Please note that this may be an appropriate place to consider motion 97-16, which is a motion to refer Motion 97-10. This may also be an appropriate place to consider motions 97-20, 21, 22, 31, 36, and 39, which also address governance changes.

Please also note that the following motions were referred to the Blue Ribbon Panel by the Delegates at the 1996 Delegates' Meeting. Wording of the motions can be found at the end of Old Business.. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

DM 96-62 (regarding eligibility of RVP candidates)

DM 96-63 and 96-64 (regarding establishment of a recall procedure for Policy Board members) -SEE 97-13

DM 96-66 (regarding termination of an Executive Director)

 

LMA Management Committee

 

Report, related motions, and nomination and election of 1998 LMA Management Committee members:

 

Please note that the following motions from the 1996 Delegates' Meeting are ongoing and concerned with LMA Management issues: Wording of the motions can be found at the end of Old Business. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

 

DM 96-10 (regarding the sale of the building and the purchase of a new building

DM 96-11 and 96-14 (regarding direct deposit of Life and Sustaining Memberships; funding for Operations)

 

OTHER COMMITTEES-Note: These Committees are appointed by the Policy Board and report to both the Delegates and the Policy Board.

Bylaws- Please note that the following motions were referred to the Bylaws Committee by the Delegates at the 1996 Delegates' Meeting: Wording of the motions can be found at the end of Old Business. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

 

DM 96-62 (regarding eligibility of RVP candidates)

DM 96-63 and 96-64 (regarding establishment of a recall procedure for Policy Board members) - SEE 97-13

DM 96-66 (regarding termination of an Executive Director)

DM 96-81 (regarding a change of the corporate name to "US Chess Federation")

 

Chess in Education

Club Development

College Chess

Computer/Internet- Please note that the following motion was referred to the Computer/Internet Committee by the Delegates at the 1996 Delegates' Meeting: Wording of the motion can be found at the end of Old Business. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

 

DM 96-98 (regarding revision of the Tournament Administrator program)

 

Computer Rating Agency

Correspondence Chess

Fred Cramer Awards

Ethics- Please note that the Policy Board referred DM 96-61 (regarding conflict of interest) to the Ethics Committee. SEE 97-15.

 

Please also note ADM 23 and 24 which address Standards of Conduct and the Code of Ethics.

 

Events

Fast Chess

FIDE Advisory

Finance- Please note that DM 96-91 was referred to this Committee. Wording is as follows:

DM 96-91 (Bill Moushey, MO) The Board of Delegates directs the Finance Committee to study the feasibility of a "USCF Gift Annuity" program and report back to the USCF Policy Board by the next Policy Board meeting in November, 1996.

 

Grandmaster Affairs

Grants

Hall of Fame

Historian's

Master Affairs and Development- Please note that the following motions were referred to the Master Affairs and Development Committee by the Delegates at the 1996 Delegates' Meeting: Wording of the motion can be found at the end of Old Business. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

 

DM 96-93 (regarding conditions under which Life Masters shall not have their floor removed)

DM 96-94 (regarding qualifications for earning the title "Life Master")

DM 96-95 (regarding qualifications for earning the title "Original Life Master")

DM 96-96 (regarding lifetime performances being make retroactive for older chess Masters).

 

Membership Growth

Metro Chess

Nominations

Olympic Participation

Organizer's

Prison Chess

Publications - Please note that the Policy Board referred DM 96-80 (regarding School Mates being designated an official magazine of the USCF) to the Publications Committee.

Ratings

 

Regions and States- Please note that the following motions were referred to the Regions and States Committee by the Delegates at the 1996 Delegates' Meeting: Wording of the motion can be found at the end of Old Business. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

 

DM 96-62 (regarding eligibility of RVP candidates)

DM 96-63 and 96-64 (regarding establishment of a recall procedure for Policy Board members) SEE 97-13

 

Rules

 

Scholastic

 

Senior- Please note that the following motions were referred to the Senior Committee by the Delegates at the 1996 Delegates' Meeting: Wording of the motion can be found at the end of Old Business. Wording will also be available on the web at members.aol.com/secretary/oldbiz.htm

 

DM 96-77 (regarding age 50 and over eligibility for the US Senior Championship)

DM 96-78 (regarding eligibility for prizes and title in the US Senior Championship)

 

TD Certification

US Championship

Women's Chess

 

.

VIII. Motion to ratify.

ADM 97- 11 (Harold Winston, IL): The Delegates ratify all actions of the Policy Board appearing in the published minutes of the Policy Board meetings between the 1996 and 1997 Delegates meetings.

IX. OLD BUSINESS Any motions or reports arising out of past Delegate motions and any routine recurring motions should be considered here.

 

ADM 97- 12 (Harold Winston, IL): Pursuant to Article III, Section 9 of the USCF Bylaws, the Delegates have reviewed the promotional memberships offered by the Policy Board in 1996 - 97 and authorize their continuation.

ADM 97- 13 (Harold Winston, IL, and Bylaws Committee): Result of Referral of DM 96-64 from 1996, PBN 1, page 29:

Add to Article IV

Section 6. Recall of Regional Vice Presidents. A recall election for Regional Vice Presidents shall be held upon receipt by the USCF Secretary of a petition signed by one third of the voting members of a region (alternative ten voting members of a region) or by a state chapter in the region. Notice of the recall election will be sent by the Secretary to all the voting members in the region thirty days after the petition is received. A recall ballot will be sent to all voting members in the region by the Secretary thirty days after the mailing of the notice. The ballots must be received twenty one days after the date mailed. A Regional Vice President shall be recalled if two thirds of those voting support recall.

Add to Article VII

Section 9. Recall of Policy Board Members. There are two methods of recalling Policy Board members:

(a) A recall election for Policy Board members shall be held upon receipt by the USCF Secretary, or by the USCF President if the Secretary is being recalled, of a petition signed by seventy five (alternate eighty) voting members. Notice of the recall election shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting members thirty days after the petition is received and a recall ballot will be sent to all voting members by the Secretary thirty days after the mailing of the notice. The ballots must be received twenty one days after the date mailed. The ballots will be opened and tabulated by three Tellers, one appointed by the first available signer of the recall petition, one by the person being recalled, and one by the Chairman of the Nominations Committee. If at least two thirds of those voting support recall, the Policy Board member is recalled and also loses the automatic Delegate position.

 

(b) A Policy Board member may also be recalled solely in their capacity as a Policy Board member, retaining a Delegate position as an additional Delegate for the remainder of the Policy Board term, by a resolution of the Board of Delegates if that resolution is placed on the advance Delegates' Agenda signed by ten Delegates and approved by two thirds of those Delegates voting on the resolution. Any Policy Board member whose recall is sought by resolution shall be given an opportunity to speak on the recall resolution if the Policy Board member is personally present at the meeting.

