Under the leadership of USCF President Bill Goichberg, Vice President Jim Berry, VP of Finance Randy Bauer and Executive Director Bill Hall, the USCF lost approximately 1,500 members (according to Mike Nolan) in February in comparison to 12 months ago.
The USCF also lost $420,000 (according to USCF Chief Financial Officer Joe Nanna) in the first 7 months of this fiscal year.
In the month of March, the USCF lost 2,049 members compare to a year ago.
In the month of April, the USCF lost another 2344 members compare to a year ago.
The USCF membership was nearly 96,000 in 2003 and it is less than 80,000 right now.
In addition, due to incompetence and mishandling of legal contracts, the USCF lost the $150,000 guaranteed annual revenues from our official B&E partner.
The USCF can longer afford to host its own U.S. Championship / U.S. Women’s Championship, send teams to the Olympiad or the World Team Championship. In fact, the USCF cannot even afford to send its own Zonal President to the FIDE meetings to fight for the rights of our players.
If it was not for the generosity of the KCF or Mr. Sinquefield, there would be no U.S. / U.S. Women’s Championship and our teams could not go to the Olympiad. But as of now, our team has no money to compete in the World Team Championship.
Instead of focusing of fixing the many serious problems and finding ways to cut spending and increasing revenues, the USCF leadership continues to use USCF members’ money for political purpose.
Many decisions that could effect the future of the entire federation are being made in secrecy. At least two current board members, including USCF President Bill Goichberg, and one past board member were involved in a “bribery for votes” scheme.
Unfortunately, the truth is being hidden from its members. Instead of focusing on promoting and growing chess and the USCF, hundreds of thousands of dollars of USCF members’ money have been spent without proper authorization to go after people who are critical of this administration, including USCF volunteers, members and delegates.
3-time U.S. Champion GM Lev Alburt spoke out here about his experience serving on the USCF board. 5-time U.S. Champion GM Larry Evans also spoke out about it many times in the past.
No matter what kind of pressure I face, I will continue to report to you what goes on behind the scene and what are some of the causes for the failure of the USCF. It the next month, I will share with you the specific problems and potential solutions to fix these problems.
https://chessdailynews.com/the-state-of-the-us-chess-federation/
http://www.uschess.blogspot.com/
I’m sick and tired of the USCF corruption. Goichberg has no business being on the board. It’s a gross conflict of interest for him to run CCA and be on the USCF EB. There’s no way that Haring, Atkins or Berry should be on the board so they can blindly vote for Goichberg. I can no longer trust Berry. I took his word about his past conduct in Oklahoma. Now it seems that it’s his normal pattern. All of them should go and Bill Hall should be fired on the spot for his incompetent handling of the Miami Open and ChessCafe.
If the board can take decisions in closed secret sessions, then it is something seriously wrong with the rules.
Open up the meetings for the members and let them vote in important questions like in every democratic society.
I let my USCF membership lapse 10 years ago, and no small part of the reason for my not buying back in to the USCF is knowing that any money given to them would be misappropriated by those running the USCF for personal and selfish reasons, and not in the interest of the organization in general and not in the interests of the player-members from weakest to strongest.
Since the advent of online chess I feel less trapped by the USCF. Although I think otb is best by far, I can get by without the USCF for as long as it takes for the organization to become fiscally responsible, and to serve its members and not regard them as a source of revenue.
I was thinking of becoming a member of the USCF, but I am going to wait until there is a change of leadership…
Kamalakanta
Isn’t it easier just to form a new national chess organization separate from the USCF that will promote chess in the USA? It sounds like it would not be so difficult to offer chess players a better alternative to the USCF than they have now. This was suggested by quite a few posters before you and Paul Truong decided to run for USCF executive board. By participating in such a corrupt organization one is forced to play by the (usually dirty) rules of the organization currently in place. It is like someone running for public office who wants to do away with politics and politicians. The reality is, one can’t be a non-politician in a den of politicians and expect to get anything accomplished. I think it is time to abandon the USCF and get on with forming a truly transformational organization for chess promotion in the USA.
The thought of these guys getting another 4 years upsets me. What can I do to stop a tragedy. The USCF members deserve better. Goichberg and Berry need to be gone from the USCF board before they bankrupt the federation.
Berry fought against Scholastics in OK for years. It was only the pressure brought upon him during the election that caused him to have a settlement with Scholastic in OK.
As soon as being elected he voted 100% against Susan who does so much for scholastic chess. He is not to be trusted. He has an inner agenda. He manipulates to get elected. He is not good for a major section of chess. The scholastic people who are important to USCF and deserve to have their voice heard.
