Go Orlando

We had an enjoyable event on Sunday with the UCF Anime club.  Much anime was watched and much Go was played.  I think we also learned one or two things about how to improve things logistically if we do such an event again in the future (and I hope we will).

Recall that we are also holding an on-campus “Go Showcase” this Wednesday from 1p-4p in the breezeway at UCF.  I hope we will get a good showing from members of our club, if possible.

According to the E-Journal this morning, “American 3d Joshua Lee won Freiburg” with a 5-0 record.  Since I guess there aren’t that many dan-level Go playing Americans in Freiburg named “Joshua Lee”,  this must be “our” Josh.  The results are here.

Congratulations Josh!

Our website is finally correctly linked on the AGA website. Also, ranking information from both the Orlando and Ft. Myers tournaments is up-to-date.

Sorry, Josh…Karsten’s defeat by Chi did not bump him back under you.

Three up-coming campus events from Go Club at UCF: casual play this Sunday evening 7p-10p at the Student Union, Hikaru no Go night with the UCF anime club Sunday June 28, and a follow-up Go showcase event (probably) the Wednesday after that.  More information below the cut.

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As some of you know, Joshua Lee (our fearless leader, highest rated FL AGA member until the tournament results are posted) has the wonderful opportunity to spend some time in Germny this summer.  He has a blog setup there.  I’ve also put it in the “General Links” “Friends” category to the left.

Since I doubt any but a few of our members who already attend read this website, this post will not be the most useful.  On the off chance that it may lead to something, I’ll try anyway.  Please feel free provide any constructive feedback as a comment here or in an email.

I think our chapter of the AGA has been very successful, thanks largely to Josh who has clearly invested a lot of time and energy into creating an active and fun group with both very casual and very competitive events, not to mention teaching many of us!  Our regular attendance isn’t large, but it’s quite stable and we’ve had a good showing in the local tournaments over the last two years … both in terms of representative attendance, as well as placing.  We’re lucky to have Josh, and I am sure we’re all quite grateful to him.

But I am concerned about the diversity of strength and experience of those who attend regularly.  Aside from Josh, the strength range of those that regularly attend is quite narrow … perhaps 4k-12k.  Over the last year, we’ve had a number of newer players attend, but their attendance invariably flags.  I can see several reasons why this might be so.

First, it is quite natural and reasonable for people with some interest to try something out, satiate their curiosity and move on.  We cannot expect to retain all new players.  Some, perhaps most, will find that they have other interests and obligations that are prioritized over Go (yes, I know … it is possible, though admittedly strange to those of us who obsess over the game).  Still, I count well over a dozen 20k+ having come over the past year and even a 10% retention would presume we get two “regulars”, which has clearly not occurred.

Second, many are likely UCF employees or students who find it difficult to prioritize weekday meetings to play Go during the semester.  If this is so, we really need to revisit the second, on-campus meeting day and time question.  Also, my hope is that we will see more this summer.

More generally, it is possible that the meeting location, time, or day is an obstacle for many.  Of course, there is no ideal choice, and I’m reluctant to suggest a change that inconvenienes those that already attend, but if logistics are a major obstacle for many people, I’d like to know.  Ideally such concerns would be accompanied by alternative suggestions.  I’ll take what I learn from such comments to Josh.

My final thought is the bootstrap problem:  It’s hard to break into a game when you feel you have no hope at winning.  A 20k+ is unlikely to play competitively with any of our “regulars”, even with a large handicap.  Better would be that they play one another, but if such rarely attend then there’s a self-fulfilling cycle.  It seems we need at least two regular new players whose strengths are close enough that beginners can be offered a difficult, but ultimately tractable challenge. If we hope to offer some variety in strength and style of play to new players, we need more than two.

Of course, those that regularly attend will get stronger, moving out of such a range.  So what we really need is a general strategy for getting and rettaining new players.  One idea I’ve had is a new player workshop … presumably at the beginning of each fall term, on campus.  I’m hopeful that this would draw more people to our meetings, but I’m skeptical that it will help at all with retention, which is the more significant problem.

