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Date: 19 Jun 2008 11:12:45
From: samsloan
Subject: Mailing to USCF Delegates and Alternates
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Sam Sloan
1664 Davidson Ave., Apt. 1B
Bronx NY 10453-7877
Tel. 917-507-7226
[email protected]
June 22, 2008
To the USCF Delegates:
At the USCF Delegates Meeting in Dallas on August 9-10, 2008, the
delegates will be voting on a motion which has already passed the
board by 6-0 and which, if passed by the delegates, will bring about
fundamental changes in the United States Chess Federation. Here are
some of the changes:
Regular members of the USCF will no longer receive a printed copy of
Chess Life magazine. Instead, they will receive a quarterly bulletin
which will direct them to an online Chess Life that can be read or
downloaded from the Internet.
However, regular members can purchase online a =93Premium Membership=94
which will entitle them to a printed copy of Chess Life magazine.
The regular membership will cost $29. The premium membership will cost
$42 if purchased online or $49 if purchased by mail or on the
telephone.
Similarly, regular scholastic members will no longer receive a printed
copy of Chess Life 4 Kids magazine. However, on payment of an
additional $7, they will become a =93Premium Scholastic Member=94, which
will entitle them to receive a printed Chess Life 4 Kids.
Life Members will no longer receive a printed Chess Life magazine,
unless they contact the USCF and specifically request one.
Life Memberships will no longer be sold. However, ten-year memberships
will be sold.
These are just a few of the changes proposed through this sweeping
motion. You should read the actual motion, to see the full breadth of
the changes envisioned.
I believe that this motion, if it passes, will quickly result,
probably within a year, in a complete stop in the printing of Chess
Life and Chess Life 4 Kids magazines. I believe that this will result
in a tremendous drop in the number of USCF members and will bring
about the financial ruin of the federation.
Accordingly, I urge you to vote =93No=94 on this board motion.
Very Truly Yours,
Sam Sloan
USCF Member since 1956
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Date: 20 Jun 2008 05:38:36
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Mailing to USCF Delegates and Alternates
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DON SCHULTZ TO BILL GOICHBERG
DON'T JUMP THE GUN
Bill, I don't believe the problem is whether or not lower dues means
more members or not. All things being equal, it seems obvious that
lower dues means more members and higher dues fewer members.
IMO, there are two problems.
A smaller circulation of a printed Chess Life means greater magazine
overhead magazine per-issue costs.
Problem two is that, under your proposed dues structure, many new
members joining USCF to play in their first rated tournament will opt
for the cheapest membership fee and thus will not receive Chess Life.
The printed version of CL helps pique interest in USCF and
consequently helps increase long term membership retention. As a
result, we will lose many of these members who either stop playing in
tournaments or shift over to ICC and other Internet chess providers.
You say we need dramatic action to stop the continuing annual USCF
deficit. I believe the approach that I have proposed does this. It
calls for no change in the dues structure. It reduces CL costs by
changing it to bi-monthly. It increases the per issue page count while
reducing the total annual page count, thus, IMO, making it more
attractive for newsstand sales.
My plan alternative to your proposal also includes producing a tabloid
issue during the six alternating no chess Life months as an optional
choice . Active tournament players, players playing in 1 or 2 rated
tournaments a year would receive both versions at no additional =96 the
enhanced bi-monthly and the scaled down tabloid version.
Just as in your plan, the default version would be the tabloid version
and I expect the members who would settle for the default version
would be the disinterested or dead life members who are still on our
distribution lists. Note: members accepting the default version, the 6
issue tabloid version would cost USCF less to service.
My plan is only one of many possible alternatives to the Board plan.
Let=92s not jump the gun by adopting the Board's choice without further
study because so many of USCF=92s leaders long term players and
organizers have grave concerns.
-- Don Schultz
help bot wrote:
> On Jun 19, 4:10 pm, "Ray Gordon, creator of the \"pivot\""
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > >Maybe these clowns should all
> > >be "fired" (we could call in
> > >Donald Trump), and replaced by
> > >trained professionals... .
> >
> > Why on earth would ICC punish its workers that way?
>
> For a change of pace? Look, with the USCF you
> get to have your picture in the magazine-- you will
> be recognized around the world, and you get to
> make incredible blunders like editing in the term
> Czechoslovakia, when that country did not even
> exist yet. Readers will write you to complain
> that, although Mr. Pandolfini's careless error was
> understandable, how could Mr. Benko have been
> so daft? You then explain how *you* put it in, to
> "improve" their articles-- much like the way our
> Sanny "improves" his chess program every day.