I also was tricked by Berry. I will never vote for him again. We must oppose Berry with everything.
Berry got elected because his brother put up the money for the US Championships. $50,000. And also because of his supposed support of Susan and his so called settlement with the Scholastics group in OK. Which is ridiculous because the scholastic group was the official uscf chess group. Berry had been trying to establish a group outside the USCF to oppose the official uscf group headed up by people he opposed.
We have had a similar fight here at USCF since Berry came here. He will fight and not settle. He is not good for chess. Oppose Berry. Remember Berry votes to spend all the money on lawyers. Goichberg and Berry always want their way. They don’t care about the members of its resources.
It depends on who gets elected this election. If Goichberg wins then the end will come within the next couple of years.
It is crucial that the USCF get new leadership as soon as possible. The spending must stop. The old guard boize club wants to spend it all on themselves.
Don’t forget about the great benefactors who will have washed their hands of the USCF,and the drained benefactors whose resources have already been squandered. A few people with power have done their best to ruin US chess. Other countries with far less will be doing very much better.
Susan please create a NEW organization. The Chess Assoc of America. Adopt rating system, etc, I bet in time there will be a mass exodus from USCF. Bill Roichberg and his “boys” will be left hanging in the breeze.
Even if Goichberg lost the election, the lawsuits will keep on going for years. It may not be the lawsuits that we have at present, it will be the lawsuits that will happen because of the results of the election. Sam Sloan has already set an example during the last election, if you lose the election just take the case to court. The new motto, you do not have to be a candidate that has a chance to win the election, you just have to be a candidate that loses the election that has grounds for a lawsuit.
If there is a lawsuit that is started because of this election, the United States Chess Federation is in a cycle that cannot be broken.
If members want a better and more professional USCF, Bill Goichberg and Jim Berry must go. Ruth Haring and Mike Atkins have no business running for the board. They’re only running to give Goichberg and Berry 2 extra votes to pass their agenda. Lafferty and Mottershead have absolutely no experience or credentials in chess. They’re the cause for many of the USCF’s current problems.
That leaves Korenman, Lugo, Hetch and Nietman.
We need to add to the bylaws that members can sue other USCF members but the person bringing the suit has to pay all expenses on both sides.
This would stop frivolous laws suits.
Wrong! It should be the loser(s) in court would pay all legal expenses from their own pockets. This way, people like Goichberg, Jim Berry, Randy Bauer and Bill Hall can’t hide behind the USCF to do their dirty politics. They should be forced to back up their stupid political game with their own money instead of wasting members’ funds. Bill Goichberg and Jim Berry bankrupt the USCF and they want another 4 years? For what? They need to be shown the door.
How come the members don’t hear about Bill Hall and Bill Goichberg’s screw up with Chess Cafe? This can cost the USCF a million bucks.
How come we don’t hear about Goichberg, Hough and Hanken bribing USCF members and non-members for votes? Isn’t bribery illegal?
How come we don’t hear how much money Bill Goichberg and Jim Berry lost as President and VP of the USCF? They cost the members way over $500K in financial losses.
Of course members don’t get to hear this. They control Chess Life and the USCF website so they can post any lie they want.
I hope the delegates will vote to force these guys to reimburse the USCF members every penny they spent for their own stupid political garbage.
The only person who can save this organization is Bobby Fischer. They need to go to Iceland and bring him back. Probably Obama will excuse the penalty imposed by George Bush for doing business in a war zone and let him back in the country. Would not it be something to see Bobby Fischer beat Garry Kasparov for the World Championship!?
This is how the USCF operates for 30-40 years. Nothing can change as long as the same people like Goichberg and Jim Berry are putting their own political interest first. Jim Berry has a long history of going after his political opponents in Oklahoma. He’s now doing it on the national level. Goichberg has done the same to other Grandmasters. These guys won’t let go of power.
Susan:
The report is excellent; however, the solution has not been brought to us. We hear about the state of affairs and we agree that something is wrong, but what is the solution. I read from the comments that it would be better to form a new federation, but we do not see from either GM Alburt or GM Evans a clear solution.
If forming a new federation is the answer than why has one not been created? If one can be created who would start it? If it is started, how can we assure the new members that what happened to the old USCF won’t happen again? If the new organization is formed will FIDE approve it?
We need answers with clear solutions.
We know that a problem exists, so someone give us the solutions, and the timetable and the how and lets all get involved.
