My final statement about the latest USCF issue

January 16, 2008

I was elected to make a difference in the USCF and US Chess. I do not want to waste any more time on the ongoing, ridiculous issues that are being played out in the media. I have a few comments about the current problems.

First, there has been much misinformation and many false rumors circulated. If the USCF board continues to pursue this obvious witch hunt, wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars that the USCF does not have, USCF members are entitled to know about it. I recommend a policy of open information if this continues.

For instance, we have requested the same access to the USCF database as the contractors so that our own experts can examine the validity of the data as well as matching IPs of suspicious posters. We were told we could not have that access. Also, we have pointed out a handful of suspicious handles and postings directly related to this case to the attorney and other board members. We asked them to investigate. This request, and others, have been ignored or denied. These two points have been misrepresented in the media, and ultimately do USCF and US Chess harm.

If the members of this board are so sure of their actions, the 83,000 members of the USCF—because the board is merely a representation of the larger body—should have access to the correct information. The board and their attorney(s) should consent to and authorize all correspondence in the confidential BINFO from August 2007 be released to the public. This should include the correspondence of all seven board members, the ED, the attorneys, and all parties relating to this case.

In addition, please grant us consent and immunity to release all information and board member correspondence and NDAs related to this case. . We recommend that all confidentiality clauses are waived in order to make the case clear and in order to expedite its conclusion. We propose to show all USCF members any evidence we have of who leaked what to whom, who made what deals under the table and for what reasons, etc. We give consent to the board and their attorneys to publish all information they have about us relating to this case. Everyone can then decide who is clean and who is not.

Every board starts with big hopes and dreams and usually ends with one problem or another, unfortunately. The same destructive political chess games have been played for years. It is the USCF members who lose.

Whoever has the majority votes will decide how the political games are being played instead of focusing on what is best for the USCF. This is the long pattern of destructive politics that no one has been able to fix so far. These problems have hindered the proper growth of chess within the USCF for decades. This is how so much money has been wasted and the financial situation of the USCF has gone down the drain.

No one wants to talk about how much money this federation has wasted in the past 12-24 months alone. If we want to let the sunshine in, it has to be done across the board and not selectively to harm people who oppose the majority and the status quo. GM Larry Evans had the same experience when he wanted to be involved. So did GM Lev Alburt, GM Yasser Seirawan and many others. The same thing will happen to the next people who want to run and help the USCF. The sad truth is that before my husband and I ran for the executive board we were told that we better have good lawyers. Now we understand why.

As far as I am concerned, this matter ends unless everything can be opened up for all members to examine. I highly doubt that the board majority will agree to this. I can only hope. We have wasted enough time, money and energy on this. I will now devote my time and energy to promoting U.S. chess. That is why I was elected.

Here is a reminder:

“USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess in American society.

USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players (professional and amateur) and potential players. It encourages the development of a network of institutions devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional associations, and it promotes chess in American schools.”

This will be my last statement about this issue.

Yours for the USCF,
Susan Polgar