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Delegate Actions of Continuing Interest
- Sites of USCF-Sponsored Tournaments. Since the U.S. Chess Federation is open to all players, regardless of race, sex, creed, religion, or national origin, and is interested in promoting chess among all groups, all tournaments sponsored by USCF are to be conducted at sites accommodating the right to play of all USCF members. (1960)
- Tournament Coordination. The USCF shall exert its influence through its Regional Vice Presidents and Officers to coordinate and schedule sanctioned tournaments sponsored by regional or state chess organizations (without conflict of time and place). (1964)
- Speed of Rated Games. Any change in the speed of rated games requires approval by the Board of Delegates. (1971)
- Meeting Information. USCF Delegates shall be informed well in advance of the Annual Meeting of Board of Delegates of any substantive matters known to be on the advance agenda for the Delegates� Meeting.
- Monthly Rating Supplements. The Executive Board is authorized by the Delegates to publish annually the ratings in Chess Life and to publish monthly [later changed to bi-monthly] a supplement (with the biannual issue to be cumulative) to be sent to every affiliate, and to any other member who wishes to pay the cost of reproduction. (1972) (2002)
- Annual U.S. Championship. It is the intent of the Board of Delegates that a U.S. Championship be held annually. (1972) (1982) (1983 � with $25,000 budgeted each year)
- Adjournments at U.S. Opens. In the U.S. Open, the players shall not be compelled to adjourn if both players and the tournament director agree to play on for one more time-control period.
- Executive Board Minutes. Approximately four times per year, the Secretary shall mail to the Delegates copies
- Unfinished Delegate Business. All motions not acted on by the Delegates at the Annual Meeting that deal with matters which the Executive Board can act on under the Bylaws, shall by acted upon by the Board. These actions shall be reported in the Executive Board Newsletter and at the next year�s Delegates� Meeting. (1978) Motions limiting the Executive Board or disagreeing with the decisions made by the Executive Board shall automatically retain their place on next year�s Delegates� agenda. (1980)
- Smoking. Tournaments which prohibit smoking in the playing room of a USCF-rated tournament shall be so indicated in the Tournament Life Announcement in Chess Life. Smoking is prohibited at the following National Tournaments: U.S. Open, National Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Junior Open, U.S. Class. There shall be no smoking permitted in any contract areas of all national scholastic tournaments. (1998)
- State Chapter Recommendations. For the text of these recommendations on State Chapters, see Policy Board Newsletter #4 of 1980-81.
- USCF Regions and Regional Vice President Recommendations. For the text of these recommendations, see Policy Board Newsletter #4 of 1980-81.
- Paid Tournament Directors at National Tournaments. No Executive Board member shall serve as the paid TD of more than one USCF National Tournament or International Tournament during a calendar year unless the same opportunity has been declined by all non-members of the Executive Board who are qualified to direct the tournament. (1975) No Executive Board member shall be awarded a paid directorship or concession at a National Tournament on which he/she participated in the award vote, except in the case of an uncontested bid. An Executive Board will not be restricted in the number of awarded paid directorships or concessions received at any National Tournament when the award vote and the acceptance of a paid directorship or concession for the National Tournament occurred before the Executive Board member was elected to office. (1984, 1993, 1994)
- Teller�s Procedures. Unless some independent agency handles the election, provision shall be made to allow the tellers to properly fulfill their duties unencumbered by the burdens of a large-scale public meeting.
- Tournament Cancellation. Tournaments announced in Chess Life may not be cancelled unless the cancellation notice appears in Chess Life. Cancellations which occur too late to appear in Chess Life are permitted only if it is physically impossible to hold the tournament (for example, in the case of extreme weather conditions). Cancellations for any other reasons without notice are not permitted. Disappointing advance entries do not constitute a valid reason for cancellation. Organizers violating this rule shall be prohibited from listing their tournaments in �Tournament Life� or advertising in Chess Life for 3 years. Exceptions can be made by the USCF President or Executive Director in extreme circumstances. (1979) (2002)
- Chess Life.
