To: Board of Directors

From: Scholastic Coordinator

Date: December 10, 2002

Subject: Advance (and very preliminary) Scholastic Tournament Report

MACA Holiday Team Challenge

Financials:

I have not yet received the tournament operational reports from the Registrar. The following report is based on estimated cash and checks on hand at end of tournament and estimated big ticket expenses to date.

Tournament Cash & Checks $2400.00 estimated.

Due USCF memberships -500.00 estimated.

Due MACA memberhsips ?

School Custodians -350.00 estimated

Trophies -480.00

TD -150.00 estimated

Registrar - 70.00 estimated

Promotional -300.00 estimated

Estimated net $550.00 estimated

Don’t get your hopes up. This is a rough, ball park estimate. If I get the Registrar’s reports in time, I’ll have a revised report at the meeting. I’m in a hurry to get the figures to Bob, since I need them to complete my expense report, which has well over $2000 in various MACA Scholastic expenses to date. That’s my holiday and skiing money tied up in MACA. So, I’ll get you the reports ASAP.

Operations:

The team tournament was an operational disaster. We started late, ran late and pissed off a lot of people. We were short one TD/Computer, where normally we’ve had two of each dividing up the work. The entries were transmitted late and in wrong format to TD. There were a large number of roster changes to already registered teams. The teams kept switching alternates throughout the tournament. The pairing software had a bug in the team logic. Our Chief TD and his competent crew were able to come through and produce hand pairings and double check the computer. A second TD/Computer combo would have made it a lot easier. We have a great volunteer staff made up of Committee, Board members and parent volunteers to help our TD and organizer. They all did a great job. Except……

There was one incident, which occurred in my absence, that I’m really pissed off about. It appears that an argument ensued between two Board Members. It occurred in the presence of our players in the playing room. This was totally unacceptable. We need to present a unified and pleasant face to our players and their parents. I have and still hold both individuals in the highest regard. MACA Scholastics needs both of you. But, guys, PLEASE!!!, don’t ever do that again.

MACA seems to always have had a contentious Board. I’m one of the most opinionated and stubborn members of the board myself. Lets keep those arguments and battles to emails and the Board room. However, it is the TD, who rules at a tournament. Issues can be settled quietly. Lets NOT raise our voices against each other in our memberships’ view, especially at a tournament in progress.

End of Report.