Im a business person and that is how I handle my business. Identify the problem and then plan and execute a solution.
Your friend,
abed
“The only person who can save this organization is Bobby Fischer. They need to go to Iceland and bring him back. Probably Obama will excuse the penalty imposed by George Bush for doing business in a war zone and let him back in the country. Would not it be something to see Bobby Fischer beat Garry Kasparov for the World Championship!?”
YES! Let’s dig up Bobby’s bones and let them rule the US chess world. Together with the bones of the “Elephant Man”, the two boney leaders will heal our fractured if not brain-dead chess federation.
Brilliant!
How can Goichberg and Jim Berry stay on the board and run for re-election while they’re involved in this bribery scandal? Should they be removed from the board?
The only 4 candidates in the upcoming election who have no political baggage and clearly have done so much for chess are Eric Hecht, Mikhail Korenman, Blas Lugo and Mike Nietman. The rest of the candidates are corrupt big time.
Haring and Atkins have gone on the record supporting the USCF spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation. Mottershead, Lafferty, Sloan, Goichberg and Berry are being sued for $25 million for their wrong doings.
The USCF just can’t afford to have people like them on the board.
Susan its clear your doing a great job anyone can see that, so bravo to you, Yo thats the ticket nice movie, hadnt see that in years!hehe Bobby was a great competitor but the U.S. really dont need him to beat them anymore,we on point! hehe
I like cheese.
This letter was just made public by one of the most respected people in chess. Fred Gruenberg has been the organizer of the National Open for the past 25 years. Here is what he wrote:
Bill,
I just got my subpoena to produce documents for your case against Susan and Paul.
Not a problem – I have absolutely nothing to hide.
But I am appalled at who is requesting this information.
IT IS CONTINENTAL CHESS!!!!!!
Not the USCF. Not Sam Sloan. Nope, it’s you, Bill Goichberg.
Why the vendetta? When I found out that you and Jerry Hanken arranged, by paying for rooms and free entries, to have Jessica and her husband Hero, vote to expel Susan and Paul from the board and your lawyer accusing them of doing things that are still in question – I decided I really don’t want to associate with an organization run like this.
After your failed attempt Jerry Hanken sent me a ” drop dead – get lost” email.
Hanken and you are the reasons I am getting out of chess.
And now you are personally pursuing this. You should be ashamed!!
Fred Gruenberg
(Note that the legal fees for Continental Chess is paid for by the USCF instead of Bill Goichberg personally while Goichberg and the USCF denied Polgar and Truong of indemnification. Also note that Fred Gruenberg is at least the 4th person who has corroborated with the bribery charges against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken. How come the USCF attorneys are not investigating this issue? How come the USCF attorney are not reporting this illegal conduct to the authority as they have done with others, especially when the proof is in black and white? How come the members are not informed of this illegal conduct instead of the BS that is being put in Chess Life and CLO by Bill Hall? How come honest Randy Bauer and Jim Berry are not talking out about this? How come honest Bauer and Jim Berry are not demanding an investigation? How come Goichberg’s candidates Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins and people who are on his camp like Brian Mottershead and Brian Lafferty are not demanding for Goichberg and Hough be removed from the Executive Board for their illegal conduct? How come all these guys are not demanding to have Jerry Hanken removed as President of Chess Journalist of America? And these are pretending to demand for transparency and honesty?)
I want to see this posted on the USCF Forums. I bet you get sanctioned for posting the truth. The USCF is totally corrupted. If any member votes for any of the other candidates they will deserve what they get.
You bet I am angry. I am tired of the corruption. The members must rise up and demand a say in how the USCF is run. This coming up vote is our only opportunity. Please I beg everyone. Vote for sure. Vote for the right people. Not one vote for Goichberg and his 3 buddies. The remaining 3 are leading the destruction on the USCF on a daily basis with their support of more and more lawsuits.
Sam announces he is going to sue everyone in California as soon as he gets out to California.
There are 4 really good people running. All the others are very poor choices. If you look carefully you will figure out the correct 4. I have them listed below.
I support Mikhail Korenman, Eric Hecht, Blas Lugo, Mike Nietman
Come one, be real. What do you want them to do? Prosecuting Goichberg, Jim Berry, Hough and Hanken isn’t on their agenda. This was never about the welfare of the USCF or finding out the truth. This was always about Goichberg trying to knock off people who opposed him, his friends, and his political agenda. This is what he has done for 30-40 years. Why would it be different now? The only difference is all others walked away while Polgar fought back on behalf of the members. She said that’s what she would do and she kept her word. That’s the one thing they didn’t expect. They clearly expect Polgar and Truong to walk away. Now we can clearly see this Goichberg and Jim Berry scheme to be reelected and keep their power for another 4 years. I hope Polgar won’t ever back down. She’s the only one who can fight the USCF Mafia.
