Pool checkers, SIXTH and raffle !

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Today I had visited a Pool Checkers National tournament which is held in Columbus this year. I met few of my friends here - Mr. Blain, Mr. Weinberg and Mr. Guy.

More than 100 (!) players in different divisions participated this year.

Several regular copies of SIXTH and one bonus copy were sold to fans of straight checkers and one copy of SIXTH I donated to APCA (American Pool Checkers Association) for free for raffle in behalf of Federation and support our "small brothers" - pool checkers !

Unforgettable time ! The only thing didn't make me very happy - most of those players were well over 50 and I saw only few people here who looked relatively younger than 30.

What I really like - how they name Divisions - Top Masters, Masters and Junior Master ! Maybe we should adopt this method in ACF and call Minors - Junior Masters without disappointing anyone

Regards,

Alex

[Mr. Checkers]

The APCA is a very fine group of gentlemen. Dr. Smith runs a very fine tuned checker organization and he has done so for many years now. The APCA also puts out a fine checker publication every year--"APCA All Recorded Games--2005" which is the latest of these.

[Armlock]

This is the checker style I started out in...

[Alex_Moiseyev]

This is the checker style I started out in...

Me too (Russian checkers). We are on the same page When you plan to start draughts (Anglo-American style) ?

Respectfully,

Alex

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Mr. Alex:

Nice you had the opportunity to attend the Pool Tournament in Columbus.

You made one important comment------- The noticed lack of young players there. Each of us thru networking should attempt to find one youth who shows interest in our game and then do our best to become a mentor to that person and try and cultivate their interest in Checkers. I am lucky to have my two young Grandsons nearby and both have a noticed interest in the game. In Medina we had the ACF's 2nd. " Arthur Niederhoffer Youth Tournament". While attendance for the 2nd. year was not much more than year one I feel we are making progress and getting the word out that the ACF has not forgotten the youth in our game. The GAZETTE in the Medina area had front page coverage of the youth tournament. We have to remember that little if anything was done for many years in the ACF to attract young players. Declining membership is a direct result of this.

Solomon is 9 years old and carries his small magnetic board with him in the car and one of his books to review. In Medina I was suprised when he came up to me in the hotel lobby and said , " Grandpa I need $45.00 to get a copy of Alex's book". Mr. Alex wrote a very nice inscription in his book and in one group of photos I just got back found Solomon holding his copy of SIXTH with his arm around Mr. Alex's neck and my other Grandson Forest (who is 7) on the other side of Mr. Alex. Originally Forest wanted to go with his Mother and Solomon to Medina to watch and told me he was not going to enter. After arriving he changed his mind and decided to play. Made me very proud of them both. I now set up for Solomon one problem a week to solve and give him a dollar when he does find the solution. The last one we worked on was 3 kings Vs. 2 kings in diffrent double corners. I am helping him build his own library of Checker books and he keeps them organized and is not afraid to delve into them for study. So all of this is my own story on encouraging two young players to stay with the game. Solomon also is an ACF member and looks for each issue to arrive of his ACF Bulletin. I am sure many of you can do your part and find one young person to be a mentor.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
" Without youth there will be no ACF someday"
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" The study of SIXTH everyday will help keep losses away"
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