annual report cover 2016.qxp_Layout 1 31/07/2016 19:18 Page 1 2016 PRESIDENT’S REPORT REPORT ANNUAL ANNUAL AR_2016_MISSION_VISION_boardnames.qxp_AR_2016_page01-08_FB_r1.qxp 31/07/2016 12:01 Page 2 The US Chess Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people through chess, one move at a time. MISSION US CHESS AR_2016-table-of-contents_FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 29/07/2016 12:02 Page 2 CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S REPORT 04 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 08 STRATEGIC PLANNING ACTIVITIES 12 VP OF FINANCE’S REPORT 14 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 18 AWARD RECIPIENTS 24 US CHESS DONORS 28 AR_2016_MISSION_VISION_boardnames.qxp_AR_2016_page01-08_FB_r1.qxp 31/07/2016 12:01 Page 4 Our vision is to enrich the lives of all persons and communities through increasing the play, study, and appreciation of the game of chess. VISION US CHESSUS AR_2016_MISSION_VISION_boardnames.qxp_AR_2016_page01-08_FB_r1.qxp 31/07/2016 14:42 Page 3 the US Chess Federation (US Chess) is the official governing body and not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization for chess players and chess supporters in the United States. our mission is empowering people through chess one move at a time. our vision is to enrich the lives of all persons and communities through increasing the play, study, and appreciation of the game of chess. Founded in 1939 with the merger of the american Chess Federation and the National Chess Federation, US Chess has grown to serve over 85,000 members. Every year, US Chess sanctions and rates over 10,000 tournaments and over 700,000 games. We host over 25 national championships and award titles to both amateurs and professionals, ranging from elementary school students to senior citizens. 2015-2016 US CHESS ExECUtivE board PRESIDENT VP FINANCE MEMBERS AT LARGE Gary Walters Allen Priest Michael Atkins [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Walters & Wasylyna LLC, 220 West Main Street, P.O. Box 4894, Shaker Finance, P.O. Suite 2200 Baltimore, MD 21211 Box 20554, Louisville, Cleveland, KY 40202 Angelina Belakovskaia OH 44120 [email protected] 6890 E. Sunrise Dr., SECRETARY Suite 120-118, VICE PRESIDENT Mike Nietman Tucson, AZ 85750 Randy Bauer [email protected] [email protected] 2 Boca Grande Way, Ruth Haring 10990 NW 115th Avenue, Madison, [email protected] Granger, WI 53719 P.O. Box 3967, IA 50109 Crossville, TN 38557 03 AR_2016_REPORTS_DL_callouts_FINAL_02.qxp_AR_2016_page01-08_FB_r1.qxp 31/07/2016 17:17 Page 4 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Gary Walters US Chess President member aside wherever you US CHESS & VOLUNTEERISM may find us around the country or electronically. I have said it many times in the past, and I’ll Dear US Chess Members, say it here in this Report: Our volunteers are essential to the Our Federation is fortunate to have so many do so much so organization. The current good thanklessly. So, to begin—to all our volunteers—thank you. health of our organization bodes well for our future. I had a number of false starts as I prepared this year’s President’s Report. When I first began, I thought that I would delve into the To begin, our Federation is stable details of the US Chess Case for Support. That Case for Support overall and we have made is what we take out to all of you, and to the non-chess playing enormous progress on the finan- world, as we tout our great game and compete for an ever- cial front. I want to thank Allen shrinking pool of philanthropic dollars. I hope that it is readily Priest and Randy Bauer—present evident that switching from a 501(c)(4) to a (c)(3) is a tremen- and past VPs for Finance—for dous amount of work. It is an important transition on which we their Herculean efforts in this are spending an increasing amount of time. As an organization, area, along with one of our best as an endeavor, US Chess and our great game are worthy of and most active committees— support. For the moment, I’m happy to report, “we’ve got this ... the Finance Committee. The with your help.” And, of course, we’ll be asking for more help as difference in the financial health we go forward. of the Federation between now and six years ago is palpable. So, in preparing this Report, I paused to look both backward Please do not miss, for example, and forward. Allen’s comment in his own report about our not borrowing I arrived on the US Chess scene in 1970 and began participating to get through the summer of in our governance in 2010. I am