Kevin Wu - Chess in the Library

New Prospects?

2011-11-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

I've been volunteering at Malvern every other week for the past while, with just Peggy (Aaron has left), and it's been great. We have a dozen or so kids coming in every session. Many of them are returning from previous sessions, but we always get a few that are new drop-ins. Some of the kids are getting significantly better. We have young children who didn't know how to play at all. Not a single rule. Now they're playing full games with each other. I think that's the goal of CITL, to foster the development of skills among these wonderful kids.

Recently however, I've also been going around to various libraries in the Scarborough area in an effort to get some more programs running in various branches. Agincourt, Woodside Square, Steeles... all the staff have been wonderful to talk to, but scheduling and space are always the key to a new program, and not all libraries can accommodate our program. I'm hopeful that we will have a program at one of these libraries soon!

Times at Malvern

2011-10-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I haven't posted here in quite a long time! Currently I'm volunteering at Malvern Branch, a CITL program that was opened this past summer. We meet every two weeks at 10:30-12 on Saturdays.

We've gotten a regular attendance of more than a dozen kids every week, and it's a real joy working with them. Some of the kids that Peggy, Aaron, and I have taught the beginning rules to during the summer are coming back as school starts playing solid games with each other! My sister came to play a few weeks ago and she's now very into chess as well... she wants to play a game with me every day! Just another bit of proof CITL is worth the effort we've all invested into it.

Some info about our program at Malvern:

Malvern Library

30 Sewells Road
Toronto, ON
M1B 3G5
416-396-8969

Open from 10:30am-12pm every other week

My statement for CITL Vice President

2011-06-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow volunteers,

Thank you for an amazing year! As your current executive director, I have absolutely enjoyed the experience, which was quite a lot of work but in the end very gratifying. You’re probably itching to get on with your doings, but take a minute to read what I have to say.

We have come a long way from the small organization it was when I first joined. Back in the summer of 2009, it was but at a few libraries scattered around North-eastern Toronto. Through the efforts of the executive board, but more importantly, through the efforts of all of our volunteers, CITL has been able to grow into nationwide effort.

Personally, I have been ushering new programs in at libraries across the city, sometimes alone and sometimes with my executive-mates Yuanling and Michael. Meetings with TPL officials were also a regular occurrence, where we discussed the future of our program in various aspects, including regulations, expansion, and police checks. Our CITL handbook to be handed to every new volunteer has been polished throughout the year.

Nearing that time of the year again when all get together, the annual festival at North York Central Library, I believe firmly in doing everything but stand still. Trophies and certificates, letters to the mayor, press releases, all the little bits and pieces that complete a celebration on the scale of ours, not a single piece has been left untouched. You, as the volunteers, as well as the patrons of our program, deserve as much.

This coming year, I believe it is time for me to take a step forward and become the Vice President of CITL. My experience will certainly be an invaluable asset to CITL in dealing with the librarians that we must maintain contact with as well as the everyday issues that the executive board has worked through this year.

It’s often said that every chess master was once a beginner. Likewise, our organization was once barely walking on its feet, but we are now on the road to greater things. I believe that together, with our collective, organized efforts, CITL has many bright days to come, and I hope that, by serving CITL as Vice President, I will continue to be graced with amazing experiences and good times with the wonderful people in this organization.

Yours Sincerely,

Kevin Wu

Oh Dear, Deer Park!

2011-05-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

Just this Saturday, CITL now has yet another branch!

Where, you might ask? - at Deer Park library downtown, and this happens to be our first location for specifically seniors.

Heading in with my fellow volunteer Xiaohan Du in the absence of comrades Yuanling and Michael (both busy that weekend), I was greeted with about a dozen senior citizens eager to play some chess. The majority had just started out at the game, but it's nice working with older learners who may grasp concepts a little slower but make much more of a conscious effort to remember.

