Here are the stunning words from a Medical Doctor, a Chess Master and a Wonderful Chess Patron for years. I DID NOT solicite his endorsement. I did not ask him to post. In fact, I did not even contact him about the election or with any other USCF matter. His sentiment is similar to the thousands of people who wrote to me about their frustration with the destruction of the USCF by its chess politicians:
“It is important to remember what the priorities are, who the audience is and where the USCF wants to go. As a M.D., executive and chess master I have spent tens of millions of dollars building reputation, securing relationships built on integrity, grit and always trying to make good moves.
On 3 occasions I have tried to give large sums of money to better us chess. My history of philanthropy, both mine and my family include a recent 1 million dollar donation to temple kol tikvah in parkland Florida. Donations to endow chair at Brown, Cornell, providing college scholarships and endowments to hospital and psychiatric institutes. This has garner goodwill for the community and myself.
In dealing with hundreds of executives I have never seen a board so ire in petty disputes, conflict of interest and need for control. The focus must change from web site slander to action.
Susan Polgar and her team are professional, fiscally responsible, even handed and honest. How can you compare these fine people to the ones that have perpetuated petty wars for decades?
The awful experience that Mr. Andersen (founder of the AF4C, the biggest sponsor of the USCF, organizer and sponsor of a number of US Championships) had, I have now had on 3 occasions, Intel, and other corporate sponsors have endured is a shame.
In Norway, I am an honored quest; the players Carlsen, Lie in particular treat me with respect, educate me and treat me as an equal. The organizer Hans Olav in Gausdal is caring and sincere.
I return to blogs, boards, insults and deceit. Guess where my money will go. Susan can bring us all in from the cold. Out with the old in with the new! Go Susan!”
This is not the only problem. There are many other problems. But the biggest problem is the CHESS POLITICIANS JUST DO NOT GET IT! There are tens and thousands of chess players, chess parents, chess coaches, chess volunteers, chess professionals, chess sponsors, etc., who DO NOT CARE FOR THE UGLY AND DIRTY CHESS POLITICS! They care about chess, not chess politics!
Employees in Crossville are up to their necks in work. Many of them are overworked and underpaid. But they do it because they love chess and they want to help. A thank you once in a while would boost their morale so much. But instead of doing that, board members and chess politicians keep them busy with the own agenda. These same politicians are also abusing our sponsors, volunteers, supporters and even members. They spare no one. They will do whatever it takes to anyone to maintain their power and the status quo.
But if I speak up and point out the problems, I am being called negative and these people threatened to harm me, my family and even sue me. This is why one good person after another keep on leaving this federation. When will it be enough? Why do we continue to vote in some of the most unprofessional, incompetent and unqualified people to the Executive Board year after year?
There are 10 candidates in this election. 2 of them have no business running in this election or being on the board. There are 8 acceptable, good and very good candidates. Before you cast that vote, PLEASE ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS and vote for the 4 who you think are most qualified, energetic, professional, experience and passionate to help the USCF!
– What have any of these candidates do for chess and the USCF in the past 4-5 years?
– What positive impact have they made for our federation?
– What is their vision for chess and the USCF? Do they even have one? Do they even care?
– Who do you want to represent chess and the USCF in front of sponsors, educators and legislators, etc?
Anyone can make false or wild promises in a campaign but few have delivered. I have been asked by chess politicians from both sides to join their chess political parties. I refused even though there are some wonderful people and even my friends. It is not personal.
I did not enter this election to be a chess politician. I entered this election to fix chess, the USCF and lead this organization into a positive direction. I want this federation to run in a professionally, efficiently and soundly. I have no party. I am Chess Mom, Chess Coach, Chess Professional, Chess Ambassador, Chess Promoter, Chess Organizer, Chess Sponsor and most of all, I AM A CHESS LOVER.
Here are some of the biggest problems with the USCF and below that are my goals for the USCF:
• Too many bad financial and business decisions
• Too many decisions made for political reasons instead of the best interests of US chess and the USCF
• Too much frivolous spending without long-term vision
• Too little effort to raise much-needed revenues to ensure the good health of this federation
• Too little focus on positive chess marketing and promotion
• Too little focus on many membership categories such as adult, scholastic, collegiate, correspondence, and military chess
• Too little effort to retain our memberships, especially the scholastic members
• Too little integrity, honesty, credibility and professionalism by some board members
• Too little accountability of our board members
• Too little respect for our members, affiliates, partners, supporters and sponsors
• Too little willingness to keep the USCF up with the times and too much micro-managing of the staff
Here are some of my areas of focus for the USCF if I’m elected:
• Restore respectability, integrity, credibility and professionalism to the USCF
• Reestablish a sound and balanced budget
• Develop strong cooperation and support for adult, scholastic, collegiate, correspondence, military and internet chess
• Establish a strong professional marketing and PR system
• End the petty and destructive politics
And to help me with these critical areas, I strongly recommended the following candidates who can help turn the USCF into a strong and viable organization:
• Paul Truong: He’s by far the most successful person in chess marketing, promotion, public relations, and management. Paul can bring something to this federation that no one could in the past. We badly need his expertise, energy, experience and passion for chess.
