2014 Annual Meeting

Page published 8 June 2014

MCCU Public Relations Director's and Webmaster's Report 2013-4

Ray Collett 8 June 2014

Introduction

Efforts this year were entirely to maintain the MCCU website and I have not extended its coverage. The publication policy remains centred on the MCCU area and players in affiliated counties and I try to link the MCCU site to county, league or club sites rather than to duplicate results on other websites.
Review of annual performance

I have attempted to report in as timely a fashion as possible the results of MCCU stage county matches. A total of 39 MCCU stage match results were published, mostly within two days of a match being held. I am very grateful to county captains who have sent me details and corrected my errors. A further 12 results of national stage county matches involving MCCU teams have also been published. I would welcome more stories especially ones with pictures from county matches.

A second major aim has been to report the current leading positions in the Midlands Grand Prix and Rapid Grand Prix. The results service was timely during the period until but I got a little behind with the flood of congress results at the end of March and in April. I have found the reporting of these competitions difficult because I have not been certain which results should be included and I welcome the decision this year to designate at the start of the season which congresses are part of the Midlands GP series.

A third aim has been to promote and develop chess in the MCCU area. About seventy news items were reported including items about MCCU junior players, about the same as last year. When junior regional events include MCCU counties, but take place outside the MCCU, I have included them within the web pages when I receive information about them.

The website home page continues to feature upcoming congresses and ther is a congress calendar page for chess-related events in the MCCU area. I regret that I do not have time to include congresses in other counties, which in any case are usually listed by the ECF website.

There have been only two occasions when the web hosting company Easyweb has not available to my computer and there has been only one issue, which resolved itself within hours.

Conclusion

I thank all correspondents who have reported news, match results and pointed out errors. Without this input the website would be less comprehensive and much less accurate. I am willing to continue as Publicity Director and website editor next season, but if there is 'new broom', who would can report at similar or greater depth and refresh the site's appearance, I am willing to stand aside.