portsmouthchessleague.myfreeforum.org

bjames · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 39

Just wanted to see what other peoples opinions are of our current venue. Just a bit concerned at the amount of people who have left in the last 2 years and none have come and stayed. Personally feel a change would benefit the club if situated in a better position ie nearer train stations etc. I know that I would be put off sometimes when you can't get in unless you ring the bell then getting pounced upon to produce id or pay money. Its not that appealing from the outside either. Other comments........

Edd · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 59

Portsmouth chess club was already at the RNOC when I joined, so I have nothing to compare it to other than the Southampton University chess club, which was in the university sports building. I think you might be onto something about the current venue being a problem though. I'll put down a list of plusses and minuses I can think of for the RNOC:

Plus:

---Lots of room for games to be played at once.

---Quiet playing room, cannot hear the pub, (compare to Emsworth for example).

---Parking for cars is good.

Minus:

---Usually too loud downstairs for playing/analysing/talking : pub quiz speakers extremely loud, and this has been put on the chess night for the last several month, and maybe will be permanent.

---Usual set of locals in RNOC don't seem very friendly/welcoming (for example for players trying out the club for the first time may be put off)

---The general atmosphere doesn't match the friendliness of the chess club

---Quite a long walk from train station.

---Key fob required to get in/having to use the buzzer.

---Smokers are forced to go out the front door to smoke, (as opposed to a garden or back door area).

---RNOC club is in quite a bad area, and this may put off some potential members, (especially if they have to walk). (An example is when a couple of teenagers had a trolley on the bonnet of my car and were punching the car).

Observations:

---Number of active members has dropped.
---Chess activities after the official games, such as practice, discussions, and instructing new players are now almost non existent compared to six or twelve months ago.
---Some long term members have left
---No players trying out the club once or twice have stayed, and some short term members (who played for maybe a number of months) have left
---There is no indication from the last couple of years that the chess club will gain any new regulars members or players who will add to the strength of the club.
---We have had to drop the number of league teams due to fewer active players.

richardw · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Portsmouth

Agree with Ed's summary. Suggest we formally raise the matter at our AGM, having lobbied as many people as poss. (esp. Brian C) in the meantime. Options can then be costed and compared. I believe that we cd pay a little more for our chess. The cost at the moment is, admittedly, at an all-time low, but money is not everything as the current debate states!
Richard.