How to Start a successful Chess Club in Zimbabwe

In this article which is the first of many to come, I explore from how one can build a successful chess club in Zimbabwe. The requirements may further be refined to meet different situations but the core basics on how to start are always the same.

For the purposes of this series I shall define a chess club as a group of six or more people who come together for the purposes of playing chess. This is also the definition adopted by the Harare Chess Society. 

Step 1 Create a community

When a group of people come together for a common goal they are known as a community.  Invite family and friends to join your chess club. Include those who do not know how to play the game so that you can teach them later. You may share your invite via social media inorder to reach more people.

Step 2 Organise each other

Now that you have people who have responded to your call you must organise yourself into a structure to avoid chaos. Establish a provisional committee to help you manage the community. Appoint a chairperson, a secretary and any other position you feel is needed. Remember this is a temporary structure to keep things organised as you engage with the group.

Step 3 Constituionalize the Chess Club

A constitution is the document that will establish your club as well as outline how things will be done within the community. A simple constitution will outlinep the following for the club:

• Name of the club,
• Objectives of the club,
• How one can join or leave the club,
• Management Committee positions and tenure,
• How one can be selected onto the managing board,
• Procedure for club meetings and frequency of meeting
• How to handle disputes, finances, elections and
• How to dissolve the club.

In creating this document it is important that you consult your group so that you come up with a document representative of everyone’s views. Once the document has been drafted, deliberated and agreed upon it must be signed by the provisional committee. Thus your chess club has been established.

Step 4. Select the Managing Board.

You may now select the people who will manage the day to day running of the club using the constitution as your guideline. It is important that you select people who have passion for the club, and are willing to voluntarily work to see the club grow. They must be people of intergrity, vision and discipline.

Step 5: Establish the Club Schedule

The Managing Committee will decide the place, date and times at which club members will regulary meet to play chess, train each other and participate in tournaments. Your club can create and host its own tournaments or attend club tournaments hosted by other institutions such as the Zimbabwe Chess Federation or Harare Chess Society.

Step 6 Adhere to Regulations

As your chess club becomes active research about rules and regulations that govern chess clubs in your area, province or country. In Zimbabwe, you must be aware of the requirements of the PVO act  which provides for the registration of private voluntary organizations, and the collection of any subscriptions to run such organisations. If you register the club as a Trust you must know the Deeds regstries act.

The Sports and Recreation Commission through The Zimbabwe Chess Federation also requires clubs and their members to pay annual affiliation fees.

Step 7 Managing Finances

Running a chess club comes with a few incidental costs of its own as shown above. The club must have some money to take care of these expenses. This can be done by agreeing a joining fee, and a subscription fee for everyone who will be part of the chess club.  The club must open a bank account from which all club funds will be managed. The account must be signed by 2 or more members of the Managing Committe.

To open a chess club account, you must present a constitution, minutes of the meeting where the resolution to open the account was agreed upon, Copy of IDs and passport photos of the members who will operate the account. Initial deposit required will vary according the chosen Bank.

In Summary…

Establishing a chess club is simple and easy when you put your mind to it. There are many chess clubs that exist in Zimbabwe which have been around for a long time despite not having some of the things I have cited here. I must point out that how you establish your club will determine whether it becomes a supermarket or a roadside stall. I say let us strive to build chess clubs that will survive long after we are gone.