Chess politics - Beatriz Marinello wants to be USCF Executive Director

Author

Beatriz Marinello wants to be USCF Executive Director

Sam Sloan

2004-10-07, 6:47 am

Beatriz Marinello wants to be USCF Executive Director

The word is out that Beatriz Marinello wants to replace Bill Goichberg
as USCF Executive Director.

Beatriz Marinello is the USCF President. Her term expires next year.
She has stated that she plans to step down at that time, but now it
comes out that she wants the USCF Executive Director's job.

Bill Goichberg is working without pay. It is unlikely that this is
what Beatriz wants. More likely, she wants to be paid the more than
$100,000 per year that Executive Directors prior to Bill Goichberg
were receiving.

Sam Sloan

Matt Nemmers

2004-10-07, 6:47 am

In a related story, GM Peter Leko died in a car accident today. News at
11....

Regards,

Matt

"Sam Sloan" <sloan@ishipress.com> wrote in message
news:9802e06e.0410061941.548cf005@posting.google.com...

quote:

> Beatriz Marinello wants to be USCF Executive Director
>
> The word is out that Beatriz Marinello wants to replace Bill Goichberg
> as USCF Executive Director.
>
> Beatriz Marinello is the USCF President. Her term expires next year.
> She has stated that she plans to step down at that time, but now it
> comes out that she wants the USCF Executive Director's job.
>
> Bill Goichberg is working without pay. It is unlikely that this is
> what Beatriz wants. More likely, she wants to be paid the more than
> $100,000 per year that Executive Directors prior to Bill Goichberg
> were receiving.
>
> Sam Sloan

Tom Klem

2004-10-07, 6:47 am

Well, Spammy may be getting his paycheck from the USCF again.

Ever think of that?

--
Tom Klem
"SBC - Unfair and unbalanced news reporters"
---Slogan of Sloan Broad Corporation

"Matt Nemmers" <qcchess@mcnospamhsi.com> wrote in message
news:uM39d.202278$D%.169468@attbi_s51...

quote:

> In a related story, GM Peter Leko died in a car accident today. News at
> 11....
>
> Regards,
>
> Matt
>
>
> "Sam Sloan" <sloan@ishipress.com> wrote in message
> news:9802e06e.0410061941.548cf005@posting.google.com...
>
>

Parrthenon

2004-10-08, 9:45 am

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?

By Larry Parr

Sam Sloan reported a few days ago that Beatriz Marinello wishes to become USCF
executive director. She would replace Bill Goichberg, who is unpaid and whose
tenure at New Windsor was initially billed as of interim duration.

After reading the Sloan story, which surprised this writer on a number of
accounts, I began contacting some past sources. It would appear that Sam's
brief account is correct. The Executive Board voted 5 to 2 to begin a search
for a new Executive Director. Mr. Goichberg would be eligible to apply, but my
sources tell me that the Board will also break 4 to 2 in favor of hiring
Beatriz Marinello (Randy Bauer, Tim Hanke, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Steve Shutt
in favor; Frank Brady and Don Schultz against).

This new Board, like all previous Boards, has fallen into disarray. The
infighting has become fierce.

Frank Brady has demanded that Beatriz Marinello resign before the next Board
meeting of October 17 - 18. She is threatened, rightly or wrongly, with charges
under New York law of violating her fiduciary responsibilities by actively
seeking the positon of ED while serving on the Executive Board. She reportedly
denies having made up her mind about seeking the post. It is further suggested,
again rightly or wrongly, that Board members who have supported her alleged job
quest may also have overstepped the legal line of the fiduciary laws.

HOW IT BEGAN

One account has it that Beatriz Marinello announced to the Board a month ago
that she wished to become executive director and offered to resign immediately
as USCF president. She is said to be ill and needs a job to procure health
insurance and, indeed, a living. Earlier, Miss Marinello had been seeking a
position at the Hall of Fame, but that opportunity fell though.

She had supposedly been critical of Bill Goichberg's performance prior to
informing the Board that she wished to have his job. Critics would argue that,
if true, such criticism from her was self-interested and designed to put the
skids under Mr. Goichberg, who has long faced credible charges of conflict of
interest. Supporters would argue that Beatriz Marinello's job as USCF president
was, after all, to be justly critical when shortcomings warranted presidential
brickbats.

