated in 1954 in order to hold a U.S. Open, it became non-profit a few months later.

MINUTES: 5/24 meeting: add Fond du Lac and Selig for clarity, item 18a.

6/20 meeting: misc. spelling errors corrected.

MOTION to accept ( Hoffman/Feeney), Carries.

  1. 1998 STATE CLOSED FINAL: TABLED until more members present.
  2. 1998-99 JUNIOR/ VETERAN’S OPEN PROGRESS: TLA taken care of, flyers will be folded after meeting, the dates are secure for the next few years.
  3. 1998 NORTH CENTRAL OPEN PROGRESS: flyers are in progress, tla sent in, contract is signed.
  4. 1998 SCHRAMM MEMORIAL: Flyers are ready, will be folded after the meeting. Contract is done for many years,(see Junior open), Schramm flyers will be folded together with Junior and NCO flyers.
  5. 1999 STATE PROGRESS REPORT: Mike Selig had a meeting with the people in charge in Fond du Lac, and he reports that everything is OK.
  6. PUBLICATIONS REPORT: Mike Selig: the WCA can print 300 copies of a magazine for $233 per issue, 12 pages including a cover sheet. There still is nobody interested in being the editor. Also no idea about how much the budget would be, staff size, or other misc. details. Jokes about Erbach and his failed magazines.
  7. Y2K NATIONAL H.S. CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE: Mike Nietman will investigate the Milwaukee Center with Arlen Walker Monday after the Western Open. 24,000 sq. ft. area. There also is a west auditorium, 21,000 sq. ft. that is $1100 less per day. The Grand Hotel has 2 ballrooms, 14,000 sq. ft, and 10,000 sq. ft. The Grand is offering all their rooms comp. If there is 80% booked. The Grand will also work with the Best Western 1 block away for extra rooms, and offer a $3 per night kickback, and $69 per night rooms. There are some drawbacks, but nothing excessive.
  8. ROHLAND TROPHY PURCHASE: Nothing yet received from Jack’s trophies in Appleton. Research will have to be made to find winners back to 1973.
  9. OTHER OLD BUS: NONE
  10. 1999 ELO BIDS: none yet.
  11. 1998 U.S. OPEN REVIEW: Only one day of Delegates meetings. Of the 40,000+ ballots sent out for “one man, one vote,” only about 400+ were returned. Other topics of discussion involved the usual topics, delegates frolicking, partying, and misc. debauchery.
  12. 1998-99 DELEGATE AND VOTING MEMBER SELECTION: The WCA receives another voting member. MOTION to keep the same voting members, and elevate Josh Kaul from Alternate to full Voting Member: (Noel/Hoffman), Carries 6-0
  13. 1997-98 SASP REVIEW AND 98-99 PROPOSAL: Mike Nietman handed out a list of SASP projects and costs from 97-98. For 98-99, the WCA will receive $599. $160 fir the WEAC convention, $100 for Junior mailings, $100 for Denker rep. $100 for Selig retirement fund, possibly some for Rohland Cup. Mike Nietman will do the creative accounting to bring the amounts into reality.
  14. MERIT AWARD PROGRAM REPORT: 1998 Green Bay open cleared by Jerry Noel. 1997 G.B.O. and 1998 Arver also qualify. MOTION to raise the maximum number of Merit Awards to 2 per fiscal Year (Selig/Krumenauer), Carries 4-0-2 (MN&GH abstain).

MIKE SELIG WILL RESERVE THE ROOM AT THE TRAVEL LODGE.

NO OTHER NEW BUSINESS, MOTION TO ADJOURN.(NOEL) CARRIES.