> (Talk about an editor getting a warm, fuzzy
> feeling all over... .)
>
> With ICC, you just have a bunch of faceless
> handles (admin-X), whereas with the USCF, you
> have real hatred and jealousies in abundance;
> it's a whole different ball game. I mean, some
> of these guys secretly want to strangle one
> another-- there's real /passion/ with the USCF.
> And what about the legal aspects? With ICC,
> you don't get sued; you don't get to brag about
> the Pinkerton's coming after you-- nothing. It's
> a dull life, I expect.
>
> Just to finish on a positive note, let me say
> that Chess Life is not really so bad; I've seen
> magazines on other subjects which are every
> bit as screwed up, just as poor or not even
> worth reading at all. It's just that many of
> those magazines are successful; they /make
> money/, in spite of everything!
>
>
> -- help bot
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Date: 19 Jun 2008 20:09:00
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Mailing to USCF Delegates and Alternates
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On Jun 19, 4:10 pm, "Ray Gordon, creator of the \"pivot\""
<[email protected] > wrote:
> >Maybe these clowns should all
> >be "fired" (we could call in
> >Donald Trump), and replaced by
> >trained professionals... .
>
> Why on earth would ICC punish its workers that way?
For a change of pace? Look, with the USCF you
get to have your picture in the magazine-- you will
be recognized around the world, and you get to
make incredible blunders like editing in the term
Czechoslovakia, when that country did not even
exist yet. Readers will write you to complain
that, although Mr. Pandolfini's careless error was
understandable, how could Mr. Benko have been
so daft? You then explain how *you* put it in, to
"improve" their articles-- much like the way our
Sanny "improves" his chess program every day.
(Talk about an editor getting a warm, fuzzy
feeling all over... .)
With ICC, you just have a bunch of faceless
handles (admin-X), whereas with the USCF, you
have real hatred and jealousies in abundance;
it's a whole different ball game. I mean, some
of these guys secretly want to strangle one
another-- there's real /passion/ with the USCF.
And what about the legal aspects? With ICC,
you don't get sued; you don't get to brag about
the Pinkerton's coming after you-- nothing. It's
a dull life, I expect.
Just to finish on a positive note, let me say
that Chess Life is not really so bad; I've seen
magazines on other subjects which are every
bit as screwed up, just as poor or not even
worth reading at all. It's just that many of
those magazines are successful; they /make
money/, in spite of everything!
-- help bot
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Date: 19 Jun 2008 18:49:52
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Mailing to USCF Delegates and Alternates
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ERIC JOHNSON AGREES AND JERRY HANKEN DISAGREES WITH SAM
I oppose it also.
A reduced rate for a non-magazine membership is worthless as a cost-
savings measure -- the savings will be minimal. The opportunity for
growth (i.e. bringing in people who otherwise would not join at $49)
is also minimal. Thus, if you are not saving BIG money and not GROWING
your revenues and/or customer base...why debase your main product
(dues).
This might make sense if the split were $42 no mag / $55 magazine or
some such...but to actually offer a DISCOUNT to the lowest affinity
members who already pay the full amount...is insane.
That's like sending cents-off coupons to people who already buy your
brand of ketchup every trip to the supermarket. The food manufacturers
HATE doing that...they try to avoid it. Yet, this plan embraces it.
Revenues will drop dramatically. Half my local players would opt for
the cheapest possible membership. Who suffers? USCF...through lower
revenues. And I suffer (as an affiliate holder) in the long run as
these folks don't get Chess Life.
It is an insane plan. I'll believe it when I see offers like "you paid
$300 the last three World Opens...sign up this year for just $100."
You don't offer steep discounts to your consistent customer
base...unless you have solid plans for GROWTH.
-- Eric C. Johnson
In a message dated 6/19/2008 5:45:05 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
Gosh, if Sam is against it, it must be very good for USCF.His
predictions of gloom and doom are, as usual, not based on reason but
his fantasies.
--Jerry Hanken
samsloan wrote:
> Sam Sloan
> 1664 Davidson Ave., Apt. 1B
> Bronx NY 10453-7877
>
> Tel. 917-507-7226
> [email protected]
>
> June 22, 2008
> To the USCF Delegates:
>
> At the USCF Delegates Meeting in Dallas on August 9-10, 2008, the
> delegates will be voting on a motion which has already passed the
> board by 6-0 and which, if passed by the delegates, will bring about
> fundamental changes in the United States Chess Federation. Here are
> some of the changes:
>
> Regular members of the USCF will no longer receive a printed copy of
> Chess Life magazine. Instead, they will receive a quarterly bulletin
> which will direct them to an online Chess Life that can be read or
> downloaded from the Internet.
