I am sure that all of us from time to time reminisce about our old checker friends (many of which are no longer with us) and all of the good times that we had playing checkers together long long ago. And then the reality of life sets in. Wow!! what has happened to our game goes through your mind? Todays youngsters are now playing checkers on the same level that you are (and you have been studying and playing for decades)--armed only with their high tech computers that have a Star Trek 9 checker computer program in them. You feel that time may have passed you by and that you are no longer an important part of our game. Most of the players that attend checker tournaments today do so for several different reasons--they just enjoy the fun in playing--for the competition that one experiences in playing--to see their old friends--to get away from their wifes etc., etc. Now after the tournament is over (and until the next tournament comes around) is an important period of time that checker organizations need to focus on, but unfortunately don't. And as a result we find ourselves contributing to the demise of checkers without even being aware of it. Few players venture out into their neigborhoods to interest and educate our young people in checkers. If our game is to survive and grow then we need to change our attitudes concerning the roles we are presently playing, beyond that of just merely playing the game for decades. Yesterday someone mentioned that they had been playing checkers for several decades (that sounds great) and then I asked myself--but what have you done for checkers beyond that? A few years ago we went downtown to the drugstore--bought a dozen inexpensive red and black checkerboards with checkers. And then we purchased a box of bubble gum (with 480 pieces in it). For three years during the summer months we had between 20-30 children over everyday at our home on the driveway playing checkers from sun up to dusk. For a $1 they could join our bubble gum club which allowed them to have all the bubble gum that they wanted. We even had bubble gum blowing contests (some of those kids could blow 10 bubbles-one inside of another). We also had checker contests throughout the summer--with prizes being awarded to the winners. We purchased a bunch of Pac-Man tokens that were placed on certain checkers and if the children captured those checker pieces then they got to keep the tokens, which they loved to put into those arcade machines. Soft drinks were provided free of charge. This gave us a chance to teach the children checkers and be good role models to them at the same --their parents loved it. I am sure that there are many grade schools that would welcome checker players to come in before or after school to set up a checker clubs. Yes a change in attitude is needed in checkers. And what this really comes down to is--"nothing ventured-nothing gained". For our computer generation why not set up computer checker clubs that could compete against other computer clubs? Just food for thought, which I am sure that all of you reading this could and will hopefully expand upon. Please have a most wonderful day. 'Inky'
Last edited by Mr. Checkers on Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Take care and God Bless. "Mr. Checkers"---Visit with "Inky" at: http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf----"No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted". --Aesop--
Meow!!, Meow!!. "Food for Thought"--cat food I hope? "Inky"
Take care and God Bless. "Mr. Checkers"---Visit with "Inky" at: http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf----"No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted". --Aesop--
Nice letter MB...........i GUESS YOU TOO GET THE FEELING YOUR SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE?
But the old saying goes evrything has its time and place. Im sure you ve ben to that wonderful checker site NCC/some great photos(jr i think),well i cant help but look with some sadness at the majority of players on there are well on in yrs(and im no spring chicken) it makes one wonder!!
Then again im sure the tide is due to turn sometime (it always does) and if and when then we may be in for a new era with all these young whipper-snappers well educated and with some draughts experience and knowhow
But you know yourself you can take the horse to the water but.......... so we ll see if the tide can take us over the rapids.
Always read "Cannings Compilation 2nd Edition" every day.
Thank you for your most kind, interesting and thoughtful reply Tommy. The growth of checkers is not that much different than growing Iowa corn. In order to grow someone has to plant the seed (create the interest in our game) and cultivate (teach and share our game) the crop (checkers). Over the decades checker players have not done this and as a result unknowingly they have contributed to the demise of their own game. Please have a most wonderful day. "Inky"
Take care and God Bless. "Mr. Checkers"---Visit with "Inky" at: http://www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf----"No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted". --Aesop--
I am sure that all of us from time to time reminisce about our old checker friends (many of which are no longer with us) and all of the good times that we had playing checkers together long long ago. And then the reality of life sets in. Wow!! what has happened to our game goes through your mind? Todays youngsters are now playing checkers on the same level that you are (and you have been studying and playing for decades)--armed only with their high tech computers that have a Star Trek 9 checker computer program in them. You feel that time may have passed you by and that you are no longer an important part of our game. Most of the players that attend checker tournaments today do so for several different reasons--they just enjoy the fun in playing--for the competition that one experiences in playing--to see their old friends--to get away from their wifes etc., etc. Now after the tournament is over (and until the next tournament comes around) is an important period of time that checker organizations need to focus on, but unfortunately don't. And as a result we find ourselves contributing to the demise of checkers without even being aware of it. Few players venture out into their neigborhoods to interest and educate our young people in checkers. If our game is to survive and grow then we need to change our attitudes concerning the roles we are presently playing, beyond that of just merely playing the game for decades. Yesterday someone mentioned that they had been playing checkers for several decades (that sounds great) and then I asked myself--but what have you done for checkers beyond that? A few years ago we went downtown to the drugstore--bought a dozen inexpensive red and black checkerboards with checkers. And then we purchased a box of bubble gum (with 480 pieces in it). For three years during the summer months we had between 20-30 children over everyday at our home on the driveway playing checkers from sun up to dusk. For a $1 they could join our bubble gum club which allowed them to have all the bubble gum that they wanted. We even had bubble gum blowing contests (some of those kids could blow 10 bubbles-one inside of another). We also had checker contests throughout the summer--with prizes being awarded to the winners. We purchased a bunch of Pac-Man tokens that were placed on certain checkers and if the children captured those checker pieces then they got to keep the tokens, which they loved to put into those arcade machines. Soft drinks were provided free of charge. This gave us a chance to teach the children checkers and be good role models to them at the same --their parents loved it. I am sure that there are many grade schools that would welcome checker players to come in before or after school to set up a checker clubs. Yes a change in attitude is needed in checkers. And what this really comes down to is--"nothing ventured-nothing gained". For our computer generation why not set up computer checker clubs that could compete against other computer clubs? Just food for thought, which I am sure that all of you reading this could and will hopefully expand upon. Please have a most wonderful day. 