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS FROM 1996 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO IN COMMITTEE REPORTS AND OLD BUSINESS

DM 96-10 ADM 96-07 (Frank Camaratta, AL; E. Steven Doyle, NJ, Tim Redman, TX, Ralph Bowman, KS ): The Delegates authorize the Policy Board to sell the land and building currently housing the offices of the United States Chess Federation at 186 Route 9W, in New Windsor, New York, and to purchase or lease new facilities not necessarily located in New York.

Further, the proceeds from the sale will be invested in the Life Member Account and become a part thereof, and invested in a manner consistent with the recommendations from the LMA Management Committee.

The LMA Management Committee is authorized to loan to USCF Operations an amount not to exceed the sale price of 186 Route 9W. The rate of interest for the loan will not be greater than the prime rate, nor less than the average rate LMA is earning from its Treasury holdings, both rates understood to be those in effect at the time of the loan.

Under this new arrangement, Operations will be the owner of the property and, consequently, responsible for all repairs, maintenance, and capital improvements.

The Delegates further direct the LMA Advisory Group to modify the actuarial study recently completed to reflect this change and to recalculate the amounts to be transferred annually from the LMA to Operations for services provided to Life and Sustaining Members.

The Bylaws Committee is directed to make resulting appropriate wording changes to USCF bylaws within 30 days. PASSED

 

DM 96-11 ADM 96-08 (Frank Camaratta, AL; E. Steven Doyle, NJ): The Delegates direct that, starting June 1, 1997, all income from Life and Sustaining Memberships be deposited directly into the Life Member Asset Account. The Delegates further direct that services provided to Life and Sustaining Members be funded quarterly from the LMA Account. The amount due Operations will be determined by the LMA Advisory Group, and will be based on costs associated with servicing the Life and Sustaining members. For example, if there are 10,000 Life and Sustaining Members, and if the costs of providing services to these members is $14, then the amount to be transferred from the LMA to Operations is $35,000/quarter. The amount shall be paid at the beginning of each quarter and shall reflect any change in the numbers of Life and Sustaining members. It is anticipated that any offset for imputed rent assumed in these calculations will be eliminated once ownership of the property is transferred to Operations. PASSED

DM 96-14/ ADM 96-08 (Frank Camaratta, AL; E. Steven Doyle, NJ; Jim Pechac, OH): The Delegates direct that, starting June 1, 1997, all income from Life Memberships and 50% from Sustaining Memberships be deposited directly into the Life Member Asset Account. The Delegates further direct that services provided to Life and Sustaining Members be funded quarterly. PASSED

DM 96-61/ ADM 96-48 (Tim Redman, TX): The Delegates of the US Chess Federation direct the Policy Board, with the aid of Counsel, the Bylaws Committee, the Legal Committee, and other individuals or committees it considers helpful or appropriate, to consider the question or problem of conflict of interest as it relates to the actions, decisions, activities, or votes of the Policy Board itself, the members of the USCF staff, and other related national organizations. The Delegates of the US Chess Federation request that the Board of the USCF Charitable Trust also consider the question or problem of conflict of interest as it relates to the actions, decisions, activities, or votes of the Board itself. The recommendations of the Policy Board, including appropriate motions or bylaws amendments, are to be submitted for the Advance Agenda for the 1997 meeting of the Delegates. REFERRED TO POLICY BOARD AND CHESS TRUST

DM 96-62/ ADM 96-49 (Myron Lieberman, AZ): Amend Article IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws to append the following:

All states should have the opportunity to have at least one Regional Vice President. Therefore, a candidate from a state that already has a Regional Vice President may only run if there are no candidates from states with no Regional Vice Presidents within the same region. REFERRED TO REGIONS AND STATES, BYLAWS, AND BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON USCF GOVERNANCE.

DM 96-63/ ADM 96-50: (Ken Horne, NV) A member of the Policy Board can be removed from office by a special recall election. A Policy Board member recall election can be made by a petition signed by five of the seven board members or a petition signed by TBD (200 or 25% or so) voting members. The petition will be given to the President of the USCF or if the President is being recalled given to the USCF Vice President to conduct a recall election. The nomination committee will find candidate /candidates to run against the board member being recalled. REFERRED TO REGIONS AND STATES, BYLAWS, AND BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON USCF GOVERNANCE.

DM 96-64/ ADM 96-51 (Myron Lieberman, AZ): The Delegates charge the Bylaws Committee with the task of creating a procedure for recall of elected officials and any necessary Bylaw changes and/or new Bylaws to implement the procedure. The Bylaws Committee is to report back to the Delegates at the 1997 annual meeting with the proposed procedure. REFERRED TO REGIONS AND STATES, BYLAWS, AND BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON USCF GOVERNANCE.

DM 96-66/ ADM 96-53 (Jerry Hanken, CA/S; Randy Hough, CA/S): Five votes shall be required for the Policy Board to terminate the contract of an Executive Director (six if the Board has eight members, rather than seven.) REFERRED TO BYLAWS AND BLUE RIBBON PANEL ON USCF GOVERNANCE

DM 96-77/ ADM 96-69: (Ken Horne, NV): The US Senior Open Championship is open to those 50 and over. PB 96-09 will have to be rescinded if the Policy Board was referring to the US Senior Open Championship in this motion. REFERRED TO SENIOR COMMITTEE

DM 96-78/ ADM 96-70: (Ken Horne, NV): Eligibility for prizes or a title in the US Senior Open Championship, except for the age requirement, will have the same requirement as the US Open and National Open Championships. REFERRED TO THE SENIOR COMMITTEE

DM 96-79/ ADM 96-71 (Ken Horne, NV) The office will conduct a survey at the major open tournaments that are sponsored by the USCF. The purpose of these surveys will be for marketing and to learn information about the USCF's customers. REFERRED TO THE OFFICE

DM 96-80/ ADM 96-72 (Garrett Scott, IL): School Mates shall be designated an official magazine of the United States Chess Federation. REFERRED TO POLICY BOARD AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE

DM 96-81/ ADM 96-74 (Board) The Policy Board recommends to the Delegates that the corporate name of the USCF be changed to "US Chess Federation". (See PB 96-28.) Appropriate, related wording changes to USCF's Bylaws and legal filings shall be made. REFERRED TO POLICY BOARD, LEGAL, AND BYLAWS WITH POWER TO IMPLEMENT

