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admin · Site Admin Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 1386

http://stevegiddinschessblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/the-true-cost-of-volunteers/

George Thomson · Rook Joined: 17 Oct 2008 Posts: 51

Makes you think Andy, You know you've just given us lazy lot the perfect excuse for doing nothing.

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

Yes, interesting blog.
I don't think chess will be alone in relying on lots of unpaid volunteers - though it may be more extensive than in other sports, oops, I mean competitve sedentary pursuits.

The stuff about chess players expecting things on the cheap does ring true (and I certainly include myself in this!) - club fees, for one thing, seem very low.

Angus McDonald · King Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 162

I'm not sure about the model being promoted in this blog.
I do think it's point is more to promote debate than concrete ideas.

For me the only model which will work is to focus almost entirely on promoting healthy local clubs in as many localities as possible.

If there are thriving clubs throughout Scotland everything else will take care of itself.

Clubs though have never been run by paid officials that I am aware of and indeed most club officials I see whilst being prepared to take expenses for some activities like team travel etc also have some kind of pride and joy in volunteering. Where it may get irksome is when it becomes expected or taken for granted. That means a flow of new blood and new members and new volunteers.

Recent troubles, riots etc should tell government that society desperately needs thriving local clubs for various positive activity. Wouldn't it be better to encourage Clubs and positive activity than constantly be picking up the tab for vandalism and law enforcement after crime? We should lobby perhaps for tax breaks for those giving up their time voluntary for the good of society?

If we have healthy clubs then more people will join together and go to congresses together. It already happens and that's what's keeping the numbers at congresses up imho.

What helps clubs is marketing and promotion of the game and recognition of volunteers and players efforts. Encouraging each other to put articles in local papers etc. I read the Inverness website recently and was inspired e.g.

More club players, more members of Chess Scotland. More members of Chess Scotland more resources to reward officials for their efforts.
Not enough money in Chess. Needs a bigger pot.
The order in all sports is Top players rewarded the most, then officials as a fraction of top players reward.
I suggest a % figure of tournament entry fees goes to officials. Say 20%?
Officials take on more responsibility for promoting the game and supporting local clubs and through their positive initiatives their potential reward goes up. Everyone encourages people to pariticipate and this figure could be reasonable. As a rule though I'd say the prize money should always be at least double the officials rewards.

The danger of losing the club volunteering ethos is that you will lose the club players.

Again, just a few thoughts.
regards,
Angus

Alex McFarlane · King Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 413

I've had a few people ask for my thoughts on this issue, including Steve Giddins!

It is complex. I think that the age of the volunteer is on the decline. People also expect a more 'professional' approach. In the past people would have tolerated a not very well run club/event and may even have said "I should help improve this". But now the inclination is to say "This isn't good, I'll try something else". At least that's how I see society.

When I was young there were a significant number of organisers. The Swiss weekend tournament was a recent innovation. The financial side of organising was much less complex. You were risking no more than a pound or two if things didn't work out. Now, not only could you be risking a significant amount of money but people are expecting much more. And a greater level of knowledge is needed. Take a high status event. You had a junior move the pieces on a wooden demo board possibly for free entry to a junior event. Now you have video screens and live Internet coverage on sensory boards. It used to be you could run a canteen and make some profit. Now you must use the in-house caterer or have a certificate in food hygiene.

As I said things are complex. Complexity usually means a level of professionalism. But also people now expect some level of remuneration or at least not to be out of pocket. In that respect we have been lucky in Scotland to have had a dedicated and competent band of people who are willing to pay for the privilege. But they are getting older and there is not the same numbers coming through. The papers often say something like “Who would be a football referee? Look at the abuse for £40 a match or even £1000 for a Premier Division game”. In chess the potential organiser is probably saying “Who would be an organiser? Look at the criticism I’ll face and I’ll have to pay to be insulted”. That scenario is not too far from the truth. People now expect financial inducement before facing hassle.

I was asked to draw up some ‘suggestions’ for English congresses on remunerating arbiters. After a couple of weeks I still haven’t produced anything. I started off thinking along the same lines as Angus but then thought of Customs and Excise. Are you aware that legally expenses must be exactly that. Normally receipts will be required. If as an organiser I was to give an arbiter say £50 when his meals came to £20 and his travel to £15 then I have effectively paid him £15. As I have paid him he is entitled to minimum wage so I could be forced then to give £200 or so per arbiter for a weekend congress. That is the legal situation. Perhaps we do need to seek a change in the law to permit ‘reasonable expenses’ with a little thank you on top.

For the future of the game we need to look at all aspects of financing it and rewarding those who ‘do’ both as players and organisers.

Compulsory membership anyone?

Adam Raoof · Knight Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Posts: 10

There will always be a mixture of those who do voluntary work, and those who are paid, either by their own entrepreneurial efforts or by an official body, to organise or administrate.

I agree with Steve's sentiments about *some* players undervaluing the people around them at chess tournaments, those who do the arbiting, organise the refreshments, supply the equipment, organise the clubs they play in, and so on.

I don't personally think that charging people for live coverage is a model I want to see adopted by events such as the British Championships, which should be the highlight of the chess year for all of us, and should encourage casual players watching on the net to take up the game at a more formal, competitive level. However I can see that model working in the same way that radio stations now charge a modest amount to download podcasts.

I sympathise with his plea for better payment for arbiters. At the recent Chess Arbiters Association AGM I proposed that the CAA, as the de facto Arbiter's Union, should have a suggested minimum daily rate so that organisers could, and should, budget accordingly. That would not stop anyone working for free, but it would send the message that arbiters are professionals working in their field, and they do have a value. It might encourage more young people to take up arbiting. I am proud to say that we had Thomas Thorpe on the control team this year, who is a very capable and mature 15-year old. And he is Welsh, but nobody's perfect.

Steve makes a few points about the British I would like to correct. The venue was not free, and the sponsorship was very welcome, but went entirely to the players who took part. It was not possible to set this money aside to pay arbiters, or even a press officer for this prestigious event. If we make a profit we will use it to support future Championships. The accommodation was chosen by Alex McFarlane and David Welch, and whilst they cannot afford to put the 12 members of the control team up in the Hilton, they were happy with the choice of hotel. Any one who reads the EC Forum will know that the control team frequently and unreasonably get criticised for being too expensive!

It is up to all of us to decide whether we volunteer, and work for nothing, or ask a fee for what we contribute. The two are not mutually exclusive - sometimes you work for free and paid jobs come along as a result of the experience you have gained.

I would suggest that if it is something you passionately believe in and want to see thrive, payment is often the last thing you consider.
_________________
Best wishes

Adam Raoof

ECF Director of Home Chess
FIDE International Organiser & Arbiter

Mailing list: send a blank email to adamraoof-subscribe@topica.com

http://www.goldersgreenchess.blogspot.com/

Derek Howie · Bishop Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 28 Location: Glasgow