American Go E-Journal » Go News

Playing go with Cuban players is part of a trip to Havana, Cuba being planned for February 15-21, 2013. “The highlight will be 2.5 days of go with Cuban players at the Academia Cubana de Go,” says Bob Gilman, who’s organizing the trip in association with the Academia Cubana de Go and Philip Peters of Antilles Resources and which will take place as a ‘people-to-people’ trip under a license issued by the US Department of the Treasury. The itinerary also includes three days of excursions involving substantial contact with the Cuban people, which may include a tour of Old Havana, the city’s colonial core, to see how its architecture is being restored and preserved, and to meet the people involved, and a visit to Ernest Hemingway’s home just outside Havana. While all trip participants are expected to participate in the itinerary, there will also be free time in the evenings in which to enjoy Havana or play informal games with Cuban players. Email goincuba@gmail.com for more information. There is also a trip blog  which will provide information and field comments as travel plans develop.

In the new Appendix VII of his “Speculations” article in the Bob High e-Library, longtime go writer Peter Shotwell takes a closer look at financier Mark Spitznagel’s recent guest Forbes column “The Grand Shi Strategy of Ron Paul” (Ron Paul Using Go Strategy to Advance Agenda at GOP Convention? 8/26 EJ).  Spitznagel likened the political strategies of losing presidential candidate Ron Paul to the weiqi strategy of shi, the building of initial influence for future profits instead of going for immediate gain. “The quintessential metaphor for shi is water,” wrote Spitznagel, “flowing ever downward in the most naturally powerful and effective way, ultimately overcoming everything in its path. Paradoxically, it is one of the softest and yet strongest forces in nature.” The fascinating workings, aims and political uses of this strategy throughout Asian history are quite extensive and complex, and Shotwell’s 8-page article fills in the gaps for those who are interested.
– photo courtesy How-To Geek

Newly-elected members Steve Burrall, Edward Zhang, Bob Barber, and Gurujeet Khalsa were welcomed aboard at the September 9th meeting of the American Go Association’s Board of Directors via conference call. The board thanked outgoing members Chuck Robbins, Lisa Scott, Jie Li, and Andy Okun, and appointed Daniel Smith as Chairperson and Chuck Robbins as Secretary (a position appointed by the board).

The board discussed President Andy Okun’s report including the promising early organization of the 2016 World Mind Sports Games in Brazil, the Congress liaison/coordinator role, the proposed 2014 Congress in Vancouver and the related issue of travel by non-citizen U.S. residents to Canada and the appointment of Lisa Scott to the position of volunteer coordinator. The treasurer’s first quarter report was presented, covering closure of accounts from previous congresses and new financial oversight measures the AGA will assume in future Congresses.

Addressing some items brought up at the recent Go Congress, the board had a preliminary discussion about developing a policy regarding game records and their broadcasting, which will take account of intellectual property rules affecting collections of game records, instructed Okun to look into what’s necessary to fix the AGA Go Database (which has been disabled because of security concerns), and formed a committee to propose an email privacy policy regarding access to AGA member email addresses. The board discussed options for funding international travel for strong players, but did not arrive at a conclusion.

Finally, the board began reviewing progress on the goals it set for the AGA last year, which were: rank certification; development of the AGA professional system; improving the AGA member experience in an assortment of ways; fundraising and sponsorship; using new methods to market go and increase membership.  Due to the length of the meeting, that discussion will be continued at the next board meeting, but it was clear that instituting a rank certification system will be a high priority in the coming year.
– reported by Daniel Smith