Most of the Marshall Chess Club's poor decisions over the last year
can be traced right to the president of the club; Many are really
hypnotized by this guy and think that he is wonderful. What I wonder
is this:

* How many Marshall members are on to him?
* How many Governors' of the club secretly disagree with him and his
wife's decisions?
* How many reading this group will avoid posting sarcastic replies &
causing this thread to quickly deteriorate?

Quick list of things (decide for yourselves whether they are bad or
good) being done at the Marshall;

* Ran illegal election so that only handpicked sycophants would win
* Intimidated long-time manager Ron Young into resigning
* Fired dedicated manager Larry S. Tamarkin and forbid him from any
kind of income related activities at the Marshall - Hired an
inexperienced (but sincere) Kid to replace Tamarkin.
* Hired a new Senior Manager who knows almost nothing about chess -
Probably is paid much more then the previous guy - Both new managers
were hired from outside the Marshall's membership community. It is
likely that a number of Marshall member chess players were available,
who would have been deserving of consideration for these positions.

* Suspended Master Boris Feldman for 6-months
* Suspended Expert Lev Zilbermintz from rapids play till January 2004.
* Made the rapids into a profit-making machine, rather then a
membership gaining tool that it was when all entry-fee amounts were
returned as prizes - They have also done away with rating the rapids
event or reporting on it as Tamarkin had done all this for free.
* Rebuilt the office (Long overdue) - Lots of money spent here.
* Installed new toilet downstairs (Long overdue...)

Predictions of things the Marshall membership can expect in the near
futu

* Dues increase
* Letter from the club to members & former members asking for
additional contributions
* Continued conflict of interest, especially from 'Right Move
Organization'
* Continued unilateral decisions of the president of the Marshall
through the Executive committee
* Discussions about selling the building at Governor's meetings
* Permanent banning of some individuals - Especially news group
posters.
* Club may be sued
* Some governor's within the club (especially the president), may sue
others
* Large shift in membership from Chess playing community to wealthy
yuppie types - Part of the result of what will be the new dues
structure...
* Banning of BF, LZ and AH!
* NY Masters will likely either wish to leave or be forced to leave
* Chess Center events will be discontinued as the turnouts are likely
to be very scaled down after members no longer renew, so go elsewhere
to play rated chess (If there is still a USCF that is).

One (long-shot in the near term) Possibility:

* President resigns - But the damage he is inflicting to the Marshall
(and will have inflicted by the finish of his term), will likely be
too severe for the club to recover from, and like the USCF, the
Marshall politico's will defend themselves (but only from within the
club!), to the membership until the last days, when it finally becomes
painfully obvious to anyone who is left that things have been going
dreadfully wrong for a long time.

Please note that Marshall chess club representatives read these news
groups, but never try in any way to logically defend their positions
here, nor reply (except in hostile fashion), to arguments made in
these forums...

Larry S. Tamarkin
Former Marshall Manager

Most of the Marshall Chess Club's poor decisions over the last year
can be traced right to the president of the club; Many are really
hypnotized by this guy and think that he is wonderful. What I wonder
is this:

* How many Marshall members are on to him?
* How many Governors' of the club secretly disagree with him and his
wife's decisions?
* How many reading this group will avoid posting sarcastic replies &
causing this thread to quickly deteriorate?

Quick list of things (decide for yourselves whether they are bad or
good) being done at the Marshall;

* Ran illegal election so that only handpicked sycophants would win
* Intimidated long-time manager Ron Young into resigning

Ron Young is one of the best influences on tournament chess I have ever had the
pleasure of encountering.

He also dissected my Classical "Freedom Defense" like no player ever has.

Make him PRESIDENT OF USCF!


* Fired dedicated manager Larry S. Tamarkin and forbid him from any
kind of income related activities at the Marshall

Larry!

- Hired an
inexperienced (but sincere) Kid to replace Tamarkin.
* Hired a new Senior Manager who knows almost nothing about chess -
Probably is paid much more then the previous guy - Both new managers
were hired from outside the Marshall's membership community. It is
likely that a number of Marshall member chess players were available,
who would have been deserving of consideration for these positions.

* Suspended Master Boris Feldman for 6-months
* Suspended Expert Lev Zilbermintz from rapids play till January 2004.
* Made the rapids into a profit-making machine, rather then a
membership gaining tool that it was when all entry-fee amounts were
returned as prizes - They have also done away with rating the rapids
event or reporting on it as Tamarkin had done all this for free.
* Rebuilt the office (Long overdue) - Lots of money spent here.
* Installed new toilet downstairs (Long overdue...)

Predictions of things the Marshall membership can expect in the near
futu

* Dues increase
* Letter from the club to members & former members asking for
additional contributions
* Continued conflict of interest, especially from 'Right Move
Organization'
* Continued unilateral decisions of the president of the Marshall
through the Executive committee
* Discussions about selling the building at Governor's meetings
* Permanent banning of some individuals - Especially news group
posters.

Can I get banned too?

Please?

Can I get banned too?

Please?