We need to start thinking about this problem. I think a healthy club should have active members at many strength levels, and I honestly believe we can all learn from one another, regardless of our relative differences in experience.  Moreovoer, several of our regulars are UCF students (including and especially Josh), and may very well not stay in Orlando once they’ve finished their degrees.  We are doing quite well now, but I guess we have a year or two to address how we grow the group before the club starts sputtering.

Ideas?

While the chapter organizer is away, the kyu-level players must play …

Josh is out this summer, and I guess attendance will be less consistent in general because of the summer; however, there are still a number of things going on this summer for those who will be around:

1. Weekly Tuesday night meetings at Barnes & Noble continue as usual;
2. Fort Myers summer tournament, 6.June (see here);
3. Possible Go Orlando gathering, early July?  (more below);
4. The US Go Congress, 1.Aug-9.Aug in DC (more later).

Fort Myers Tournament

At the Orlando Go Tournament, Josh Frye announced a 1-day Tournament in Fort Myers on June 6 (Sat.)  There will still be five rounds, though the rounds will be somewhat shorter than at Orlando.  We should gather the names of those of us thinking about going.

Summer Gathering

Last summer there was a half-hearted discussion of some kind of summer activity, and I would like to resurect that idea for this year with perhaps a bit more enthusiasm.  I envision something quite casual that would involve playing a lot of Go, as well as food and such.  Let me know general interest level and time constraints … as it stands, early July seems like a good time-frame since it is between the Fort Myers tournament (June) and the US Go Congress (August).

Here we are once again, this time for the 2009 Orlando Go Tournament @ UCF.  I hope those of you that went to the 2007 and 2008 tournaments will come again, and that as many new players as possible join us.  There will be competition for players of any strength from all around the state [and sometimes beyond].  For both the last tournaments we achieved 30 participants, but both Orlando and Florida as a whole have grown since last year [also gas doesn't cost a billion dollars].  This time I want to blow that figure out of the water :)  Anyway, until that time I thought I should get all the information straight with everyone.  Here is the tournament flyer, so please pass it along to anyone who might be interested.

Like last year, you will have to register with the AGA either at the door or beforehand[see details here].  However, this year we’re going to have a few differences, this one everyone should like.  Primarily, there will be no tournament fee this time [you still have to pay AGA membership fees].  Why/How you might ask?  Well, the Go Club, UCF Chapter has just become an official club here at UCF.  That means that while we can reserve the rooms for no cost because of our club, charging an entrance fee is forbidden.  They told me that they’ll still allow people to register for the AGA since I won’t keep the money, and any 100% optional donations, but that’s all.

Additionally, because this room is being reserved under our club, I am liable for any damages that may be incurred upon the room or yourselves.  While this would certainly be a rare occurrence, please don’t break any bones while you’re there :)  Also, please leave the room we are in completely undamaged; UCF will fine me a few hundred dollars if we damage it!!

For the last two tournaments, the primary cost that the entrance fee repaid was the room reservation cost.  Without that cost, my only costs will be food and a few more prizes [most were donated].  We’ll be having an optional “donation bucket”, which they told me was fine as long as I clearly signaled that it was 100% optional.

Anyway, I hope to see all of you there!!  If for any reason you need to contact me, you can reach me at Masterman535@gmail.com.  Also make sure to check out our tournament blog at http://ogt09.blogspot.com, where I’ll be listing any updates, as well as details, whose coming, and other pertinent information.

***PLEASE SEND ME YOUR COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM EITHER ONLINE OR IN THE MAIL; I NEED TO KNOW WHO IS COMING***

See ya’ll there!!

Joshua Lee,
Tournament Organizer, 2009 Orlando Go Tournament

AGA has updated their ranks from the Sarasota tournament.

Josh has once again claimed the top-AGA-rated slot in Florida.  Sorry, Josh, you’ll have to endure more teasing.

Rather than send out bulk email, I thought periodically re-posting a “impromptu pickup” thread on the website would be the easiest ways to arrange to meet up to play Go at non-standard times and places (standard being Tuesday nights @ B&N).

Feel free to comment on this thread if you have a time /place you want to play in the near future.