THE CURRENT BATTLE

Beatriz Marinello has allegedly built a coalition on the Board which favors her
assuming Mr. Goichberg's position. As mentioned already, the coalition includes
the Messrs. Bauer, Hanke, and Shutt as well as Mme. Shaughnessy.

Those opposing her appointment have raised the spectre of New York's tough
conflict of interest laws that contain tough rules about what a board member of
an organization may do to procure private advantage within that organization.
One basic principle is that a serving board member cannot violate any rules or
normal procedures of an organization when seeking a preferment. Violating
fiduciary responsibilities can lead to criminal proceedings, and there are
threats to go to the state attorney general, a man named Elliott Spitzer, who
is either a vigilant and courageous crusader for justice or an ambitious and
vicious prosecutor who has imbued his staff with the inquisitorial spirit of
21st century America.

A potential target, who could be pared off the Board majority in favor of
Beatriz Marinello, is Iowa state budget director Randy Bauer.
Anti-Marinelloites may point to any alleged irregularities in Mr. Bauer's
pursuit of his agenda or in his alleged support for Miss Marinello when calling
for an investigation by the attorney general of fiduciary violations.

"Any New York prosecutor worth his lawyerly feces," says a source, "could not
resist trying to make a reputation by dragging down the budget director of
another state."

There is no suggestion that Mr. Bauer is guilty of wrongdoing in promoting
either his agenda or possibly that of Beatriz Marinello, but there is a
suggestion that if the battle becomes heated, the memoranda of all concerned
will come under close scrutiny. The issue may become the culpability of Board
members who support alleged violations of fiduciary laws by other members.

HOW HEATED WILL THE BATTLE GET?

Exchanges between Frank Brady and Beatriz Marinello have reportedly been
vituperative. One charge is that she attempted to tailor the job description
to make it possible for only person to get the job, herself. One or her
proposals, which did not sit well, was a credential that the new ED must be
from a foreign country to make sure the person has international chess
experience.

One charge against her might be that of ingratiation if she takes parts
in on discussions concerning her reported desire to become executive director.
Lawyer Harry Sabine, a supporter of the Crossville bid, allegedly advised that
she need not absent herself from such discussions. One report says that Tim
Hanke quietly advised her to seek a second legal opinion.

Speaking with a long-time USCF figure, this writer got the impression that if
the battle becomes much more heated, then all legal stops will be pulled.

SEARCH FOR NEW EDITOR?

As part of yet another managerial turnover, there is a report/rumor that
Beatriz Marinello is also seeking the replacement of not only Mr. Goichberg but
also of Chess Life editor Kalev Pehme, who could be succeeded by former editor
Glenn Petersen.

Although there is confirmation that a search will be made for a new executive
director, there is no confirmation as of this writing that a search is under
way for a new editor. The rumor remains a rumor.

THE MOVE TO TENNESSEE

The battle over who will be the next USCF executive director intersects with
the struggle over where Federation headquarters will be located.

Readers of the fidechessgroup perused a letter from a tough Tennessee lawyer --
the kind of human being who would send his daughter to Abu Ghraib without a
second's remorse if such served his client's interests -- threatening the USCF
with disembowelment if it reneges on the plan to move to Crossville, a town
only 12,697 miles from the nearest American city. This writer has learned that
the legal mumbo-jumbo in the letter apparently has teeth.

Beatriz Marinello has allegedly indicated a desire to fulfill her job as
executive director while living in Miami. This might suggest that she favors
either a move to Crossville or to the Hall of Fame rather than to the more
distant and brutal climes of upstate New York.

Bill Goichberg, it is said, favors moving the Federation to Liberty, New York,
if a reported quasi-gift to the USCF comes through. The report is that a
billionaire-owner of a 32-acre sanitarium has offered to sell the property,
allegedly worth about $1 million, for $250,000. The property is in Sullivan
Country, which is set to get casino gambling. The value of the property could
possibly skyrocket. In addition the building is said to be far larger than the
area required by the Federation, and rentals to other companies could bring the
Federation a handsome income.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

The above report suggests to this writer that nothing too special is happening
these days at the USCF.

You have the usual hatreds, the customary plots, the statutorily allotted quota
of doublecrosses and backstabbings.

Somehow or other our best and brightest -- or worst and dumbest -- will sort it
all out to their advantage and to the Federation's benefit or disadvantage.
That remains to be seen.

________________________________________________________________
"FIDE has made its decision. Players who refuse to be drug tested will not be
able to play chess." -- Dr. Press, co-founder of the FIDE Medical Commission.

The Masked Bishop

2004-10-08, 5:46 pm

Good post, Larry. Just reaffirms my own statement that we live in the
age of the Terrible Triumvirate: the worst USCF President ever, the
worst USCF Executive Director ever, and the worst Chess Life editor
ever.

How comforting to know that rather than allow attrition to improve
this grim situation, they are trying to play musical chairs. Marinello
has been an awful President, and would be an even worse Director. Run
her out of town. At least Goichberg is working for "free."

TMB

GrantPerks

2004-10-08, 5:46 pm

When I first heard this rumor in early September, I quoted the section that I
felt relevant from the "Standards of Conduct for the USCF Executive Board".
Article (a) bars an Executive Board member from receiving financial
compensation from an agreement entered into during the tenure of said board
member.

As I recall, Beatriz serves on the USCF "office committee" which is responsible
for not only hiring the new Executive Director but determining the new office
location. This is an obvious conflict of interest on her part if she is
interested in the position of ED.

Even if the rumor has some truth to it, which I doubt, there is no way that
four members of the current board would be a part of this conflict of interest
and hire a fellow member of the board as ED.

-Grant Perks

PS Since the USCF is an Illinois corporation, wouldn't the Illinois laws with
regard to fiduciary responsibilities also be important?

StanB

2004-10-08, 5:46 pm

Larry, Larry, Larry. You base your argument that it is in some way a
violation of fiduciary duty but you offer nothing to support that. I doubt
very much that it is in anyway a violation of fiduciary duty. If she does
the job and draws a check, how has she inured herself at the expense of the
organization?

"Parrthenon" <parrthenon@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20041008073334.01852.00001804@mb-m13.news.cs.com...

quote:

