Dear East Lancastrians

The Northern membership scheme has now passed over 1150 members (equivalent to the total membership of the BCF!) and should be over 1350 by Christmas.

Even better news for us Lancastrians is that Lancashire has the greatest number of members at present (283) across the northern Counties, though Merseyside are just behind (260) and Yorkshire are now starting to catch up.

Members have been taken full advantage of the scheme, playing internal games and getting them onto the national grading system for free. North West congresses and rapidplays have also been doing very well through the scheme, the £6 entry discounts offered to NMS members bringing them out in their droves - South Lakes up 12%, Heywood up from 135 to 172 players, Ormskirk rapid up from 114 to 142. NMS is clearly working! Great to see juniors starting to take advantage of the scheme as well - how many juniors are there in the East lancs league? 

Preston congress (Nov 25-27) is offering £4 off for all NMS members:

http://www.mpeacock.demon.co.uk/chess/congress.html

Only slight cloud on the horizon is that some East Lancs clubs are presently not coming out to play - Great Harwood (1 member), Rawtenstall (0) and Clitheroe (0) seem to be missing out!! Come on guys - Lancashire needs your support!

To find out more about NMS, go to the following website:

http://www.nccu.org.uk/nccumembershipscheme.htm

Best regards

Bill O'Rourke

Lancashire and NCCU President.