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Date: 05 Jan 2008 11:19:31
From: [email protected]
Subject: GM Yermolinsky in South Dakota
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GRASS ROOTS CHESS
By Steve Young
[email protected]
January 5, 2008
A pair of chess grandmasters have landed on Sioux Falls' doorstep,
hoping to transform the chess-playing landscape in this region with
their arrival.
Alex Yermolinsky, a two-time United States champion, and his wife,
Camilla Baginskaite, the U.S. women's champion in 2000, arrived in the
community a month ago. Their ambition is to develop the largest
scholastic chess program in the Midwest, taking the game into every
school and youth organization in the area that they can.
They will be introduced Sunday at a free chess expo and clinic at 2
p.m. at the Sioux Falls Public Library, 201 N. Main Ave.
The couple and their two children - Eddie, 9, and Greta, 4 - came from
San Francisco, where Yermolinsky was "Grandmaster in Residence" at the
Mechanics' Institute for eight years before he and the club had a
parting of ways this year.
Having visited Sioux Falls for past Governor's Cup chess tournaments,
Yermolinsky and Baginskaite were encouraged by area chess enthusiasts
to relocate to South Dakota. They always liked the area when they
visited, Yermolinsky, 49, said. And they liked the school system as
well.
"Obviously, there are places where chess is more popular than Sioux
Falls," Yermolinsky said. "But I wanted to apply my talents someplace
that didn't have many chess players. I thought maybe I could do a
better job starting from scratch. It probably would be more
challenging and interesting."
The challenge now will be trying to develop the kind of chess program
that can provide a living in this area, Yermolinsky said.
He and his wife want to develop after-school and evening programs in
as many elementary schools as they can, public, parochial, even among
the home-schooled. They also want to see if they can tap into youth
organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, and parks and
recreation programs.
"What we know is that chess improves thinking skills in children,"
said Baginskaite, who also will be studying for an education degree at
Augustana College. "We want to teach that in a professional manner. We
want to do it in a serious manner, too."
DeeAnn Konrad, community relations supervisor for the Sioux Falls
School District, said Superintendent Pam Homan has agreed to sit down
with the couple and other chess enthusiasts in the area to hear their
ideas.
"We're very early on in any discussions about how or if this could
happen," Konrad said. "There's not a plan that has been put into
place. But Dr. Homan wants to hear what they have to say."
One thing Yermolinsky wants to develop is more tournaments. He wants
to offer sessions that include instruction and playing. He and his
wife will lecture as well.
They bring a wealth of knowledge and skills with them, area chess
enthusiasts say. A native of Leningrad in the former Soviet Union,
Yermolinsky shared first place in the U.S. Chess Championships in 1993
and won it outright in 1996. He has written a number of books on the
game as well.
Baginskaite, a native of Lithuania, was the U.S. women's champion in
2000.
"For a town this size to have a grandmaster, to have two, is very
significant," said Dick Rostrom, who hosts a chess gathering Thursday
evenings at the Kenny Anderson Community Center. "I don't know if he
can make it go, but I think the interest is here."
Nels Truelson of Sioux Falls, who has won state chess championships in
Minnesotaand South Dakota, said the couple's arrival here should jump-
start chess interest and participation in this area.
"There is more than sufficient interest as far as children and their
parents playing chess in this area," Truelson said. "If they can get
this to happen, I wouldn't be surprised if Sioux Falls couldn't become
something of a scholastic chess mecca. And in a very short time, we
could have teams competing at the very top nationally, winning
national titles."
He will encourage that competition, Yermolinsky said. But more than
that, he wants to develop a serious and sustained interest in learning
the game and not just winning and losing.
"My heart is into giving back to chess," said Yermolinsky, who still
intends to compete himself. "I want to develop the interest. That's
why we're here."
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Date: 26 Jan 2008 21:30:25
From: Padstack
Subject: Re: GM Yermolinsky in South Dakota
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On Sat, 5 Jan 2008 11:19:31 -0800 (PST), "[email protected]"
<[email protected] > wrote:
>GRASS ROOTS CHESS
>
> By Steve Young
> [email protected]
> January 5, 2008
>
> A pair of chess grandmasters have landed on Sioux Falls' doorstep,
>hoping to transform the chess-playing landscape in this region with
>their arrival.
