Life In 19x19

I live in a very small rural town (less than 2000 people). I have been considering putting an ad in the local paper about Go and my interest in starting a small club.

I thought I would ask first if anyone had any suggestions about the best way to start a go club. Maybe someone has learned some good lessons they can pass on?

I've specifically been struggling with the wording of the article.

Thoughts and Suggestions?

I would recommend just finding a venue (like a book store/coffee shop), inviting anyone you know might be interested, then put up a flier on the venue window/tackboard if they let you. Posting it a week in advance might help "Learn how to play the ancient board game of go, Tuesdays at 6 starting 2/22!". All I can think of, though.

Easy to pick up > complex/complicated game - something you can pick up in 5 minutes is a real selling point.

Socially interactive value is important - Can (and, IMO should!) play at local pub/bar/venue of common public meetingness, so arranging a club there is good if you can. Most places are happy because it will increase their business too.

Also, check out:

http://www.britgo.org/about.html
http://www.britgo.org/intro/intro1.html
http://britgo.org/ (page intro)

make sure you recruit young people.
they are easier to recruit and will bring more friends later.

how about Pyrimid?
you will have to pay $20 lifetime membership.
and you can get them back if you bring 2 new members.($10 each)
rest of money will go to the club.
dont take me too seriously..it is just a thought

usgo.org also has some decent posters you can print out on 8.5"x11" to put up. I've found them to be a good quick visual.

The coffeshop/bookstore type plan has worked for me. Might be tough in a town that small if you can't get to word out to a broader area, but just make sure someone is there at "club time" on a consistent basis and if there are interested people in town, they'll find you. Also see if local papers run free event listings. I've gotten a little mileage out of that as well.

Bruce "Recruiting Office" Young

I don't know how it works whereever you life, but in Germany/North-Rhine-Westphalia the Go Federation sponsors all new clubs and school clubs with boards, stones and bowls (sometimes clocks as well). Perhaps your local Go Federation also has something like that?

See http://senseis.xmp.net/?path=Club&page=SettingUpAGoClub

try the local chess club if there is one and offer them an introduction to go.

Oh man, that's an even smaller town than the one I was living in for a couple years after learning about Go (it was population ~4500, I think).

You're definitely stronger than I was then, which will be both good and bad I think....

All the people I tried to recruit were scared away, because they could never beat me, so I suggest trying to get several people at a time, so they can play each other. If you're their only opponent, you might end up scaring them away. :/ But if they can play with others, they would hopefully motivate them more.

You might also have some luck with just a general board games club, and then push your Go-agenda after you've caught some interest.