Roanoke Valley Chess Club

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The Roanoke Valley Chess Club was founded in 1947 in Roanoke, Virginia, and is the oldest continuously operating chess club in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Roanoke Valley Chess Club receives an annual grant from the Dorothy S. and Walter Muir Memorial Fund, managed by the Foundation for the Roanoke Valley. The Roanoke Valley Chess Club is an IRS non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, registered with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. [1] The Roanoke Valley Chess Club brings and sustains chess activities to the region, and holds regular events. These events include United States Chess Federation USCF Grand Prix tournaments. The club also holds volunteer annual outreach events during Roanoke's annual Festival in the Park, Grandin Court Block Party, and more.

Contents

Mission statement

"The Roanoke Valley Chess Club is Virginia's oldest continuously-operating chess club. It exists to promote chess among people of all ages, and holds regular events, including tournaments that are rated by the United States Chess Federation." [2]

The Roanoke Valley Chess Club is affiliated with the United States Chess Federation (USCF). [3] "Casual Play, USCF Rated Events, Unrated Events, Blitz Events, Club Championships, Sets Available, Clocks Available, Book Library, Chess Items for Sale, Classes Offered, Lectures Offered, Private Lessons Offered, Simuls Offered, Under Age 18 Welcome, Beginners Welcome, Handicap Accessible." [4]

Tournaments

The Roanoke Valley chess club hosts the annual Walter Muir tournament. "As part of its series of special, one-day, Grand Prix, rated tournaments, the Roanoke Valley Chess Club recently held its annual WALTER MUIR MEMORIAL GRAND PRIX CHESS TOURNAMENT." [5] Walter Muir (1905-1999) was the former president of the Roanoke Valley chess Club and International Master of Correspondence Chess. Walter Muir also founded the United States Postal Chess Union and former secretary of the ICCF U.S.A. He was a philanthropist and benefactor to numerous Roanoke Valley organizations and individuals.

The Roanoke Valley Chess Club also hosted the annual Tracy Callis Jr. Memorial Grand Pix tournament. This was a 15 Grand Prix USCF-rated tournament. Mr. Tracy Callis, Sr., supported this memorial tournament to honor his son, Tracy G. Callis, Jr., (1968–2009). "We still fondly remember Tracy Callis Jr. - a great, friendly person who deserves to be remembered by all of us for doing what he loved: playing chess!" [6] The recently sold "Team Shirt" for the Roanoke Valley Chess Club had an option for including the "Tracy Callis Grand Prix Sunset Memorial" embroidered on the chest.

St Baldrick's Day

The Roanoke Valley Chess Club also participates with the St. Baldrick's Foundation each year to raise money for children's cancer research. Members of the Roanoke Valley Chess Club's are also "Knights of the Bald Table" and shave their heads as "Shavee", while others contribute to the charity cancer fund. The Roanoke Valley Chess Club had about ten percent head shaving participation among the members, and raised their financial goal in fundraising for research for children's cancer.

Notable members

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References

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