Message From The Editor:

The OCA Policy Board is staying positively focused on serving Oklahoma’s chess players. We aren’t wasting much time on distractions by those few intent on naysaying and attacking, particularly after the USCF has refuted their claims. The OCA recognizes the obvious fact that no level of TD certification or rating gives special privileges regarding chess leadership or tournament organization. Indeed, we’re intentionally creating opportunities for all interested in organizing tournaments and becoming involved in OCA leadership to do so. Furthermore, we stand ready to mutually support any tournament organizer. Also, the OCA considers it unethical to oppose or attack any properly organized tournament or its organizer, and will only ask for your support in any event.

Regardless of recent commentary to the contrary, you’ll find on the Recent Tournament Winners page the fact that OCA tournament participation has been pretty good. This is even truer when you consider the events on the page that appear to have been scheduled to conflict with the recent OCA tournaments.

Speaking of recent commentary, we’ve decided to have some fun with it and the latest name that the OCA leadership has been called. Hopefully you’ll enjoy “Weasel Talk”, about all the relevant and irrelevant chess stuff in Oklahoma.

We do hope you’ll take the time to read the USCF Clearinghouse article about this long-standing USCF system to help avoid tournament conflicts and create visibility for all tournaments. As the one and only Official USCF Oklahoma State Affiliate, the OCA responsibly uses and supports the Clearinghouse and its USCF designated administrator, Harold Ball.

One thing your fellow OCA members really do need is your support through continued OCA membership and participation in OCA tournaments. This is particularly true on days like 26-27 June when a conflicting tournament appears to have again been purposely scheduled to draw from the Oklahoma Open State Championship and OCA Annual Members Meeting. As you’ll see in the USCF opinion regarding 59th Annual Oklahoma Open State Championship in this OCB, the OCA is indeed organizing the official USCF recognized State Championship and we hope to see you there.

OCA members are ALL encouraged to participate in our democratic process at the Annual Members Meeting and Election at the Oklahoma State Championship in Norman at 8AM on 27 June. Any OCA member may be nominated to run for any office, all of which are being elected this year. There will also be some bylaws revisions voted on at the meeting, which will be posted in the Governance section of www.ochess.org at least a month in advance. Finally, this year we will have a proper process in place to help avoid any allegations of impropriety, and the meeting will again be video taped to back up the published minutes.

Your OCA membership expiration date is on the mailing label of this OCB. If your membership has expired, or will soon, please renew to support your fellow OCA members and be sure to get the next OCB. You can renew, extend or upgrade your membership today using the form inside the back cover of this OCB. Please consider becoming a Patron member to enhance your support of ALL Oklahoma Chess Players.

We hope you appreciate this positive and no nonsense approach to serving and reporting on the OCA as a properly administered membership organization.

Thanks for all your messages of support,

Mike Swatek