Profitability for CL is only possible if we examine all USCF operations and
address all our problems, not just the magazine's. Some time ago I suggested
we recruit a chess-playing consultant from one of the big accounting firms,
or ask the firm to provide us someone pro bono. We desperately need someone
from outside USCF to look at USCF as a business, an organization, in toto.
I'm sure we could learn a tremendous amount from him or her, which even if
we had to pay $50,000 for it would be well worth it -- if we listened, which
of course we wouldn't.

Has that been done? Have we looked for someone with those talents? Of course
not. I remember when I worked in the pharmaceutical business, one of our
older chemists saying, "With all the PhDs we have here, why the hell do we
need to hire a consultant?" Same not-invented-here mentality in New Windsor
or Squeedunk or wherever they're located these days. "We have all these
experts, who needs someone who knows how to solve business problems?"

So each problem continues to be addressed as if it existed in a vacuum --
Chess Life, online play, B&E, tournaments, rating fees, dues, etc.
Segregation and small-picture thinking is how these operations became
screwed up in the first place, and we expect to fix them the same way, with
the same thinking, the same ideas, and in some cases the same people.

A great example is the B&E "outsourcing" plan, which consisted of soliciting
bids on the website for a single vendor. Instead of having our logo or a
USCF-framed online store from 20 vendors, we will now have one. Every other
vendor/advertiser can go screw, just like the old days, so we can squeeze an
extra three cents from every sale, if those sales happen. And you know what?
I'll continue to buy my books from Amazon, my software from TWIC or
Chessbase, and equipment from ICD because they offer the best deals. If USCF
is too freaking dumb to realize that and wants to re-invent the chess
equipment supply chain yet again, in their own image, let them.

Same for CL. Why should any player look forward to that magazine when he has
daily chess news, e.g. Chess Today, with more news, more analysis, more
opinion? Why should an improving player look forward to CL's instructional
columns, once a month, when they can get better material from MIG or other
online vendors?

My ideas: get rid of CL columnists, hire one editor for US-related news and
another for chess-related content, license material from MIG and Baburin (or
for crying out loud hire Mig Greengaard), deliver CL mag online (in addition
to print) to those who want it that way, and make it a vendor-friendly
publication by getting out of B&E. But no, we're afraid there will be a mass
exodus from the federation if readers don't get their monthly dose of Bobby
Fischer stories, six-month-old tournament news, and game analysis by players
who peaked in the early 1960s.

I just hope when this sad mess collapses that you have the good sense to
pass the rating system off to someone who can handle it.

Angelo DePalma


"Tim Hanke" wrote

Angelo,

Grant Perks awaits your resume.

Of course, if we hire you and your projection turns out to be wrong, you
will be treated to "The USCF Magical Swinging Door" and Grant will
serenade
you with "Hit the road Jack, and don't you come back, no more, no more, no
more, no more."

Tim Hanke



--
__________________
Angelo DePalma, PhD
Freelance writer
18 Hillside Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860
973-579-8737

Need a good writer? Hire me for your next project and
get the job done on time and within budget.
Visit www.adepalma.com for more information

"Angelo DePalma" wrote in message ...
Profitability for CL is only possible if we examine all USCF operations and
address all our problems, not just the magazine's. Some time ago I suggested
we recruit a chess-playing consultant from one of the big accounting firms,
or ask the firm to provide us someone pro bono. We desperately need someone
from outside USCF to look at USCF as a business, an organization, in toto.
I'm sure we could learn a tremendous amount from him or her, which even if
we had to pay $50,000 for it would be well worth it -- if we listened, which
of course we wouldn't.

Has that been done? Have we looked for someone with those talents? Of course
not. I remember when I worked in the pharmaceutical business, one of our
older chemists saying, "With all the PhDs we have here, why the hell do we
need to hire a consultant?" Same not-invented-here mentality in New Windsor
or Squeedunk or wherever they're located these days. "We have all these
experts, who needs someone who knows how to solve business problems?"

So each problem continues to be addressed as if it existed in a vacuum --
Chess Life, online play, B&E, tournaments, rating fees, dues, etc.
Segregation and small-picture thinking is how these operations became
screwed up in the first place, and we expect to fix them the same way, with
the same thinking, the same ideas, and in some cases the same people.

