MADISON – At its annual meeting on Jan. 16, Madison City Chess League or MCCL named officers for its 2021 Board of Directors.

League members elected the new board while conducting the meeting with Zoom. “This meeting and election usually occur during the Winter Knights Tournament. We went online for the first time in January. Congratulations to our newly elected board, and thank you for your willingness to serve,” MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said.

The league’s nominating committee proposed a slate of officers. MCCL 2021 officers are President Rosi Rajbhandari, Vice President Balaji Purushothaman, Secretary Ashley Lang and Treasurer Erin Howell.

Rajbhandari works as a software and systems engineer. “Rosi is the mother of two passionate chess girls. She believes in the benefits of kids learning chess to help them focus, think ahead, make logical decisions and build confidence,” Bartlett said.

For the past two years, Rajbhandari has served as MCCL Treasurer. She also worked as MCCL Girls Chess Coordinator.

Purushothaman and his wife Suba work as engineers at Adtran. “They are parents of two kids (devoted) to chess – Madhu, who attends James Clemens High School, and Shravan, who attends Mill Creek Elementary School,” Bartlett said.

“Balaji is technology savvy and loves to learn about modern technologies and think about how to apply it in our daily life,” Bartlett said. “Balaji believes chess helps young people learn to concentrate, think logically, overcome obstacles, spot patterns and categorize information.”

Lang is a veterinarian, PTA board member and mother of three – Rory and Owen, who attend Discovery Middle School, and Holland, a student at Rainbow Elementary School. Ashley and husband Timothy enjoy supporting their children in all their activities and have seen the benefits of chess through the years.

She served as MCCL Secretary in 2020, also. Ashley enjoys reading, cooking and traveling.

Howell, a CPA, specializes in not-for-profit audits. She serves on Rainbow’s PTA Board. Erin and husband Aaron are parents of eight-year-old Emory, five-year-old Oliver and Elliott, 2.

Even before kindergarten, Emory was playing chess and still plays at Rainbow. Erin appreciates the discipline and logical thinking that chess fosters in young children, along with chess’ community of friends.

For more information, visit madisonchess.com.