Charter of the Hampshire College Chess Club

The Chess Club meets weekly to provide a friendly space where members of the Hampshire College as well as the greater Pioneer Valley community can play chess. Four chess club chess sets are on reserve at the library and available for use at any time during which the library is open. Additionally, we host a Five College Chess Championship Tournament every semester open to Five College students, staff, and faculty.

The Chess Club's aim is to provide a friendly social atmosphere where students, professors, staff members, and community members can gather outside of their usual interactions. We don't have a strict membership or any policies on becoming a member. We advertise our weekly meetings through community posters, the Daily Jolt, through an email listserve, and through our web page. Anyone who is interested is welcome to come and is encouraged to attend regularly, although it is not necessary to attend every week. We welcome players of all skill levels and experiences, and anyone interested in learning more about the game or improving their skills is welcome to show up, as almost everyone is willing to share their knowledge. All decisions (particularly those pertaining to the organization of the tournament) are made with the agreement of all members who wish to have input. Everyone on the email list is notified of the upcoming tournament and then they offer suggestions (most of which are tried at least once).

We are a group designed on the principles of Hampshire College, eager to do our small part in building a stronger sense of community both here and in the Valley.