Looking Back at 2023 & Entering 2024

2023 was an exciting year!

I participated in Mr. G's Simultaneous Chess Exhibition in Santa Clara, CA, in January. Playing against Lauren Goodkind (Class A USCF player, Chess Author, Chess Coach, Tournament Director, and Chess Streamer) and seeing her brilliantly move from game to game, was such a treat. If you're a local and you or your child(ren) are interested in simuls, this is a fun event.
https://www.chessbylauren.com/​

Then, I played in my first live USCF OTB (over-the-board live games) tournament in February. It was a great experience, so I played in a few more and even won money in two tournaments (which I didn't expect). I learned something new about chess etiquette, USCF rules, and the fantastic chess community in each tournament!
​https://bayareachess.com/

By March, I was delighted to discover that chess.com (affiliate link) had a new program to help grow chess clubs worldwide through a partnership with Meetup.com. They accepted my application, and I hosted Lathrop Chess Group's first chess meetup on April 15th. 
https://www.meetup.com/pro/chesscom/ 

There were a few hiccups along the way when I fell ill and suffered from long Covid, in addition to recovering from a minor car accident. It was disappointing that I couldn't commit to a schedule. Thankfully, I'm doing much better, so I can focus on inviting new members to grow the club.

I'm so grateful to all who supported the growth of Lathrop Chess Group, and I aim to facilitate more growth this year!