Volunteers are extremely important to the success of Golden Isles Scholastic Chess Association (GISCA) and in support of the youth in the Golden Isles.  Volunteer opportunities are available on tournament days as well as on your own time.  Please review and indicate your interests on in the information boxes below.  Please use the forms below to confirm your interest.

There are many opportunities and something for almost everyone.  Please consider volunteering for the 2008 - 2009 season.

Opportunities - In each of the following categories, please consider volunteering for leadership or supporting roles in multiple areas:

Media & Communications Outreach
Sponsorship Coordination
Prize Coordination
Tournament Coordination

Media & Communications Outreach:

Media & Communications enables GISCA to reach into the communities to find and sustain new levels of support from the public, school educators, parents, and youth.  Through the effective use of media and communications, we can increase the awareness of the benefits, opportunities, and joy of scholastic chess.

We need to advertise GISCA tournaments through multiple venues.  We need to make research on the benefits of scholastic chess available to school educators and parents.  We need to periodically provide information and articles to the press (television and newspapers).  We also need to reach beyond the Golden Isles to attract scholastic chess players and families to GISCA tournaments.

Please indicate how you can help:

Sponsorship Coordination:

GISCA has a history and reputation for providing high quality and competitive scholastic chess tournaments.  Additionally, the tournament trophies, door prizes, and Grand Prix prizes are all very nice.  While much of GISCA's operating costs are covered through tournament fees, sponsorship of GISCA tournaments enables GISCA to offer some exceptional prizes or - possibly - have a chess "Grand Master" at a future GISCA tournament.

The Golden Isles has a very supportive and generous business community and received strong support from individuals.  We need to increase awareness of scholastic chess within the business community and to recognize and promote their sponsorship of GISCA tournaments.  We also need to provide opportunities for individuals to support scholastic chess.

Please indicate how you can help:

Prize Coordination:

GISCA provides trophies to the Top Individuals and Top Teams in each of GISCA's four tournaments.  Additionally, GISCA provides door prizes at each of the four tournaments.  At the last GISCA tournament each season, GISCA will provide additional Grand Prix trophies and Grand Prix door prizes.

We need support in coordinating the purchase and transport of trophies to each GISCA tournament.  We also need support in selecting and purchasing appropriate door prizes for each tournament.  Lastly, we need support in selecting and purchasing the Grand Prix prizes for the final tournament. 

Please indicate how you can help:

Tournament Coordination:

The day of a GISCA tournament is always busy and volunteers are crucial to smooth, quick, and courteous tournament operations.

Before the tournament begins, volunteers support the on-site tournament registration and check-in process, process USCF membership registrations, adjust chess tables based upon the number of contestants in each sections, and set-up the chess boards.  Additionally, an Assistant Tournament Director (TD) places chess player pairing information into a computer.  (This is called the back-room TD.)

During the tournament, volunteers are needed at the scoring table to record the results of each game.  The back-room TD updates the computer system with game results and determines the parings for the next round.  An Assistant Tournament Director is also need to monitor the games, answer questions, and resolve any disputes.  (This is called the floor TD.)  The Chief TD provides oversight and guidance to all Assistant TDs.  Additionally, a volunteer is needed to take digital photographs of the youth in action.

After the tournament, volunteers are need to put away the chess boards and chess equipment.  Additionally, volunteers help to ensure that we leave the facilities in a presentable manner.

Please indicate how you can help:

Comments: