ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS
By Bill Goichberg

USCF is pleased to announce the return of the "Activity Means Members" program
after many years. We hope to encourage more USCF-rated tournaments and more
chess clubs to exist in as many locations as possible, thus promoting
membership. The key to growth is to have rated tournaments in more places, not
just more events in areas that already have substantial activity.

If you run an affiliated club or other organization, we hope you will increase
your schedule of rated play. Especially valuable is activity in an area
presently lacking it- for example, if your affiliate now uses only one
location, you might consider also holding an event an hour or two drive away.
Such a tournament may enroll new members who would not now travel to your
current site, but once they enjoy rated play and are part of USCF, some may
begin to play at your original site as well.

If you are not now part of a USCF affiliate, why not start one? To learn more,
call 845-562-8350, ext 123 (Joan DuBois), or e-mail


NEW AFFILIATE PROGRAMS!
To help affiliates promote USCF membership, we offer the following new
programs:

1. Free TLA! Run an additional tournament this spring!

Each affiliate is entitled to one free TLA (Tournament Life Announcement), of
up to six lines and up to two issues of Chess Life, for any tournament to be
held between March and June 2004, if a tournament with that name was not held
in 2003, or had no TLA in 2003, and the TLA is submitted by email (ready for
publication) by the appropriate deadline. The six free lines cannot be applied
to longer TLAs. (If this offer results in new events being held, it is likely
to be repeated in the future.)

2. Free TLAs for RBOs!

Rated Beginners Opens promote USCF membership! We define an RBO as a one-day
tournament, open to under 1200 or under 1000 (other rating cutoffs below 1200
are also OK) or unrated, with an entry fee of no more than $20. The name of the
tournament must include "Rated Beginners Open" or "RBO." Each USCF affiliate is
now entitled to one free TLA for an RBO in each issue of Chess Life, of up to
four lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The four
free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs.

3. Lower dues option for new or returning players!

Effective February 1, 2004, a special Semi-Annual Adult promotional membership
is in effect, to lower the minimum total cost of entry fee and USCF dues for
new members or those rejoining after an absence of a year or more- 6 months for
$29. This membership must be paid through an affiliate together with an entry
fee, and has a $2 affiliate commission.

4. USCF now rates five minute chess!

Effective immediately, tournaments as fast as Game/5 (Blitz chess) are accepted
for rating in USCF's Quick rating system. Five-minute chess was previously
rated by GM Walter Browne's World Blitz Chess Association.

5. Free Blitz Tournament Life Announcements!

To get USCF-rated Blitz off to a fast start, each USCF affiliate is now
entitled to one free Blitz TLA in each issue of Chess Life, of up to four
lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The four free
lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs. In addition to the usual form with
dates, Tournament Life Announcements such as "Castle City Chess Club,
USCF-rated Blitz every Friday at 7 pm," are accepted.

6. Rates lowered for club ads!

Special rates for unchanged club ads in the TLA section, up to 5 lines: $180
per year, $100 for six months. You can announce meeting dates and times, type
of activities, contact info, etc.

7. Help others to promote chess!

If you are an experienced organizer of either tournaments or chess clubs, and
are willing to help by giving advice to others who have less experience, either
by phone or email, please send a brief summary of your experience, along with
your phone number and/or email address, to

8. New e-mail discussion groups being formed!

We are working on forming three new e-mail discussion groups to help less
experienced organizers and affiliates: 1) Tournament Organization, 2) Chess
Club Organization, and 3) Tournament Direction. If you are interested in being
part of any group, write . These groups are not
committees, and there is no obligation to be an active participant, you can ask
questions or comment if you wish or simply benefit from reading the discussion
of others.

9. Your ideas are welcome!

Please contact me at or Joan at if you
have ideas on what other features the "Activity Means Members" program should
include to help affiliates.

The history of "Activity Means Members."