DM 96-91/NDM 96-90 (Bill Moushey, MO): The Board of Delegates directs the Finance Committee to study the feasibility of a "USCF Gift Annuity Program" and report back to the USCF Policy Board by the next Policy Board meeting in November, 1996. REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

DM 96-93/ NDM 96-95 (Jerry Hanken, CA/S and Robert Singletary, NC):Life Masters who earned the title by playing 300 games as Masters and have a 2200 floor shall not have this floor lowered. REFERRED TO MASTER'S AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

DM 96-94/ NDM 96-96 (Jerry Hanken, CA/S): Resolved: That before any chess player can receive the title "LIFE MASTER" they must actually have a published Master's rating of 2200 or above for at least 100 games REFERRED TO MASTER'S AFFAIRS AND RATINGS COMMITTEES

DM 96-95/ NDM 96-97 (Jerry Hanken, CA/S): Resolved: That chess Masters who earned their LIFE TIME titles under the very demanding original system of playing 300 rated games as a Master be given the title "ORIGINAL LIFE MASTER" REFERRED TO MASTER'S AFFAIRS AND RATINGS COMMITTEES

DM 96-96/ NDM 96-98 (Jerry Hanken, CA/S): Resolved: That LIFE TIME performances be made retroactive for older chess Masters whose playing skills since 1990 are no longer strong enough to earn LIFE MASTER titles under the new system. Such performances are to be submitted with convincing documentation of performance to the USCF prior to approval. REFERRED TO MASTER'S AFFAIRS AND RATINGS COMMITTEES

DM 96-98/ NDM 96-101 (Robert Tanner, UT): Resolved: That since it is widely accepted that the Tournament Administrator program has substantial weaknesses, the Delegates instruct the office to place the revision of said program as a very high priority by staff or other programming personnel. It is expected that the office will present a revised program no later than the next Delegates' Meeting. REFERRED TO POLICY BOARD AND COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

X. NEW BUSINESS

The following motions deal with Bylaws revisions:

ADM 97- 14 (Denis Barry, AZ; Steve Doyle, NJ; Leroy Dubeck, NJ; George Koltanowski, CA/N; Tim Redman, TX; Frank Skoff, IL): Replace Article VII, Section 7 under Duties "Treasurer":

Treasurer. The Treasurer shall obtain records of the financial affairs of the Federation, shall be the Policy Board Liaison to all committees primarily concerned with the finances of the Federation, shall review the travel and other reimbursable expenses of all other Board members, shall report to the Board of Delegates, and shall counsel and assist the Policy Board on financial matters.

ADM 97- 15 (Robert John McCrary, SC): Amend Article III, Section 11,of the Bylaws by adding this sentence at the end: "The USCF Ethics Committee may suspend or revoke the membership of any person by applying the procedures established by the Board of Delegates in the USCF Code of Ethics.

Amend Article III, Section 12 of the Bylaws by inserting this sentence immediately after the first sentence of that section: "If the USCF Ethics Committee suspends or revokes the membership of any individual through application of the USCF Code of Ethics, the appeal procedures established in the Code of Ethics shall be applicable, and the remaining provisions of this section shall not be applicable, to that case."

ADM 97-16 (Bob Smith, FL): The proposal presented by the Blue Ribbon Committee shall be referred to the Policy Board, the Bylaws and Regions and States Committees, and also to other appropriate committees for full study prior to being voted on by the Board of Delegates at the 1998 meeting

ADM 97- 17 (Leroy Dubeck, NJ): Replace Article X Section 10 by the following:

Section X: Borrowing

A. Borrowing of an aggregate of more than $200,000 at any given time is possible only when:

 

1.The Executive Director certifies that there is a need for such borrowing.

2.The Policy Board approves of the borrowing.

3.The Life Member Assets Management Committee approves of such borrowing.

4.A report shall be made to the Delegates in the Annual Report describing the funds borrowed and repaid during the past year.

 

The Life Member Assets Management Committee shall consist of the current Treasurer, the Chair of the Finance Committee, the Executive Director, the President of the Charitable Trust, and a past President of the USCF. The Life Member Assets Committee shall choose its own Chair and may appoint other committees to assist it in its work.

The total amount of borrowing above $200,000 shall be limited to 40% of the current market values of the Life Member Assets.

ADM 97- 18 (Harold Winston, IL): Amend Article X, Section 10 (4) LMA Borrowing

Replace the first two sentences by:

(4) The Delegates (alternative Policy Board) shall select a committee for approval of LMA borrowing to consist of 6 - 8 persons to be chosen from former Policy Board members, former Finance Committee Chairmen, and the current Finance Committee Chairman. Committee members shall serve a term of two years (alternative three years) and be eligible for re-election. At least 75% of this committee constitutes a quorum which shall be polled and at least 66.6% of those responding must approve this borrowing request.

ADM 97- 19 (Harold Winston, IL): Add to Article III, Section 13

Members can only participate and vote at the Membership Meeting if they are present in person and cannot participate in the meeting through the use of conference telephone or other communications equipment.

ADM 97- 20 (Bob Holliman, MO): Amend Article V, Voting Members, Section 2 to read:

Number. There shall be 450 Voting Members apportioned among the states in proportion to their USCF membership as of June 30, except that each state with ten or more members shall have at least one Voting Member.

ADM 97- 21 (Bob Holliman, MO): Add the following to Article VII, Section 4…and no person may serve on the Policy Board more than nine consecutive years "or three elected terms. A Policy Board member who has been elected to complete an unexpired term shall not have the unexpired term counted against their total eligible terms."

ADM 97- 22 (Adams, Eade, Ferguson, Goichberg, Lieberman, Schultz): The One Member One Vote proposed revisions to the Bylaws are as follows:

Article III, Section 10. Rights and Privileges. Each Life, Sustaining, Regular, Senior, Blind, Computer, and Youth member shall be entitled to receive a regular copy of Chess Life. Each Scholastic member shall be entitled to receive a regular copy of School Mates. Each Life, Sustaining, Regular, Senior, and Blind member shall be entitled to sign nominating petitions to place candidates on the ballot for Policy Board elections. Each Life, Sustaining, Regular, Senior, and Blind member shall be entitled to cast a ballot in each Policy Board election. Each member shall be entitled to have his or her tournament play officially rated, to participate in the Annual Membership meeting, and to enjoy all other rights and privileges of membership not herein enumerated. Members and Affiliates with mailing addresses outside the United States may be charged an additional fee to cover extra costs.

