I just received an email from PS1(SW) Matt Nemmers who is stationed in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Below is a part of what he wrote:
“…right now all military personnel — active and reserve, deployed and stateside — receive no discount at all, while the USCF provides a 77 percent discount to felons currently doing time in county, state, and federal prisons. Providing large discounts to those who break the law while at the same time NOT providing any discount whatsoever to military men and women who are not only fighting for our freedoms at home and abroad, but also leaving behind their friends and family for months on end in the process, seems a tad backwards to me.”
I totally agree with Matt and I fully support military chess. This is a wrong position from the USCF. We need to support our military personnel. I urge the board to rectify this position ASAP.
Thank you Matt for bringing this to my attention and special thanks to all the service men and women who make tremendous sacrifices for us! 
Imagine that – the executive board catering to lawbreakers.
I also agree with Matt and you. Thanks for being a champion for all players.
It’s silly, I’ll agree.Probably a case of “Gee that never occurred to us” more than any malice. Giving active-duty military a 25% discount just seems like a decent thing to do, considering all they do for us.
People working for the military have a job and (probably) have their lives in order. They don’t need our charity (Maybe they need to be paid more, but they sure don’t need a discount on a chessboard).
People in jail got their lives messed up and usually don’t have much money because they obviously don’t have a job.
Chess may help them to use their brain and do the right thing when they get out.
So this anonymous is PRO.
I wonder this means that freaken Sam Sloan gets his stuff for free then?
Makes sense based on who they are allowing to serve on their board
It’s just black eye after another for the USCF
The military deserves FREE membership for their lives( if they haven’t already sacrificed thier own for our lives) especially during a world war
Drink water, Matt!
irishspy has it right….
Bill Brock
Michael C.M. said…
The military deserves FREE membership for their lives( if they haven’t already sacrificed thier own for our lives) especially during a world war
Monday, September 18, 2006 3:46:50 PM
And who should pay for it. the USCF is always almost broke. free lifetime membership is great. I suggest that you donate into a fund to pay for the cost.
the USCF is a small organization. it has very limited funds.
I think the us government should pay for the lifetime memberships. I suggest everyone contact your congressman to pass a bill for congress to pay for lifetime memberships for servicemen.
What is the other option. double the cost to students who will then drop out of chess. USCF is fighting to save every one dollar on the cost of membership to try to keep the members. USCF is losing memberships every year.
I am sure that anyone who is poor and wants a membership can get one by writing to the USCF. I hope they have some funds for the needy. Most organizatons do help out those in need who ask.
Dan said…
Imagine that – the executive board catering to lawbreakers.
this country puts a lot of innocent people into jails. most people in jail are good people who have run into making a mistake. they need compasion and help. it is not easy for them to be successful in society.
giving them a break and helping them to become good citizens when they leave is smart. it is a good investment. we do not want to abuse those in prison so they commit more crimes when they get out.
we want to show them that there is a good kind world out there. and it is good to obey the laws.
I would rather have prisoners occupy their hours on chess then on figuring out how to commit crimes when they get out.
most people in prison are the poorest of the poor in our society.
Shame on you USCF!!!
This is yet another black mark for chess.
I’d strongly encourage anyone who is outraged by this to write to the next chess life, and the one after that until they change this. (I’m hoping other masters that read this site are also willing to write).
If there were no military in the US, would you be attacked by a neighbour or other?
xotkvonj
Military people should have at least the same discounts as people in jail. I vote for military discount!
Support our troops! Give them discounts!
Thanks for fighting for our military folks! You’re great!
Anonymous said…
And who should pay for it. the USCF is always almost broke. free lifetime membership is great. I suggest that you donate into a fund to pay for the cost.
the USCF is a small organization. it has very limited funds.
…
What is the other option. double the cost to students who will then drop out of chess. USCF is fighting to save every one dollar on the cost of membership to try to keep the members. USCF is losing memberships every year.
I am sure that anyone who is poor and wants a membership can get one by writing to the USCF. I hope they have some funds for the needy. Most organizatons do help out those in need who ask.