Goals and Implementation. The goal of Chess Life shall be to promote the United States Chess Federation and chess in the United States and the world. Chess Life shall be the journal of record of chess play in the U.S.
As the Federation�s most important means of communication to its members, and as the Federation�s most visible service, the magazine should be as attractively and professionally produced as resources allow, making use of photography, artwork, cartoons, and other graphic devices, as warranted.
Mindful of our members and potential members, the wide range of playing strengths and interests represented therein, and our overall goal, Chess Life should present a comparable range of subject matter. Instructional analysis (aimed at a variety of skill levels), correspondence chess, reader opinion, non-technical (i.e., historical articles, fiction) and human-interest material (i.e., interviews), rules changes, national and international news, and providing coverage of international, national, and regional events, are suggested, but do not delimit areas of concentration.
Consistent with our stated goal, advertising in Chess Life is a service to readers as well as a significant source of revenue. The editor and publisher (Executive Director) will be responsible for ensuring that the overall advertising content in Chess Life and subject matter are appropriate. The editor and publisher, in their best judgment, have discretion to refuse any advertisement.
Composition of Chess Life. The following items shall be required Chess Life content:
Chess Life should provide a regular section for announcements of upcoming tournaments. This Tournament Life section should be well-organized, informative, and as helpful as possible in order to encourage participation in USCF-rated events, particularly USCF titled events, Grand Prix events, and American Classic events.
In contested elections to the Executive Board, Chess Life shall publish a campaign statement of up to 110 words for each candidate in the July issue.
The January issue of Chess Life shall contain an annual rating list for over-the-board players.
The April issue of Chess Life shall be the yearbook issue, containing general information about the USCF and about chess governance and activity in the U.S. Suggested content includes, but is not limited to, such things as names and addresses of significant individuals and organizations, top and busiest lists, and historical data.
Responsibility. Journalism is a public trust which is best served by the protection of the public interest and the preservation of the credibility of the publication. The reader�s right to know is best served when given accurate and complete, unbiased, and factual reporting. Opinion must never be confused with fact.
Criticism must be supportable by factual evidence. The purpose and nature of such criticism must be demonstrably in the public interest and not serve merely to harass or discredit. Fairness dictates that a person whose actions are criticized must be given the timely opportunity to explain those actions or reply to the criticism, although practical considerations may not permit concurrent response.
The editor is hired by the USCF Executive Board. The editor will be accountable to the publisher for the performance of his duties in a timely, responsible, and professional manner. The performance of the editor, with respect to the stated goal of Chess Life, will be subject to periodic review by the Executive Board. (1991)
Yearbook (Annual Yearbook in Chess Life). The Annual Yearbook be restored to either March, April, or May issue of Chess Life. (2001)
Delegate Info (Chess Life Publication). The issue of Chess Life that appears in the March, April, or May shall contain the names and contact information of current USCF Delegates and Alternate Delegates. (2001)
- Free Membership to Grandmasters and Woman Grandmasters. USCF membership shall be awarded to International Grandmasters, including Women Grandmasters, when it is determined by the Executive Director that a player is registering with FIDE as an American player; or when an American player is awarded the title by FIDE. (1980, 1991)
- Profits from Scholastic Tournaments. Any profits generated by National Scholastic Tournaments that are earned by USCF will be retained by USCF and earmarked for Scholastic Chess. (1998)
- Calling the Question. At USCF Delegates� meetings, the practice of a speaker calling the question immediately after speaking to the merits of a motion shall not be permitted. (1993)
- Review of DMs. At every Executive Board meeting, the Executive Board shall review the resolutions passed by the last annual Delegates� meeting to make certain those resolutions are being enforced. (1993)
- Supplemental Motions. All supplemental motions presented to the Delegates that are printed and received before the Delegates� meeting contain a rationale or discussion by the sponsor, limited to 50 words. (1993)
- Choosing Committees. It is the sense of the Delegates that committee chairmen shall be fully consulted prior to selection of committees and there shall be continuing consultation concerning committee membership and work through the liaison. (1994)
- Presenting Committee Reports. All annual committee reports not published in the annual report will be presented to the Delegates after the published committee reports have been presented to the Delegates and will be limited to a ten-minute presentation. (1994)
- Distributing Committee Reports. All printed committee reports distributed at the Delegates� meeting shall be offered to all Delegates who express an interest in the reports before copies are left unattended for general pickup. No reports may be left unattended until after the committee presentation to the Delegates has been completed. The presentation is to include mention that the printed reports are available and copies are to be handed to any Delegate that asks for them. (1994)
- Investment of Life Membership Assets. The LMA Committee shall establish an investment policy that is expected to produce an aggregate return equaling or exceeding 6% on its invested assets (excluding the USCF office building). (2002)
- Personnel. 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. The text of any Board-approved change to employee compensation will be recorded as a confidential BINFO item.