>
> WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?
>
> By Larry Parr
>
> Sam Sloan reported a few days ago that Beatriz Marinello wishes to become
> USCF
> executive director. She would replace Bill Goichberg, who is unpaid and
> whose
> tenure at New Windsor was initially billed as of interim duration.
>
> After reading the Sloan story, which surprised this writer on a number of
> accounts, I began contacting some past sources. It would appear that Sam's
> brief account is correct. The Executive Board voted 5 to 2 to begin a
> search
> for a new Executive Director. Mr. Goichberg would be eligible to apply,
> but my
> sources tell me that the Board will also break 4 to 2 in favor of hiring
> Beatriz Marinello (Randy Bauer, Tim Hanke, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Steve
> Shutt
> in favor; Frank Brady and Don Schultz against).
>
> This new Board, like all previous Boards, has fallen into disarray. The
> infighting has become fierce.
>
> Frank Brady has demanded that Beatriz Marinello resign before the next
> Board
> meeting of October 17 - 18. She is threatened, rightly or wrongly, with
> charges
> under New York law of violating her fiduciary responsibilities by actively
> seeking the positon of ED while serving on the Executive Board. She
> reportedly
> denies having made up her mind about seeking the post. It is further
> suggested,
> again rightly or wrongly, that Board members who have supported her
> alleged job
> quest may also have overstepped the legal line of the fiduciary laws.
>
> HOW IT BEGAN
>
> One account has it that Beatriz Marinello announced to the Board a month
> ago
> that she wished to become executive director and offered to resign
> immediately
> as USCF president. She is said to be ill and needs a job to procure health
> insurance and, indeed, a living. Earlier, Miss Marinello had been seeking
> a
> position at the Hall of Fame, but that opportunity fell though.
>
> She had supposedly been critical of Bill Goichberg's performance prior to
> informing the Board that she wished to have his job. Critics would argue
> that,
> if true, such criticism from her was self-interested and designed to put
> the
> skids under Mr. Goichberg, who has long faced credible charges of conflict
> of
> interest. Supporters would argue that Beatriz Marinello's job as USCF
> president
> was, after all, to be justly critical when shortcomings warranted
> presidential
> brickbats.
>
> THE CURRENT BATTLE
>
> Beatriz Marinello has allegedly built a coalition on the Board which
> favors her
> assuming Mr. Goichberg's position. As mentioned already, the coalition
> includes
> the Messrs. Bauer, Hanke, and Shutt as well as Mme. Shaughnessy.
>
> Those opposing her appointment have raised the spectre of New York's tough
> conflict of interest laws that contain tough rules about what a board
> member of
> an organization may do to procure private advantage within that
> organization.
> One basic principle is that a serving board member cannot violate any
> rules or
> normal procedures of an organization when seeking a preferment. Violating
> fiduciary responsibilities can lead to criminal proceedings, and there are
> threats to go to the state attorney general, a man named Elliott Spitzer,
> who
> is either a vigilant and courageous crusader for justice or an ambitious
> and
> vicious prosecutor who has imbued his staff with the inquisitorial spirit
> of
> 21st century America.
>
> A potential target, who could be pared off the Board majority in favor of
> Beatriz Marinello, is Iowa state budget director Randy Bauer.
> Anti-Marinelloites may point to any alleged irregularities in Mr. Bauer's
> pursuit of his agenda or in his alleged support for Miss Marinello when
> calling
> for an investigation by the attorney general of fiduciary violations.
>
> "Any New York prosecutor worth his lawyerly feces," says a source, "could
> not
> resist trying to make a reputation by dragging down the budget director of
> another state."
>
> There is no suggestion that Mr. Bauer is guilty of wrongdoing in promoting
> either his agenda or possibly that of Beatriz Marinello, but there is a
> suggestion that if the battle becomes heated, the memoranda of all
> concerned
> will come under close scrutiny. The issue may become the culpability of
> Board
> members who support alleged violations of fiduciary laws by other members.
>
> HOW HEATED WILL THE BATTLE GET?
>
> Exchanges between Frank Brady and Beatriz Marinello have reportedly been
> vituperative. One charge is that she attempted to tailor the job
> description
> to make it possible for only person to get the job, herself. One or her
> proposals, which did not sit well, was a credential that the new ED must
> be
> from a foreign country to make sure the person has international chess
> experience.
>
> One charge against her might be that of ingratiation if she takes
> parts
> in on discussions concerning her reported desire to become executive
> director.
> Lawyer Harry Sabine, a supporter of the Crossville bid, allegedly advised
> that
> she need not absent herself from such discussions. One report says that
> Tim
> Hanke quietly advised her to seek a second legal opinion.
>
> Speaking with a long-time USCF figure, this writer got the impression that
> if
> the battle becomes much more heated, then all legal stops will be pulled.
>
> SEARCH FOR NEW EDITOR?
>
> As part of yet another managerial turnover, there is a report/rumor that
> Beatriz Marinello is also seeking the replacement of not only Mr.
> Goichberg but
> also of Chess Life editor Kalev Pehme, who could be succeeded by former
> editor
> Glenn Petersen.
>
> Although there is confirmation that a search will be made for a new
> executive
> director, there is no confirmation as of this writing that a search is
> under
> way for a new editor. The rumor remains a rumor.
>
> THE MOVE TO TENNESSEE
>
> The battle over who will be the next USCF executive director intersects
> with
> the struggle over where Federation headquarters will be located.
>
> Readers of the fidechessgroup perused a letter from a tough Tennessee
> lawyer --
> the kind of human being who would send his daughter to Abu Ghraib without
> a
> second's remorse if such served his client's interests -- threatening the
> USCF
> with disembowelment if it reneges on the plan to move to Crossville, a
> town
> only 12,697 miles from the nearest American city. This writer has learned
> that
> the legal mumbo-jumbo in the letter apparently has teeth.
>
> Beatriz Marinello has allegedly indicated a desire to fulfill her job as
> executive director while living in Miami. This might suggest that she
> favors
> either a move to Crossville or to the Hall of Fame rather than to the more
> distant and brutal climes of upstate New York.
>
> Bill Goichberg, it is said, favors moving the Federation to Liberty, New
> York,
> if a reported quasi-gift to the USCF comes through. The report is that a
> billionaire-owner of a 32-acre sanitarium has offered to sell the
> property,
> allegedly worth about $1 million, for $250,000. The property is in
> Sullivan
> Country, which is set to get casino gambling. The value of the property
> could
> possibly skyrocket. In addition the building is said to be far larger than
> the
> area required by the Federation, and rentals to other companies could
> bring the
> Federation a handsome income.
>
> BUSINESS AS USUAL
>
> The above report suggests to this writer that nothing too special is
> happening
> these days at the USCF.
>
> You have the usual hatreds, the customary plots, the statutorily allotted
> quota
> of doublecrosses and backstabbings.
>
> Somehow or other our best and brightest -- or worst and dumbest -- will
> sort it
> all out to their advantage and to the Federation's benefit or
> disadvantage.
> That remains to be seen.
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> "FIDE has made its decision. Players who refuse to be drug tested will not
> be
> able to play chess." -- Dr. Press, co-founder of the FIDE Medical
> Commission.