Minutes 8/99

  • Written by Jerry Noel
  • Published: 16 November 2004
  • Last Updated: 01 September 1999

Andy Becker absent. Wayne Meier in attendance.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Jeff Cooper is the State Champion on tiebreak and will accept the invitation to the Governor’s Cup in S. Dakota.
  2. The National Scholastic Chess Congress has been cancelled due to lack of interest. Only 9 people signed up.
  3. Don Schultz wrote a book, “ChessDon.” It deals with USCF, FIDE, politics, etc. A lot of WCA tie-ins also, Elo, Kramer, Rohland, and World Youth festival. Mike Nietman is giddy with excitement.
  4. 1199 names in the WCA database. 356 new names on the list, 210 of the 356 are scholastic members. Mike Nietman takes the credit. 37% of the existing names dropped off the active list.

MINUTES from the 11/8/98 Meeting: Previously missing Minutes, MOTION to accept as previously reviewed (Noel/Krummy), Carries 8-0.

MINUTES from 5/30/99 Minutes were reviewed, MOTION to accept as corrected (Brzezinski/Krummy), Carries 8-0

STATE CLOSED FINAL REPORT: Mike Selig gives the grim details of the State Closed. 67 players participated, 42 in the Open section, 25 Reserve. Jeff Cooper (1st on tiebreak) and Bryan Lilly won the Open Section, Don Stetzer won the reserve. The event had a net loss of $195.70. MOTION to accept the report, (Krummy/ Brzez), Carries 8-0. The Travel Inn has a new manager again; the whole business is in disarray possibly affecting future events there.

1999 JUNIOR/ VETERAN’S OPEN PROGRESS REPORT: The TLA’s are in, the flyers are printed. There will be a flyer folding party after the meeting. Those not helping will have their T.D. fees reduced accordingly. Mike Nietman says that things are going good. The trophies have been redone with better distribution.

1999 NORTH CENTRAL OPEN PROGRESS REPORT: Mike Selig distributed an information sheet describing what has already been done and a timetable for future actions.

1999 SCHRAMM MEMORIAL PROGRESS REPORT: Mike Nietman reports that the tla is due 9/10/99. The flyers are ready to be bundled after the meeting. Andy Becker will be the Chief T.D. A backup will be needed in case Andy has to work.

Y2K STATE PROGRESS REPORT: With Andy absent, Mike Nietman gives the situation. One room is too small, alternate arrangements have been made to accommodate the event. There is a question regarding the definition of ‘State champion’ for entry purposes. A player, who won the Reserve section, currently living out of country and eligible only for the Open section, would like to play. MOTION to define the State Champion as “A player named on the Reel Cup, State Championship trophy.” (Hoffman/ Webster), Carries 6-2 (MN, CK against).

WISCONSIN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Discussion took place on the format and other details of the Old Patzer open. Guy then reminded those in attendance that 5 of the 7 in attendance at the meeting were eligible to participate.

OTHER OLD BUSINESS: NONE.

WCA WEBSITE: John Rummel will be done at the end of ’99. MOTION to ask Arlen Walker and Joe Hitselberger to be co-webmasters effective as soon as reasonably possible, (Krummy/ Feeney), Carries 8-0.

1999 SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIP: 424 players participated under the organization of Mike Nietman and direction of Noel, Otis & Krummy, et al. This year, it was a four section, five round event. The players and coaches prefer the change. The Varsity section was a thorough butt kicking with Madison West High giving the rest of the State the boot, winning 5-0 and 185 of 200 possible game points (they were generous in the final round). 91 of the players went on to Nationals in South Dakota Tom Feeney gives a report on Nationals.

Y2K ELO BIDS: No interest so far.

(The Board takes a break to let the Secretary and President of Vice recycle adult beverages and restock.)

U.S.OPEN REPORT: Mike Nietman lists the election winners and new positions. Josh Kaul did not submit a ballot, 4 of 6 Minnesota did not vote either.

There was information regarding many meetings, most of which will be distributed in the Policy Board newsletters. Tom Feeney expressed an interest in the Scholastic Committee, at which time Guy Hoffman proclaimed Tom to be certifiably insane. Guy is now the Chairman of the States Committee (there goes that one). Guy weighs in on his meetings and workshops.

