Solutions vs Problems

[Danny_Alvarez]

How can we offer up solutions if we really don't think about the priority of the problems we are facing ???
In other words... we have lots of problems, which one do we solve first? or which one should i spend more time and care fixing in order to achieve more and rectify the situation we find ourselves in.

what is in your opinion the biggest problem the ACF faces? and how could we fix that...?

[Danny_Alvarez]

the biggest problem in my opinion is

dwindling membership >>>> which could be fixed if we offer better prizes and organized our tournaments a little bit better >>>>>>>>> better prizes could be achieved if we were to procure a sponsor >>>>>> a sponsor would be much easier to snag if we had a professional looking website and if we were to show that sponsor the POTENTIAL for growth we have....

obviously this a simplification of the problems we are facing right now, and its possible solutions.
Again, i am not blaming Mr Solan, nor anybody else for the lack of sponsors .... all i am saying is, if you disagree, please tell me what is your opinion in concise statements...
"get more people to attend" is not a solution is merely a wish... if you think that is the solution ... HOW WOULD YOU GET THEM TO ATTEND???

Danny Alvarez
PS
one of the highest marketing maxims is to APPEAL to people's emotions , if we want them to BUY our product...
we have a product rich with emotion and passion (most of us have played our first game of checkers with those whom we love best ...parents, grandparents, brothers , sisters...) why not use that to our advantage??? I propose a very simple cover page that appeals to emotions and looks AWESOME and then after that you guys can keep whatever makes you happy if change scares you so much..... a cover page with a large PROFESSIONAL photo of a grandfather and grandkid playing checkers with the acf logo in a corner and the word ENTER somewhere, perhaps a small quote somewhere near the bottom .... i am no graphic designer by any means but i am trying to sketch my suggestions .... i hope to finish soon and forward that to Mr Solan and ACF...

PS2 i want to discuss things i am not looking to argue redundantly about my intentions and/or yours

[George Hay]

Danny, I certainly agree with you, dwindling membership is the biggest problem with the ACF!...I like your idea for the cover page (home page?). Checkers needs more "curb appeal." We have to appeal to family values and the education value of checkers....For cash prizes, I would be top heavy with the prizes, borrowing an idea from Alan Millhone. I would like to have prizes in the masters division high enough to attract the top internet players to ACF tournaments, with the potential to more than break even if they place in the top three or four spots. Not everyone is in a position to attend tournaments, but better marketing leads to more memberships that leads to greater tournament attendance.
--George Hay

P.S. That is a good picture from JohnAcker.

[tommyc]

Good photo but.....................and its a big but............i absolutely hate these PLASTIC trophies it reminds me of the first time i went to play in America i was horrified at these heaps of cheapo plasticico that were being given out

.PLease please do some a little thing there as its a joke to give anything like that to a grown man. It may be different in America but here they wouldnt give them to school children for the egg and spoon race!!.

[Danny_Alvarez]

Danny, I certainly agree with you, dwindling membership is the biggest problem with the ACF!...I like your idea for the cover page (home page?). Checkers needs more "curb appeal." We have to appeal to family values and the education value of checkers....For cash prizes, I would be top heavy with the prizes, borrowing an idea from Alan Millhone. I would like to have prizes in the masters division high enough to attract the top internet players to ACF tournaments, with the potential to more than break even if they place in the top three or four spots. Not everyone is in a position to attend tournaments, but better marketing leads to more memberships that leads to greater tournament attendance.
--George Hay
P.S. That is a good picture from JohnAcker.

the point you make about the education value of checkers is a marvelous one George and that should be emblazoned in one way or another in all marketing and/or promotional materials...
while i love the picture with 2 different families and 2 different generations of players , what i am thinking of is something a bit more evocative.... a kid and his grandpa sitting and playing checkers... high res shot, i searched the net and haven't found what i am talking about.

Good photo but.....................and its a big but............i absolutely hate these PLASTIC trophies it reminds me of the first time i went to play in America i was horrified at these heaps of cheapo plasticico that were being given out
.PLease please do some a little thing there as its a joke to give anything like that to a grown man. It may be different in America but here they wouldnt give them to school children for the egg and spoon race!!.

Tommy i think that given the financial position of the game and federations everywhere, the trophies look fantastic. I haven't seen many checkers trophies around, but these 2 look great to me mate. Perhaps once we are doing better financially and we have a bigger fan base this could be discussed.

cheers
Danny Alvarez

[tommyc]

Danny the ACF have plenty of cash and have always had ,its the mind-set that needs changing and the public face of draughts that needs changing.If your paying pea-nuts then you will get monkeys and if you presenting PLASTIC to winners in front line competitions then its no surprise some pple say;its a game for children? If you get my drift?..Yes.


What im saying how do you expect ppel to take us seriously when we re doing things like this.This constructive critisism and for anyone who is in a position to change it ,i hope they take it on board and have a mature look at these little things.................cos "Little things mean alot".