Kudos to the Volunteers at the New
Britain Summer Open
Robert
Kozlowski
Ed
Scimia
Emily
Pond
Randy
Shane
Marcus
Komons
Kevin
Zimmerman
Michelle
Pascetta
John
Fikiet
Joe
Mansigian
Joe
Kozlowski
Andris
Strazdins
Doug
Fiske
Tom
Hartmeyer
Nelson
Castaneda
Robert
Fitzpatrick
Derek
Meredith
Gert
Hilhorst
Alex
Fikiet
Joe
Hricko
Alan
Lasser
It took weeks of
planning and preparation to hold this monumental event and there was much
support. It was a pleasure to work with so many volunteers and I want to take a
moment to express my gratitude to them for making this an event to remember.
What makes this
tournament a success is the club’s famous free barbeque lunch. Our food
committee, lead by chefs Marcus Komons and Kevin “Z”
Zimmerman, did a phenomenal job. Both
“Z” and Marcus, masters of the grill, were assisted by John Fikiet
and Michelle Pascetta. This culinary crew displayed
the highest level of professionalism and due care as they served up some of the
most delicious picnic food around. There was enough food literally to feed an
army! The items on the huge menu included hot dogs, hamburgers and
cheeseburgers, Polish kielbasa, Italian sausage, marinated chicken, veggie
burgers, grilled corn on the cob, Boston-baked beans, antipasto salad, tomato
and cucumber salad, tropical fruits, chips, garden salad, and rolls. We also
had plenty of soda, water, and other beverages, which were made available to
everyone for the entire day. In the words of prominent Chef Emeril
Lagasse, the food crew “kicked up” the entire food
preparation “to notches unknown to mankind.” I also want to extend thanks to my
uncle, Joe Kozlowski, NBCC President Joe Mansigian,
and NBCC Treasurer Andris Strazdins,
for purchasing the food the night before the event. Special thanks also go to
A special thanks
to Nelson Castaneda, Doug Fiske, Robert Fitzpatrick, and Alex Fikiet, for assisting the officers with the overall setup
and cleanup.
Most of the
advertising and promotion for this event was through word of mouth and
promotion via e-mail. I adamantly
believe that this is why the this event attracted so many more players this
year, particularly from the shoreline along with many scholastic players from
the Simsbury Chess Club directed by Gert Hilhorst. Thanks to Gert, Derek
Meredith, Joe Hricko, and following state directors
and organizers, Tom Hartmeyer,
To direct a
tournament of this size, I needed at least a few assistants to handle the
registration and be section directors.
My team of all-star directors, Emily Pond and Ed Scimia,
successfully managed the collection of the entry fees, made the pairings, and
were always available in case players had questions or concerns. Thanks also to Randy Shane and
Robert Kozlowski
------------
I want to thank the volunteers who
contributed to the success of the very special New Britain Summer Open
2009. This event, hosted and sponsored
by the New Britain Chess Club, has become what many consider to be the official
annual picnic for Connecticut Chess. I
enjoyed this event very much.
As a former tournament
organizer/director, I noticed all the “behind-the-scenes” elements that
comprise a successful tournament. Not
only was this a great tournament, but a great picnic as well.
There was coffee and donuts. From the barbeque pit we had
hot-off-the-grill fresh hamburgers, deli hot dogs, Italian sausage links,
chicken, chili, and Polish Kielbasa.
There were fresh rolls, corn on the cob, Boston-baked beans, garden
salad, antipasto, slices of fresh native tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese,
condiments, and many chips, snacks, and cookies. There was a vast selection and endless supply
of canned soda and other drinks on ice, watermelon and a fresh-fruit salad. All this was available throughout the rest of
the day.
Arkadijs would have
been very proud that the Quartette Club pavilion got filled up beyond
capacity. Twelve picnic tables under the
roof can each comfortably fit six players.
6x12 = 72. This event attracted
78 players, so the setup of an additional banquet table was needed. I say congratulations to the NBCC again.
It was not sure I could attend this
year, (Sunday is a normal workday for me), and so I was not able to volunteer
in advance. I promise to attend in 2010
and would like to be part of the volunteer team. The first way I can help is to use my
Connecticut Chess Magazine website to help notify and remind all chess players
within driving distance about this unique opportunity to picnic and play chess.
Yours In
Chess
Video
- Panoramic
view of Pavilion