August, 1998

1998 US Delegates Meeting

Governance Changes

Just before leaving for Hawaii, Harris' Committee's work became a hot potato. Some felt the governance rewrite went beyond what was approved at Orlando. The various factions arrived in Hawaii ready for war, a war that never took place. Compromise and cooperation by all, no doubt helped by beautiful scenery and the leisurely Hawaiian atmosphere, completely defused this potentially explosive issue. The Blue Ribbon governance implementation plans ended up being accepted at the Delegates meeting without objection.

Another important governance matter, OMOV (One Member One Vote), was on the advance agenda. New Hampshire delegate Hal Terrie placed it there. OMOV means direct election of the Policy Board by all adult members. When the Policy Board met on the Thursday before the Delegates Meeting, Vice President Bill Goichberg, Secretary Rachel Lieberman and I moved that the Policy Board endorse the Terrie motion and urge the delegates to vote for it. Member-at-Large Garrett Scott joined us and it passed 4 to 0 with Eade and Dorsch abstaining.

Unfortunately, at the delegates meeting as soon as the Terrie motion was made, a delegate moved to table it. I asked the maker of the tabling motion to reconsider since there had been no discussion, but others pointed out that a motion to table was not debatable and should proceed immediately to a vote without discussion. I therefore called for a roll call on the motion to table, giving everyone voting for or against it the opportunity to have their names recorded with how they voted. The motion to table passed. This was unfortunate since Executive Director Mike Cavallo was at the microphone prepared to speak in favor of it. Additional speakers were prepared to speak to the motion. I believe Terrie's motion would have passed had a fair discussion taken place, and all present listened carefully to the speakers.

New USCF Delegate to FIDE

Bill Kelleher was born on September 30, 1949 and is a life-long chess enthusiast. He has been a member of the USCF since 1969, and for many years has been active in New England chess. He is a former champion of Massachusetts, a former games Editor of the award winning Chess Horizons magazine and a FIDE Master and USCF Life Master. Bill is employed by Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts. He has a BA in European History and is currently finishing up an MA in Russian History at Boston University. He is married to WIM Vesna Dimitrijevic and they make their home in Watertown, Ma. Bill's appointment has received enthusiastic endorsements from many of America's leading chess players.

A recent issue of Chess Horizons contained a lengthy interview with our new delegate. Here are some quotes from that interview,

Comparing American players to players trained in Eastern Europe, "American players are self-taught, and you can see the difference. We don't have as good a positional understanding as they do. They have a much more solid foundation."

On Karpov and Kasparov,"You can learn the most from Karpov's games. They always have themes . . . are very positional . . .in contrast, Kasparov gets an opening advantage; there's a hurricane of tactics; then he crushes his opponent . . ."

On FIDE's ownership of the copyright to games played in the World Championship Knockout tournament, "I think that's an outrageous idea."

About USCF's effectiveness in promoting chess, " . . . good at promoting youth chess . . . no effort to keep strong players playing or young players in chess."

On the World Championship, "Kasparov has hijacked the world championship; somehow FIDE has to get back in control -- it's not good for chess to have such disorganization."

On delay clocks, "I don't like them at all."

On computers playing in the world championship, "I think it would be a boon for chess. The only question is, would chess then be devalued?"

New Appointments to US Chess Trust

Tom has recently helped our New Windsor office in some legal matters. Both Tim Redman and Mike Cavallo recommended Tom to me. I met with him and was so impressed that I told him on the spot that I would nominate him as a Trustee. He brings to the Trust New Blood, new ideas and fresh thinking. His considerable legal expertise and business experience will be very valuable additions to the Trust board. The following is some background on Tom,

Thomas F. Maser is a partner in the Palo Alto law firm of Tomlinson, Zisko, Morosoli, and Maser. He received his undergraduate and Doctor of Law degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. A leading authority on construction law, Tom is currently lead attorney developing new major league baseball parks in Seattle and San Francisco. Married, with a grown son and three grandchildren, Tom earned his first USCF Expert rating in the 1961 US Open in San Francisco. His most recent tournament was the 1998 US Open in Hawaii.

The second new Trustee, while far from New Blood brings a wealth of valuable experience and knowledge to the Trust Board. Former USCF President Harold Winston will serve the USCF in yet another way. Here is a short synopsis of Harold's background,

Harold J. Winston, 53 years old, served nine years on the USCF Policy Board and has chaired the Bylaws Committee since 1991. A founding member and past president of the Chess Journalists of America, Harold received the USCF Distinguished Service Award in 1992. A practicing Illinois attorney Harold is currently a supervisor in the Cook County Public Defenders Office. His commitment to USCF is shown by his participation in 30 straight annual USCF Board of Directors meetings. Harold has a J. D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University of Chicago law school and a masters in history from the University of Chicago. He is married to Dr. Carol Weinberg and has two daughters, Elizabeth and Katherine.

Olympiad

I then called the State Department and they told me the following,

1) President Ilyumzhinov has a reputation of doing everything possible to satisfy the needs of foreign visitors to Kalmykia. They went on to add that living conditions in Kalmykia were difficult and anyone we send there should understand this.

2) They had no comment on the murders and we could send a team there if we wished.

I asked many of the players who would represent us in Kalmykia. They all intend to go to the Olympiad. When I arrived in Hawaii, I asked the delegates their opinions on what we should do. Virtually everyone I asked stated that they felt this was an individual decision and that the USCF should send and finance a US team. When the matter came before the delegates, it was debated. My recollection is that only two delegates spoke in favor of the USCF boycotting the Olympiad. I respect both of them for stating so forcibly their minority viewpoint. Nevertheless, after listening to the arguments, a large majority voted that we send our team.

Olympiad Conditions

All this work is scheduled for completion only days before the Olympiad is set to begin. My concern is that corners may be cut and with so many variables, something will likely go wrong. I have advised the board and team members of my feelings. Whether long delays in leaving or other near intolerable conditions arise, everyone going should understand these potential problems. I have instructed staff to advise each person going what they may face and do all they can to keep up to date on the status of the various construction projects.

Other Delegate Matters

The first one was that the LMA publish an annual report showing investment objectives, risks, investments owned, and investment performance.

The second one requires all requested reimbursements by volunteers to be displayed on the USCF web page.

Best Wishes to Nancy Edmondson

In a book I'm writing about the last forty years in chess I state my opinion about Ed, specifically, "Ed Edmondson, as executive Director of the USCF, ended up having had more positive impact on US chess than perhaps anyone ever!"

Nancy became a charter member of the Honorary Society of Chess Mates which was established at the May PB meeting. The other charter members are Leah Koltanowski, Carrie Marshall, Nina Denker, and Ethel Collins. This year, at a meeting of past presidents, two additional members were inducted - Helen Kashdan and Norma Reshevsky.

Sincerely,
Don Schultz

Note: Peter Sherwood is the author of the interview with Bill Kelleher, quoted above, which appeared in Chess Horizons.

Archive of Previous Letters

The US Chess Federation is the official sanctioning body for tournament chess in the United States, and for US participation in international chess events. It has over 80,000 members. In addition to rating tournaments, the USCF supports and promotes chess activities in scholastics and correspondence chess. The USCF publishes two national magazines, CHESS LIFE and SCHOOLMATES (for children).

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