Article IV: Regional Organization

Section 1. Regions. The membership and the Federation shall be divided geographically, for administrative purposes, into USCF Regions which shall be:

(a) compact enough for administration by personal contact,

(b) conformant with conventional groupings of states,

(c) represented by not more than four nor less than two Regional Vice Presidents apportioned by population as in (e),

(d) about 12 in number, and

(e) numbered, composed and represented as follows:

(see current list)

This apportionment by population shall be reviewed every three years.

Section 2. Regional Vice Presidents. Every two years the Voting Members from each region shall elect Regional Vice Presidents in accordance with Article VII, Section 5, and Article IV, Section 1. The term of the Regional Vice Presidents shall begin at the end of the annual Delegates' Meeting of the year in which elected and continue two years and thereafter until a successor is elected. No state shall have more than two Regional Vice Presidents at the same time (Northern California and Southern California, each having State Chapters pursuant to Article IX, Section 1, are considered to be separate states for these purposes).

Section 3. Nomination and Election of Regional Vice Presidents.

(a) Nomination. Any member shall be eligible for nomination as Regional Vice President in that region, except that no RVP who has served at least half of a two-year term shall be eligible in the year that term expires. A candidate is eligible for nomination when he or she submits his or her name to the Chairman of the Nominations Committee or is nominated for that office by a resident member or State Chapter within the region. Nominations must be submitted to the Chairman of the Nominations Committee by February 1 of the election year.

(b) Nominating Committee. Before September 1 the Policy Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee of five Delegates, no two from the same region. The Committee shall advertise in Chess Life for candidates to become nominees in the issue published not later than November 15, and publish its nominees in Chess Life in the issue published not later than April 15.

(c) Election. The election shall be conducted in the same manner as prescribed in Article VII, Section 5 except that only the Voting Members of the Region vote for its Regional Vice President.

(d) Vacancies. The Secretary shall notify every State Chapter and every Delegate in any region where a vacancy exists of such vacancy. Thirty days shall be allowed for such State Chapters and Delegates to submit nominees for a special election. The Secretary shall conduct a mail ballot among the Delegates of the region, allowing 21 to 35 days for the return of the ballots. No special election shall be held if the vacancy arises in the last six months of a term of office.

(e) Regional Vice Presidents who move. A Regional Vice President who moves from the region for which elected or who moves to a state that already has a Regional Vice President shall be deemed to have resigned his or her office unless each State Chapter in the Region (in response to a poll by the Secretary) indicates no objection to the Regional Vice President continuing.

Section 4. First Regional Vice Presidents and Duties. The candidate for Regional Vice President receiving the most votes in each region shall be designated as the First Regional Vice President. The First Regional Vice President in each region is the senior officer of the region. He or she shall maintain personal contacts by visiting tournaments and chess affairs, and endeavor to strengthen and develop Federation organization and communication within the region.

Section 5. Duties of the Regional Vice Presidents. The other Regional Vice President in each region shall assist the First Regional Vice President, carry out assignments from him or her, and endeavor to strengthen and develop Federation organization and communication within the region.

Article V: Voting Members

Section 1. Responsibility. The Voting Members are responsible for electing the Policy Board and the Regional Vice Presidents.

Section 2. Selection. Each Life, Sustaining, Regular, Senior, and Blind member is a Voting Member during the term of his or her membership.

Article VI: Board of Delegates

Section 1. Responsibility. The Board of Delegates is responsible for the management of the USCF. It shall formulate general policy, adopt the annual budget, and write the bylaws.

Section 2. Number. The Board of Delegates shall be composed of the Policy Board members, the Regional Vice Presidents, the Delegates at Large, and 100 Delegates, apportioned among the states in proportion to their USCF membership as of June 30, except that each state must have at least one Delegate. In addition, any Policy Board member-elect who is not already a Delegate and whose election has been certified may serve as a member of the Board of Delegates until he or she takes office.

Section 3. Selection. In those states which have affiliated USCF State Chapters on August 31, the state Delegates and Alternates, who shall be USCF members, shall be certified in writing to the USCF Secretary by the authorized state officer by November 1. Certification of Delegates and Alternates shall indicate the method of selection, including whether they were elected or appointed, and the person or class of persons making the selection. Included shall be an ordered list of Alternates equal in number to three times the state's number of Delegates. In states which do not have State Chapters or which fail to submit the specified list of Delegates and Alternates, these Delegates and Alternates shall be selected by the First Regional Vice President of the region. If this Regional Vice President does not make a selection, the Regional Vice President next in vote total in the region shall make the selection. The names and addresses of the Delegates and Alternates shall appear in Chess Life no later than March 31st of each calendar year. State Chapters may appoint Delegates and Alternates residing outside their respective states; however, Delegates and Alternates appointed by a Regional Vice President must reside within the state they represent. State Chapters are responsible for the payment of the membership dues of all Delegates and Alternates they appoint. No one may be a Delegate or Alternate from more than one state simultaneously, or a Delegate from one state and an Alternate from another simultaneously. USCF shall reconsider recognition of any State Chapter which fails to appoint Delegates or Alternates. State Chapters may appoint at the annual meeting as additional Alternates only residents from their own state or USCF members from other states that were and are members of that State Chapter prior to the start of the annual meeting of the Board of Delegates. If a quorum cannot otherwise be obtained at the Delegates Meeting this provision shall be waived.

Section 4. Term. The term of each Delegate and Alternate shall commence on January 1 for the year for which selected and continue for one year and thereafter until a successor is selected. Should a Delegate vacancy occur it shall be filled promptly from the ordered list of Alternates. A Delegate or Alternate may resign his or her position by submitting a signed letter of resignation to the USCF Secretary. A Delegate or Alternate who moves from the state which selected him or her shall be deemed to have resigned his or her position unless the State Chapter for that state notifies the Secretary to the contrary.

Section 5 - Annual Meeting. No changes

Section 6. Delegates at Large. The position of Delegate at Large shall be conferred upon a motion duly listed in the advance agenda:

(a) automatically upon each USCF President upon completion of his or her term of office and

(b) upon contributors of outstanding service to chess, up to a total of twenty, who are so designated by the Board of Delegates by at least a 3/4 vote at each of two consecutive annual meetings.

The term of a Delegate at Large shall begin at the end of the meeting in which he or she is elected and shall run for three years. However, the term of a Delegate at Large who is not already a Delegate shall start immediately upon election and expire at the start of the third following annual meeting of the Board of Delegates. A Delegate at Large whose term is expiring may be re-elected to a new term.

Article VII: Policy Board

Section 1. Composition. The Policy Board shall consist of seven members, each of whom shall have terms of four years. (Between August 2000 and August 2001, there shall be six members.) All Policy Board members are national officers of the Federation. The Policy Board shall elect a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer each year from among its members at its August meeting held after the Delegates Meeting; the remaining members shall be Members at Large. No person may serve as President for more than four years during any eight year period.