Any Board-approved change to an employee incentive plan must be finalized no later than 90 days after the plan has been approved. Any Board-approved employee contract must have the signature of no fewer than one officer and one other Board member. Board-conducted employee reviews must be discussed and written before presented. (1997)
- Standards of Conduct for the USCF Executive
Board. The USCF Board of Delegates establishes the following standards of conduct for Executive Board members in the performance of their duties:
General Principles. Members of the USCF Executive Board have responsibilities of the highest order for the promotion of chess and for stewardship of the resources of the USCF. In the execution of these responsibilities, they are expected to act lawfully and in accordance with USCF policy, and to adhere consistently to the principles of fairness, honesty, and respect for the rights of others. They are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout the performance of all duties, contributing thereby to maximum effectiveness in the achievement of the goals of the USCF.
(1) Executive 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 Board majority has no authority except as a majority vote within the context of a properly called Board meeting. Board decisions must result from discussions in which all Board members have had the opportunity to participate.
(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) Executive 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 Executive 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 for two years after completing 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 Executive 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 Executive Board or the USCF business office is involved in determining the arrangements; such restriction applies during the Board member�s tenure and for two years thereafter, with respect to actions taken during his or her tenure on the Board. This provision does not apply 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 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) A Board member should not pressure any USCF employee by means of stated or implied threats to employment. Specific criticism of other USCF employees should be conveyed discreetly to the Executive Director.
(3) The Executive Board is responsible for conducting business in an efficient, constructive, and open manner.
(a) All actions taken by the Executive Board must be consistent with the Bylaws of the USCF, and with all policy established by the USCF Board of Delegates.
(b) Executive Board members must respect the dignity of all persons in all statements and actions. 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 an Executive 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 Executive 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.
(4) When appointed by the Delegates, the USCF Ethics Committee may consider an allegation by any USCF member that an Executive Board member has committed significant violations of this code of conduct. The Ethics Committee may, if it determines that such violations have occurred, either warn the Board member or recommend actions, such as recall of the member, to the Board of Delegates in accordance with the Bylaws of the USCF. (1997)
- The Code of Ethics of the United States Chess Federation.
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 in accordance with procedures consistent with 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. The committee will exercise all other duties as may be assigned by the Bylaws or by action of the USCF Board of Delegates.
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 illegally giving, receiving, offering, or soliciting advice; or by consulting written sources; or by tampering with clocks; or in any other manner.
(c) Deliberately losing a game for payment, or to lower one's rating, or for any other reason; or attempting to induce another player to do so. Deliberately failing to play at one's best in a game, in any manner inconsistent with the principles of good sportsmanship, honesty, or fair play.
(d) Deliberately misrepresenting one's 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 or submitting a falsified rating report.
(f) Participating in a tournament while under suspension.
(g) Purposely giving false information in order to circumvent or violate any rule or regulation or goal recognized by the USCF.