A great example is the B&E "outsourcing" plan, which consisted of soliciting
bids on the website for a single vendor. Instead of having our logo or a
USCF-framed online store from 20 vendors, we will now have one. Every other
vendor/advertiser can go screw, just like the old days, so we can squeeze an
extra three cents from every sale, if those sales happen. And you know what?
I'll continue to buy my books from Amazon, my software from TWIC or
Chessbase, and equipment from ICD because they offer the best deals. If USCF
is too freaking dumb to realize that and wants to re-invent the chess
equipment supply chain yet again, in their own image, let them.

Same for CL. Why should any player look forward to that magazine when he has
daily chess news, e.g. Chess Today, with more news, more analysis, more
opinion? Why should an improving player look forward to CL's instructional
columns, once a month, when they can get better material from MIG or other
online vendors?

My ideas: get rid of CL columnists, hire one editor for US-related news and
another for chess-related content, license material from MIG and Baburin (or
for crying out loud hire Mig Greengaard), deliver CL mag online (in addition
to print) to those who want it that way, and make it a vendor-friendly
publication by getting out of B&E. But no, we're afraid there will be a mass
exodus from the federation if readers don't get their monthly dose of Bobby
Fischer stories, six-month-old tournament news, and game analysis by players
who peaked in the early 1960s.

I just hope when this sad mess collapses that you have the good sense to
pass the rating system off to someone who can handle it.


Just for the record, Angelo is not always this charming and positive in person.

I have been looking for chess life at local newstands but
have been unable to find it. I wanted to look at the tournament
life section. I find it easier to look at a magazine than to look
at the website.

Angelo DePalma wrote:

Profitability for CL is only possible if we examine all USCF operations and
address all our problems, not just the magazine's. Some time ago I suggested
we recruit a chess-playing consultant from one of the big accounting firms,
or ask the firm to provide us someone pro bono. We desperately need someone
from outside USCF to look at USCF as a business, an organization, in toto.
I'm sure we could learn a tremendous amount from him or her, which even if
we had to pay $50,000 for it would be well worth it -- if we listened, which
of course we wouldn't.

Has that been done? Have we looked for someone with those talents? Of course
not. I remember when I worked in the pharmaceutical business, one of our
older chemists saying, "With all the PhDs we have here, why the hell do we
need to hire a consultant?" Same not-invented-here mentality in New Windsor
or Squeedunk or wherever they're located these days. "We have all these
experts, who needs someone who knows how to solve business problems?"

So each problem continues to be addressed as if it existed in a vacuum --
Chess Life, online play, B&E, tournaments, rating fees, dues, etc.
Segregation and small-picture thinking is how these operations became
screwed up in the first place, and we expect to fix them the same way, with
the same thinking, the same ideas, and in some cases the same people.

A great example is the B&E "outsourcing" plan, which consisted of soliciting
bids on the website for a single vendor. Instead of having our logo or a
USCF-framed online store from 20 vendors, we will now have one. Every other
vendor/advertiser can go screw, just like the old days, so we can squeeze an
extra three cents from every sale, if those sales happen. And you know what?
I'll continue to buy my books from Amazon, my software from TWIC or
Chessbase, and equipment from ICD because they offer the best deals. If USCF
is too freaking dumb to realize that and wants to re-invent the chess
equipment supply chain yet again, in their own image, let them.

Same for CL. Why should any player look forward to that magazine when he has
daily chess news, e.g. Chess Today, with more news, more analysis, more
opinion? Why should an improving player look forward to CL's instructional
columns, once a month, when they can get better material from MIG or other
online vendors?

My ideas: get rid of CL columnists, hire one editor for US-related news and
another for chess-related content, license material from MIG and Baburin (or
for crying out loud hire Mig Greengaard), deliver CL mag online (in addition
to print) to those who want it that way, and make it a vendor-friendly
publication by getting out of B&E. But no, we're afraid there will be a mass
exodus from the federation if readers don't get their monthly dose of Bobby
Fischer stories, six-month-old tournament news, and game analysis by players
who peaked in the early 1960s.

I just hope when this sad mess collapses that you have the good sense to
pass the rating system off to someone who can handle it.

Angelo DePalma

"Tim Hanke" wrote

Angelo,

Grant Perks awaits your resume.

Of course, if we hire you and your projection turns out to be wrong, you
will be treated to "The USCF Magical Swinging Door" and Grant will
serenade
you with "Hit the road Jack, and don't you come back, no more, no more, no
more, no more."

Tim Hanke



--
__________________
Angelo DePalma, PhD
Freelance writer
18 Hillside Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860
973-579-8737

Need a good writer? Hire me for your next project and
get the job done on time and within budget.
Visit www.adepalma.com for more information