GrantPerks

2004-10-08, 5:46 pm

quote:

>Larry, Larry, Larry. You base your argument that it is in some way a
>violation of fiduciary duty but you offer nothing to support that. I doubt
>very much that it is in anyway a violation of fiduciary duty. If she does
>the job and draws a check, how has she inured herself at the expense of the
>organization?
>

Stan, you are kidding, right?

GrantP

Paul Rubin

2004-10-08, 5:46 pm

"StanB" <stanbooz@comXXXcast.net> writes:

quote:

> Larry, Larry, Larry. You base your argument that it is in some way a
> violation of fiduciary duty but you offer nothing to support that. I doubt
> very much that it is in anyway a violation of fiduciary duty. If she does
> the job and draws a check, how has she inured herself at the expense of the
> organization?

The conflict of interest is being a candidate for ED while
simultaneously serving on the EB that selects the ED. Think of a
government official (e.g. in the Pentagon) who has to select a vendor
for some juicy contract. He weighs all the qualifications of each
applicant and selects... himself! It doesn't help if he resigns his
Pentagon job on getting the contract. It doesn't help if he only
serves on a selection committee, and resigns from the Pentagon the day
before the committee makes its final choice, if he's spent the past
months influencing the other committee members to pick him for the
contract.

It's because of the possibility of such conflicts that former military
officers aren't eligible to serve as Secretary of Defense until
they've been out of active duty for ten years.

Some of the EB are claiming that according to legal beagles, there's
similarly-motivated laws about nonprofit board members. I don't know
if they're right, but the concept isn't crazy. Saying that an ex-EB
member must be off the board for ten years before being eligible for
the ED job is probably extreme, but 1 year might be reasonable.

Parrthenon

2004-10-08, 5:46 pm

Dear Grant,

I merely reported what insiders have told me which confirms Sam Sloan's initial
report.

Don't the USCF Bylaws contain a clause that prohibits any board member from
seeking a paid position within two years after serving on the Board?

________________________________________________________________
"FIDE has made its decision. Players who refuse to be drug tested will not be
able to play chess." -- Dr. Press, co-founder of the FIDE Medical Commission.

GrantPerks

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

>Dear Grant,

quote:

>
>I merely reported what insiders have told me which confirms Sam Sloan's
>initial
>report.

Understood. Just trying to give, at a minimum, the four board members mentioned
some credit for having concerns for business ethics.

I also feel that there are "insiders" who will leak certain information and
pepper the leak with half-truths. Just as Sam Sloan is leaked false information
tied to an agenda, so are you.

quote:

>Don't the USCF Bylaws contain a clause that prohibits any board member from
>seeking a paid position within two years after serving on the Board?
>

I didn't find a Bylaw section that prevents this, but the "standards of conduct
for USCF Executive Board" clearly prevent the board member from seeking a job
during their tenure on the board.

Grant Perks

Mike Nolan

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

parrthenon@cs.com (Parrthenon) writes:

quote:

>Don't the USCF Bylaws contain a clause that prohibits any board member from
>seeking a paid position within two years after serving on the Board?

I think the Board passed an internal motion to that effect several
years ago (probably around 1999 or 2000), but the Delegates have never
made that part of the Bylaws or the Code of Ethics, nor is there a
delegate motion of continuing interest on this subject.

I'm not an attorney, but my reading of the Illinois Not-For-Profit
statutes didn't find any explicit prohibition on board members becoming
employees. IMHO, Illinois law mostly says: Do whatever the Bylaws
say.

I don't know that New York law would apply, since USCF is an Illinois
corporation.

Two years ago I applied for the position of Executive Director at a
non-profit in Nebraska, though I was on the board at the time. I was
asked by several board members to apply, but I was not on the executive
committee or the search committee. I was not hired, though I was one of
the finalists.

I know of other non-profits who have hired members of their boards, so I
don't believe there is a legal prohibition against it, at least not in
Nebraska.