(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 recommended by the Ethics Committee. In recommending 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. In recommending sanctions, the person being recommended for sanctions must be informed. Any person against whom sanctions have been recommended shall be promptly notified.
(c) Except as specified in 6(e) recommended sanctions shall be deemed final unless appealed to the Executive Board by the person or persons upon whom the sanctions have been imposed, or upon the initiative of any member of the Executive Board. Such an appeal must be made within 30 days of the date that notification of recommended sanctions occurred, except that the Executive Board may extend the deadline for appeal if in its judgment an unavoidable delay in communications or other valid cause prevented a timely appeal. If an appeal has not been filed by the deadline the recommended sanctions shall be placed into effect.
(d) Upon appeal, a review of the facts and the appropriateness of the recommended sanction shall be undertaken by the Executive Board. The person against whom the sanction has been recommended, as well as the person filing the initial complaint, shall be given notice of the time and place the Executive Board will review the case. The person against whom sanctions have been recommended shall have the right to appear before the Board and present evidence. In all appeals the recommended sanctions imposed by the Ethics Committee shall not be in effect until the appeal hearing is completed. The recommended sanctions shall be either confirmed, modified, or revoked by the Executive Board.
(e) If the person against whom sanctions have been recommended is a member of the USCF Executive Board, he or she may not appeal the sanctions to the Executive Board, but may appeal to the USCF Board of Delegates at its next scheduled meeting.
(f) If any member of the Ethics Committee or of the USCF Executive Board has a conflict of interest of any kind that might preclude objective participation in the consideration of any case, that person may not act in the capacity of a committee or board member on the case.
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 Executive Board or by the USCF Board of Delegates.
(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. If the person being sanctioned is a member of the USCF Executive Board, the Ethics Committee may recommend no sanctions other than censure or reprimand, but may also recommend to the Board of Delegates other actions.
9. 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.
10. The USCF Business Office shall be informed in writing of all official recommendations by the Ethics Committee, and shall record any recommendations. The USCF Business Office shall inform the Executive Board of any sanctions recommended.
- FIDE Policy. The U.S. Chess Federation adopts the following position:
The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) endorses the concept of a strong world organization of chessplayers, which supports a system of competitions for the strongest players in the world culminating in a valid world championship. The USCF also firmly embraces the principles of freedom of action and freedom of speech that are the foundation of the American way of life. In accordance with these principles, the USCF adopts the following position with respect to the FIDE Commerce proposal as it has been presented:
1. The USCF cannot accept any regulation that limits journalistic freedom or freedom of expression for any individual, or interferes with the efforts of free enterprise to promote chess. The USCF cannot recognize a censure, boycott, sanction, or other restrictive or punitive action that contradicts our principles of freedom of action, speech, or the press, or that is imposed for behavior that does not violate the USCF�s Code of Ethics.
2. The USCF must reserve the right to recognize or withhold recognition of any world championship event or title, in accordance with the principles established by our Board of Delegates regarding the validity of the world championship title. The USCF endorses the principle of compromise in helping to bring about a universally accepted world championship.
3. The USCF endorses working toward a more logical program of high-profile tournaments and toward cooperative Internet ventures, and might be willing to consider entering contractual arrangements toward those ends. Questions of open accounting and of legitimacy of funding must be addressed prior to any such arrangement and as part of any such arrangement.
4. The USCF considers that conflict-of-interest issues must be satisfactorily addressed in any plan to grant economic interest in any venture to any person or organization within FIDE, or any organization affiliated with FIDE, or to give voting rights to any individual or organization whose financial gain would be affected by the exercise of such voting rights.
5. The USCF considers that any plan to be put into effect must have the approval of the FIDE General Assembly and must not be inconsistent with the principles in this position statement.
