What a whirlwind month! Even with a jam-packed schedule, there’s so much to be thankful for—and I wanted to share some highlights, both on and off the chessboard.
Chess Adventures:
This month, I dove deep into the Chess in Education course from the University of Texas – Dallas. I also attended an International Arbiter Seminar (eyeing that IA title—just waiting on one last norm from a tournament earlier this year!).
One big highlight: organizing the 2025 Houston Open and flipping the calendar to plan for the 2026 Lone Star Open next March. The chess community here keeps thriving!
A New Milestone:
Exciting news: I’ve earned the US Chess National Tournament Director title! Before I could even celebrate, I was invited to speak at the US Chess “States and Affiliates” committee meeting. The topic? Attracting and developing the next generation of tournament directors. I jumped in with little prep, but the response from attendees was incredibly encouraging.
Beyond Chess:
On the non-chess side, I’m honored to serve another term as Secretary of Between Jobs Ministry—where I’m still coordinating Job Search Work Teams, supporting Groups.io as an admin/trainer, and facilitating the Cypress Job Search Work Team.
Thankfulness & Thanksgiving:
Gratitude is everywhere this time of year. I hope you all get to step back and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family!
And here’s a thought: Remember the old “Be Kind, Rewind” Blockbuster signs? Maybe we need a 2025 version: “Be Kind, Reconnect.” Let’s look up, put down our tech for a moment, and thank each other—face-to-face. You might be surprised by the connections you’ll make.
Wishing everyone a joyful, gratitude-filled holiday season!
– Peter Craney, NTD/FA
Chief Organizer – Cypress Chess, LLC
“Chess Builds Strong Minds!”