Rex Sinquefield and Jennifer Shahade talk chess, U.S. Women’s Championship on Charlie Brennan Show

Ten of the best women chess players in the country are in St. Louis this week to participate in the 2009 U.S. Women’s Chess Championship, held here for the first time in history thanks to the opening of the tournament-ready Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Pelopidas was one of the proud sponsors of this fantastic event.

This weekend’s opening events included a “Queens of Jazz” concert at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis with Grammy nominee Ann Hampton Callaway and St. Louis’ own jazz queen, Denise Thimes, and the Opening Ceremony on Saturday. The Opening events had players draw colored scarves to determine their pieces for the opening round. They also hula hooped while playing chess, made moves with life-sized chess pieces, and participated in ‘bounty blitz’ matches! Two-time U.S. Women’s Champion Anna Zatonskih impressed crowds by defeating 5 challengers simultaneously – while blindfolded.

Rounds began Sunday, and continue through October 13th. Rounds begin daily at 2 p.m. at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, 4657 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.

This morning, the club’s founder and chess advocate Rex Sinquefield joined his coach, Woman Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade on the Charlie Brennan show on KMOX. Listen to hear the interview on the Women’s Championship, Chess events around the city and the benefits of playing chess:

Why Every Network Must Be Major League in the Future:

By Rachel Keller Brown and Travis H. Brown

Recent dealings with sports celebrities and major league greats like Cardinals legend Bob Gibson can remind us the important role that we all can play in our own social networks.  Long after his 1981 Hall of Fame induction, a St. Louis Cardinal like Bob Gibson can remain an important civic figure off the field: as a coach, mentor, role model, and inspiration. 

In the context of baseball, these titans of roundball help us place value on the sport’s accomplishment, talent, and tenacity.  Off the mound, the role of celebrity can be leveraged in many ways:  raising money for charity, giving voice to important causes, volunteering your time for awareness, and building unique relationships across many walks of life.

Rachel Keller Brown, Pelopidas, with Bob Gibson (July 2009 All Star Weekend)

Celebrity brands offer punch and potency inside a sea of public noise and media clutter.  So, as consumers take control of their own media channels one iphone or blackberry at a time, it’s not a surprise that those that lobby from a known industry reputation will fare much better than those who remain in cyber-silence.

This week’s Wall Street Journal story shows us more about how consumer movements may occur.  Major League Baseball is bringing live baseball as an iphone application.  First, you merge the influence and flexibility of the mobile device platform that has great picture and video capability.  Second, you target a demographic market and loyal fan audience that buys direct from their ultimate network:  their entire league (already at 400,000 subscribers at MLB.TV).  Third, once you prove that live streaming is more valuable than local television broadcast, it’s game time for all venues, not just out-of-market events. 

One can only imagine how exciting it may be in the future when individual URLs load up a creative celebrity encounter, clock their own radar during the next fast-pitch, or videocast to their grandmother the latest score.  New technologies like these don’t have to be feared by personalities of interest.  We believe that, with integrated marketing and media strategies, access to these tools may make your star power even more entertaining. 

Imagine the potential value of real-time brand metrics via mobile devices when President Obama unveiled his White Sox uniform before the Cardinals All-Star crowd.  In the not-so-distant future, the President may want to text you back a personal message in the grand stands, like, “It could be worse.  It could have been a Chicago Cubs jersey.”  Real-time responses related to your market reactions might be used to fellow Cubs fans to find others in the stadium, and for local vendors to peddle Chicago-styled merchandise.

If you question the value of your network’s ability to respond, engage, & expand under these new consumer rules, maybe it’s time to upgrade your tools to become Major League.

Prince Fielder Crowned King of 2009 Home Run Derby in Saint Louis

By Larry Stendebach

Busch Stadium was packed last night for the Major League Baseball 2009 Home Run Derby, and the players put on a show worthy of the crowd. The lineup for the derby included: Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay), Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins), Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers), Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers), Ryan Howard (Philadelphia), Prince Fielder (Milwaukee), Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego), and local favorite (and soon to be National League MVP) Albert Pujols.

But the derby began with a few treats for the Saint Louis crowd. From 4PM until 7PM stadium goers could watch all of the 2009 MLB All-Stars (not just the aforementioned players participating in the Home Run Derby) warm up at Busch Stadium during batting practice. These players included current greats like Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle) and Derek Jeter (New York Yankees) just to name a few.

While batting practice drew baseball fans to the stadium early, it may have been the grooming and presentation of Busch Stadium that stole the show. Stadium crews had meticulously put an image of the Saint Louis Capitol Building and Arch into the grass on the field! The field looked stunning and represented our baseball-loving town well.

