Outrageous Behavior by Bill Goichberg of USCF!

I find it difficult to believe that someone would stoop to this level but I've got the evidence right here, resting against my keyboard as I type this. Today I received in the U.S. mail two cards from the Continental Chess Association, which is owned by Bill Goichberg of the United States Chess Federation. I found this rather unusual since I cannot recall ever receiving prior cards from the Continental Chess Federation. The cards purportedly announce two upcoming events - the World Open in Philadelphia and the Chicago Class Championships in Chicago, both to be held in July of this year. However, both cards also prominently feature statements by Bill Goichberg, current President of the USCF and also a member of the USCF Executive Board who is running for re-election. These statements contain allegations relating to a law suit or suits involving various members of the Executive Board. Mr. Goichberg has the unmitigated gall to assert in these statements that "Board members have a fiduciary duty to work for the interests of their organization, not its destruction, and I find these lawsuits outrageous." Outrageous, indeed! Why not tell us all of the facts, Mr. Goichberg. For instance, what about the fact that it was the USCF that attempted to have Board Member Paul Truong removed from office by delegate vote after an agent of the USCF leaked confidential information (a habit of which certain members of the USCF Executive seem particularly fond) alleging that Mr. Truong was guilty of making posts at various message boards and chess forums under "false" names. When that maneuver failed because the delegates did not vote to remove Mr. Truong from office, the USCF then filed suit in the state of Illinois to have both GM Susan Polgar and Mr. Truong removed from office. After the USCF filed another law suit in California against GM Polgar and others, GM Polgar filed her own suit in Texas against the USCF and various members of the Executive Board and other parties, alleging defamation, slander, libel, and other claims. On numerous occasions GM Polgar has publicly offered to settle this suit for $1.00 and an apology from various members of the USCF. This settlement offer has been rejected numerous times. Which one of these law suits are you pinpointing as aggrieving you, Mr. Goichberg? What I want to know is this: how did Mr. Goichberg come by my name and address and USCF membership ID number? Did he purchase a list of members from the USCF - did you pay money for the list, Mr. Goichberg? Did he just expropriate the membership information for his own personal uses, using his position as President and Executive Board member to do so? Who within the USCF provided this information to Mr. Goichberg, and under what authority? Whatever method Mr. Goichberg employed to obtain the information necessary to make these kinds of mailings to USCF members, under any definitions of fiduciary duty and conflict of interest of which I am aware MR. GOICHBERG'S CONDUCT IS CONTRARY TO HIS FIDUCIARY DUTY AS A MEMBER OF THE USCF EXECUTIVE BOARD AND PRESIDENT! Mr. Goichberg is using membership information in a blatant attempt to sway the election in favor of his re-election and the election of three other new members to the Executive Board. This is disgusting, immoral and possibly illegal conduct by Mr. Goichberg. I did not pay my dues to the USCF to enable Mr. Goichberg to continue his libel and slander against other Executive Board members, the prosecution by USCF of what I consider to be frivilous and vindictive law suits or to enable Mr. Goichberg to retain his seat on the USCF Executive Board! Mr. Goichberg, please do not send me any more of your mailings. I find your conduct as President and an Executive Board member of the USCF appalling, vile and disgusting.

