2009 Delegates' Call Inside

TABLE OF CONTENTS USCF MISSION STATEMENT USCF Delegates and Alternates Inside Front Cover USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess in President’s Report 2 American society. USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake Executive Director’s Report 3 as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, VP of Finance Report 5 and fosters the development of players (professional Volunteer Expense Report 5 and amateur) and potential players. It encour- ages the development of a network of institutions Legal Expenditures 5 devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional associations, and U.S. Chess Trust Report 6 it promotes chess in American society. To these ends, USCF offers a monthly magazine, as well as Executive Board Motions 7 targeted publications to its members and others. It supervises the organization of the U.S. Chess Advance Agenda for the USCF Championship, an open tournament held every Board of Delegates Meeting 20 summer, and other national events. It offers a wide range of books and services to its members Bylaws of the United States of and others at prices consistent with the benefits America Chess Federation 40 of its members. USCF serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and as a par- Delegate Actions of Continuing Interest 48 ticipant in international chess organizations and projects. It is structured to ensure effective dem- Committee Chairpersons 54 ocratic procedures in accord with its bylaws and laws of the state of Illinois. Delegates at Large 54 Committee Reports 55 DELEGATES’MEETING Award Recipients 64 AUGUST 5-9, 2009 LOCATION: Robert’s Rules of Order 66 Indianapolis Marriott East 7202 East 21st St., Indianapolis, IN 46219 Future National Events 70 317-532-1231 U.S. Open Schedule Inside Back Cover Chart of U.S. Open Workshops Back Cover EXECUTIVE BOARD President Vice President VP Finance Secretary Members-at-Large Bill Goichberg Jim Berry Randy Bauer Randall Hough Susan Polgar [email protected] [email protected] randybauer2300@ randallhough@ [email protected] PO Box 249 PO Box 351 yahoo.com yahoo.com c/o Polgar Chess Center Salisbury Mills, NY Stillwater, OK 74076 3923 - 153rd Street 1826 Garvey Ave, #5 103-10 Queens Blvd, 1C 12577 Urbandale, IA 50323 Alhambra, CA 91803 Forest Hills, NY 11375 Paul Truong [email protected] c/o Texas Tech University, Box 45080 Lubbock, TX 79409-5080 Production: Daniel Lucas, Editor; Jen Pearson, Editorial Assistant; Alan Kantor, Copy Editor Cover Design: Frankie Butler DC_2009_pres report_DLF_r4:Layout 1 7/16/2009 10:10 AM Page 2 President’s Report by Bill Goichberg It was a year of “what might have been.” If Life is in danger of being shut down, no of- USCF membership numbers in misleading only USCF did not have extremely high ficial FIDE events have been held in the ways for political purposes. legal fees due to the improper behavior of U.S. for 10 years, USCF has not been cre- The current board member proclaims on two executive board (EB) members, we ating new events, and “It is our under- her blog, “The USCF membership was would have a nice surplus and would be standing that USCF membership is nearly 96,000 in 2003 and it is less than looking to the future with confidence. On declining rapidly, especially adult mem- 80,000 right now.” The former board mem- the other hand, were it not for the generos- bership.” I will address only the latter ber writes, “In 2003, the USCF had 95,000 ity of the late Phil LeCornu in leaving the claim here, though most delegates are members. Now, there are only 77,000 Federation a $350,000 bequest, we would probably aware that there is no basis for members.” Both go on to suggest that the have had great difficulty obtaining appro- the others as well. Federation is in terrible shape and that priate legal representation for the struggle USCF did lose members age 21 or over at current management is responsible for against the Federation’s foes. With neither an alarming rate for 11 consecutive fiscal this huge loss in members. unusual event, it probably would have years, 1995-2006, but the adult trend has been a losing year but not a disaster. While there actually was a loss of 17,581 stabilized in the past three years. members from the peak on 3/1/03 to the The new membership structure approved Following is our age 21 and over member- most recent number of 6/1/09, to suggest by the board of delegates last year is help- ship as of June 1, including only Adult and that memership has collapsed in recent ing financially and will be far more effective Senior members: years under leaders who took office during when