Section 2. Functions. Unchanged.

Section 3. Meetings. Unchanged.

Section 4. Nomination. Any USCF member shall be eligible for nomination to the Policy Board upon submitting to the Secretary by February 1 of any election year a nominating petition containing the signatures of at least one hundred Voting Members. However, no person may serve on the Policy Board more than eight consecutive years. No full time employee of the USCF shall serve in any elected office on the Policy Board. The Secretary shall advertise for nominations in the issue of Chess Life published not later than November 15 and shall publish a list of all duly submitted nominations in the issue published not later than April 15.

Section 5. Elections. Each year in which an election is to take place, ballots for a secret mail vote shall be inserted in the final issue of Chess Life which is published not later than June 15. Each Voting Member is entitled to vote for a number of candidates up to the number of Policy Board seats open. Three seats will be open in 2001 and every four years thereafter; four seats will be open in 2003 and every four years thereafter. The ballots shall be mailed to an independent agency for counting. A plurality shall elect and the President shall break any ties.

Section 6. Term. The terms of the Policy Board members shall begin at the end of the Annual Meeting after their election and shall continue for four years.

Section 7. Duties. Same as current Section 7.

Section 8. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, it shall be filled by the Vice President. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer, the Policy Board shall elect a new Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer from among its members at its next meeting or conference call. If the offices of both President and Vice President become vacant, the Policy Board shall elect these officers at its next meeting or conference call. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Member at Large, a successor to serve the unexpired term shall be nominated and elected under the procedure in Sections 4 and 5. If the vacancy occurs during the final 18 months of the term of the Member at Large, no successor shall be chosen.

Section 9. Free candidate statements. In the issue of Chess Life published two months before the issue containing the ballot, each Policy Board candidate is entitled to a free statement of up to 100 words in support of his or her candidacy. In the issue of Chess Life published one month before the issue containing the ballot, each Policy Board candidate is entitled to a free statement of up to 250 words in support of his or her candidacy.

Section 10. Candidate paid advertising. In the issue of Chess Life containing the ballot, each Policy Board candidate is entitled to purchase up to one half page of advertising to promote his or her candidacy, to be charged at the affiliate rate. No other paid advertising in USCF publications is permitted.

Section 11. Implementation. Sections 1 and 8 shall replace the previous Sections 1 and 8 beginning with the first meeting of the Policy Board elected in 1999. Sections 4, 5, 9 and 10 are effective immediately. Section 6 shall be phased in as follows:

In 1998, one Policy Board member shall be elected to serve a three year term.

In 1999, six Policy Board members shall be elected. The four obtaining the most votes shall serve a four year term. The candidate with the fifth highest vote shall serve a two year term.

The following motions deal with standards of conduct for Policy Board members:

ADM 97- 23 (Robert John McCrary, SC; Tim Redman, TX; Woodrow Harris, VA):

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR THE USCF POLICY BOARD

The USCF Board of Delegates establishes the following standards of conduct for Policy Board members in the performance of their duties:

(1) Policy Board members are expected to contribute to the functioning of the Board as a cohesive unit, with information flowing comfortably among all its members. Actions that interfere with comfortable and open communication among all Board members should be avoided.

(a) All Board members have the right to receive all information pertinent to the making, monitoring, and implementation of USCF policy. Board member(s) should not withhold full and accurate information from other Board members, when that information is relevant to Board decisions or potential decisions. Where decision-making authority has been given to a specific officer by the Board or the Bylaws, that officer must keep all Board members fully and accurately informed of all decisions made and factors influencing those decisions.

(b)All Board members have the right to be involved in the determination of all Board decisions. A group of Board members should not reach a decision secretly among themselves, with the intention of voting it into effect, until all Board members have had a genuine opportunity for input. A Board majority has no authority except as a majority vote within the context of a properly called Board meeting.

(c) Board members are responsible for contributing to constructive communication within the Board. Board members are responsible to communicate directly with each other whenever there is misunderstanding or ill will, making strenuous efforts to resolve the issue amicably through such communication, before making the dispute public.

(2) Policy Board members must be motivated solely by the best interests of the USCF in exercising their duties. Any potential conflict of interest, whether due to financial, political, personal, geographical, organizational, familial, or other considerations, must be prevented from affecting any Board member in the discharge of his or her duties.

(a) Except where noted below, no Policy Board member or a member of his immediate family may receive financial compensation from the USCF for any reason, except for standard reimbursement of expenses, during his tenure on the Board, or after his tenure if such compensation results from bids accepted or agreements made by the Board during his tenure. In claiming expense reimbursement, a Board member must claim only that portion of expenses that were incurred in non-political activities that were a legitimate exercise of the Board member's duties. Any unusual expenses for which reimbursement is questionable must be referred to the full Board for consideration. Board members are expected to exercise all reasonable frugality in incurring expenses to be reimbursed.

(b) No Policy Board member, or a member of his immediate family, may profit financially from organizing or directing a national tournament or activity organized or co-organized by the USCF, or from any business activity of the USCF, if the Policy Board or the USCF business office is involved in determining the arrangements. An exception may be made to this provision if the bid, and all relevant financial arrangements , were finalized before the member was elected to the Board, and are not changed to his advantage during his tenure.

(c) No Board member may participate in consideration of bids for any event or for any expenditure of USCF funds if he or his immediate family member has any office or other conflicting interest in any entity offering a bid. He is required to inform the Board whenever there is a conflict of interest. However, the Board member may provide information on behalf of such a bid, provided that his opportunity to provide information is the same as for those involved in other bids. The Board member with a potential conflict of interest may not make or second motions, enter into debate or discussion in the capacity of a Board member, or vote on the bids or on any issue reasonably related to the bid consideration. If consideration of the bid involves sensitive matters that require a closed session, a Board member who has a potential conflict of interest may not attend the portion of the closed session involving that bid, unless all parties representing competing bids are permitted to attend.

(d) Any Board member who believes that he or another Board member may have a conflict of interest on any matter is expected to inform immediately all members of the Board.

(e) No Board member may make decisions on Board matters as a result of factors that are not necessarily consistent with the best interests of the USCF. Such factors could include personal likes or dislikes of any person, political or geographical factors, or other factors irrelevant to the principle of making decisions solely for the best interests of the USCF.

(f) A Board member should not pressure any USCF employee for the furtherance of any political agenda. Those responsible for Chess Life and other USCF publications should not be pressured for political reasons regarding specific content, beyond the general expectation that standards of factual and balanced coverage of events be maintained. Specific criticism of other USCF employees should be conveyed discretely to the Executive Director.