I'm sure you could be, but first you would have to make it known
who you are.

Jerry

Larry,

Perhaps pure speculation and rumor is a bad idea to be passing on? Remember,
learn from the Sloan.

John Fernandez

I find speculation interesting. Also, right now I have been given
alot of time for it.

Larry


eepmeep (John Fernandez) wrote in message ...
Larry,

Perhaps pure speculation and rumor is a bad idea to be passing on? Remember,
learn from the Sloan.

John Fernandez

Subject: Bad decisions at the Marshall Chess Club...
From: (Adventurous One)
Date: 9/4/2003 5:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

This really sounds very interesting. At least Mr. Fernandez has the
courage to participate in discussions on this newsgroup. Judging by
the posts here, apparently other Marshall Governors do not. But the
questions there would be: Do they *want* to participate? Are they
Internet - involved?

I wouldn't call it courage- it's not like I'm an unknown to these forums.

I can't think of any current Governor other than myself that is "chess
discussion involved".

So, now what is going to happen?

Practically every aspect of the club is being improved.

As for club keeping supportive people for a long time --
interesting, but flawed argument. Mr. Tamarkin's post here earlier
exposes the flaw there.

Well, employees are always a touchy subject. I don't know enough about every
detail to really delve into the matter, however.

Sounds like (judging from previous posts here) the club president
had a personal agenda.

My personal opinion is that he didn't.

John Fernandez

I have to tell you Larry that some of this letter sounds more like
sour grapes than legitimate problems the MCC might actually have. But
let's look at your points one by one:

* Ran illegal election so that only handpicked sycophants would win
Proof? Please explain what constitutes an illegal election. What was
the process used to determine candidates? What voting process? What
about counting the votes?

* Intimidated long-time manager Ron Young into resigning
You retracted this one so never mind.

* Fired dedicated manager Larry S. Tamarkin and forbid him from any
kind of income related activities at the Marshall - Hired an
inexperienced (but sincere) Kid to replace Tamarkin.
This one reads like a personal gripe more than anything. "They fired
me!" Why were you fired? What was the official reason? If there is
more to it than that, why not sue? What makes Kid so inexperienced?
Is he incapable of doing the job?

* Hired a new Senior Manager who knows almost nothing about chess -
Probably is paid much more then the previous guy - Both new managers
were hired from outside the Marshall's membership community. It is
likely that a number of Marshall member chess players were available,
who would have been deserving of consideration for these positions.
Is this senior manager involved in some kind of administrative or
accounting activites? If so, his or her knowledge of chess is
secondary to keeping the books balanced.

* Suspended Master Boris Feldman for 6-months
Why?

* Suspended Expert Lev Zilbermintz from rapids play till January 2004.
Why?

* Made the rapids into a profit-making machine, rather then a
membership gaining tool that it was when all entry-fee amounts were
returned as prizes - They have also done away with rating the rapids
event or reporting on it as Tamarkin had done all this for free.
And heaven forfend a group actually make a few bucks? This also
sounds like sour grapes. "I did this and my way was better!"

* Rebuilt the office (Long overdue) - Lots of money spent here.
* Installed new toilet downstairs (Long overdue...)
If both were absolutely necessary and overdue, I can hardly fault the
management for doing these things.

Predictions of things the Marshall membership can expect in the near
futu

* Dues increase
Show me any organization that doesn't increase its dues from time to
time. Are the dues increase you're talking about the result of
keeping up with increased costs and inflation or are you suggesting
something a bit more nefarious?

* Letter from the club to members & former members asking for
additional contributions
Not an uncommon practice in any organization, especially when
membership dues aren't coving total operating expenses.

* Continued conflict of interest, especially from 'Right Move
Organization'
Please explain.

* Continued unilateral decisions of the president of the Marshall
through the Executive committee
I'm not understanding your point here. Are you complaining that the
president is making decisions or are you complaining that the
Executive Committee is rubberstamping them?

* Discussions about selling the building at Governor's meetings
Can the MCC afford to maintain the building as owners (e.g. physical
maintenance, property taxes, insurence)? Would it be cheaper to
simply lease or rent the building?

* Permanent banning of some individuals - Especially news group
posters.
Are they banned because they are news group posters or were they
banned for some other infraction and just happen to be news group
posters?

* Club may be sued
So?

* Some governor's within the club (especially the president), may sue
others
Again, so? How does this effect the membership at large?

* Large shift in membership from Chess playing community to wealthy
yuppie types - Part of the result of what will be the new dues
structure...
You're making an awful assumption that the chess playing community
doesn't include the yuppie types in the first place. Why shouldn't
the MCC try to reach out to those members of the community that have
money or should they only try to cater to the members that exist off
of handouts and minimum wage and play in the park? Why can't the two
co-exist side-by-side? And wouldn't catering to the wealthier chess
players be better in getting exposure?

* Banning of BF, LZ and AH!
why were they banned?

* NY Masters will likely either wish to leave or be forced to leave
There are other places to play after all, unless you think stagnation
is a good thing. Ih the changes aren't to the NY Masters's liking
they'll let their displeasure eb known when they walk.

