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The Club, Its Goals, Affiliations & Tax Status

The Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis was founded in 2007 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the game of chess, with emphasis on promotion of scholastic chess across the entire greater Saint Louis area. Club goals include providing ample opportunities for existing players to play as well as introducing newcomers, including students, to the game. The club intends to pursue these goals by:

• providing chess-related materials and mentors to schools and other groups interested in chess
• maintaining a facility with suitable equipment and a library devoted to chess at which members can play, watch or analyze at their leisure
• conducting or hosting frequent tournaments of varying types
• hosting simultaneous exhibitions
• sponsoring lectures and classes
• making its facilities available for individuals or groups to use for chess activities including teaching
• pursuing other activities likely to support the above goals

Impetus for creation of the club came largely from Mr. Rex Sinquefield, a retired executive with strong interests in both chess and helping people. His donations have gotten the club off to a promising start.

The Club is incorporated under the Missouri Nonprofit Corporation Act and is an exempt organization pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; donations to it may be tax-deductible on federal and state income tax returns. The Club is affiliated with the United States Chess Federation [USCF] and the Missouri Chess Association [MCA].

The Club is located in a multi-story facility at 4657 Maryland Avenue in Saint Louis’s Central West End. Nearest cross street is Euclid; nearest Metro station is the Central West End from which the Club is a 20 minute walk. Metro buses run from the station up Euclid as well. The Club’s telephone number is: (314) 361-CHESS (2437). Its Web Site: www.saintlouischessclub.org. The Club will be open on July 17th, 2008.

Club Schedule

Absent tournaments, other special events or holidays, the club is open Tuesday through Sunday at the following hours.
Tuesday 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wednesday 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm

These operating hours will be revised to accommodate tournaments and special events and may be adjusted at the discretion of the Executive Director. It should be noted that the early opening on Thursday is an attempt to reach out to those for whom an early-in-the-day visit is most convenient.

Membership & 2008 Dues

As a general rule, the Club’s facilities are available only to members in good standing, authorized visitors or participants in Club-sponsored events. Visitors are permitted one free visit. Annual adult membership dues [for 2008] are $80. If purchased before the club opens, the 12-month membership is from the opening date of the club. Annual dues for students and/or those under 21 are $30. A family membership [covering all members of a family living at the same address] is $120. Contributions in excess of the membership dues, which will be much appreciated, may be deductible on income taxes.

Monthly or daily memberships may also be purchased. For adults, a monthly membership is $12; a daily membership $3. For full-time students and/or those under 21, a monthly membership is $ 5; a daily membership $1.

Benefits of Membership

A principal benefit of membership is the availability of a pleasant environment in which to play, watch or study chess with others interested in the world’s greatest game. Added benefits include:

• Opportunities to participate in all types of Club-sponsored tournaments
• Club members will receive reduced entry fees to Club-sponsored or hosted tournaments
• The opportunity [as space permits] to observe or participate in simultaneous exhibitions
• The opportunity to attend lectures & classes
• Free access to the books, videos, CD’s, DVD’s and other materials in the Club Library
• Opportunities to purchase books and other chess materials at a substantial discount to commercial prices
• Access to some features of the Club’s Web-site reserved for members-only
• And the opportunity to purchase parking passes from a local parking lot at a discount.

In addition to the above, membership affords the opportunity to participate in the Club’s scholastic programs which are expected to bring chess to schools and students with minimal or no current exposure to the game.

Demeanor

Behavior which interferes or is likely to interfere with Club activities or planned activities is not permitted. Consumption of alcoholic beverages [except at Club - sponsored social events], smoking and gambling are prohibited. Group games such as bug-house chess, chess variants or skittles analysis are encouraged; because of the potential for distraction or interference with planned or on-going regular chess activities, the Executive Director will likely restrict such activities to a designated level or area of the Club.

Minors

Eligible minors [under 18 years of age] are encouraged to use club facilities if accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. A parental consent and release form will be provided in the membership packet. Notwithstanding the above, minors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult while in the club.

Governance

All affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of the Board of Directors which consists of four persons: Susan Barrett, Rachel Keller Brown, Bob Jacobs, and Rex Sinquefield. This body represents the ultimate authority on all matters pertaining to the club. Furthermore, the Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee to develop operating procedures and address other matters pertaining to the club.

Advisory Board

Input, guidance and recommendations from the chess community will be provided to the club’s Executive Committee by a Board of Advisors consisting of thirteen members. Of these positions, six members of the Board of Advisors will be elected annually by members in good standing. Vacancies on the Board of Advisors, if any, shall be filled [for the unexpired term] by appointment of the President.

Committees

Much of the work required to successfully launch the Club and continue its activities will be performed by committees, working with the Executive Director, staff, and outside consultants or firms as appropriate.

Permanent Committees include:

• Activities, Membership & Publicity
• Technology & Web Site
• Elections
• Scholastic Chess
• Library & Merchandising

Committees will include at least three members; at least one must be a member of the Board of Directors. Chairmen of the Committees will be appointed by the President. Each committee will coordinate its activities and planned activities with the appropriate member of the Corporation’s staff as well as the Executive Director. A brief overview of the roles of each of the permanent committees follows.

The Activities, Membership & Publicity Committee will plan special and regularly scheduled Club-sponsored events and work with organizations or persons outside of the Club to arrange for the conduct of their events at the Club. In addition, the Committee will plan recruitment activities to increase Club membership. The Committee will guide related administrative policies and practices such as membership card design and issuance, member record-keeping and membership fee collection. The Committee will also plan and implement appropriate publicity regarding the Club, aiming at the existing chess community, the scholastic community and the general public.

The Technology & Web Site Committee will create and maintain the Club’s Website and plan the acquisition, installation and use of tech equipment to enhance conduct of Club activities.

The Elections Committee will plan and administer annual elections, beginning early 2009, to fill the six non-permanent seats on the Board of Advisors as well as monitoring Club rules and, as appropriate, recommending revisions thereto.

The Scholastic Chess Committee will plan and administer Club activities in the Scholastic arena, including conduct of scholastic events, training of teachers, motivating of schools without chess programs to adopt one and the means by which chess-related materials can be made available to selected schools.

The Library & Merchandising Committee will plan and administer the development and growth of the Club’s Library as well as the stocking and sale of chess merchandise through the Club.

Each member of the Advisory Board is expected to serve on at least one of the permanent committees.

Use of Club Facilities for Non-Club Sponsored Events

Club sponsored events will generally be given priority over events not directly sponsored by the Club. However, Club facilities may be used for chess-related events [including tournaments and teaching] subject to the explicit prior approval of the Executive Director or the President. Such events should normally be planned and conducted on a non-interference basis with Club activities. Approval of events involving fees, charges or other considerations will generally be contingent on an agreement to share such fees or charges with the Club.