U.S. Chess Federation Executive Board Election

I have received my June, 2009 edition of Chess Life magazine that contains the ballot for this year's Excutive Board election (it's contained on a white outer wrap that can be filled out, folded, taped and mailed to the auditing firm that will count the ballots). Four (4) seats are up for election this year, and eleven (11) candidates are running for those seats. This is an important election; the new EB members may determine in which direction the USCF will go for the next four years (all seats in this election are elected for four year terms). After some digging around at Chess Life Online, I was able to locate online archives of the 2009 magazines (link is to April, 2009). Unfortunately, I've had no success locating candidates' statements for April and May, despite what the June print edition of Chess Life says that such statements can be located in the April and May archives (for the web version) or go to "Downloadable Files" to download the .pdf versions of the print magazine. Couldn't find "Downloadable Files" either. Maybe I'm blind - I couldn't find them. Chess Life, can't you make this important information easier to locate and access online?? Since I subscribe to Chess Life magazine, I have the prior issues with the candidates' statements. Anyway, I urge all members of USCF who can vote to do so, the sooner the better. According to my print ballot, all members of USCF who will be 16 years of age or older by June 30th may vote in this election. If you're not happy with the candidates on the list, you can write in your own candidates, as long as they are current USCF members and you supply the person's name and USCF ID number. You vote for a candidate (write-in or otherwise) by checking the box next to his or her name. The four candidates who receive the most votes will win the seats on the EB. Any ballot that has more than four boxes checked will be void - so be careful when you vote! All ballots must be received by the auditing office (Taylor, Bilyeu & Company, in Crossville, Tennessee) NO LATER THAN 3PM TUESDAY JULY 21, 2009. After a great deal of thought, I'm voting for Eric Hecht, Blas Lugo, Mikhail Korenman, and Ruth Haring. Just my two cents worth.

2009 USCF Executive Board Election

It's official - I renewed my membership and now I will be able to vote in the 2009 election for four Executive Board seats. I don't know how many of the people who visit here are USCF members, but to those of you who are, I would urge you to study the candidates as best you can, and above all, vote. You can find out about the candidates by googling their names, also by visiting chess blogs and discussion boards, and if you receive Chess Life Magazine, reading the candidates' statements. I believe (although I am not certain) that you will also be able to read the candidates' statements at Chess Life Online. If your membership includes receiving Chess Life magazine, I think it's in the June edition that you will receive a paper ballot which you can fill out and mail in. I'm not sure what happens if you've got one of the new elective memberships where you do not receive the paper magazine - there may be a way to vote online, or perhaps you'll receive a separate paper ballot in the mail. One way or another, you will be able to vote, and I urge all USCF members to vote after doing your own "due diligence" (a legal term of art, forgive me). There are four seats up for election in this cycle, for four year terms. Here are the eleven registered candidates in alphabetical order: Mike Atkins Jim Berry (running for re-election) Bill Goichberg (running for re-election) Ruth Haring Eric Hecht Mikhail Korenman Brian Lafferty Blas Lugo Brian Mottershead Mike Nietman Sam Sloan A lot of information is available on the internet about some of the candidates, but not so much on others. Sometimes it takes a little digging, but you can find info. You can check Mark Weeks' blog for information. He links each candidate to google searches under their names. At Chess USA.net, I was led to these opinions on the candidates offered by John Hillery at his blog, Western Chess. In her blog, popularly known as Lizzy Knows All, U.S. chessplayer and chess coach Elizabeth Vicary interviewed candidates Mike Atkins and Brian Lafferty. I know none of the candidates personally. I have read much on some of the candidates, have read what information I can find on other candidates who have pretty much steered clear of chess politics, and have read what some of the candidates have written and said for themselves. I have formed my impressions of the candidates accordingly. Here are the candidates of which I know of no evil and I am voting for: IM Ruth Haring Mike Nietman Mikhail Korenman Mike Atkins This election, like others before it, is contentious. USCF members who are interested in voting can well educate themselves on the issues and the candidates. I hope this election will result in peace among the members of the Executive Board and a shared vision to promote chess in the United States to the best of all EB members' unique abilities and talents. I give a special plug to fellow Wisconsinite Mike Nietman. He has been a TD and promoter of chess in Wisconsin for many years, a rated player here (in Wisconsin's top 100), the President of the Wisconsin Chess Association and involved in promoting scholastic chess. In talking to local chess folks about Mr. Nietman, I hear only good things. I also really like the idea of adding another experienced female chessplayer to the EB in the person of IM Ruth Haring. We could do with a bit less testosterone on the Board, I think, and Haring will add not only a feminine point of view but the voice of a well-seasoned competitive tournament player.