(3) The Policy Board is responsible for conducting business in an efficient, constructive, and open manner.

(a) All actions taken by the Policy Board must be consistent with the Bylaws of the USCF, and with all policy established by the USCF Board of Delegates.

(b) Any derogatory and/or sarcastic statements attacking an individual in a personal manner, or intended to bring scorn or ridicule on an individual , shall be considered out of order at any and all times in a Policy Board meeting, whether in open or closed session. Any angry and heated exchanges in a Board meeting should be considered out of order. The Chair of the meeting shall be responsible for promptly ruling such utterances out of order, or any member may raise a point of order to that effect. Personal differences must be privately resolved without disturbing the efficient conduct of USCF business in a Board meeting.

(c) A closed session should be held only when the best interests of the USCF are definitely served by doing so. Examples of when closed sessions are proper would include the discussion of matters that are legally sensitive, issues involving sensitive negotiations, or matters in which the privacy rights of any individual may be at risk. Closed sessions should not be scheduled to permit the airing of heated or derogatory comments, which should be out of order in any meeting discussion, or to avoid the necessity of Board members' dealing with unpopular issues publicly. The Board may invite other persons into the closed session if such persons possess special information or expertise needed by the Board, but a certified Policy Board candidate who is not currently on the Board should not be included in a closed session unless all Board candidates present at the meeting are also invited.

(d) Board members should be sensitive to the feelings of volunteers and staff members whose names may be mentioned, or whose work may be criticized, during Board discussion.

(e) All Board members must strictly observe confidentiality of closed sessions. In the case of a conference call, the Board members must clearly understand what portions of the call are considered open or closed, for the purpose of determining what information in the call must be considered confidential.

THESE STANDARDS OF POLICY BOARD CONDUCT SUPERSEDE ALL PREVIOUS DELEGATE OR POLICY BOARD ACTIONS ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR POLICY BOARD CONDUCT.

ADM 97- 24 (Robert John McCrary, SC; Tim Redman, TX; Woodrow Harris, VA):

The Code of Ethics of the United States Chess Federation is revised to read as follows in its entirety:

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

1. The purpose of this code of ethics is to set forth standards to which the conduct of players, tournament directors, sponsors, and other individuals and entities participating in the affairs of the United States Chess Federation (USCF), including tournaments and other activities sponsored by or sanctioned by the USCF, should conform; to specify sanctions for conduct that does not conform to such standards; and to specify the procedures by which alleged violations are to be investigated and, if necessary, the appropriate sanctions imposed.

2. The standards, procedures, and sanctions set forth in this code of ethics are not equivalent to criminal laws and procedures. Rather, they concern the rights and privileges of USCF membership, including, but not limited to, the privilege of participating in tournaments, events, or other activities as a member of the USCF.

3. The standards, procedures, and sanctions set forth in this code of ethics shall apply only to: (A) actions and behavior by members of the USCF that occur in connection with tournaments or other activities sponsored by or sanctioned by the USCF; and (B) individuals and entities acting in an official capacity as officers or representatives of the USCF. Each member of the USCF and each participant in a USCF activity shall be bound by this code of ethics.

THE USCF ETHICS COMMITTEE

4. The USCF Ethics Committee is appointed by the Policy Board acting under its powers as set forth in the bylaws of the USCF. The committee exists to consider allegations of unethical conduct at or in connection with events sanctioned by the USCF, and allegations of unethical conduct involving the USCF and its activities, in accordance with the standards and procedures contained in this code.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

5. The actions and behavior of individuals participating in USCF activities, or in events sponsored by or sanctioned by the USCF, shall be lawful and in accordance with all USCF rules and regulations, and consistent with the principles of fair play, good sportsmanship, honesty, and respect for the rights of others. The following is a list of examples of actions and behavior that are considered unethical. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, and any action or behavior that is unlawful or violates USCF rules and regulations, or is inconsistent with the principles of fair play, good sportsmanship, honesty, and respect for the rights of others, may be considered to fall within the scope of this code of ethics.

(a) Intentional violations of tournament regulations, or of any other regulations pertaining to USCF activities and goals, particularly after being warned.

(b) Cheating in a game of chess by illicitly giving, receiving, offering, or soliciting advice; or by illicitly consulting written sources; or by tampering with clocks; or in any other manner.

(c) Deliberating losing a game for payment, or to lower ones rating, or for any other reason; or attempting to induce another player to do so. Deliberately failing to play at ones best in a game, in any manner inconsistent with the principles of good sportsmanship, honesty, or fair play.

(d) Deliberating misrepresenting ones playing ability in order to compete in a tournament or division of a tournament intended for players of lesser ability; players with foreign ratings are expected to disclose those ratings.

(e) Participating in a tournament under a false name.

(f) Participating in a tournament while under suspension.

(g) Purposely giving false information in order to circumvent or violate any rule or regulation recognized by the USCF, or to interfere with the goals of any USCF activity.

(h) Attempting to interfere with the rights of any USCF member, such as by barring someone from entering a USCF-sanctioned event for personal reasons. Generally, no individual should be barred from a USCF-sanctioned event for which he or she meets the advertised qualifications, without appropriate due process, and for behavior inconsistent with the principles of this code and/or the rules of chess. If a ban on future participation is imposed , the individual should be notified of the ban prior to his attempting to appear at future events.

(i) Violating federal, state, or local laws while participating in activities that are associated with the USCF.

PROCEDURES

6. Any USCF member may initiate procedures under this code of ethics by filing a complaint in a timely manner with the USCF Ethics Committee. In the case of any accusation that does not fall clearly under the "Standards of Conduct" above, the Ethics Committee shall have the authority to decide whether the alleged conduct is within the scope of the code of ethics. In the case of each alleged violation that is within the scope of the code of ethics, the following steps shall occur in a timely manner:

(a) A factual inquiry shall be made by the Ethics Committee, assisted as necessary by the USCF staff. Previous findings of the Ethics Committee or other USCF entities may be included among the evidence considered by the Ethics Committee, if relevant to the circumstances of the present case. As a part of such an inquiry, any person accused of unethical conduct shall have the right to examine the evidence against him or her, the right to respond to the accusation, and the right to produce written evidence in his or her behalf.

(b) Appropriate sanctions, if any, shall be imposed by the Ethics Committee.In determining sanctions,the Ethics Committee may consider any previous ruling or finding of the Ethics Committee, or other USCF entity, pertaining to the past conduct of the person being sanctioned. Any person against whom sanctions have been imposed shall be promptly notified.

