wrote:
Bruce Leverett wrote:
The new Board has not yet even taken office, but I can already see that
it will be business as usual. When one Board member wants to discuss
something with another Board member, his first step is to get his own
POV posted to some newsgroup or listserv. This is, apparently, the
cool way to score points. Beats the hell out of persuasion, doesn't
it?


Why do you assume the open letter was the first communication with
Beatriz regarding this subject? There was a lengthy email exchange
involving her and many others, and her position was unchanged.

Bill Goichberg

My error, for which I apologize.

However, grandstanding is grandstanding, whether it comes first or
somewhat later. Do you think that, for example, the teams that didn't
make it into the USCL should take their case to the newsgroups?

To be fair, let me say that the incoming administration didn't invent
grandstanding. But it leaves me wishing that the USCF Board -- any
USCF Board -- could handle disputes more discreetly. At the risk of
repeating myself: how can I take this discussion of build vs. buy
completely seriously, when I see it in an "open letter"? This isn't
politics, this is juvenile, mickey-mouse, posturing; imitation
politics.

Bruce Leverett


As a reader of RGCP, naturally I am curious about what goes into
decisions like build vs. buy. So I read the "open letter". But I
would have to say that in discussing serious business with the leaders
of chess clubs and other organizations, I myself do not normally
proceed by means of "open letters". It seems like exhibitionism, and
as such, it would discourage people from taking me seriously.

Bruce Leverett

wrote:
AN OPEN LETTER TO BEATRIZ MARINELLO
July 26, 2005
Dear Beatriz:

With slightly over two weeks remaining before the Delegates meet in
Phoenix and the new Executive Board takes office, you have declared
your intention to sign a contract with a builder to construct USCF's
new headquarters in Crossville, and to arrange a mortgage to fund this
construction cost.

The estimated cost of this construction is about $550,000. The real
cost is likely to be more, as such projects frequently run over budget.
There will also be interest charges.

The five signers of this letter will be on the new Executive Board that
takes office August 14, a majority of that seven person Board. None of
us supports moving USCF out of Crossville, but all are concerned that
the Federation is about to commit to spending a great deal of money
without having carefully considered alternatives. Randy Bauer, a
current Board member who you supported for re-election, has expressed
the same concern and suggested that you not sign the construction
contract.

There appear to be appropriately sized office buildings in Crossville
advertised for sale at prices well below what it will cost to construct
this building. Especially if we are able to obtain compensation for
returning or selling the land we currently own, it is possible that
USCF might save a great deal of money by purchasing in Crossville
rather than building. While this is not certain, we do not feel it is
prudent to eliminate this possibility by the immediate signing of a
contract, nor do we understand why such signing is so urgent that it
justifies shutting the Delegates and the new Board out of the process
only about two weeks before the meetings.

Too often in the past, USCF has signed contracts without adequate
consideration and it has cost us money. Maybe the arrangements
currently negotiated are desirable for USCF and maybe not, but analysis
of our options before taking a fateful step is surely appropriate at
this time.

Joel Channing
Bill Goichberg
Don Schultz
Greg Shahade
Robert Tanner