6. The USCF Delegate or representative to FIDE is instructed to act in accordance with this motion.
- Delegate Meeting Dates. The Delegates� meeting will be held no later than the first full weekend of August. This requirement is in effect for all U.S. Opens for which dates had not been set as of August 2000. (2000)
1. No round of the U.S. Open may be scheduled to conflict with the Delegates Meeting. (2001)
- EB Transcripts and Minutes. The following procedure was adopted for the documentation of the proceedings of Executive Board meetings:
1. The Secretary or his or her designee shall prepare Minutes based upon the documentation of motions in the transcripts of the meeting and submit them to the Executive Board for comments, corrections, and/or suggestions.
2. The Secretary or his or her designee shall consider the comments made by the Executive Board and may revise the Minutes where appropriate. Any deviation from the transcript must be indicated with an explanation and a reference to the transcript. The transcript must be available concurrently.
3. The transcript of all Open session meetings are to be posted on the USCF website as soon as practical, so that anyone who has any questions can access the basic documentation for all motions and can access Open session discussions that are not likely to be in the published Minutes. Since any motions made in Closed session must be voted in Open session as well, the Open session transcripts will be sufficient to document all motions.
4. The transcripts are to include all Open session activity. The stenographer must record everything until the meeting is actually adjourned. No motions are to be voted on the absence of the stenographer. If it is not on the Open session transcripts it did not happen! (2000)
- Binfo System. In the interest of both history and accountability, the Board information (BINFO) system should be maintained and used in the following manner:
1. The Executive Board and Executive Director will place documents relating to their decisions and discussions in this record system.
2. An effort will be made to include all relevant documents bearing on the making of USCF policy and other decisions.
3. At the request of any single Executive Board member or the Executive Director, a document will be placed in the system.
4. BINFO documents may be classified as confidential, using strict, documented criteria.
5. Classified BINFO�s will be reviewed periodically for declassification. This will include but not be limited to documents now in the system and placed there by previous Boards.
6. Non-classified documents will be supplied to members on request; a reasonable duplication fee may be charged.
7. Binders of non-classified documents will be maintained at the USCF office and will be available on request to visiting adult members to examine while in the office.
8. Updated, descriptive indexes of the BINFO system will be available on the USCF website in the most expeditious manner possible, and available in hard copy on request for a reasonable duplication fee. (2000)
9. Non-confidential BINFOs are to be made available electronically without cost to any Delegate or Alternate Delegate that asks to receive them. This is to be done by making them available on the USCF website in a public area and/or setting up a read-only mailing list and adding to the list anyone who wants to receive the BINFO's via e-mail. (2001)
- U.S. Open Scheduling. The U.S. Open shall finish no later than August 15th. (1999)
- Scholastic Chess. The USCF shall have a full-time Scholastic Director, working in consultation with the Scholastic Committee. The job description and workload priorities of the Scholastic Director will be developed jointly by the Scholastic Committee and the Executive Director. The Finance Committee shall include at least one member recommended by the Scholastic Committee. The USCF shall implement an income and expense system, which separately identifies scholastic chess activities. (1999)
- ADM votes on the Website. The final decision of the Board of Delegates on ADMs shall be recorded and published on the USCF website. All available information regarding the vote shall be included. (1999)
- Ballots. Ballots shall contain only a candidate�s name and state. No titles, credentials or other honors shall appear on ballots. (1999)
- World Championship. The U. S. Chess Federation officially recognizes the following principles regarding the World Championship of Chess:
1. The title of World Champion is a symbol of the recognition given by the chessplayers of the world to the most skilled chess competitor at any point in time. As such it cannot logically be an object of property subject to ownership.
2. It follows from point one that the title of World Champion, to be valid, must be conferred by an organization representing the world�s chessplayers. The Championship must be awarded as the result of a system of competition, which is fairly and objectively organized to determine the strongest competitor at that point in time. Such a competition must eliminate, to the extent possible, the effects of luck or other factors irrelevant to skill.