• Mikhail Korenman: He has a strong record in promoting and organizing chess events. He’s a member of the USCF Scholastic Council. He’s well respected by many people, including former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and many others. We need his experience and ability to unite all groups.
I cannot do it alone. That is why I need the most competent and qualified team to help me. Even if you disagree with me, please don’t forget to vote. The ballots will come in the June Chess Life. Changes are needed! Thank you for your support and I am looking forward to some of the best years for the USCF ahead!
Susan,
Any chance you can turn on RSS feeds for your wonderful blog? It would make it a much more enjoyable
to read.
thanks – Warren
I think MD is managing director,not medical doctor, no?
The letter from the “M.D., executive and chess master” seems basically to be complaining that when he financially supports chess in the United States, people have written mean things about him on Internet forums, etc. Indeed, some of the USCF Executive Board members say mean things about sponsors.
Therefore, he prefers to support chess in Norway, where apparently people aren’t allowed to write mean things about anybody. Or maybe its that everybody in Norway is nice and polite and wouldn’t ever think of being mean.
Susan promises that if she and her team are elected, nobody will be allowed to write mean things about sponsors or anybody. I don’t how she plans on fulfilling this promise, but if you are against meanness and bullies, vote for Susan.
Can someone tell me how Sam Sloan made it to the USCF board? Isn’t he like the world’s biggest nuisance??
Dunno what MD stands for but Eric Moskow (for it is he) certainly is a medical doctor. An internalist, he tells me, although we don’t have such an expression in English.
The voting’s a bit of a no-brainer, isn’t it? Not that I have a vote.
I played Susan in England when she was about 13. I thought then she was an impressive young lady who would do something in the game. Of course she’s done something already, but still this could be the ‘something’ I had in mind. Go Susan. And indeed Eric.
Percy
Warren, Susan’s blog can be read through an RSS reader like Google Reader. That’s how I keep up with it.
It is wonderful to read someone else tell it like it is. I have experienced the same as he has at my regular member status. I do not have big money to donate. But I can see what is happening very clearly. The doctor knows the truth. I too have been attacked when I say something nice about Susan. My words are twisted into the opposite of what I said. Then they expect me to argue with them but I have learned to ignore TROLLS. I do not argue with them. Susan does the right thing when she stays away from the forums. They simply want to wallow in the filth and drag anyone into the sewer with them.
I kind of borrowed those ideas from reading someone else.
I am a Life Member of USCF for almost 40 years. This is the first election of any kind including political election where I have become excited and sort of involved in really wanting to see someone elected. All other elections I simply voted but this one is super special. I really see a change can be made.
I am also excited because absolutely everyone last election said they would never vote for Sam and he won. So I learned how important it is to make sure that all of the 4 candidates elected are the Susan Polgar Team.
To me this is the most important election that USCF has ever faced. If we do not get 4 votes on the EB so changes can be voted in then it will be business as usual with the worst of dirty fighting. These dirty politicians will try to totally destroy the good forces of change.
NONE of the other 6 candidates care one whif about the members. Susan’s team really cares so much about each of us.
I know we can do it if we stick together. Make sure every member age 16 and over votes for all 4 of Susan’s team and a new era in chess will dawn for all of us. We all shall have the sun shine on us all.
I have waited almost 40 years for this day. Way back we used to talk about this day. We all kept hoping it would come back in the early 70’s but with patience the days went by one by one. Now it is 2007 and finally someone has turned up to change the mess we have endured for so long.
I am sure a lot of people think there is no problem or believe the lies of the opposition. But I beg you to open your heart to see the truth. Vote for Susan and all her team members. Susan can not do it alone. That is what the opposition is counting on. They want to just get one or two members elected so Susan will be helpless to make constructive changes. They will then continue their campaign to destroy Susan and all the good she has done. Please do not allow it to happen.
By the way. I have never met Susan or any candidate for EB. I have never talked to any candidates via any means like phone or email. I just observe for almost 40 years. I can see what is happening. I can read the destructive USCF Forums. It does not take a genius to see the truth. I am lucky to be retired now and have the time to read everything.
Make sure you get your friends to vote. DO not let them drop their ballot under the desk or table. Make sure it gets marked and into the mail back to those counting the votes. Make a pledge to phone your friends to make sure they did not just promise to do it but that they actually got that vote into the mail.
I also want to thank the doctor for expressing his opinion. Every person helps. We can make a positive change if we all work together and share our entheusiasm for Susan and her Team.
Remember a vote for Susan is a vote for yourself.
I use this link in my feed reader:
http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/atom.xml
(last part is atom.xml) in case that wrapped poorly…
Many of the current board members are so incompetent. It’s time for a new board and new leadership.
percy, my british friend, whatsup, hows geet, cooksey, ward, williams doing. regards to all and thanks. 4 years at gausdal all pleasure, one conversation with uscf and mired in aggravation. gausdal needs to be a triannual event . hans i am onboard go.
I suppose one of the people that Susan is referring to is Sam Sloan. Who is the other? And what about the rule change to get Monroi’s sponsorship?