January 31, 2008

Dear Parent or Guardian,

We are creating our teams for the U.S. Amateur Team Championships in Parsippany, NJ. This team event is the largest of its kind held in the United States. Four player teams compete against each other in a three-day tournament held February 16-18. The 18^th, a Monday, is a national holiday. Players can be of any age, although special plaques are awarded for the top scholastic teams at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels. Plaques are also awarded for the top mixed doubles (two men and two women), top senior team, top military team, top family team, top team from each surrounding state, and the top team in each rating category. Prizes in the form of free dinners are given to the teams with the most creative chess costume or gimmick. Entry fees are returned to the team with the best chess related name. This year’s theme is the fifties. Our players consider this one of their favorite tournaments of the year. We have six rooms reserved at the Parsippany Hilton (973-267-7373), which is on Route 10 off of I-287. It is about a two hour drive from Philadelphia. Five parents and I have volunteered to drive and chaperone three or four players. The parents will drive up Saturday morning, while I will go Friday after school. We will all return after the last round Monday evening. The entry fee is $35.00 a person ($140 per team) if mailed by 2/5/08 and $42.50 a person ($170 per team if mailed afterwards or paid at the door). As with all of our tournaments, hotel costs are divided among the players. Chaperones do not pay room costs. The hotel cost before taxes will be $25 per player per night with four in a room and $33 per night with three in a room. Players should arrange to pay their chaperone directly for lodging costs. This year players will be creating their own teams. They should select a team captain who will be responsible for collecting money and mailing in the entry. The entry should include team name, captain, players full names, USCF Expiration, ID numbers and ratings in board order.

Please sign the bottom of this letter to give permission for your son or daughter to participate in this event.

Thank you,

Stephen Shutt 215-299-3474 School 215-978-6867 home

Permission Slip please sign and return

_______________________________________ has my permission to attend the US Amateur Team Championship in Parsippany, NJ and be chaperoned by another parent. The dates of the event are February 16 – 18

______________________________________________________

(Parent’s signature)