______________________________________________
It is a time now for me as WCDF Secretary and as a checkers player and human to step in and say many, many thanks to Jan Zioltkowski, Igor Martynov, Ingo Zachos and anyone else who helped us to organise Korbach Draughts Festival and make it happened with great success and at the highest degree quality and standards!
Yes, indeed something can be done better, no questions - we can improve Germany train system and find a cheaper hotel, we can afford better tournament place than Korbach City-hall with Iternet access. But what probably is not easy to improve - a human nature and attitude.
Igor Martynov is absolutely right - I came to them in December 2023 after our Italian colleagues unexpectedly step out due to overloading, and I felt like good piece of sh*t at the moment when some players and federations started asking me - what, where and when.
At our very first conversation Igor mentioned that transportation is far from perfect and we can accept what we have or look for another option.
And I accepted this reality - so, all blame’s should go to me. As you remember - we tried to offer bus option when we pay in advance €960 and can drive 16 people from airport directly to hotel. No way ! Couple people showed an interest, bit no one accepted, I also didn’t want to pay in advance any penny from my wallet knowing a little bit checkers community.
First people came in the middle of August asking about transportation, and last were 1-2 days before festival started.
Anyway … as WCDF Secretary I can say, that main goal of any Qualify Tournament is to identify best player at the moment and send him to World Champion.
Second goal - attendance. We exceed with both goals and this simply means - our annual main event this year in Korbach was successful and we accomplished our goals!
I am very happy I find a new friend and wonderful man - Jan Zioltkowski and I hope to see him face to face some day. I owe him couple beers
So - what personally I can do for checkers to make things better ? I guess voting for Kim Willis as ACF President at coming ACF elections 2025 will be right and best thing.
Kim is experienced, smart, focused. She knows checkers and she knows checkers players.
Everyone must be given chance - we had Victor Habgood leadership last two years, why not giving Kim a chance to step forward and proceed with her agenda ?
Yours,
ALEMO