As batting practice drew to a close, fans were given two more surprises. The first of which was a fly-over by two F-15 fighters in tight formation, followed by a two-song concert from American Idol Star David Cook.

Finally it was time for the derby to start. Cruz and Fielder set the bar early with 11 home runs in the first round and they would easily advance to round 2! Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols would also advance to the next round with 7 and 5 home runs respectively. Pujols almost didn’t make it; tying with Joe Mauer and Carlos Pena who had also both hit 5 home runs in the first round…it came down to a 5-out slugfest between these players, in which Pujols ended as the victor.

Unfortunately for the Saint Louis crowd, Pujols home run streak ran dry and he was eliminated by the end of the second round. Fielder and Cruz advanced to the last and final round, but not before Fielder hit a 503ft home run! Even though Saint Louis fans were saddened by Pujols performance, they could not help but applaud Fielder for the 500+ ft homer. The entire stadium rose and gave Fielder a standing ovation!

Fielder would go on to win the derby with a total of 23 home runs, and seemed as though he could have hit many more, given the chance.

All and all, it was a perfect 83 degree July day in Saint Louis, Missouri. A perfect day for fans, young and old to gather and watch the best long-ball hitters in the Leauge do what they do best. A perfect day to crown Prince, king of the home run derby.

MAB Lines Up Baseball Stars for Lined Up Fans

By Rachel Keller Brown

Next weekend, St. Louis, MO hosts the 2009 Major League Baseball All Star Game. The 80th mid-season exhibition will be the first MLB all star game held in Saint Louis since 1966.  The outcome will decide the home field advantage in the 2009 World Series.

Tuesday’s game will bring a sold out crowd to Busch Stadium, along with a weeks worth of events for baseball fans young and old including: All-Star Charity Concert (July 11), the All-Star Charity 5K and First Run (July 12), All-Star Sunday (July 12), the State Farm Home Run Derby (July 13th), and the Meet me in Saint Louis: An All-Star Celebration (July 11-13th).

You don’t even have to attend the game to join the fun with celebrity athletes.  MAB Celebrity Services, based in New Jersey, has come through big for Saint Louis by bringing some of the biggest hall of fame baseball players to Saint Louis.  This will give fans a unique opportunity to get autographs from the all time greats. Among those available will be: Steve Carlton, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst, Lou Brock, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson, Ozzie Smith, Darryl Strawberry, and Cardinals legend Stan “The Man” Musial.

The MLB All Star game is not just a sports extravaganza, it also brings an economic boost our Gateway City.  In 2005 and 2006 the All-Star game brought in more than $52 million in economic stimulus to Pittsburgh and Detroit, respectively, and even more to Houston in 2004 ($65 million)!

Stay tuned for more event planning details over the next week.  Great baseball for a great baseball town. 

All rights reserved for the All-Star Game & Logo above are property of Major League Baseball. 2009

House Budget Chairman, Allen Icet, Announces Bid For Missouri State Auditor

(St. Louis, MO) State Representative Allen Icet (R-Wildwood), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, announced today his intention to run for Missouri State Auditor.

“After serious consideration with my family and trusted friends, it is my intention to seek the office of State Auditor in 2010,” Icet announced. “The Auditor is the top taxpayer advocate and watchdog in the state, responsible for rooting out waste, fraud and abuse of our tax dollars.”

Icet has served on the powerful House Budget Committee since he was first elected to the state legislature in 2002. In 2005, Icet became Chairman of the House Budget Committee after serving one year as Vice-Chair. Icet has become well-known for his staunch defense of taxpayer dollars.

“Over the past four years as House Budget Chair I’ve worked to bring prudent fiscal management to the state’s budget,” explained Icet. “As Missouri’s next state Auditor, I will use that experience to continue protecting taxpayers by fighting for accountability and transparency in state spending.”

Under Icet’s leadership Missouri enjoyed unprecedented budget surpluses by focusing on fiscal restraint and accountability while continuing to meet critical healthcare needs, improve transportation and increasing education funding without a single tax increase.  Representative Icet said, “We forced state government to live within its means just as every Missouri family must do.  That effort put Missouri in better fiscal shape than almost any other state in the nation.”

Icet believes his campaign will be an effort behind which all Missouri Republicans can unite.

“There has been much discussion within our party about the need to stand united for the 2010 election. In accepting the Spirit of Enterprise Award last Thursday night, former U.S. Senator and U.N. Ambassador John Danforth called on Missouri Republicans to stand together. I hope my candidacy will provide the entire Missouri GOP a campaign that we can all get excited about,” concluded Icet.

Icet received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Texas A&M University in Civil Engineering and obtained a Master’s in Business Administration from Washington University (St. Louis). Allen Icet and his wife, Carol, reside in Wildwood, MO. They have four children.

