by Jeff Roland

The Idaho Closed State Chess Championship was held in Boise, Idaho, February 18-20, 2012 at the AmeriTel Inn (Boise Towne Square). Larry R. Parsons, Boise and Blake Furlow, Boise, are Co-Champions, each scoring 5-1. Larry Parsons has now been Champion or Co-Champion seventeen (17) times since 1977, and that is the all-time record in Idaho. This is Blake Furlow's first time as Idaho State Chess Champion. Third place was Timothy Stewart, Meridian.

Other prize winners were Brett B. Hamilton, Meridian (1st Class A); Jim Stark, Boise (1st Class B); Caleb Paul Kircher, Nampa (2nd Class B); Paul Edvalson, Eagle (1st Class C); George Lundy III, Boise (2nd Class C); Peter John Olsoy, Boise (1st Class D); Nick Jon Bruck, Boise (2nd Class D); Kory Puderbaugh, Eagle (1st Class E); Nathan Jiang, Eagle (2nd Class E); Cody Austin Gorman, Meridian (1st Unrated); Daniel S. Looney, Meridian (1st Senior); Caleb P. Abernathy, Meridian (1st Junior); Carmen Pemsler, Eagle (1st Woman).

Also, Jeff Roland, Boise (1st Buckendorf Award); Kurt Douglas, Boise (2nd Buckendorf Award); Tom Booth, Caldwell (3rd Buckendorf Award); Shane Taylor, Boise (4th Buckendorf Award); and Rickey D. Weathers, Boise (5th Buckendorf Award).

There were five (5) unrated players, which is a welcome sight, for we like to have new players add to the ranks of Idaho's elite chess players.

The 30-player turnout was somewhat less than expected, but that took nothing away from the quality or importance of the event. Jay Simonson was the Chief Tournament Director, and Jeff Roland was the Assistant Tournament Director. The event was covered on the ICA Website by uploading scanned wall charts, pairing/results charts promptly as soon as it was possible so that people everywhere could follow the progress of the historic event. Since I was a player as well as the ICA Webmaster, I spent the first few minutes of the next round on my own time to do that.

The 2012 Annual Business Meeting was held Sunday morning at the Idaho Closed State Championship tournament at 8:00 a.m. Since Adam Porth, Secretary/Treasurer, was not able to attend the meeting, it fell upon Jeff Roland to take Minutes to the meeting. Jeff Roland decided to record the entire meeting on DVD using his video camera to make it easier to get accurate minutes (and to avoid writer's cramp!). This is the first time Minutes were recorded in this manner, and it is likely to be repeated, as it is just so much easier than using paper and pen.

The ICA Constitution & Bylaws were amended to change the wording on Memberships to make it possible for the ICA to be part of Northwest Chess.

Elections were held and the four Trustee positions were to be chosen. Jeff Roland was reelected Trustee for Web Development and Maintenance. Craig Barrett (who was appointed by the Board to the position on October 22, 2011) was elected as Trustee for Scholastic Development. George Lundy III was elected as Trustee for Tournament Development. And Patrick Abernathy was elected to the other Trustee for Tournament Development position. Positions in the ICA are for 2 year terms.

The three officers, Jay Simonson, President; Kevin Patterson, Vice President; and Adam Porth, Secretary/Treasurer were not up for reelection as those terms expire in 2013.