The aim of the CCLA is to foster correspondence chess throughout Australia. To achieve this it needs an efficient organising body. This body is Council. Council consists of twenty or so members of the CCLA and includes all those who have a specific job to do.
All at the present time are voluntary workers.
The arrangements may be described from the point of view of a new member. His/her application form goes to the Treasurer, who passes on the request for games to the Games Starter, who issues the scoresheets to the various competitors. The new member will also receive a rule book. From then on the games are under the control of the DOP (Director of Play).
The CCLA has several Directors of Play, the name of the appropriate one is shown on the scoresheet. The scoresheet may go from the player to the opponent and back again without a hitch until the game finishes, when it goes to the DOP, who records the result and sends it to the Ratings Registrar. At the conclusion of a tournament, the DOP informs the Treasurer, who issues prizes.
If there is some hitch in the game, the DOP is needed; the rule book sets out the circumstances in which the player should communicate with the DOP and the action which the DOP should take. Most incidents of this kind are minor, such as a scoresheet being lost, but occasionally a matter arises upon which the DOP is called on to give a ruling according to the rules.
Every quarter, each member receives a copy of the Australian Correspondence Chess Quarterly, prepared by the Editor(s). In it are tournament results made up to the end of the previous quarter by the DOPs, and a rating list compiled by the Ratings Registrar.
After some local experience, the member may wish to play against overseas opponents, in which case the member will write to the International Secretary.
If there is some general query, this will be directed to the Secretary.
Finally, there is a Appeals Committee, to which any member may appeal if dissatisfied with any action by any official of the CCLA.
A member may request more games at any time. New tournaments begin every month, entries permitting. The member need only write to the Games Starter, stating his/her requirements and enclosing the entry fee.
Nobody should be prevented from playing correspondence chess because of inability to meet financial commitments. Pensioners and students have a reduced membership rate and may apply for reduced fees for Major Tournaments. There is also a small proportion of persons who wish to play but have no financial resources whatsoever; membership and tournament fees may be paid from a special “Needy Players” fund kept by the CCLA.