Honestly, it is difficult for the average USCF member to know who to believe regarding these matters. I think most are just put off by the politicized nature of the USCF. One minor point, however… your presentation of the data makes it appear that the USCF is losing members at a rate of over 2,000 per month. While the loss of members is a serious matter, it is not quite as bad as portrayed.
Who to believe? Are you serious? Goichberg has a long history of unethical conduct. He’s once again caught red handed in a bribery scheme. Jim Berry has a history of going after his political opponents (in Oklahoma). None of these guys can be trusted. Polgar exposed their dirty deeds so they’re spending USCF members’ money to go after her to shut her up.
I have as much faith in Goichberg and Jim Berry as I do with Nancy Pelosi.
Polgar does everything to help chess. Goichberg does everything to make big money in chess. Polgar does everything to help chess players. Goichberg does everything to make money from chess players. Polgar wants chess and the USCF to grow. Goichberg wants to maintain his stupid political power.
Actually, I am serious. How would the average USCF member know who to believe when there is a firestorm of mudslinging going in all directions. There is so much emotion attached to any communication on the subject that it makes me doubt the sincerity of those trying to make their point. I, for one, hope the objective truth (whatever it is) eventually is known. In the meantime, it is unfortunate for our organization that this turmoil exists. My fear is that many members will become disengaged or, worse yet, quit the USCF. (35 year member)
I agree. That’s why the first step is to get rid of corruption. Goichberg and his gang are all corrupt. They ran this federation to the ground. Memberships went from 96,000 to 79,000. The USCF lost over $500,000 in the last 2 years under his board majority. Those are facts, not speculation. Goichberg wants to run again to control the USCF for another 2 years. He now recruited Ruth Haring, Jim Berry, Mike Atkins to help him go after his political opponents.
Although this is only vaguely related to the current state of USCF affairs, and I am afraid I am taking potshots at a man who can no longer answer, in the last Chess Life I got an update on the years 1979-1989. The author, a USCF employee, had a lot of positive things to say about then-USCF President Gary Sperling.
I think Sperling’s coronary problem laid him low sometime, and I hate for him to not be able to defend himself. But I started quitting the USCF for various periods of time when he was president, BECAUSE he was president, and finally quit “for good” in 1993 when he was Treasurer (not because he was Treasurer, though).
Sperling was responsibile for a mass resignation of USCF employees, who cited “divisiveness and hostility” among the USCF board. (Others on the board included George Koltanowski as Immediate Past President and Tim Redman as Vice President, but also Jerry Hanken as a board member.) Sperling hired George Cunningham as Interim Business Director, a disastrous move (according to Burt Hochberg), ran off a good replacement staff director in Richard Meyerson (again according to Hochberg) and hired Gerard Dullea, a close collaborator of Cunningham’s, to fill the Executive Director slot. I was not the least bit sorry when Dullea eventually left. The author treats Sperling’s repudiation of efforts to get Bobby Fischer back into the fray as a highly positive thing. I strongly disagree. Sperling also, after sneeringly dismissing Bill Goichberg’s attempt to get Edmar Mednis the GM title, got it for Mednis on his own with a highly questionable maneuver (round the tournament category down and then Mednis qualifies, and oh yes, let’s count his since-expired GM norm). Again, this is picking on a man who is no longer around to defend himself, but Mednis was an extremely poor sport in claiming he should have received the title long before he did, when in fact he was barely qualified to get it.
Hochberg, as I have mentioned, was in constant conflict with Sperling. Ironically, one of their worst battles was over a form of chess called pre-chess. The pawns were set up in place, and then each player set up the major pieces by their own choice and started play from there. Sound familiar? Although pre-chess was of highly dubious value because a crafty player could create a very strong piece setup every time, the idea lived on in Fischer Random chess. But after one match between Benko and Bisguier (Bisguier won decisively) and coverage in CL&R, Sperling killed the idea stone dead.