>
>Alex Yermolinsky, a two-time United States champion, and his wife,
>Camilla Baginskaite, the U.S. women's champion in 2000, arrived in the
>community a month ago. Their ambition is to develop the largest
>scholastic chess program in the Midwest, taking the game into every
>school and youth organization in the area that they can.
>
>They will be introduced Sunday at a free chess expo and clinic at 2
>p.m. at the Sioux Falls Public Library, 201 N. Main Ave.
>
>The couple and their two children - Eddie, 9, and Greta, 4 - came from
>San Francisco, where Yermolinsky was "Grandmaster in Residence" at the
>Mechanics' Institute for eight years before he and the club had a
>parting of ways this year.
>
>Having visited Sioux Falls for past Governor's Cup chess tournaments,
>Yermolinsky and Baginskaite were encouraged by area chess enthusiasts
>to relocate to South Dakota. They always liked the area when they
>visited, Yermolinsky, 49, said. And they liked the school system as
>well.
>
>"Obviously, there are places where chess is more popular than Sioux
>Falls," Yermolinsky said. "But I wanted to apply my talents someplace
>that didn't have many chess players. I thought maybe I could do a
>better job starting from scratch. It probably would be more
>challenging and interesting."
>
>The challenge now will be trying to develop the kind of chess program
>that can provide a living in this area, Yermolinsky said.
>
>He and his wife want to develop after-school and evening programs in
>as many elementary schools as they can, public, parochial, even among
>the home-schooled. They also want to see if they can tap into youth
>organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, and parks and
>recreation programs.
>
> "What we know is that chess improves thinking skills in children,"
>said Baginskaite, who also will be studying for an education degree at
>Augustana College. "We want to teach that in a professional manner. We
>want to do it in a serious manner, too."
>
>DeeAnn Konrad, community relations supervisor for the Sioux Falls
>School District, said Superintendent Pam Homan has agreed to sit down
>with the couple and other chess enthusiasts in the area to hear their
>ideas.
>
>"We're very early on in any discussions about how or if this could
>happen," Konrad said. "There's not a plan that has been put into
>place. But Dr. Homan wants to hear what they have to say."
>
>One thing Yermolinsky wants to develop is more tournaments. He wants
>to offer sessions that include instruction and playing. He and his
>wife will lecture as well.
>
>They bring a wealth of knowledge and skills with them, area chess
>enthusiasts say. A native of Leningrad in the former Soviet Union,
>Yermolinsky shared first place in the U.S. Chess Championships in 1993
>and won it outright in 1996. He has written a number of books on the
>game as well.
>
>Baginskaite, a native of Lithuania, was the U.S. women's champion in
>2000.
>
>"For a town this size to have a grandmaster, to have two, is very
>significant," said Dick Rostrom, who hosts a chess gathering Thursday
>evenings at the Kenny Anderson Community Center. "I don't know if he
>can make it go, but I think the interest is here."
>
>Nels Truelson of Sioux Falls, who has won state chess championships in
>Minnesotaand South Dakota, said the couple's arrival here should jump-
>start chess interest and participation in this area.
>
>"There is more than sufficient interest as far as children and their
>parents playing chess in this area," Truelson said. "If they can get
>this to happen, I wouldn't be surprised if Sioux Falls couldn't become
>something of a scholastic chess mecca. And in a very short time, we
>could have teams competing at the very top nationally, winning
>national titles."
>
>He will encourage that competition, Yermolinsky said. But more than
>that, he wants to develop a serious and sustained interest in learning
>the game and not just winning and losing.
>
>"My heart is into giving back to chess," said Yermolinsky, who still
>intends to compete himself. "I want to develop the interest. That's
>why we're here."
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Date: 05 Jan 2008 16:52:33
From:
Subject: Re: GM Yermolinsky in South Dakota
|
On Jan 5, 1:19=A0pm, "[email protected]" <[email protected] > wrote:
> GRASS ROOTS CHESS
>
> =A0By Steve Young
> [email protected]
> =A0January 5, 2008
>
> =A0A pair of chess grandmasters have landed on Sioux Falls' doorstep,
> hoping to transform the chess-playing landscape in this region with
> their arrival.