3. The U.S. Chess Federation directs its leadership and its representatives to strive to help create a unified system of competition for the World Championship that is fully consistent with principles one and two. (1998)
- Committee Actions. USCF Committees, excepting those appointed by the Delegates, exist to advise and recommend, but may not make any ruling that affects the status of any member without ratification by the Executive Board, Office or Delegates. (1998)
- Delegate Committees. All newly-created Delegates� Committees must have a statement of purpose defining their function. (1998)
- LMA Annual Report. The LMA Management Committee shall publish an annual report showing the performance of the fund�s investments, the investments owned, the investment strategy, and an assessment of investment risks. (1998)
- Based on Prizes. Effective January 1, 1999, all tournaments without exception advertised in Chess Life, Tournament Life, or elsewhere shall be required to pay at least 50% of any based-on prize advertised if the prize fund is over $500. Based-on prizes in tournaments with an advertised total prize fund of $500 or less must be paid in proportion to turnout. Minimum penalty for violation of this rule shall be disqualification from advertising in Chess Life for one year. Additional penalties may be imposed at the discretion of the Executive Director. If a tournament is affected by an act of God, then the organizer may appeal to the Executive Board. Exceptions can be made by the USCF President or Executive Director in extreme circumstances. (1998) (2002)
- Volunteer Expenses. A summary of all reimbursements to each member of the Executive Board, International Delegations, and all other volunteers shall be published in the Executive Board Newsletters and on the USCF website. (1990, 1998)
- Executive Board Newsletter. The EBN shall include prompt reports of actions taken by the membership, quarterly state-by-state membership statistics, quarterly USCF financial information, financial outlines of national tournaments completed each quarter, notice of major changes in staffing assignments, prompt reports of actions proposed or taken by FIDE that directly affect the USCF or its members, and USCF committee reports when available. A five-year graph charting USCF membership statistics in all categories shall appear annually in the EBN. (1990)
- Membership Accounting. 90% of the income from life memberships and 50% from sustaining memberships shall be deposited directly in to the LMA. Services provided to life and sustaining members shall be funded quarterly. (1996, 1999)
- Bylaws Committee. To aid the Delegates and the Executive Board in informed decision making, the Bylaws Committee shall advise the Executive Board and the Delegates concerning both the substance and the wording of proposed bylaws changes. (1987)
- Drug Testing.The Delegates believe that drug testing is unnecessary in chess and urge FIDE to limit testing only to events where it is absolutely essential for qualification into the Olympic Games. (2001)
- Candidate Disclosure (Executive Board Candidate Disclosure). Executive Board candidates are asked to disclose if they are employed full time or are a candidate for full-time employment with any organization that is a vendor for the USCF, a competitor to USCF in any area, or has any significant other business interest (including substantial ownership of a business) that could be affected by decisions made by the USCF. Failure to disclose these interests would not disqualify a candidate from running, but could effect the voter's evaluation of the candidate. (2001)
- Delegates Call (Report in Delegates Call). A report on compliance or noncompliance with the previous year's Delegate Motions will be provided in the Delegates Call each year. (2001)
- Delegate Elections (Ballots and State Elections). Ballots should indicate that voters may vote for up to as many persons as there are positions to fill. To minimize ties, State Chapters are encouraged to nominate more persons than there are positions to be filled. Each ballot will specify the number of Delegate positions for each state. (2001)
- Committees (No Pay for Committee Members). Members of USCF Committees shall not be paid for committee work without authorization of the Delegates. They may continue to receive reimbursement for expenses. (2001)
- Rating Lists (Via Hard Copy or Electronic). Rating Lists (annual lists and supplements) can be received via hard copy or electronic media at the discretion of the affiliate or subscriber at no additional cost. (2001)
- USCF Regions. Executive Board election results shall once again be tabulated by region, beginning in 2003. There shall be twelve regions, each consisting of the same states that the region included before the discontinuation of regions. (2002)
- Financial Reports on Website. Comprehensive USCF financial reports including at least a balance sheet and statement of all activities will be posted on the USCF website on at least a quarterly basis. (2002)
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