Dear Fellow-Members of the Chess Literature & History Society

Manfred Mittelbach and Michael Negele at Chapman's Peak, Cape of Good Hope, 2018
Manfred Mittelbach and Michael Negele at Chapman's Peak, Cape of Good Hope, 2018

We have all been eagerly awaiting the launch of our new website for a long time. There were various reasons for the delays, however be assured that our two webmasters, Wilfried and Frank have done their very best to develop this new website with modern functionality and design as quickly as possible. Both friends were not members of the Ken Whyld Association when they committed themselves to these responsibilities in autumn 2016.

Ralf Binnewirtz, Wijk aan Zee 2015
Ralf Binnewirtz, Wijk aan Zee 2015

When our friend Ralf Jürgen Binnewirtz decided to ask for retirement after nearly 14 (!) years of services for the KWA, it was certainly obvious to all board members, what a big gap Ralf´s departure would create. Ralf fulfilled not only all duties as our webmaster since summer 2003, but he was also the editor responsible for all website content. In the beginning the content was even maintained in three languages (English, German, Dutch), and until 2012 the website was still bilingual. Furthermore, Ralf, was more or less the "voice" of the Ken Whyld Association in any kind of member communication after the cancellation of our frequently distributed member information via email. Today we all should also say "Thank you, dear Ralf!

Claes Løfgren, 2017
Claes Løfgren, 2017

It is a wonderful achievement of our two most skilful friends from Berlin and Bedburg-Hau, that most of the former content will be still available. Also, I like to thank Claes Løfgren, who is now acting as the Association´s Secretary. His initiative will certainly renew the communication to our members. Please feel free to contact Claes or to use the new contact form - it will work.

Also, I would like to highlight our progress with the Tobiblion database, based on the diligent and so sustainable work of our friend Per Skjoldager - for further information please read his new introduction to our "Bibliography of Chess Project". All of our Society’s activities started in November 2002 with the ambition of creating a complete chess literature database.

Per Skjoldager, 2017
Per Skjoldager, 2017

Unfortunately, all efforts in 2016 and 2017 to find a new web-editor were finally without success. So your humble one tried to help. One result was the new logo of the Chess History & Literature Society, and to be honest, I am proud with the design. Anyhow, due to my personal stays overseas I could not support the webmaster in a way I hoped to do. Sorry, dear friends, if you missed some activity in the recent past.

So I can only thank you all for your patience and the continuous support of the Chess History & Literature Society, founded as Ken Whyld Association. 2018 is the official Emanuel Lasker Year of the FIDE, and there are many activities planned by the Emanuel Lasker Society and the German Chess Federation. Members of the CH&LS are happily invited to join these events, please find all information using the links to the websites. And, last, but certainly not least, the Board of the CH&LS has already agreed to provide a specific Lasker gift to each of our members in 2018.

So it is just "Common Sense" to renew your membership in 2018!

Michael Negele

Nota Bene:
During the next days you will receive a message from our webmaster, Wilfried Krebbers, with the instruction to install your personal access to the member section of our new website.

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