It has been over 40 years since USCF's first "Activity Means Members" campaign,
promoted by Ed Dickerson of Missouri, appeared in the pages of Chess Life
throughout 1962. Similar efforts of the 1960s included "Operation M" (members),
"Operation MM" (more members), and "12 x 12" (12,000 members by the 12th month
of 1968, a goal that was achieved). USCF membership more than quadrupled
between July 1960 and July 1970, increasing every year and growing from 4,579
to 22,623.

Recmate wrote:

ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS
By Bill Goichberg

USCF is pleased to announce the return of the "Activity Means Members" program
after many years. We hope to encourage more USCF-rated tournaments and more
chess clubs to exist in as many locations as possible, thus promoting
membership. The key to growth is to have rated tournaments in more places, not
just more events in areas that already have substantial activity.

If you run an affiliated club or other organization, we hope you will increase
your schedule of rated play. Especially valuable is activity in an area
presently lacking it- for example, if your affiliate now uses only one
location, you might consider also holding an event an hour or two drive away.
Such a tournament may enroll new members who would not now travel to your
current site, but once they enjoy rated play and are part of USCF, some may
begin to play at your original site as well.

If you are not now part of a USCF affiliate, why not start one? To learn more,
call 845-562-8350, ext 123 (Joan DuBois), or e-mail

NEW AFFILIATE PROGRAMS!
To help affiliates promote USCF membership, we offer the following new
programs:

1. Free TLA! Run an additional tournament this spring!

Each affiliate is entitled to one free TLA (Tournament Life Announcement), of
up to six lines and up to two issues of Chess Life, for any tournament to be
held between March and June 2004, if a tournament with that name was not held
in 2003, or had no TLA in 2003, and the TLA is submitted by email (ready for
publication) by the appropriate deadline. The six free lines cannot be applied
to longer TLAs. (If this offer results in new events being held, it is likely
to be repeated in the future.)

2. Free TLAs for RBOs!

Rated Beginners Opens promote USCF membership! We define an RBO as a one-day
tournament, open to under 1200 or under 1000 (other rating cutoffs below 1200
are also OK) or unrated, with an entry fee of no more than $20. The name of the
tournament must include "Rated Beginners Open" or "RBO." Each USCF affiliate is
now entitled to one free TLA for an RBO in each issue of Chess Life, of up to
four lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The four
free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs.

3. Lower dues option for new or returning players!

Effective February 1, 2004, a special Semi-Annual Adult promotional membership
is in effect, to lower the minimum total cost of entry fee and USCF dues for
new members or those rejoining after an absence of a year or more- 6 months for
$29. This membership must be paid through an affiliate together with an entry
fee, and has a $2 affiliate commission.

4. USCF now rates five minute chess!

Effective immediately, tournaments as fast as Game/5 (Blitz chess) are accepted
for rating in USCF's Quick rating system. Five-minute chess was previously
rated by GM Walter Browne's World Blitz Chess Association.

5. Free Blitz Tournament Life Announcements!

To get USCF-rated Blitz off to a fast start, each USCF affiliate is now
entitled to one free Blitz TLA in each issue of Chess Life, of up to four
lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The four free
lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs. In addition to the usual form with
dates, Tournament Life Announcements such as "Castle City Chess Club,
USCF-rated Blitz every Friday at 7 pm," are accepted.

6. Rates lowered for club ads!

Special rates for unchanged club ads in the TLA section, up to 5 lines: $180
per year, $100 for six months. You can announce meeting dates and times, type
of activities, contact info, etc.

7. Help others to promote chess!

If you are an experienced organizer of either tournaments or chess clubs, and
are willing to help by giving advice to others who have less experience, either
by phone or email, please send a brief summary of your experience, along with
your phone number and/or email address, to

8. New e-mail discussion groups being formed!

We are working on forming three new e-mail discussion groups to help less
experienced organizers and affiliates: 1) Tournament Organization, 2) Chess
Club Organization, and 3) Tournament Direction. If you are interested in being
part of any group, write . These groups are not
committees, and there is no obligation to be an active participant, you can ask
questions or comment if you wish or simply benefit from reading the discussion
of others.

