The State of the TRC

by Douglas Kaufman, TRC Chair

It's time again for the TRC Chairman to summarize where we've been this past year and look ahead to the future of the organization and the game. Surprisingly enough, this is actually a part of the TRC charter! So here goes.

This Past Year

Obviously this was a huge year for the TRC, containing possibly the biggest (and most unexpected) event we'll ever witness. Through dint of effort, constant nagging, or just plain elan, we somehow convinced WotC that it would be a good idea to publish new Netrunner cards! If you haven't already patted yourself on the back for this truly mind-boggling contribution, do so now. Every member of the TRC (and then some) deserves a huge round of applause. And, of course, our special thanks to Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, without whom it can truly be said that this would not have happened. Mazel tov, Jennifer!

But stunningly, that wasn't all we accomplished in 1999. The Revised Format committee also convened, saw, and conquered (depending on your perspective) and brought forth a small, concise, and useful list of bans and errata. I for one applaud their efforts. Small steps are always best, and they started with a minimalist approach that I think will still have a profound - and good - effect on the playing environment. Along with all this, as if it weren't enough, the TRC weathered personnel changes without self-destructing, and generally exhibited reasonably good taste on the listserv; in short, for a fan club, we've been astoundingly mature. Add it all together, and I must say that the TRC is the finest organization I've ever had the pleasure to work with.

The Next Year

We must also realize that there are some things we failed to accomplish, and look for ways to make them happen in 2000 - the last year of the second millenium. There's been a general lack of organization (and de facto I'm the one at fault) at the day-to-day level, which we hope to cure this coming year. Our website will get beautiful, be maintained, and contain useful and current information. Our rules guru will be appointed and will start to issue rulings on some of the burning questions from the list. Our rankings system will get standardized and the people who've been doing the work gratis and without any kudos will... well, at least they'll start getting kudos. And per the DCI's own request, the Format Committee will reconvene soon and begin Round II of possible changes to the tournament environment (don't panic, they won't go into effect for at least 2 months).

Along with generally getting things more organized and professional, we should look to what major goals we'd like to accomplish this year. I would like to see Project Dioscuri revitalized, and possibly published by WotC this year. In addition, I'd like to see at least one major Constructed event this year with a substantial prize of some kind. And surely, if it's at all possible, we'd all like to see another set of Classic be released.

I would everyone who reads this to take a few minutes to think of some major goal for the TRC. Please feel free to send me email about your idea, and about any other complaints or kudos you may have about the organization. We're waiting to hear from you! And once again, congratulations to one and all for a very, very, very successful 1999.

Shalom,
Doug Kaufman "Rabbi Small",
TRC Chairman