Sperling by no means did all of this, but we saw an epidemic of Fischer-bashing and Karpov-bashing over the years. Certainly Fischer’s away-from-the-board activities merited plenty of criticism, but Karpov? He caught heat because he wasn’t Korchnoi or later Kasparov. The flaws of Korchnoi and Kasparov were almost completely written off and those of Karpov magnified. I did and do believe mch of what Karpov did came from a true belief in “his” Soviet Communist system. I will stand for the true believers even if I quarrel with them. To Karpov, all the defectors had honestly betrayed the system. I hope he has mellowed a lot over the years, and maybe he has. Korchnoi was very anti-Communist, which was admirable, but also hyper-paranoid, which is not. Kasparov had the talent — but also the ego — of the matinee idol he so resembles. To call Kasparov the greatest chess player of his era is fair. To say he is greater than anyone, living or dead, is not.
This has very little to do with the USCF election except to show the Federation’s mind set, which is most unhealthy. We need people who do not spend their time grinding axes against others. A lot of them are running for office.
Goichberg pretends to play dumb. He pretends he doesn’t know anything about any bribery scheme. Mr. Goichberg, would you care to make an affidavit that you’re not aware of any bribery scheme involving Jerry Hanken, Randy Hough and yourself? If you lie, are you willing to resign your membership and never be involved with chess ever again? I thought not. Are you calling Fred Gruenberg a liar?
Shame on you Mr. Goichberg for lying to the members. Shame on you for wasting members’ money. Shame on you for running this federation to the ground. Now you’re bringing in Jim Berry, Ruth Haring and Mike Atkins to be your puppets. Shame on you!
small examples. Go do your own research for the rest:
Example 1: (Hanken to Goichberg)
Come on Bill, I will go half on the airfare. There are so many good reasons to do this. Give it some thought. Just think what going half means to me and what it means to you. If we lose a critical vote, you will think of this. All the money you have given the USFCF will be in the toilet if we ultimately lose this fight.
Jerry
Example 2: (Hanken to the person who they bribed)
If Bill says “yes”, you wouldn’t owe anything to him. I asked for a sponsorship gift, not a loan. At the Open, you could still spend lots of time with … Also you may have some pay for the blog you will do for Jennifer.
…Notice that I am willing to provide some food for you and …. I will have a fridge which will help. As to changeing, aren’t you on Southwest? They .don’t charge to change or cancel a trip.
Example 3: (Hanken to the persons who they bribed)
Dear …. and ….,
If …. is willing to serve as a Delegate, it is important that you go on line today (when it is still July) and purchase a six month membership in USCF. It is $25 and I will personally reimburse you this money. I hope to talk with you later today, ….
Jerry
Note that both persons were certified by S. CA and NY (by Goichbrg himself), states of Hough, Hanken, and Goichberg!!! And look up when one person became a USCF member, days before the vote. There are plenty more. It can also be backed up with phone records among all parties. You can do your own research for the rest.
Bribery is illegal. This one involved the USCF President Bill Goichberg, USCF Secretary Randy Hough and Chess Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken. USCF VP of Finance Randy Bauer, USCF VP Jim Berry and USCF ED Bill Hall are hiding this very serious illegal conduct from ALL USCF members. When will honest Randy Bauer, Jim Berry and Bill Hall launch an investigation against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken? Hmmm? When will you demand for Goichberg, Hough, Bauer, Hall and Berry to resign? How come I don’t hear the bogus moral outrage scream from Harry Payne, Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins, Brian Lafferty, Brian Mottershead, and the rest of the gang? Where’s the phone call from Lafferty to the authority to report this illegal conduct? How pathetic!
It’s pathetic that the USCF and the board majority (Randy Bauer and Jim Berry) chose to cover up corruption and illegal conduct by the USCF President Bill Goichberg and others.
Now it’s clear why Goichber are so anxious to go after Polgar. He doesn’t want anyone who can expose his long time pattern of despicable behavior on the board. Bauer is screaming about fiduciary duty all the time and yet he and Jim Berry chose to do NOTHING! What a hypocrite!
http://uscf.fiorechess.org/
Pages 14 and 15 of Susan’s Amended Complaint reads as follows:
42. Defendants Hanken, Hough and Goichberg wanted so badly to see Truong removed from the Board that they even went as far as bribing a USCF member, Jessica Lauser, and her husband, Hero Smith, with free hotel accommodations, airline tickets, tournament entry fees, meals and future writing opportunities in exchange for them to come to Dallas for the Delegates Meeting and vote to remove Truong. Lauser was never a Delegate, and Smith was not even a member of the USCF until days before the USCF Delegates’ Meeting, when Hanken, Hough and Goichberg paid Smith’s membership fees. Hough and Goichberg then certified both Lauser and Smith as Delegates so they could vote against Truong in the motions to remove Truong from the Executive Board. After the “USCF trial” against Truong, Lauser and Smith voted against removing Truong from the Executive Board. Despite attending the meeting with the purpose of voting for Truong’s removal, they changed their votes after hearing facts Truong presented in his defense and which facts were suppressed by
Defendants Kronenberger, Goichberg, Hall, Hough, Hanken, and Berry.