9. Your ideas are welcome!

Please contact me at or Joan at if you
have ideas on what other features the "Activity Means Members" program should
include to help affiliates.

The history of "Activity Means Members."

It has been over 40 years since USCF's first "Activity Means Members" campaign,
promoted by Ed Dickerson of Missouri, appeared in the pages of Chess Life
throughout 1962. Similar efforts of the 1960s included "Operation M" (members),
"Operation MM" (more members), and "12 x 12" (12,000 members by the 12th month
of 1968, a goal that was achieved). USCF membership more than quadrupled
between July 1960 and July 1970, increasing every year and growing from 4,579
to 22,623.

Some good ideas Bill. They are certainly long overdue and might work
if too many clubs haven't already died out.

Best Regards,

Bruce

"Bruce Draney" wrote in message
...
Recmate wrote:

ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS
By Bill Goichberg

USCF is pleased to announce the return of the "Activity Means Members"
program
after many years. We hope to encourage more USCF-rated tournaments and
more
chess clubs to exist in as many locations as possible, thus promoting
membership. The key to growth is to have rated tournaments in more
places, not
just more events in areas that already have substantial activity.

If you run an affiliated club or other organization, we hope you will
increase
your schedule of rated play. Especially valuable is activity in an area
presently lacking it- for example, if your affiliate now uses only one
location, you might consider also holding an event an hour or two drive
away.
Such a tournament may enroll new members who would not now travel to
your
current site, but once they enjoy rated play and are part of USCF, some
may
begin to play at your original site as well.

If you are not now part of a USCF affiliate, why not start one? To learn
more,
call 845-562-8350, ext 123 (Joan DuBois), or e-mail


NEW AFFILIATE PROGRAMS!
To help affiliates promote USCF membership, we offer the following new
programs:

1. Free TLA! Run an additional tournament this spring!

Each affiliate is entitled to one free TLA (Tournament Life
Announcement), of
up to six lines and up to two issues of Chess Life, for any tournament
to be
held between March and June 2004, if a tournament with that name was not
held
in 2003, or had no TLA in 2003, and the TLA is submitted by email (ready
for
publication) by the appropriate deadline. The six free lines cannot be
applied
to longer TLAs. (If this offer results in new events being held, it is
likely
to be repeated in the future.)

2. Free TLAs for RBOs!

Rated Beginners Opens promote USCF membership! We define an RBO as a
one-day
tournament, open to under 1200 or under 1000 (other rating cutoffs below
1200
are also OK) or unrated, with an entry fee of no more than $20. The name
of the
tournament must include "Rated Beginners Open" or "RBO." Each USCF
affiliate is
now entitled to one free TLA for an RBO in each issue of Chess Life, of
up to
four lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication).
The four
free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs.

3. Lower dues option for new or returning players!

Effective February 1, 2004, a special Semi-Annual Adult promotional
membership
is in effect, to lower the minimum total cost of entry fee and USCF dues
for
new members or those rejoining after an absence of a year or more- 6
months for
$29. This membership must be paid through an affiliate together with an
entry
fee, and has a $2 affiliate commission.

4. USCF now rates five minute chess!

Effective immediately, tournaments as fast as Game/5 (Blitz chess) are
accepted
for rating in USCF's Quick rating system. Five-minute chess was
previously
rated by GM Walter Browne's World Blitz Chess Association.

5. Free Blitz Tournament Life Announcements!

To get USCF-rated Blitz off to a fast start, each USCF affiliate is now
entitled to one free Blitz TLA in each issue of Chess Life, of up to
four
lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The
four free
lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs. In addition to the usual form
with
dates, Tournament Life Announcements such as "Castle City Chess Club,
USCF-rated Blitz every Friday at 7 pm," are accepted.

