Direction of the USCF?

A few days ago, the USCF just lost one of its biggest supporters in the AF4C. There will be no more $250,000+ US Championship. The most amazing thing is there are actually some chess politicians cheering for this. They feel that they accomplished something by contributing to the exit of this wonderful organization.

It is a sick mentality and destructive mentality for many long time USCF politicians. They do not like professional or successful organizations or people. Why? I do not know. Perhaps they do not like to admit their own failures? Perhaps they need to see a therapist?

These are the same people who cannot raise a penny for the USCF and cannot contribute anything positive for this organization. But they have opinions about everything and everybody and they are very loud about it. They will lie and attack anyone who opposes them. And they wonder why people are so turned off and tuned out about the welfare of the USCF. It is not surprising that this is one the biggest reasons why so many called for a new federation.

This election has just begun and it has taught me a lot. It clearly showed me that DRASTIC CHANGES are needed and it also clearly showed me that I made the right decision to stay out of the mud with these people. It also shows me that I have the righ teammates that can change this destructive direction.

It is amazing that the USCF spent a lot of money to create a new website and forum and yet failed to create and enforce a set guidelines. It is like building a beautiful car but neglecting to install the engine. It reminds me of some old sad jokes but unfortunately, it is the reality.

Instead of USCF members utilizing the forum for positive ideas and meaning discussions to help this federation, it has become a paradise for lies, deceit, personal attacks and chess politics. And when the ED made a decision to enforce the rules, board members challenge his authority by voting to reverse his decision to protect its own board members.

People complain when an ED is unproductive. And when we have a good ED trying to his job, he is not allowed to.

Spending $50,000, $100,000 or more for the US Championship and the US Women's Championship is not in within the budget of the USCF, not now, not in the near future. This federation was and still is in a bad financial situation. Even though things are getting a little better financially speaking, we are nowhere near the position of being able to throw out this kind of money. We need to start to be fiscally responsible. That is why sponsors are needed and we are not going to get serious sponsors if we do not clean up our act and image.

There are plenty of things to spend that money on such as promoting chess, scholastic chess, college chess, Internet chess, military chess, clubs and affiliates, etc. But these politicians do not want to talk about the real issues and solutions. They only want dirt, lies and deceit.

It is a very tough battle to fight to change this destructive mentality but I am confident that if we continue to take the real issues and solutions to the members, we will succeed.