in effect for a full year in fiscal 2010, 2005-2007 is quite a brash exercise in but scholastic and youth memberships 1993 35,012 spin, as these numbers illustrate: have turned down, as school chess pro- 1994 35,563 grams feel the effects of the economy. Our 1995 36,722 3/1/03 95,388 (peak) mailing to life members is also likely to 1996 35,471 6/1/03 90,637 help, as a significant number are selecting 1997 33,626 6/1/04 85,856 non-magazine membership. Anticipating 1998 33,040 6/1/05 80,334 the possibility of substantial additional 1999 31,982 6/1/06 80,623 legal fees, the office will be closed every Fri- 2000 30,942 6/1/07 81,827 day through September, and the executive 2001 29,881 6/1/08 80,578 board has proposed budgetary changes in- 6/1/09 77,807 cluding a $10 increase in national tourna- 2002 28,619 ment entry fees, a 10% increase in 2003 27,153 The real story here seems to be that overall advertising rates, and a $5 increase in non- 2004 24,962 membership, once rapidly declining, has magazine adult dues. 2005 24,189 been virtually level dur ing the past four 2006 23,376 years, except for a modest recent drop only Over the chessboard, it was an exciting during very tough economic times. year. Assisted by the sponsorship of the That’s 13,236 members age 21/over lost in Kasparov Chess Foundation, we were the 11 years, an average of over 1,200 per Like most democratic groups, USCF will al- only nation in the world to have both our year. ways include those who try to make the or- overall Olympiad team and women’s team In 2005, Family membership was restruc- ganization look bad for political purposes. win medals. Gata Kamsky represented us tured leading to greater popularity, and in Let’s remember that despite some ugly pol- valiantly though unsuccessfully in the 2006 Youth membership going up to age itics at times and financial problems more quarterfinals of the world championship, 20 was changed to Young Adult member- often than we would like, the U.S. Chess succumbing only when it appeared he was ship up to age 24. These categories should Federation has existed for 70 years as the about to tie up his match with former be included in the age 21/over count, but unquestioned national governing body of world champion Veselin Topalov. And an age breakdown is not available prior to chess, and has a substantial record of Hikaru Nakamura won his second U.S. 2004. Here are the 21/over totals includ- achievement. The world’s most widely read championship in a wonderful event, or- ing these categories since 2004, for June chess magazine, a national rating system ganized and publicized with great profes- 1 each year: with almost instant rating changes, many large national tournaments, standard rules sionalism by the Chess Club and 2004 25,553 Scholastic Center of St. Louis. The 2010 accepted by most clubs and tournaments, 2005 24,782 and tournament director certification are U.S. Championship will return to Saint 2006 24,123 accomplishments unmatched by any other Louis, and should be even more exciting national chess federation, and vastly greater and beneficial to American chess! 2007 25,192 2008 24,915 than previous American national chess or- Speaking of Hikaru, our U.S. champion 2009 24,595 ganizations. followed up his victory at St. Louis with an So despite poor recent economic conditions, So let us not be demoralized by our prob- incredible performance in the French age 21 and over membership is actually lems; we overcame a far worse crisis in League, scoring 7½ out of 8 against oppo- GREATER than it was three years ago! After 2003. In spite of the nay-sayers, those nents with FIDE ratings averaging 2584. the huge, sustained losses for the 11 years who misinform, the “anonymous” posters, That’s a performance rating of over 3000! previous, these recent numbers hardly and those with their own agendas which A remarkably uninformed opinion piece by seem something to be ashamed of. include bringing us down, and with the support of all who truly care about Amer- two prominent American grandmasters re- USCF is currently being sued by both a ican chess, justice will triumph and we cently appeared on the blog of the execu- current executive board member and a for- will prevail. tive board member who is suing USCF for mer EB member. Although these two re- $10 million. It falsely suggests that Chess peatedly attack each other, one thing they Life for Kids is being discontinued, Chess seem to agree on is that it is OK to spin 2 DC_2009_Exec Director report_AK_r5:04-05 presreport03 & hof.qxd 7/16/2009 10:11 AM Page 3 Executive Director’s Report by Bill Hall 2009 has been a challenging year.

Load more