6. Rates lowered for club ads!

Special rates for unchanged club ads in the TLA section, up to 5 lines:
$180
per year, $100 for six months. You can announce meeting dates and times,
type
of activities, contact info, etc.

7. Help others to promote chess!

If you are an experienced organizer of either tournaments or chess
clubs, and
are willing to help by giving advice to others who have less experience,
either
by phone or email, please send a brief summary of your experience, along
with
your phone number and/or email address, to

8. New e-mail discussion groups being formed!

We are working on forming three new e-mail discussion groups to help
less
experienced organizers and affiliates: 1) Tournament Organization, 2)
Chess
Club Organization, and 3) Tournament Direction. If you are interested in
being
part of any group, write . These groups are not
committees, and there is no obligation to be an active participant, you
can ask
questions or comment if you wish or simply benefit from reading the
discussion
of others.

9. Your ideas are welcome!

Please contact me at or Joan at
if you
have ideas on what other features the "Activity Means Members" program
should
include to help affiliates.

The history of "Activity Means Members."

It has been over 40 years since USCF's first "Activity Means Members"
campaign,
promoted by Ed Dickerson of Missouri, appeared in the pages of Chess
Life
throughout 1962. Similar efforts of the 1960s included "Operation M"
(members),
"Operation MM" (more members), and "12 x 12" (12,000 members by the 12th
month
of 1968, a goal that was achieved). USCF membership more than quadrupled
between July 1960 and July 1970, increasing every year and growing from
4,579
to 22,623.

Some good ideas Bill. They are certainly long overdue and might work
if too many clubs haven't already died out.

Best Regards,

Bruce

Don't you mean stamped out of existence by the previous writer?

Come on.

USCF is pleased to announce the return of the "Activity Means Members"
program
after many years. We hope to encourage more USCF-rated tournaments and more
chess clubs to exist in as many locations as possible, thus promoting
membership.

Like the Manhattan?

The key to growth is to have rated tournaments in more places,
not
just more events in areas that already have substantial activity.

Actually, the key to growth is to start putting the USCF umbrella over internet
chess and e-book publishing of chess books, thus bringing itself directly to
the player.


If you run an affiliated club or other organization, we hope you will
increase
your schedule of rated play.

Does that include internet organizations?

Especially valuable is activity in an area
presently lacking it- for example, if your affiliate now uses only one
location, you might consider also holding an event an hour or two drive away.

Who pays for gas?

Such a tournament may enroll new members who would not now travel to your
current site, but once they enjoy rated play and are part of USCF, some may
begin to play at your original site as well.

What if they play at home on the internet?


If you are not now part of a USCF affiliate, why not start one?

The commissions suck. I'd want 50 percent of the first year's dues in exchange
for publicizing them on my website.

Of course, if USCF started up an e-publishing outfit, they could make money
selling books to their mailing lists.

To learn
more,
call 845-562-8350, ext 123 (Joan DuBois), or e-mail

I'll keep playing online.


NEW AFFILIATE PROGRAMS!
To help affiliates promote USCF membership, we offer the following new
programs:

1. Free TLA! Run an additional tournament this spring!

What if I just held a tournament outside the auspices of the USCF?



3. Lower dues option for new or returning players!

Effective February 1, 2004, a special Semi-Annual Adult promotional
membership
is in effect, to lower the minimum total cost of entry fee and USCF dues for
new members or those rejoining after an absence of a year or more- 6 months
for
$29.

That's $58.00 a year.


This membership must be paid through an affiliate together with an entry
fee, and has a $2 affiliate commission.

Wow, $2!


The history of "Activity Means Members."

