Over the past few days, my children and I were in Washington DC on the invitation of the Treasury Chief of Staff Jim Wilkinson. On the first day, we had the general tour of Washington DC. It was a wonderful experience for all of us as well as an educational one for my children. It is quite different learning things from the text books versus experiencing things in person.
On the second day, we were on a special VIP tour to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving where money is actually being printed. We had access to areas not open to the public. We got to see the step by step process of how things are done from sorting the paper, the step by step printing process, the computerized scanning process and checking for bad money, the cutting, the packaging and wrapping, etc. What a process! It was fascinating to see the raw money paper and how each element is being printed from A to Z.
One of the funniest signs we saw was: “Free Money Tomorrow”. I guess the staff has been asked more than once if guests can keep the samples. It is always tomorrow 🙂
On the third day, We met the Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez (Secretary Gutierrez knows about the Miami-Dade College Chess team since he is Cuban American and very proud of their accomplishment) and the Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson as well as other important people.
Then we had a private lunch at the Department of Treasury with the Chief of Staff. He told me a fascinating story of how he learned chess. I will save this incredible story for later.
After lunch, I spoke to a group of about 20 very imporant senior staffers in Washington. One of the these people is the Treasury Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral (Ms. Cabral and Mr. Paulson’s signatures are both on all the new bills). I will publish the full list of participants soon. I must say it is quite an impressive list of people in our government.
At this hour long discussion, I presented the many benefits of chess and how it can create foundations for strong leadership.
Everyone was so supportive. We also discussed plans on how to further support chess. A major chess event at the Treasury Department and perhaps the White House is not out of the question. I will continue working with the Chief of Staff about this and update you with this. Chess in America has never received attention from this level before. This is ground breaking opportunity for US Chess!
Good strategy. Get close to the money money
Does the Treasury Tour give out free samples?
Whoops, didn’t read the article in full. They already did that joke. I’m crushed, I thought I was the first one to think of it.
Come to think of it, though, when I visited the Treasury years back, the Tour Guide did roll his eyes something awful when he heard that line, but I just assumed something he ate for breakfast had disagreed with him.
… i went back next day for my free samples – but the guard at the front door convinced me not to do so, yelling:
“Come on boy, there will always be a tomorrow, but sometimes tomorrow never comes!”
^^
This is Treasury Chief of Staff Jim Wilkinson. Susan was great, and actually several people emailed and called me to say they were going home last night and going to start learning chess. Some people there had little kids that they now want to introduce to chess because of Susan’s story. I had never met Susan before, but I have to tell you, she is a fantastic ambassador for chess. Our guests were non-political and represented senior US Government professionals who were excited to hear and learn about chess. Susan exposed a whole new group of people to chess and got them playing! We were lucky to have her. Susan, come back soon!!! Jim
My favorite line from “Groundhog Day” is “What if there is no tommorow? There wasn’t one today!”
(If you havent seen the movie then of course that makes no sense…)
@last anonym – a great one! and pretty unknown to me! THX!
Jim Wilkinson said…
This is Treasury Chief of Staff Jim Wilkinson. Susan was great, and actually several people emailed and called me to say they were going home last night and going to start learning chess. Some people there had little kids that they now want to introduce to chess because of Susan’s story. I had never met Susan before, but I have to tell you, she is a fantastic ambassador for chess.
>>
I’ve always wondered, does the Treasury Department have a Tech Support line? I imagine conversations like…
“Hello, my money isn’t working.”
“What do you mean not working?”
“I put it in this vending machine, and it just spit it back out at me.”
“Did you try smoothing the bill out and ironing out the creases?”
“Yes.”
“Did you examine the bill to see if anyone had drawn on it with a marker or something, that might interfere with the scanner?”
“Oh, yeah. Somebody’s drawn a beard on Lincoln.”
“That’s supposed to be there, sir. Wait a minute, did you say Lincoln?”
“Yes.”
“Sir, are you using a $5 bill?”
“Lemme look. Yeah. yeah, it is.”
“Sir, most vending machines are designed to take $1 bills only. Try it with a 1.”
“Okay. Hey, that’s done it. It’s working now.”
“Thank you for calling the US Treasury, your case number is 123456789. Is there anything else we can do for you?”
“Yes, I’d like to complain that James K. Polk isn’t on any of the bills I have.”
“Let me get you to Customer Service…”
Hehe, James K. Polk really does deserve his face on a bill…
A chess coin for coin collectors.
Can we have transcripts of the meeting. Maybe a video of this meeting? I would love to know what exactly GM Susan said to impress everyine.
Rgds M.