Here's some more info on Deer Park:

40 St. Clair Ave E
Toronto, ON
M4V 1M9
416-393-7658

Open from 10:30am - 12pm on Saturdays

Drop by if you have the time!

Volunteer Party Coming Up!

2011-03-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

A lot of stuff has passed since I last posted. PV has been shut down due to the unavailability of staff who can supervise us, so I've been taking more of a behind-the-scenes role as the Executive Director (that's not ruling out a return to a library sometime though).

Brookbanks has been a center of attention for Yuanling and I for a while... first the news coverage by the North York Mirror there two weeks ago and then tomorrow, our volunteer appreciation event! We're going to hold a vote on three volunteer of the year awards and pick a winner out of those three during our annual festival. Meanwhile, I'm busy writing up a speech and drawing up ballots, so that's that!

Back In School

2010-09-29T15:41:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a while since my last post.

In about mid-August, our numbers went up again, and we had 15-18 kids each week with several parents playing too. We were able to hold tournaments with full pairings as even when kids left, we could substitute another child who had just come.

Some sad news though: Tony has left! He's gone over to Fairview library to volunteer at the newly opened Fairview program (or more succinctly, newly "reopened" program). So right now, it's Yuan, Harry (a new volunteer) and I. The Fairview opening seems to have taken a toll on our branch numbers a little too; we only had 10 or so last week.

Thanks for reading!

Summer play!

2010-07-20T20:11:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a quick 2 months that have gone by at Pleasantview Library, with lots of fun and learning in chess. This program sure is great!

As summer has come, our attendance has cooled down a bit overall, with about 12 or so kids coming in every Saturday to get their weekly fix of chess. We tend to not hold too many swiss tournaments anymore, as the kids often come and leave at erratic times.

Instead, we hold loosely-organized round robin type games and often let the kids play double chess as a fun tactics-strengthening experience and/or explore books on chess by themselves or with others. It's great for the kids and they seem to like it.

Thanks for reading!

I'm back!

2010-05-28T19:48:00.001-07:00

I'm back!

2010-05-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time! I haven't updated the blog for about 4 months now, having just about totally forgotten about it. Still at Pleasantview presently, with a few volunteers having gone and left, and a new one, Tony Tang, about to come this weekend.

Attendance here has been good, as we have at least 15 and usually about 18-20 people coming every week. It's been great for the kids- maybe even better for the library, getting many extra people coming in to borrow books after they're done with chess.

Moving to another library!

2010-01-24T06:26:00.000-08:00

Well, this week I had to say my goodbyes to Brookbanks library, as Yualing Yuan (the leader of the program) has asked me to head over to Pleasantview library. The former leader of that library has moved, and so there is currently a need for a new leader there. I am both sad to leave, and happy to take a new position (as well as only having to walk 10 minutes to get there).

Through the wind and the rain

2009-11-22T12:26:00.000-08:00

This week, at Brookbanks Library, we went back to our regular routine of the kids' tournament. I had not been present the previous week due to having a bad cold, and was worried at last week's disappointing turnout of only 9 kids.

But alas, this week we fared slightly better, having a grand total of 10, with one additional kid just coming to watch. Dragos, Magas, and myself organized the tournament and played a few games with the parents who had come to watch.

Still though, it would be nice to bring back the buzz of dozens of kids that was present in the summer, though to reach that full capacity again would be unlikely due to the setting in of Saturday language schools for many. We plan to spread the word by asking the kids to bring their friends, and by sticking a few more flyers around the library.

Thanks for reading!

Halloween Simul!

2009-11-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, at Brookbanks Library, we held a simul. I was there, along with adult volunteer Dragos. We had 12 kids in total, who played us and gave us quite a challenge. In one or two of the games, the kids almost held us to draws, but in the end we beat all of them. The kids had a lot of fun!

EDIT: I had forgotten to mention, there was a not unspooky Halloween preparation in the room downstairs where we usually played, and some of the little guys and girls got quite a few scares!