It has been over 40 years since USCF's first "Activity Means Members"
campaign,
promoted by Ed Dickerson of Missouri, appeared in the pages of Chess Life
throughout 1962. Similar efforts of the 1960s included "Operation M"
(members),
"Operation MM" (more members), and "12 x 12" (12,000 members by the 12th
month
of 1968, a goal that was achieved). USCF membership more than quadrupled
between July 1960 and July 1970, increasing every year and growing from 4,579
to 22,623.

And to think I had credited that rise to Bobby Fischer.

Silly me!!

"Recmate" wrote in message
...
ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS
By Bill Goichberg

USCF is pleased to announce the return of the "Activity Means Members"
program
after many years. We hope to encourage more USCF-rated tournaments and
more
chess clubs to exist in as many locations as possible, thus promoting
membership. The key to growth is to have rated tournaments in more places,
not
just more events in areas that already have substantial activity.

If you run an affiliated club or other organization, we hope you will
increase
your schedule of rated play. Especially valuable is activity in an area
presently lacking it- for example, if your affiliate now uses only one
location, you might consider also holding an event an hour or two drive
away.
Such a tournament may enroll new members who would not now travel to your
current site, but once they enjoy rated play and are part of USCF, some
may
begin to play at your original site as well.

If you are not now part of a USCF affiliate, why not start one? To learn
more,
call 845-562-8350, ext 123 (Joan DuBois), or e-mail


NEW AFFILIATE PROGRAMS!
To help affiliates promote USCF membership, we offer the following new
programs:

1. Free TLA! Run an additional tournament this spring!

Each affiliate is entitled to one free TLA (Tournament Life Announcement),
of
up to six lines and up to two issues of Chess Life, for any tournament to
be
held between March and June 2004, if a tournament with that name was not
held
in 2003, or had no TLA in 2003, and the TLA is submitted by email (ready
for
publication) by the appropriate deadline. The six free lines cannot be
applied
to longer TLAs. (If this offer results in new events being held, it is
likely
to be repeated in the future.)

2. Free TLAs for RBOs!

Rated Beginners Opens promote USCF membership! We define an RBO as a
one-day
tournament, open to under 1200 or under 1000 (other rating cutoffs below
1200
are also OK) or unrated, with an entry fee of no more than $20. The name
of the
tournament must include "Rated Beginners Open" or "RBO." Each USCF
affiliate is
now entitled to one free TLA for an RBO in each issue of Chess Life, of up
to
four lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The
four
free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs.

3. Lower dues option for new or returning players!

Effective February 1, 2004, a special Semi-Annual Adult promotional
membership
is in effect, to lower the minimum total cost of entry fee and USCF dues
for
new members or those rejoining after an absence of a year or more- 6
months for
$29. This membership must be paid through an affiliate together with an
entry
fee, and has a $2 affiliate commission.

4. USCF now rates five minute chess!

Effective immediately, tournaments as fast as Game/5 (Blitz chess) are
accepted
for rating in USCF's Quick rating system. Five-minute chess was previously
rated by GM Walter Browne's World Blitz Chess Association.

5. Free Blitz Tournament Life Announcements!

To get USCF-rated Blitz off to a fast start, each USCF affiliate is now
entitled to one free Blitz TLA in each issue of Chess Life, of up to four
lines, if the TLA is submitted by email (ready for publication). The four
free
lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs. In addition to the usual form with
dates, Tournament Life Announcements such as "Castle City Chess Club,
USCF-rated Blitz every Friday at 7 pm," are accepted.

6. Rates lowered for club ads!

Special rates for unchanged club ads in the TLA section, up to 5 lines:
$180
per year, $100 for six months. You can announce meeting dates and times,
type
of activities, contact info, etc.

7. Help others to promote chess!

If you are an experienced organizer of either tournaments or chess clubs,
and
are willing to help by giving advice to others who have less experience,
either
by phone or email, please send a brief summary of your experience, along
with
your phone number and/or email address, to

8. New e-mail discussion groups being formed!

We are working on forming three new e-mail discussion groups to help less
experienced organizers and affiliates: 1) Tournament Organization, 2)
Chess
Club Organization, and 3) Tournament Direction. If you are interested in
being
part of any group, write . These groups are not
committees, and there is no obligation to be an active participant, you
can ask
questions or comment if you wish or simply benefit from reading the
discussion
of others.