June 15, 2009                                                                      For more information contact
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Keith Kirk (573)576-8182

Photos from the first 2 days of the 2009 US Chess Championship!

The 2009 US Chess Championship is well under way at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis. Yesterday, May 9th, 2009, concluded two exciting days of fantastic chess, and with the Fischer Memorial Prize still on the table for three players (Brooklyn’s Gata Kamsky – 2798, Illinois’s Yury Shulman – 2697, and New York’s Robert Hess – 2545) this competition is bound to get more exciting up until its conclusion on May 18th, 2009.

Photos from the first two rounds of play are available below:

Round 1 Photos

Round 2 Photos

Pelopidas Teams Join Chess Club to Paint Metro Bus for Arts in Transit

By Travis H. Brown, MBA

The challenge was as bold as taking on a chess grand master inside the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of St. Louis.  In less than three hours, can community leaders and volunteers paint an entire St. Louis Metro bus with the look, feel, and brand of the Chess Club’s fine work?

First, we have to give credit where credit is due.  Laying out a clear design for an entire bus wall isn’t a slam dunk.  That’s why we depended upon Susan Barrett and her leadership with Arts in Transit to provide a great design layout.  With the design in hand (picture of challenge), now comes the painting.

Maybe it was the flurry of young chess players that came to the Club parking lot to support their club.  Maybe it was the parents joining in with their paint brushes.  Maybe it was some of our hard-working advocates at Pelopidas that displayed their hidden art talent.  (picture of Emily and Sean here, and Travis Glaspie pic)

All that I know is that, in less than two hours, St. Louis’ first Metro Arts in Transit (AIT) bus dedicated to chess outreach was moving close to completion.  We didn’t even have time to polish off the rice krispie treats (add joi and Karen pic) before the paint was drying, and chess games were resuming.

Checkmate on a great philanthropy.  Once the bus design is fine-tuned, this design will traverse our Greater St. Louis community for at least a year.   Since its inception in 1986, AIT has completed more than 150 public art projects, installations, and community enhancements.  Attached below are more photos of the bus sides as they developed.

In less than a year since its opening, what an impact the Chess Club & Scholastic Center of St. Louis is making.  This community charity reminds us that we don’t stop playing as we grow old.  We grow old when we stop playing.

Best of luck ahead with the 2009 US Championship!

Pelopidas BBQ: Official opening of 5297 Union!

Pelopidas celebrated the opening of the Washington/Union office on Friday. Friends and colleagues came together to celebrate and enjoy food prepared by the Kelly twins.

Here are some images from the event:

What’s Right with Wendy Kopp’s Belief in Individuals

FROM:http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/13817.html

By Travis H. Brown, MBA

This week, a number of Missouri advocates for improving our schools had an unique chance to meet Wendy Kopp, CEO and Founder of Teach for America. Wendy was kind enough to visit the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. Later, she spoke before a packed audience as part of a book series on “What Works in Urban Education” at the Kansas City public library.

Wendy’s reality that Teach for America programs bring to both Kansas City and St. Louis public schools help return us to the vision that our Missouri State Constitutional fathers have for us still today in Article IX, Section 1(a):

“A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people; the general assembly shall establish and maintain free public schools for the gratuitous instruction of all persons in this state within ages not in excess of twenty-one years as prescribed by law.”

Teach for America (TFA) now has active teacher programs serving public school children in Kansas City and St. Louis. I was pleased to learn from Scott Baier, TFA St. Louis, and Alicia Herald, TFA Kansas City, report that TFA teacher allotments are expanding next year into Missouri.

TFA was founded on the premise that every child can and will learn if given the right mix of hope, instruction, and patience. Today, in our urban cores, they are doing what others only talk about: recruiting America’s brightest young minds, to educate perhaps our neediest kids. What’s even more amazing is that they do all this on less resources, with less time, and with remarkably high retention rates given the nature of their ambitions.

Perhaps the key element of TFA’s belief lies in individual empowerment – both inside the teacher making a difference, as well as inside the mind of children often several grade levels behind. Wendy Kopp’s initial entrepreneurial spark to challenge institutional systems is now becoming America’s mainstream solution – one individual at a time.

And why not? Isn’t that the America that harbored all of our dreams? I for one refuse to think that my nine digit zip code and place of birth should dictate the quality of our public education. Every Missourian deserves access to a great education – by any means necessary – including, if available, from an unlikely volunteer leader eager to change the world, inside my school district.

Maybe that’s why Missouri school administrators are hiring all of the TFA teachers that they can find. For the sake of society, I hope that they find more.

Charlie Brennan & Rex Sinquefield chat chess on KMOX

Charlie Brennan and Rex Sinquefield discuss the game of chess, the creation of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and the U.S. Chess Championship that will be held there May 7-17, 2009.

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