* Chess Center events will be discontinued as the turnouts are likely
to be very scaled down after members no longer renew, so go elsewhere
to play rated chess (If there is still a USCF that is).
The assumption is the players will no longer renew. If the membership
pricing structure is changed to market toward the yuppie player
instead of the chess fanatic without any real income, this may not
matter. Which player would you rather have as a member, the
wild-haired anti-social rated player 4 months behind in his membership
or the player who can afford to pay his dues?


One (long-shot in the near term) Possibility:

* President resigns - But the damage he is inflicting to the Marshall
(and will have inflicted by the finish of his term), will likely be
too severe for the club to recover from, and like the USCF, the
Marshall politico's will defend themselves (but only from within the
club!), to the membership until the last days, when it finally becomes
painfully obvious to anyone who is left that things have been going
dreadfully wrong for a long time.
Talk about a baited paragraph. When I read it, I see this military
junta hunkered down in some bunker preparing the last stand while the
clearly insane El Presidente still moves fictious armies on a map. I
seriously doubt they are intentionally trying to run the MCC into the
ground. About the only evidence you've presented that the MCC is
being run into the ground is that some people were suspended (without
saying why), some people were fired (without saying why)and replaced,
some necessary renovations were made to the building, and an "illegal"
election. Everything else is you supposition on what may or may not
happen.

Please note that Marshall chess club representatives read these news
groups, but never try in any way to logically defend their positions
here, nor reply (except in hostile fashion), to arguments made in
these forums...

Larry, how many of these arguments did you make, publicly to the MCC
membership, before you were fired? You may have some valid points,
but so many of your points aren't clear on the whys (or the specific
behind your claims) and do read like someone who is bitter about being
fired.

And no, I'm not affilited with the MCC at all.

Such as your speculation that there was no cheating
in the election?

John Fernandez wrote:

Larry,

Perhaps pure speculation and rumor is a bad idea to be passing on? Remember,
learn from the Sloan.

John Fernandez

I think the board has its collective head in the
sand, to put it very mildly.

John Fernandez wrote:

As a Marshall Chess Club Governor, perhaps John Fernandez should not
post on these news groups? Some of these other governor's must wonder
why you are not as silent on all issues involving the Marshall, as
they are. (Ah but I forgot - Like me, you think for yourself!).

Well, while I cannot publicly represent the club, obviously, I do not see a
problem with the occasional post regarding my personal beliefs. I've always
outspoken, sometimes to a fault. That's just my nature, oh well.

As far as not posting on newsgroups by other governors, my speculation would be
that most of the Governors are not involved heavily in USCF politics, and none
I believe have ever had any issues with FIDE politics. As a generalization, the
Governors are a group of people who have been very interested in and supportive
of chess in New York, but they're not very national. In a sense that is a good
thing- the club has been able to keep very experienced and supportive people in
for a long time.

I just don't see the negative things some people are talking about. That's my
personal opinion. And I generally have a habit on erring on the side of being
negative.

John Fernandez

I don't think Doug's agenda would be so bad,
but Marianna has a very definite agenda of returning
the club the way it was 10 years ago (oriented
exclusively to amateur chess). Of course
this can't be done without getting of rid of some
of the people who have served the club loyally
over these years. Some of the things the
administration has done have been very unethical.
They cannot be defended at all.

There was a time when I was like John, and I
thought the present administration was honest enough.
But I was wrong and it took me too long to find
out.



Adventurous One wrote:

This really sounds very interesting. At least Mr. Fernandez has the
courage to participate in discussions on this newsgroup. Judging by
the posts here, apparently other Marshall Governors do not. But the
questions there would be: Do they *want* to participate? Are they
Internet - involved?

So, now what is going to happen?

As for club keeping supportive people for a long time --
interesting, but flawed argument. Mr. Tamarkin's post here earlier
exposes the flaw there.

Sounds like (judging from previous posts here) the club president
had a personal agenda.

That is the obvious deduction here based on previous messages.

eepmeep (John Fernandez) wrote in message ...
As a Marshall Chess Club Governor, perhaps John Fernandez should not
post on these news groups? Some of these other governor's must wonder
why you are not as silent on all issues involving the Marshall, as
they are. (Ah but I forgot - Like me, you think for yourself!).

Well, while I cannot publicly represent the club, obviously, I do not see a
problem with the occasional post regarding my personal beliefs. I've always
outspoken, sometimes to a fault. That's just my nature, oh well.

As far as not posting on newsgroups by other governors, my speculation would be
that most of the Governors are not involved heavily in USCF politics, and none
I believe have ever had any issues with FIDE politics. As a generalization, the
Governors are a group of people who have been very interested in and supportive
of chess in New York, but they're not very national. In a sense that is a good
thing- the club has been able to keep very experienced and supportive people in
for a long time.

I just don't see the negative things some people are talking about. That's my
personal opinion. And I generally have a habit on erring on the side of being
negative.

John Fernandez