Discussion Item 5A3 CFC Strategic/Business/Marketing plan

[Lyle Craver]

Vlad - would you like to start this one off?

[Vladimir Drkulec]

The Chess Federation of Canada (CFC) stands at a critical juncture where the need for a new strategic plan is unmistakable. Our existing strategic framework, was conceived in a different era of chess development and organization. Today, the world of chess is undergoing significant transformations. The game's popularity is surging, fueled by digital platforms, online tournaments, and changing demographics among players and enthusiasts. To ensure that the CFC remains at the forefront of these changes and continues to serve the Canadian chess community effectively, it is imperative that we embark on a new strategic planning journey.

The chess landscape like almost everything else is marked by constant evolution, with new formats, educational approaches, and competitive structures emerging regularly. Adapting to these shifts and improving our support for chess players, clubs, and organizations across Canada is paramount. A fresh strategic plan will equip us with the agility needed to seize emerging opportunities, address evolving challenges, and allocate our resources more efficiently. Importantly, it will also engage our stakeholders, including voting members, regular members, organizers, parents, chess coaches and other stakeholders in the decision-making process, ensuring that their insights and concerns are integral to our strategic direction. In essence, a new strategic plan for the Chess Federation of Canada is not merely an administrative requirement; it is the strategic compass that will guide us through a dynamic chess environment, maximizing our impact and advancing the mission of promoting and nurturing chess in Canada.

[Vladimir Drkulec]

As a first step I have started threads on the CFC forum and Chesstalk to solicit ideas. There has been some useful feedback and occasional irrelevant comments from some of the trolls particularly on chesstalk.

[Vladimir Drkulec]

One idea suggested by Ken Green on Chesstalk, and independently in a phone conversation with voting member Mahmud Hassain is for the CFC to hire a rainmaker at $150k to $200k per year who would fund raise and find sponsorships for the CFC. Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?

[Olga Mushtaler]

Quoting Nigel Short: "Chess needs sponsorship. Sponsors need publicity." We need more publicity. Media coverage of big events. National channels. CBC News or CP24. Get people pay attention to chess. This will help bring sponsors.

[Olga Mushtaler]

We also need a Chess Festival to bring all this media in.

[Vladimir Drkulec]

Quoting Nigel Short: "Chess needs sponsorship. Sponsors need publicity." We need more publicity. Media coverage of big events. National channels. CBC News or CP24. Get people pay attention to chess. This will help bring sponsors.

Agreed. This is one reason why we always reply quickly to contacts from the media.

[Vladimir Drkulec]

Agreed. This is one reason why we always reply quickly to contacts from the media.

We need hundreds of chess festivals. I have been promoting this idea at the sports tourism conferences. No need to bid just have a recurring chess festival which you own yourself.