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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
Firstly, I apologize for the non-appearance of the May progress report. This was due to me being laid low with bronchitis. As I am the project manager rather than the doer on Grading this fortunately had no adverse effect on the progress on Grading.
I remind you that the deadline for submission of Grading results is end of this month. If anyone cannot meet this date, please contact me as soon as possible. However, I make no promises about accepting results submitted late.
We are now at the busy time of the Grading year and results files are coming in. So far out of an expected 800 results files:
Feedback is being provided to Graders, please raise any anomalies on the feedback as soon as possible. A few anomalies have already been raised by Graders based on the feedback, and these are under investigation. This is an improvement on last year when there was no feedback. Overall, things seem to be going smoothly and we are currently on track for success.
Roger Edward's PC had a hard disk crash as previously reported. Although this PC has been restored to health, the BCF has invested in a new machine for Grading work. This machine has been loaned to Roger, should Roger discontinue Grading work the machine will be passed onto whosoever takes over from Roger.
A Grading service will be provided at the British Championships, which will be able to provide Members of the BCF with an event summary based Grading print-out (as used to be provided by the pre-Chris Howell or Patti system). The Howell format Grading print-outs will be provided to Members as usual in November.
I will also be at the British Championships for both weeks, and will be available if anyone wants to discuss Grading issues in person.
Sadly George Smith died on 18 June 2001 after a long struggle against ill health. He remained in harness working for the Federation until the last few weeks of his life. He had a distinguished career as a civil servant for which he was appointed OBE and his work in chess included a period as Congress Secretary as well as International Grader. He was also a leading figure in the Southend Congress. He was a man of great kindness and a quiet but relentless efficiency. He was also gentle with his humour - recently a leading Grandmaster complained that his FIDE Rating was wrong and after looking into the complaint George wrote and said, " I regret to report that my investigations reveal that your loss of rating points is entirely due to your bad play!" We will all miss him.
The Grading list to be published in August 2001 will be intended to cover an entire year - there will not be a six-monthly list next January. The central Grading team questions the merits of producing six-monthly grading list, a view supported by the BCF Management Board. Nevertheless, I will raise at the BCF Council meeting in September the issue of whether six-monthly lists should be started from January 2003. In this regard, I would welcome your views, as six-monthly Grading lists can only be successful if results are sent in promptly.
Development will continue of the Howell software with the objective that the improved software will be used for the 2002 Grading list. The Hybrid system, used for this year's list, will be maintained until sufficient confidence is gained in the improved Howell software.
Those with access to the internet are reminded of the BCF website: http://www.bcf.org.uk/grading/index.html where information on the Grading can be found. I intend to post shortly some statistics gleaned from the existing Grading Master list.
Finally, if you received this letter by snail-mail, but have e-mail, please send me an e-mail: CEMAJER@aol.com.
C E Majer Director of Grading 24/06/01