I am sick and tired of seeing Chess Life and the USCF website being used to portray a one-sided and inaccurate account of the lawsuits. Accordingly, I am dedicating space on my server to enlighten the members of all the facts – you may view it at USCF Legal Issues.
To read the filings against Goichberg, Berry and the USCF
http://www.chessdiscussion.com/fullphpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2565
A former EB member just made the following statements:
“Reliable sources report that the USCF is completely out of money.
This means that the USCF has exhausted the entire $350,000 bequest that it received earlier this year and has exhausted its entire line of credit too.
It is time for Bill Goichberg and Bill Hall to resign and step aside. They are incompetent and simply cannot do their jobs.”
Bill Goichberg and Bill Hall are responsible for multiple lawsuits against the USCF. Bill Goichberg and Bill Hall are responsible for violating the exclusive contract with ChessCafe.com. The USCF may potentially have to pay ChessCafe millions of dollars in damages. But Goichberg and his board majority are hiding the facts from the USCF members and delegates while spending over $600,000 of USCF members’ money without authorization. They’re protecting each other while running the USCF to the ground. This is the most corrupt group of chess politicians and now they want Jim Berry, Ruth Haring and Mike Nietman to be elected so they can continue hiding the truth from the members. Disgusting!
Note that the legal fees for Continental Chess is paid for by the USCF instead of Bill Goichberg personally while Goichberg and the USCF denied Polgar and Truong of indemnification.
Also note that Fred Gruenberg is at least the 4th person who has corroborated with the bribery charges against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken.
How come the USCF attorneys are not investigating this issue? How come the USCF attorney are not reporting this illegal conduct to the authority as they have done with others, especially when the proof is in black and white? How come the members are not informed of this illegal conduct instead of the BS that is being put in Chess Life and CLO by Bill Hall?
How come honest Randy Bauer and Jim Berry are not talking out about this? How come honest Bauer and Jim Berry are not demanding an investigation?
How come Goichberg’s candidates Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins and people who are on his camp like Brian Mottershead and Brian Lafferty are not demanding for Goichberg and Hough be removed from the Executive Board for their illegal conduct?
How come all these guys are not demanding to have Jerry Hanken removed as President of Chess Journalist of America? And these are pretending to demand for transparency and honesty?
As presented, the “members lost” numbers are misleading.
“USCF lost approximately 1,500 members…in February in comparison to 12 months ago.”
The members weren’t lost in February. It’s more accurate to say USCF membership was down by 1500 compared to the previous year. If only one month were reported, the (no doubt unintentional) misrepresentation, it would not be a problem, but later items are highly misleading:
“In the month of March, the USCF lost 2,049 members compare to a year ago. In the month of April, the USCF lost another 2344 members compare to a year ago.”
The awkward wording makes it sound like USCF is losing 2000 members per month. In March, membership was down 2,049 compared to the previous March, and in April another 294 members were lost.
All-in-all, USCF membership has declined by nearly 20% since 2003–from over 95,000 to less than 80,000 right now.
Please, make an effort to make the reporting clear and accurate. No need to exaggerate or twist the language to make it look like an exaggeration. The real, unvarnished numbers are enough.
(..and, no, I realize this post is unlikely to make it past the moderator).
I agree with Susan’s assessment. The USCF is near bankrupt thanks to Goichberg, Berry, and Bill Hall. They’re some of the most corrupt chess politicians in history. In the last election, many top players endorsed Berry. They refused to do so this time. Goichberg now recruits Haring and Atkins to support his corrupt political agenda. All members should say no to Goichberg, Berry, Atkins, Haring, Mottershead, and Sloan. I voted for Dr. Korenman, Dr. Hecht, and IM Lugo. I wrote in Dr. McCrary as the 4th candidate.
At the current rate of losses (+2000 per month) the USCF will have only 40 months left before its membership goes into the negative. My suggestion is that all Lifetime Members have their memberships extended indefinitely so that the remain members even after they pass. This will ensure the USCF always has a membership base upon which to organize itself and keep its non-profit status. Such members should also have the option of a “vote in perpetuity” which allows them to automatically cast a vote posthumously for the Executive Board currently in office, thus preserving the USCF as they have always remembered it.