(c) Such sanctions shall be deemed final unless appealed to the Policy Board by the person or persons upon whom the sanctions have been imposed, or upon the initiative of any member of the Policy Board. Such an appeal must be made within thirty days of the date that notification of sanctions occurred, except that the Policy Board may extend the deadline for appeal if in its judgment an unavoidable delay in communications or other valid cause prevented a timely appeal.

(d) Upon appeal, a review of the facts and the appropriateness of the sanction shall be undertaken by the Policy Board. The person against whom the sanction has been imposed, as well as the person filing the initial complaint, shall be given notice of the time and place the Policy Board will review the case. The sanctioned person shall have the right to appear before the Board and present evidence. The sanctions shall be either continued, modified, or revoked by the Policy Board.

SANCTIONS:

7. The following are some of the sanctions that may be imposed as a result of the procedures specified above. In unusual cases, other appropriate sanctions may be imposed, or these sanctions may be varied or combined.

(a) Reprimand. A determination that a member has committed an offense warranting discipline becomes a matter of record, but no further sanction is imposed at the time. A reprimand automatically carries a probation of at least three months, or longer if so specified. If the member is judged guilty of another offense during the probation, he or she is then liable to further sanctions for both offenses.

(b) Censure. A determination that a member has committed a serious offense warranting discipline becomes a matter of record, but no further sanction is imposed at the time. Censure automatically carries a probation of at least one year, or longer if so specified. If the member is judged guilty of another offense during the probationary period, he or she is then liable to further sanctions for both offenses.

(c) Suspended sentence with probation. A determination is made that the member has committed an offense warranting discipline. When the discipline is imposed and execution thereof suspended, such suspension shall include probation for at least six months longer than the discipline imposed. If the member is judged guilty of another offense during this period, unless otherwise decreed, the original discipline shall be added to such new discipline as may be imposed for the new offense.

(d) Suspension. Suspension is a determination that the member has committed an offense warranting abrogation, for a specified period of time, of all membership rights and privileges.

(e) Expulsion. Expulsion is a determination that a member has committed an offense warranting permanent abrogation of all membership rights and privileges. An expelled member may be readmitted to membership only by the USCF Policy Board.

(f) Exclusion from events. This is a more selective determination that a member has committed an offense warranting abrogation of the right to participate in certain specified events or activities.

8. In the case of every sanction that involves suspension or expulsion, a member may not hold any office in the USCF or participate in any capacity in any event or activity sponsored by or sanctioned by the USCF.

9. The effective date of any sanction shall be the date named by the Ethics Committee in its determination.

10. The USCF Business Office shall be informed in writing of all official determinations by the Ethics Committee, and shall record the imposition of any sanctions. The USCF Business Office shall inform the Policy Board of any sanctions imposed.

The following motions deal with financial issues:

ADM-97-25 (Ken Horne, NV): Effective 1 January 98 the dues will be increased according the to following table:

Type 1 year 2 years 3 years

Full Adult $44.00 $82.50 $120.00

Youth $16.50 $33.00 $49.50

Scholastic $11.00 $22.00 $33.00

Senior $30.00 $60.00 $90.00

Sustaining $100.00 $200.00 $300.00

Life $900.00

Senior Life $425.00

The bylaws will be changed to show the following dues increases.

The following motions deal with Personnel issues:

ADM 97-26 (Jim Eade, CA/N): All Board approved changes to employee compensation will be subject to a vote of the full Board and the vote will be recorded in open session.

ADM 97- 27 (Jim Eade, CA/N): Any Board approved change to employee compensation will be recorded as a confidential BINFO item

ADM 97- 28 (Jim Eade, CA/N): Any Board approved change to an employee incentive plan must be finalized no later than 90 days after the plan has been approved

ADM 97- 29(Jim Eade, CA/N): Any employee contract must have the signature of no fewer than one officer and one other Board member.

ADM 97- 30 (Jim Eade, CA/N): Board conducted employee reviews must be written before presented.

Please Note: These motions were PASSED unanimously by the Board at the November, 1997 meeting in Newburgh, NY. Please refer to PB 97-34 through 97-38.

The following motions deal with Regions and States issues:

ADM 97-31 (Alan Benjamin, NY): When counting the ballots in USCF elections, thirteen regions should be noted (instead of the current twelve). The thirteenth region shall be composed of the votes of Policy Board members, Life Voting Members, and anyone who has been given the ballot by Delegate action rather than being chosen by a state.

ADM 97-32 (Stephen Dillard, KY): The USCF shall provide once per year upon request, a Top Fifty Rating List of each state for their adults, their seniors, and their juniors, at no cost to the state association.

ADM 97- 33 (Stephen Dillard, KY): The State Affiliate Support Program of the state with the greatest percentage growth in membership each year shall receive a $500.00 bonus in recognition of that accomplishment.

ADM-97-34 (Ken Horne, NV): The Nevada Decision (Which was published in Nov 1996 issue of Chess Life, Page 14), signed by Denis Barry, USCF President, April 19, 1996, gave the following order: Group 1, the spokesperson of which is Thomas Klem, shall cease and desist claiming to be the legitimate and official state affiliate of the United States Chess Federation from the state of Nevada or otherwise conducting itself or holding itself out as such.

For continuously claiming to be the legitimate state affiliate from Nevada the following Officer's of the Nevada State Chess Association, Inc., membership will be suspended for two years: Tom Klem, John Blackstone, Laymon (Snapper) McGauhey.

For continuously claiming to be the legitimate state affiliate from Nevada the following Board members of the Nevada State Chess Association, Inc., and having his membership previously suspended, the membership of Stan Vaughn is revoked.

This action will be effective 1 Sep 97.

ADM 97-35 (Donald Cotten, CA/S): In a case where two or more organizations claim to be the state chapter, or when an election of state officers is claimed to be a fraud, the USCF will try to offer an impartial solution to the problem by:

1.Providing a neutral representative (agreed upon by all sides) who may be a USCF officer, a Regional Vice President, or any USCF member, to help negotiate differences.

 

2.If no solution is reached, an election shall be called in the state, with notice given in Chess Life, or by letter to all USCF members in the state, alerting them about the election and membership requirements to join the state chapter, or chapters, so that they will be permitted to vote. Ballots shall be sent to a neutral site, either a Regional Vice President, if both sides agree, or to a local accounting firm, if no neutral officer can be found.

 

3.Any officers thus elected may not change the charter of the state chapter until during or after the second election in that state.

 

The following motions deal with USCF governance issues:

ADM 97-36 (Alan Benjamin, NY): The privilege of voting in USCF elections shall be taken away from Life Voting Members. The Policy Board shall be given one year to develop an alternate way of honoring these people.