Monday, September 18, 2006 5:33:01 PM
I understand your point, anonymous, but I hope you understand mine. The military isn’t exactly a Fortune 500 company that can afford to pay its members copious amounts of money to keep people serving, especially when one considers the risks of not only being deployed away from your family for months, sometimes years on end, not to mention the possibility of being killed in combat.
I’m not suggesting free memberships for the military. That would be fiscally irresponsible. We all want the USCF to survive and appreciate how fragile the current financial situation is in Crossville. I also understand and agree with the current policy of providing discounts to prisoners, as chess provides an avenue through which those who’re locked up can re-evaluate, re-organize, and re-energize their lives by focusing on a constructive and instructive pastime.
My point is simply that servicemembers — especially those deployed overseas — should receive SOME discount from the USCF. Yes, we have jobs and most of us have our lives in order, but keep in mind that many of us are/have been/will be deployed. This not only takes us away from our families (which now have one less parent at home to pick up the slack, resulting in higher day care costs), not only makes participating in the vast majority of chess tournaments (which for many was the impetus for joining in the first place), but it supports the national organization IN SPITE OF all these factors.
I have spoken to several of my military chess playing friends both here at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and back home in Fort Worth. All have expressed an interest in joining and playing competitive chess, but 95% of them do not believe that the benefits are worth $50/year for the limited amount of time they have to take advantage of them.
Again, I’m not suggesting free; I’m suggesting a fair discount. Perhaps a discount equal to the
And just for the record, the U.S. Chess Trust is listed as a charitable donation in the military’s Combined Federal Campgain Program. This means that soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen (as well as DoD civilians) can make donations to it throughout the year directly from their paycheck. Many servicemembers make these donations because they believe in the purpose. All I’m asking is that the USCF level the playing field and offer a reasonable discount for those who serve.
All the best,
PS1(SW) Matt Nemmers
Chairman, USCF Military Chess Committee
Matt is right on!
Thank you very much Matt! from myself, my family and all my friends who BELIEVE IN YOU and your fellow SOLDIERS SACRIFICING SO MUCH ON OUR BEHALF( and NOT in the hateful media).
So how about firefighters? Aid workers? Teachers? Do they already get a massive discount or how is that?
I am somewhat unnerved by the eagerness to reward an organisation, whose prime function is to kill non-USians on demand (I’m a non-USian myself).
It’s not like your country has a shortage of poor and needy, whom you could consider giving rebates. But the US military, with an annual budget of 3-400 billon dollars, dwarfing your average Fortune 500 company, can hardly be called poor.
Thank you Matt and other U.S. military service members. I agree that the U.S. military members should get the discount rate of $23/year that Matt suggests.
Hello Matt, I think you’ll remember me from NAS JAX. I was the FAN. If you remember correctly, I describe my situation to you over a beer and karaoke. Having done time (7 long years) for something I didn’t do, I have this unique perspective…both deserve a break, but for different reasons. The person in confinement doesn’t normally have any money…period. The USCF decided long ago that they would conduct an out-reach program for prisoners with the hope of helping them focus on productive pursuits. I can tell you from experience that chess gives prisoners something positive to do with their “idle” time. I can also tell you that most of the guys I did time with didn’t use the discounts and paid full price. I paid full price! Someone else may not have the means and that one magazine could mean more than anyone could ever imagine…sometimes it is the only mail a prisoner will ever receive. Yeah, I know, cater to the lawbreakers. Sometimes a person has to live through it to know what I’m talking about. Thank you USCF for making it possible for those who have nothing to get something worth while. You see, I lived both sides. I’ve served my country since 1980 until I retired at the end of July. I think the USCF should give all military personnel an opportunity to join for free and be able to compete. I would charge for “Chess Life” at the rate of $35…25% off the cover price for military appreciation. That’s fair. Free membership as long as you’re in the military and a discount on the magazine. Face it, we have the means to pay!!! Sometimes people do not. I would very much like to talk to you, Matt, about this…again. I would also like to talk to Susan about some of these issues. She is a great giver and I admire her very much. Perhaps something can be done to help both communities without appearing to be catering to “Lawbreaker”. Maybe we should just be helping people live their imperfect lives as best as possible.