>
> However, regular members can purchase online a ?Premium Membership?
> which will entitle them to a printed copy of Chess Life magazine.
>
> The regular membership will cost $29. The premium membership will cost
> $42 if purchased online or $49 if purchased by mail or on the
> telephone.
>
> Similarly, regular scholastic members will no longer receive a printed
> copy of Chess Life 4 Kids magazine. However, on payment of an
> additional $7, they will become a ?Premium Scholastic Member?, which
> will entitle them to receive a printed Chess Life 4 Kids.
>
> Life Members will no longer receive a printed Chess Life magazine,
> unless they contact the USCF and specifically request one.
>
> Life Memberships will no longer be sold. However, ten-year memberships
> will be sold.
>
> These are just a few of the changes proposed through this sweeping
> motion. You should read the actual motion, to see the full breadth of
> the changes envisioned.
>
> I believe that this motion, if it passes, will quickly result,
> probably within a year, in a complete stop in the printing of Chess
> Life and Chess Life 4 Kids magazines. I believe that this will result
> in a tremendous drop in the number of USCF members and will bring
> about the financial ruin of the federation.
>
> Accordingly, I urge you to vote ?No? on this board motion.
>
> Very Truly Yours,
>
>
> Sam Sloan
> USCF Member since 1956
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Date: 19 Jun 2008 12:44:02
From: help bot
Subject: Re: Mailing to USCF Delegates and Alternates
|
On Jun 19, 2:12 pm, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> I believe that this motion, if it passes, will quickly result,
> probably within a year, in a complete stop in the printing of Chess
> Life and Chess Life 4 Kids magazines. I believe that this will result
> in a tremendous drop in the number of USCF members and will bring
> about the financial ruin of the federation.
>
> Accordingly, I urge you to vote =93No=94 on this board motion.
I agree with Mr. Sloan.
When Life Memberships were originally sold, it
was supposed to include the magazine -- for life.
Now if LMs fail to specifically request it, they will
be cheated out of that part of their New Deal.
It seems that the BG clan wants to cut the one
thing which might be of /some/ value to USCF
members, and which costs real money to
produce. At the same time, they appear to be
spending our tax dollars (or membership dues)
willy-nilly, as if money grew on trees.
Twenty-nine bucks per year for a chess rating?
You gotta be kidding. Even though mine is in
the five-digit range, I ain't gonna pay no stinkin'
$29 per year just to play in rated events, where
the organizers must also pay up to get their
events rated; that's highway robbery.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Every year, I get offers in the mail from folks
who want me to subscribe to their magazines
for, essentially, the cost of postage. All their
serious revenue comes from advertising-- ads
which can make up roughly half the space in
these glossy, picture-filled rags. Why is it
that the USCF can't get their act together?
Ever? Maybe these clowns should all be
"fired" (we could call in Donald Trump), and
replaced by trained professionals... .
-- help bot
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Date: 19 Jun 2008 16:10:15
From: Ray Gordon, creator of the \pivot\
Subject: Re: Mailing to USCF Delegates and Alternates
|
>Maybe these clowns should all
>be "fired" (we could call in
>Donald Trump), and replaced by
>trained professionals... .
Why on earth would ICC punish its workers that way?
--
--
Ray Gordon, The ORIGINAL Lifestyle Seduction Guru
Finding Your A-Game:
http://www.cybersheet.com/library.html
Includes 29 Reasons Not To Be A Nice Guy (FREE!)
The book Neil Strauss and VH-1 STOLE The Pivot From
Click HERE: for the ORIGINAL pivot chapter:
http://www.cybersheet.com/pivot.pdf
Here's my Myspace Page: And Pickup Blog (FREE advice)
http://www.myspace.com/snodgrasspublishing
Don't rely on overexposed, mass-marketed commercial seduction methods which
no longer work. Learn the methods the gurus USE with the money they make
from what they teach.
Thinking of taking a seduction "workshiop?" Read THIS:
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Beware! VH-1's "The Pickup Artst" was FRAUDULENT. Six of the eight
contestants were actors, and they used PAID TARGETS in the club. The paid
targets got mad when VH-1 said "there are no actors in this club" and ruined
their prromised acting credit. What else has Mystery lied about?
-- help bot
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