I played in my First USCF Rated Tournament, the North Carolina Open,
in 1956. As a tournament player for more than 50 years, just about
everybody in chess knows me or has heard my name.

The USCF has annual revenues of $3.2 million, down from $6.5 million
at its peak. $3.2 million is enough for us to live very well. Yet, the
USCF has lost money for 9 of the last 11 years. There is no excuse for
this!

Since I was elected to the board, I have been fulfilling a campaign
promise to examine the books and records in detail to find out how and
why we lost this money. I have exposed corruption and improper
payments. One board member was forced to resign because of my
discoveries.

I have opened doors to the inner sanctum, revealing secrets the
insiders did not want revealed. I have received an award for "Shining
Light on the United States Chess Federation 2007".

I have only one vote on the board. I have not been able to stop the
improper payments and the financial hemorrhaging. Optimists on the
board say we will lose ONLY $50,000 this year. I say unless immediate
measures are taken, we will lose AT LEAST $150,000 and possibly
considerably more.

In meetings with the board, I have consistently advocated specific
changes that must be made RIGHT NOW to stop losses by increasing
revenues and reducing expenses. Other board members say it is
POLITICALLY UNACCEPTABLE to make any changes now and this must wait
until after the election.

AFTER THE ELECTION will be too late!!

I am a man of action. Everybody who knows me will tell you I get
things done. Two things we need to do are expand scholastic chess and
elderly chess. As people age, they want to keep their minds active.
Tournament chess would be an ideal way to help them accomplish this.
The baby boomers are a vast pool of potential members.

You will have seen strident attacks by some of my election opponents
and their anonymous Internet trolls. You should ask yourself, "Why do
all these people keep attacking Sam Sloan? Is it because he really is
one of the worst people in the world, or is it because, since he was
elected last year, their gravy train has slowed?"

Most of the other candidates and continuing board members are
insiders, the same people who were there when the USCF lost $2
million. Are you going to keep them there or return them to power? Are
you going to believe they will bring prosperity to the USCF, when
their actual record is one of milking the membership funds for their
own benefit?

I have specific plans and programs which I believe will bring
prosperity back to the USCF. I am available by phone or email to
discuss this any time. Are you going to give the USCF a chance to
prove that it can be done? Are you going to return control of your
federation to the same crusty curmudgeons who lost the $2 million in
the first place?

The delegates have voted to give me 100 words to explain my case in
Virginia. I have eight children. One of them is Shamema, whom many of
you met when I brought her to international chess tournaments. When
Shamema was eight years old, she was kidnapped by persons unrelated to
us and taken to Virginia. When I came to Virginia to try to rescue my
kidnapped daughter, I was arrested, tried and convicted of attempted
abduction of my daughter and failure to appear for trial.

Sam Sloan