DELEGATES AND VOTING MEMBERS:

Jerry Noel nominates guy to be delegate. MOTION to close nominations, (Selig/Brzez.), Carries 7-0-1

Alternate delegates in order: Feeney, Noel, Krummy, Webster, and Brzezinski. Mike Nietman will still be the R.V.P.

  1. SASP PROPOSAL: The WCA should normally receive $591.20, however, USCF decided to halve each state’s amount. The Fall meeting we will have more information. The US Chess Trust is a possibility for the remainder. MOTION to end the Merit Award for Organizers, (Hoffman/Noel), Carries 6-1-1 (MN against, MS abstains).
  2. MERIT AWARD PROGRAM REPORT: Completed, and ended.
  3. NEXT MEETING: delayed temporarily.
  4. TOURNAMENT BIDDING PROCEDURES: Mike Selig requested a clarification for bids to be tendered and voted upon for WCA events. This is as a result of the North Central open bid of this year. MOTION “If there are more than one bid entered, there will be a secret ballot with ALL board members voting. If there are three or more bids, the top two will reballot to determine the bid award.” (Selig/Feeney) Carries 7-1 (Nietman against).
  5. DATE FOR FUTURE STATE CLOSED: MOTION (SELIG/FEENEY) Effective 2001 the dates for the State Closed Championship will no longer be Memorial Day weekend.

Brian Brzezinski enters a motion to amend the Selig motion that: Organizers have the option of moving the tournament from memorial Day weekend. Motion to amend is considered friendly.

Motions carry 7-0-1 (Noel abstains).

Minutes 11/99

  • Written by Jerry Noel
  • Published: 16 November 2004
  • Last Updated: 01 December 1999

ABSENT: BECKER (AGAIN), BRZEZINSKI (LAUNDRY DAY), FEENEY (UNAVAILABLE)

LATE: WEBSTER.

President Nietman called the meeting to order with the members present.

  1. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mike gave the usual announcements; area code changes, Voting member allocation, SASP, USCF Policy Board Insanity, etc.
  2. MINUTES: The minutes from the previous meeting were corrected. MOTION to accept as corrected (gh/ck), carries.
  3. 1999 STATE FINAL REPORT: The usual Selig bashing took place regarding the loss at the State.
  4. 1999/2000 JUNIOR-VETERANS OPEN:

    JUNIOR: 101 players. Winner was Paul La Cosse.

    VET: 29 players. Winners were Bill Elger and Vlad Dima.

    Next year the Junior will have fewer trophies and the budget will be cut. MOTION to accept the report (JN/GH), carries.

  5. NCO PROGRESS REPORT: Selig held a conference with the hotel. 30 entries so far. A press release will be in Sundays paper.
  6. SCHRAMM PROGRESS REPORT: The TLA has been sent in. Andy Becker is still the T.D.
  7. 2000 ELO BIDS: none entered.
  8. 2000 STATE CLOSED PROGRESS REPORT: Andy Becker not present. Idle discussion regarding the site by the few members present.
  9. SASP REVIEW: No information from the USCF office, the money has been spent, however.

    MOTION TO TABLE(GH/MS).

  10. none
  11. 2000 POSTAL SANCTIONING: MOTION TO TABLE (JN/MS).
  12. 2000 TOUR: HOFFMAN TAKES OVER.

    WAUKESHA MEMORIAL

    NORTHEASTERN OPEN

    U.W. MILWAUKEE

    STATE CLOSED.

    GREEN BAY OPEN

    U.W. FALL OPEN

    SCHRAMM MEMORIAL

    Possibles:

    WESTERN OPEN

    BADGER OPEN

    N.C.O.

    R.K.O.

    Motion to accept with possible additions (GH/JN) Carries.

  13. INSURANCE UPDATE: $212 premiums, no claims filed, not that they would payÖ

    MOTION to continue (JN/CK) Carries 4-0-1 Hoffman abstains (in bathroom).

  14. NEXT MEETING: 1:30pm Sat. 2/26, Valley Inn, Neenah. Site of the Northeastern open.
  15. OTHER NEW BUSINESS: NONE. Motion to adjourn, (JN), Carries 5-0.