ADM 97- 37 (Jim Eade, CA/N): The current Annual Report will be divided into two separate publications as follows:

The Annual Report

The Delegates' Call

ADM 97- 38 (Jim Eade, CA/N): No Board member shall serve as Liaison to any Committee chaired by his or her spouse.

ADM 97-39 (James Bolton, CT): We favor the concept of one person, one vote.

The following motions deal with players' issues:

ADM 97- 40(Alan Benjamin, NY; Events Committee): One of the following formats shall be used for the Amateur Team playoffs:

a. Two teams of four (any alternates travel at their own expense) fly to the other two teams. USCF spends up to $300 per person for airfare. Hotel expenses are borne by players, but host regional organizers should try to set up a cheap or free hotel room. Teams can then supervise each other for honesty, and one round will be face to face.

b. Three teams of four are flown to the fourth team's site, for head to head play. Same conditions as above. Thus we get a true winner.

The USCF will publicize the event previous to its being held, and provide space in Chess Life to report the results.

ADM 97- 41 (Harold Stenzel, NY): The USCF office shall be instructed to program the new correspondence tournaments originally approved in 1994. The work is to be completed by the end of 1997. The Correspondence Committee chair and tournament secretary shall make themselves available for advice and guidance if the programmer has questions.

The following motions deal specifically with scholastic issues:

ADM 97-42 (Luis Salinas, TX): To be effective for the 1998 events, the Scholastic Committee will implement provisions/ guidelines for the home schooled teams to participate in national tournaments with public and private school teams.

The following motions deal specifically with Women's chess issues:

ADM 97- 43 (Alan Benjamin, NY): Half of the next Women's Olympic team shall be Junior players.

ADM 97- 44 (Alexey Root, TX): The Delegates direct that $30,000 be budgeted to sponsor a 1998 tour of the Women's World Chess Champion.

ADM 97- 45 (Alexey Root, TX): The Delegates direct that $10,000 be budgeted to sponsor a 1999 - 2000 tour of the current and/or former US Women's Chess Champions.

The following motions deal with Rules and Ratings:

ADM 97- 46 (James Bolton, CT): We recommend that the Rating Committee consider whether to include the color played in the rating formulas.

ADM 97- 47 (James Bolton, CT): We recommend reconsideration of Rule 32-C-4 on page 135 of the current rulebook. CL ads should not be so strict about guaranteed prize funds for small tourneys.

ADM 97- 48 (James Bolton, CT): We recommend that Rule 14 h (1), dealing with Sudden Death time controls and losing chances, be reconsidered. Adjudications are not favored.

ADM 97- 49 (Board):): The K factor of Quick Chess will go to 1.0 if not otherwise mandated by the Delegates and if the Chairman of the Ratings Committee approves.

ADM 97- 50 (Board):): The system of Life Titles based on norms will be abolished. It may be continued temporarily to allow an equitable transition to a Life Rating system, if the latter is under consideration.

ADM 97- 51 (Board):): The Delegates endorse in principle the creation of a system of Life Ratings to reward lifetime achievement and replace the Life Titles based on norms. These Life Ratings will not measure current strength and will not be intended to determine section or prize eligibility. The Delegates refer the following proposal to the Ratings Committee and ask that Committee to evaluate it, revise it if appropriate, and report to the Policy Board, which will have the power to implement.

1) Each established player has a current rating and a life rating. The current rating measures present ability; the life rating reflects lifetime achievement.

2) Each player is assigned his or her current rating, rounded up to the next highest number which ends in zero, as an initial life rating.

3) If the Executive Director believes it feasible, a player's highest rating ever, or highest rating during a recent period, may be used in place of the current rating for players requesting this or for all players.

4) Life titles based on norms are no longer tabulated. Players obtain credit towards initial life ratings as follows: Counting norm points as 10 points each, each title is translated into an equivalent number (Life 2000 with 7 norm points equals 2070, etc.) If the equivalent number is above the current rating, the initial life rating is the average of the current rating and the equivalent number, rounded up to the next higher number which ends in zero.

5) Each time a tournament of at least four games is rated, two calculations are made for each player. One is the current rating, calculated as at present. The other is the life rating calculated identically, except 1) using the player's old life rating as the pre-tournament rating and 2) without bonus points.

6) All life ratings end in zero. If the life rating calculation results in a number ending in another digit, that digit is lowered to a zero.

7) Life ratings never drop. If the life rating calculation shows a decrease, the life rating is unchanged.

8) Although the life rating will usually be the higher of the two, it is possible for the current rating to be above the life rating. This could occur due to A) events of under 4 rounds, B) bonus points, or C) rounding down. If the life rating becomes 30 or more points below the current rating, it shall be raised to the current rating minus 20, with the last digit rounded down to zero. 9) To avoid confusion between current and life ratings and to save space on labels and in rating supplements, the zero at the end of each life rating can be dropped. For instance, a player with current 1657, life 1820 would look like this on the rating supplement: 1657*182.

NOTE A: This proposal creates a series of plateaus, such as 1800, 1810, 1820 (or 180, 181, 182), etc. These are designed to make life points harder to earn.

NOTE B: Life points are not available in events of under four games for the same reason- to avoid having them too easy to earn. For instance, it would be undesirable if a player needed only to win in a one round team match to gain life points.

NOTE C: This proposal has a major advantage over simply recording each player's highest current rating ever achieved. With the latter system, a player who is below lifetime peak strength due to advancing age has virtually no chance to achieve a new peak, but would still have a real chance to improve a life rating.

ADM 97-52 (Board): Quick Chess Grand Prix points are to be calculated in the same manner as any other Grand Prix points

The following motions deal with TD Certification issues:

ADM 97-53 (James Bolton, CT): Concerning Tournament Director certification exam results: Let there be optional explanation of wrong answers. The applicant to pay (for instance) a $5 fee for it before taking the exam, and the applicant to pay for the phone call, if any. Written explanations are not required. At present the applicant may not know what he is doing wrong.

The following motions deal with miscellaneous issues:

ADM-97-54 (Ken Horne, NV): The office will conduct a survey at the major open tournaments that are sponsored by the USCF. The purpose of these surveys will be for marketing and to learn information about the USCF's customers.

ADM 97-55 (Robert B. Tanner, AZ; Tim Just, IL): Be it resolved that in recognition of his services at major tournaments, including but not limited to the National Open, Wile E. Coyote is named an Honorary National Tournament Director.

XI. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF GOVERNANCE

XII. INSTALLATION OF NEW POLICY BOARD MEMBER.

XIII. ADJOURNMENT