9. Your ideas are welcome!

Please contact me at or Joan at if
you
have ideas on what other features the "Activity Means Members" program
should
include to help affiliates.

The history of "Activity Means Members."

It has been over 40 years since USCF's first "Activity Means Members"
campaign,
promoted by Ed Dickerson of Missouri, appeared in the pages of Chess Life
throughout 1962. Similar efforts of the 1960s included "Operation M"
(members),
"Operation MM" (more members), and "12 x 12" (12,000 members by the 12th
month
of 1968, a goal that was achieved). USCF membership more than quadrupled
between July 1960 and July 1970, increasing every year and growing from
4,579
to 22,623.

Great ideas, Bill. I hope they're successful! I will be doing whatever I
can to help out.

Regards,

Matt

BG's new stimulus project ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS is well intended and is
about as much as could be expected from Chess Hq under the present
circumstances. Some good may come of it.
I plan to make use of BG's open invitation to send ideas to him at
.

RSHaas

I must say I'm very happy about this program. We have some G/10 quick rated
tournaments we've been doing at our local chess club (Jackson, Mississippi).
I'd love to advertise them in Chess Life, but with the entry fees I charge
to get everyone to play ($1 adults, $0 scholastics) it's not like I have any
money left over to pay for TLA's. Now I can do G/5 occasionally and get a
TLA for free. Hopefully this will encourage people to get and renew
memberships and to stay active.

Out of this program I'll likely get:

* More people showing up at our club because they'll see the TLA in chess
life and start showing up.
* More people who will join that first tournament because they can pay $30
($29 6 month deal plus $1 EF) instead of $50 to play in their first
tournament.

The $49 membership really is very expensive for some people in my State and
is definitely a barrier to getting new people to join USCF. I understand
USCF has to pay its bills though.

---
Douglas Stewart

President, Mississippi Chess Association

"Douglas L Stewart" writes:
I must say I'm very happy about this program. We have some G/10 quick rated
tournaments we've been doing at our local chess club (Jackson, Mississippi).
I'd love to advertise them in Chess Life, but with the entry fees I charge
to get everyone to play ($1 adults, $0 scholastics) it's not like I have any
money left over to pay for TLA's. Now I can do G/5 occasionally and get a
TLA for free. Hopefully this will encourage people to get and renew
memberships and to stay active.

How are you paying rating fees if the EF is just $1?

"I must say I'm very happy about this program. " (Douglas)
===============
That program is about all that can be expected given HQ's condition. It
will help a little but I don't think we'll see the big turnaround as a result.

RSHaas

By my calculation, if I have less than 16 or fewer players and 4 rounds, the
rating fee is only the minimum $5 if the report is submitted on diskette.
Floppies and stamps are cheap, although I was just about to send a post
asking if you can email those files to USCF these days.

I think I've paid the minimum rating fee each time. I have had the
following numbers of adults: 8, 10, 7, 5. I'm certainly not losing much
money if any at all. By having these tournaments I've induced several
people to either buy memberships or renew expired ones.

"Paul Rubin" wrote in message
...
"Douglas L Stewart" writes:
I must say I'm very happy about this program. We have some G/10 quick
rated
tournaments we've been doing at our local chess club (Jackson,
Mississippi).
I'd love to advertise them in Chess Life, but with the entry fees I
charge
to get everyone to play ($1 adults, $0 scholastics) it's not like I have
any
money left over to pay for TLA's. Now I can do G/5 occasionally and get
a
TLA for free. Hopefully this will encourage people to get and renew
memberships and to stay active.

How are you paying rating fees if the EF is just $1?