>
> Alex Yermolinsky, a two-time United States champion, and his wife,
> Camilla Baginskaite, the U.S. women's champion in 2000, arrived in the
> community a month ago. Their ambition is to develop the largest
> scholastic chess program in the Midwest, taking the game into every
> school and youth organization in the area that they can.
>
> They will be introduced Sunday at a free chess expo and clinic at 2
> p.m. at the Sioux Falls Public Library, 201 N. Main Ave.
>
> The couple and their two children - Eddie, 9, and Greta, 4 - came from
> San Francisco, where Yermolinsky was "Grandmaster in Residence" at the
> Mechanics' Institute for eight years before he and the club had a
> parting of ways this year.
>
> Having visited Sioux Falls for past Governor's Cup chess tournaments,
> Yermolinsky and Baginskaite were encouraged by area chess enthusiasts
> to relocate to South Dakota. They always liked the area when they
> visited, Yermolinsky, 49, said. And they liked the school system as
> well.
>
> "Obviously, there are places where chess is more popular than Sioux
> Falls," Yermolinsky said. "But I wanted to apply my talents someplace
> that didn't have many chess players. I thought maybe I could do a
> better job starting from scratch. It probably would be more
> challenging and interesting."
>
> The challenge now will be trying to develop the kind of chess program
> that can provide a living in this area, Yermolinsky said.
>
> He and his wife want to develop after-school and evening programs in
> as many elementary schools as they can, public, parochial, even among
> the home-schooled. They also want to see if they can tap into youth
> organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the YMCA, and parks and
> recreation programs.
>
> =A0"What we know is that chess improves thinking skills in children,"
> said Baginskaite, who also will be studying for an education degree at
> Augustana College. "We want to teach that in a professional manner. We
> want to do it in a serious manner, too."
>
> DeeAnn Konrad, community relations supervisor for the Sioux Falls
> School District, said Superintendent Pam Homan has agreed to sit down
> with the couple and other chess enthusiasts in the area to hear their
> ideas.
>
> "We're very early on in any discussions about how or if this could
> happen," Konrad said. "There's not a plan that has been put into
> place. But Dr. Homan wants to hear what they have to say."
>
> One thing Yermolinsky wants to develop is more tournaments. He wants
> to offer sessions that include instruction and playing. He and his
> wife will lecture as well.
>
> They bring a wealth of knowledge and skills with them, area chess
> enthusiasts say. A native of Leningrad in the former Soviet Union,
> Yermolinsky shared first place in the U.S. Chess Championships in 1993
> and won it outright in 1996. He has written a number of books on the
> game as well.
>
> Baginskaite, a native of Lithuania, was the U.S. women's champion in
> 2000.
>
> "For a town this size to have a grandmaster, to have two, is very
> significant," said Dick Rostrom, who hosts a chess gathering Thursday
> evenings at the Kenny Anderson Community Center. "I don't know if he
> can make it go, but I think the interest is here."
>
> Nels Truelson of Sioux Falls, who has won state chess championships in
> Minnesotaand South Dakota, said the couple's arrival here should jump-
> start chess interest and participation in this area.
>
> "There is more than sufficient interest as far as children and their
> parents playing chess in this area," Truelson said. "If they can get
> this to happen, I wouldn't be surprised if Sioux Falls couldn't become
> something of a scholastic chess mecca. And in a very short time, we
> could have teams competing at the very top nationally, winning
> national titles."
>
> He will encourage that competition, Yermolinsky said. But more than
> that, he wants to develop a serious and sustained interest in learning
> the game and not just winning and losing.
>
> "My heart is into giving back to chess," said Yermolinsky, who still
> intends to compete himself. "I want to develop the interest. That's
> why we're here."
Do they want to make US children piss in front of them? That is, do
they want to get three FIDE folks
(Ambassador Schultz and a FIDE GM) and strip the children naked to
piss test them for pot? Have they
background checked all of the people that are involved in scholastic
chess? I bet there is a United States
Senator from Idaho I think that would like to watch....
What about drug convictions and scholastic chess volenteers?
cus Roberts
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