The United States Chess Federation has launched a grand spanking new website. This move follows the launch of a new look Chess Life magazine. At this time, it looks like the migration effort is not entirely complete as there are still outbound links to the old website all over the place.
While this USCF's brand new site is impressive in design, it would not be by recommended approach to the Australian Chess Federation (once this mob actually gets around to updating their site to a more professional standard). The US site just smacks too much of being a brochure for the Chess Life magazine. I tend to prefer a "newsy" approach with the latest news, updates, tournament photos right up front on the homepage.
But what the Americans did, they did well. You just have to love the free magazine content. (Why doesn't the Australian Chess Magazine do this?) We can also read bios of America's top players. I wonder, however, why Jennifer Shahade doesn't appear in the top women's list section.
Our good mate over at the Boylston blog has posted a lengthier review. They give the USCF's effort with a grade of B+.
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I think that Paul Bruekhaussen (spelling?) has put together a pretty good ACF website.
HOWEVER, HE *CANNOT* MAKE IT BETTER until the ACF give him the ACF minutes and reports that the Australian chess players demand. The ACF website ought to be the *first window* into what the secretive ande disfunctional ACF is doing with our money and its energies - apart from expediting third party player bans and covering up the write-off of $4000 bad debits.
As I understand, the US page will soon have 'premium content' for subscribers of their magazine only.
It's still very nice though.
What some of you should remember is that the USCF has PAID employees,the ACF only has volunteers.
Why you expect absolute professionalism from volunteers is beyond me,you should be grateful they volunteer at all.
Having a decent, "professional" looking website is not beyond the means of a volunteer organisation.
And what do you dislike about the ACF website Amiel?
How is it "unprofessional"?
Some volunteers are great, some are good at marking time, but some worse than nothing. The ACF has all three in equal measures. An organisation with such a profile is always going to be *less than* the some of its parts.
Some volunteers are great, some are good at marking time, but some worse than nothing. The ACF has all three in equal measures. An organisation with such a profile is always going to be *less than* the some of its parts.
How is it unprofessional?
Obviously, you haven't even bothered to view the website.
There's no updates - no nothing. An outsider visiting the site will not learn anything about Aussie chess or anything about the ACF at all.
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