humbled when I think about how 2015. It wasn’t that long ago that much longer some of you have been here both as players and as the summer “slowdown” domi- volunteers. You have seen many things during that time. Pause nated the Federation’s economic for just a moment to remember the best and strangest of those consciousness for much of the “things.” But don’t dwell! year. The question a few years ago was not would we have to As I now have one year remaining, I would like to briefly reflect borrow, but would we have with you on the past half-dozen years. To the extent that you have enough credit line to borrow all something to add to this, or if you would like to share a different we needed. Times have changed perspective, do not hesitate to pull me or any other Board or staff and are changing. 04 AR_2016_REPORTS_DL_callouts_FINAL_02.qxp_AR_2016_page01-08_FB_r1.qxp 31/07/2016 08:37 Page 5 Two dedicated members of the US Chess Women’s Committee, which is this year’s Committee of the Year. “Our volunteers are essential to the organization.” Our office and staff have undergone their own changes, but they giality and stability are watch- actually now do more with less. That has never been one of my words not to be ignored. Indeed, favorite expressions, but I don’t know how else to put it. There’s over the past six years, this a responsiveness permeating the Federation that has not always Board has been the model of been present. Our staff members form a cohesive and high- stability. Four of us have been performing group of which we should all be proud. As we go together every day of my six forward, we will continue to have a presence in Crossville, years and another has been here Tennessee, as well as in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Board will five of the six years. And yet work with our states’ delegates to determine the best location another will bookend my service, for our future operations. As we promised a couple of years ago, being here when I arrived we’re not in a rush. In sum, office operations are better tuned and again when I leave. This today than they have been in decades. Thank you, to our Execu- longevity invites comments of tive Director, Jean Hoffman and all her staff. “time for some new blood” and I agree. This is obviously also the At the Board level, the organization has calmed and stabilized spirit of our present term limits. significantly in recent years. The days of acrimony are behind us, In that vein, we are about to say and the Board has more lately operated in a collegial manner in goodbye to Ruth Haring and order to bring the Federation back to level. This is paramount as Mike Atkins. I thank them both we step further and further into the charitable world where colle- deeply on behalf of myself and 05 AR_2016_REPORTS_DL_callouts_FINAL_02.qxp_AR_2016_page01-08_FB_r1.qxp 31/07/2016 17:18 Page 6 the Federation. I served as Ruth’s vice president every year of her In the words of Abraham Lincoln, presidency, and I can say most personally that US Chess owes her “He has a right to criticize, who a bottomless debt of gratitude, although she would deny it. A has a heart to help.” Continue to couple more of us or more will turn over next year. help US Chess build both its power as a membership organi- This all, however, brings us to the title of the Report—Volun- zation and as a national charity. teerism. US Chess thrives on the backs of its volunteers. As an While the membership and organization, it is rather astounding just how far this goes. We charitable components of US have folks who volunteer to set up chessboards at our events, Chess are separate in some who direct nearly countless numbers of chess tournaments in respects, ultimately, in my view, every state every week, who serve as club officers, who donate they are properly and completely space for our game, who tirelessly and for decades travel from intertwined. Please never forget coast to coast to serve as a delegate, and those who even volun- the power of the game of chess. teer to run for the US Chess Executive Board. I doubt that we At its lowest, it is a hanging piece could open our doors tomorrow without our volunteers. We or a knight fork, which have certainly wouldn’t keep them open very long without them. their own little agonies and joys, but at the higher levels, I would ask you to think about what the game has meant to you and those you know. I will not attempt to give that voice because you “You know the benefits know the game’s good effects on your life far better than I could of our great game.