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Latest news
- Vote for McMinnville Chess Club in the First Federal Customer Ballot programby Christefano ReyesFirst Federal Savings & Loan has reached out to us to let us know the McMinnville Chess Club is eligible for their annual Customer Ballot community grant, a program that since 1999 has allocated over $1m for organizations specializing in youth development, animal shelters, and more. One of the great things about this program is that each and every not-for-profit that qualifies by receiving at least 15 customer votes will receive a part of the grant. More votes, more funding. How cool is that? This is our first year that we’re taking part in the program, and our goal is… Read more: Vote for McMinnville Chess Club in the First Federal Customer Ballot program
- Announcing the McMinnville Chess Libraryby Christefano ReyesThe McMinnville Chess Club humbly offers the McMinnville Chess Library, a growing collection of curated books, magazines, and equipment for our members to use in their study and enjoyment of the game we love. Borrow any of our books, chess sets, chess clocks, and more! This mobile library is brought to all our club meetings for all to enjoy, including members and guests alike. If you’re a member and would like to check anything out between meetings, Contact us or speak with an organizer at any of our club meetings. If you’re not a registered member yet, there’s never been… Read more: Announcing the McMinnville Chess Library
- Duniway Middle School Chess Club fundraiser updateby Christefano ReyesI’m excited to share that our fundraiser for Duniway Middle School‘s chess club has been a success, and our community has raised funds for our goal of 10 professional, high-quality chess sets. That’s enough chess sets for 20 students and their instructors! Mike Terrill, director of the Duniway Chess Club, at the McMinnville Chess Club Many, many, many, many thanks to our incredible community and patrons who made this possible, and to Mike Terrill at Duniway Middle School for bringing us and McMinnville youth this opportunity. Lastly and magically and fantastically, Rip N Card Trick generously matched all donations and got… Read more: Duniway Middle School Chess Club fundraiser update
- Announcing our Principles of Club Etiquetteby Christefano ReyesIt’s official! I’m excited to announce that our club now has Principles of Club Etiquette. A draft of these principles were proposed several months ago, and now that we’re 2 weeks without any new changes or new feedback, they’re going into effect! Enjoy the contest and promote chess activities for learning, creativity, and youth participation. Fair play among friends is ensured by practicing the following principles of club etiquette. Principles of Club Etiquette McMinnville Chess Club, November 2024 Thank you all for contributing to the Principles of Club Etiquette feedback process and helping make the club better for everyone, and… Read more: Announcing our Principles of Club Etiquette
- Feedback requested: Introducing our Principles of Club Etiquetteby Christefano ReyesFeedback requested! At our chess club meeting this past Wednesday at Mac Market, we shared a draft of our Principles of Club Etiquette. Please take a look, ask any questions, and offer any feedback you may have! We will make this official after we’ve had at least 2 weeks to discuss this club etiquette document at our club meetings, email newsletter responses, and discussion on Facebook so everyone has a chance to chime in. Huge thank you to Preston Polasek for drafting this! McMinnville Chess Club, October 2024 Enjoy the contest and promote chess activities for learning, creativity, and youth… Read more: Feedback requested: Introducing our Principles of Club Etiquette
- Duniway Middle School Chess Club Fundraiserby Christefano ReyesDuniway Middle School’s Chess Club starts this month and needs your help! Our friend and club member, Mike Terrill, is running the chess program at Duniway, and they need chess sets! He’s requested help getting a minimum of 6 sets and a max of 10. This is a great opportunity for helping more youth play more chess in McMinnville, and we’re being matched for every chess set purchased through Rip N Card Trick, the coolest Pokemon store around, that are specifically for “Duniway Chess Club” — so these $60 sets are essentially half off at $33 each. I’ll be accepting… Read more: Duniway Middle School Chess Club Fundraiser
- How to get a free US Chess membershipby Christefano ReyesDid you know that if you have a free gym membership with your health insurance that you can get a free US Chess membership, as well? The United States Chess Federation has started reaching out to clubs like ours with a novel way to sign people up for US Chess: Check out if Grouper at https://www.hellogrouper.com (or call 833-906-1700) is eligible as a “benefit” on your health insurance. If they are, Grouper will fully refund you for the cost of your US Chess membership. Neat! Registering with the United States Chess Federation (USCF) includes the monthly Chess Life magazine, allows you to… Read more: How to get a free US Chess membership
- Discoveries: Straight Up Chessboardby Christefano ReyesThere’s always room for chess! This vertical Straight Up Chessboard was recently spotted at a local business in McMinnville. It’s designed for a casual game of chess, and it hangs on the while like a piece of art. Neat! White has the next move. What move would you make, and can you name the place?
- Introducing Chess Bingoby Christefano ReyesIntroducing Chess Bingo, a new way to enjoy chess, learn the lingo, and develop team-building skills. I’ve used these scorecards with my chess students as a fun teaching tool, and I’m excited to share them with everyone in the club and beyond. We’ll be trying out this fun, new bingo format at chess club all month. Join us! There will be prizes for the winners! Must be present to win! These scorecards are courtesy of CHESS ZENDŌ, my chess tutoring and coaching practice here in McMinnville, and they’re free for personal and chess club use. High quality PDFs available upon request. Enjoy!
- McMinnville Chess Club needs you!by Christefano ReyesHelp McMinnville Chess Club grow! Join a committee! Donate your books! Join a committee Donate books on chess to the McMinnville Chess Library You can donate your books to the McMinnville Chess Library for all to enjoy. Any books that we may not need, such as duplicates, will be donated to the public library. We’re especially interested in Chess Life or Chess Life Kids magazines to have on hand as giveaways at our youth outreach events, including World Chess Day, Cruising McMinnville, and our annual Youth Tournament. Please reach out if any of these sound interesting to you or if… Read more: McMinnville Chess Club needs you!
- We have a founders brick!by Christefano ReyesWe have a founders brick at Mac Market! Can you find it? Many, many thanks to Mac Market for hosting us since May, 2023, and helping us with our mission of growing chess in McMinnville! We have a founders brick at Mac Market! Can you find it? We are happy to see how Mac Market is using chess to provide such a solid foundation, as well.
- The Famous Opera House Gameby Christefano ReyesThe Famous Opera House Game Mike Terrill, a founding member of McMinnville Chess Club and the chess club director at Duniway Middle School, recently taught us about the famous Opera House Game. “It was the best game ever!” — Mike Terrill This game is one of the most famous in chess history and is often used to teach key concepts like piece development and the value of making clever sacrifices. It was played in an opera house in Paris in 1858 while an opera was performed on stage!
- Chess to play music toby Christefano ReyesHeard of Lofi Girl, the streaming sensation on YouTube? Apparently Lofi Girl plays a lot of chess and created this compilationfor playing chess to. Enjoy!