Hello, my name is Chris Robinson, and I love board games.

But I do not just love playing board games, I love what they do.

About a year ago I began a Facebook group designed to connect gamers from our area here in Northwest Ohio, Tabletop419. We are now over 500 members with monthly organized events, many new friends made, it's been a great success by all accounts. 

But in making this group, I became more aware of the wider impact of gaming. Our events have people from the political left sitting across from people on the right. 70 year old women with 15 year old girls. Atheists with pastors. We sit with members of the LBGTQ+ community, politicians, businessmen, factory workers, doctors, veterinarians, veterans, every ethnicity, every religion, every background. Everyone is welcome, and as far as I've experienced, everyone is welcoming.

Tabletop gaming, from board games to card games to roleplaying games and more all have one thing in common...

Community. 

Gaming creates moments. We all have memories of playing Monopoly with the family, or Uno on camping trips, chess with a grandfather, Dungeons and Dragons with schoolmates. Those moments build bonds. And that type of bond is the glue that holds a community together.

I want to build communities that are welcoming and inclusive. I want to pull together people with common interests who want to spread their love of gaming, not only to others who love gaming as well, but to children through tabletop gaming clubs in schools. Community outreach events. Charitable events such as Extra Life to help those in need. By providing games for disadvantaged children. Outreach programs with children's hospitals. Events at senior centers, as studies have shown the mental activities that gaming and social interaction help slow cognitive decline.

The moment that really lead me down this path happened at one of our recent events. A woman, a pastor, and her 12 year old child who is on the autism spectrum came to one of our game days at a local game shop. We sat down together and played several of the games they had brought that she knew he would be happy to play.  We then introduced him to a game that was new to him, and he took to it immediately. When they left she thanked me. She looked so happy that not only were they included, but that we welcomed them and invited them back.

I want more people to have those positive moments, and sitting at a table together, sharing an experience, learning together, laughing together, is one of the best ways I know to facilitate that.

So, I am reaching out to ask for help, so that I may help others.

A bit about me, I'll be turning 49 this year. I've worked in the same small factory in small town Ohio for over 24 years, climbing the ranks to the position of shift supervisor. I am married to my amazing wife Lynn who has worked by my side in the very same factory for 23 years now. We have no children, but two dogs, a cat, a pair of parakeets, a bearded dragon and two snakes. And we love games.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Christopher Robinson
142 Erie St.
Oak Harbor, OH 43449
419-559-7150