In every case I'm aware of, the board took reasonable steps to make sure
that the board member/applicant was not actively involved in the selection
process, including requiring that the applicant leave the room during
any discussion of the hiring process at board meetings.

In one case they completely restarted the whole process when a board member
declared his intention to seek the position. (He didn't get the job,
either.) In another case, the applicant resigned an officer position
on the Board before submitting her letter of appllcation.
--
Mike Nolan

GrantPerks

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

Mike Nolan noted:

quote:

>I think the Board passed an internal motion to that effect several
>years ago (probably around 1999 or 2000), but the Delegates have never
>made that part of the Bylaws or the Code of Ethics, nor is there a
>delegate motion of continuing interest on this subject.
>

Mike,

Since the "Standards of Conduct for USCF Executive Board" is a delegate passed
document, doesn't it have equalivant authority in leu of a section in the
Bylaws?

Grant Perks

StanB

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

"GrantPerks" <gperks2@aol.comnojunk> wrote in message
news:20041008171918.16546.00001801@mb-m16.aol.com...

quote:

>
> Stan, you are kidding, right?

No I'm not. If she resigns and is hired we'd have a WIM with experience in
the office and a degree in accounting. Sounds like the perfect fit.

StanB

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

"Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote in message
news:7xacuwyjpu.fsf@ruckus.brouhaha.com...

quote:

> Some of the EB are claiming that according to legal beagles, there's
> similarly-motivated laws about nonprofit board members. I don't know
> if they're right, but the concept isn't crazy. Saying that an ex-EB
> member must be off the board for ten years before being eligible for
> the ED job is probably extreme, but 1 year might be reasonable.

Saying it would be okay. When I was on a school board, I could not do
business with the district during and for two subsequent years. (No I have
never in the ten years since leaving had any business or other dealings with
them.) The trouble is that our bylaws say nothing preventing this. Camaratta
did business with the Federation while he was a board member.

StanB

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

"Parrthenon" <parrthenon@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20041008173942.15758.00001720@mb-m13.news.cs.com...

quote:

> Dear Grant,
>
> I merely reported what insiders have told me which confirms Sam Sloan's
> initial
> report.
>
> Don't the USCF Bylaws contain a clause that prohibits any board member
> from
> seeking a paid position within two years after serving on the Board?

Or sooner.

Kenneth Sloan

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

gperks2@aol.comnojunk (GrantPerks) writes:

quote:

> Mike Nolan noted:
>
> Mike,
>
> Since the "Standards of Conduct for USCF Executive Board" is a delegate passed
> document, doesn't it have equalivant authority in leu of a section in the
> Bylaws?

No.

quote:

>
> Grant Perks
>

--
Kenneth Sloan sloan@uab.edu
Computer and Information Sciences (205) 934-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX (205) 934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Mike Nolan

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

gperks2@aol.comnojunk (GrantPerks) writes:

quote:

>Since the "Standards of Conduct for USCF Executive Board" is a delegate passed
>document, doesn't it have equalivant authority in leu of a section in the
>Bylaws?

Where, specifically, in that standard does it say that a board member
must wait some length of time after being a board member before becoming
a USCF employee? My understanding is that the only place in which
the two year limit was imposed was in a Board motion which, unlike a
Delegate motion, could be changed by the current Board.

It would be inappropriate for a board member to be an active participant
in the search process, such as a member of the search subcommittee.

It could also be argued that a board member should not hold a major office,
such as president, while applying for a paid position. Whether any
executive board office is deemed 'major' is an interesting question.
Absent of a specific stipulation by the Delegates, such as in the Bylaws,
I don't know what there is to fall back upon.

I think this is analogous to the situation of a USCF employee becoming a
Board member, the employee would have to resign before being seated as
a member of the Board but not before filing as a candidate.

In the cases I'm aware of where a non-profit hired a board member, the
board was generally significantly larger than the USCF Executive Board,
usually 15 or more members.

I'm not disagreeing with you that the situation is rife with political
implications including the potential for charges of conflicts of interest,
I just don't see anything in our Bylaws or related rules to specifically
prohibit it, nor do I have reason to believe it is against the law.
--
Mike Nolan

GrantPerks

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

StanB wrote:

quote:

>No I'm not. If she resigns and is hired we'd have a WIM with experience in
>the office and a degree in accounting. Sounds like the perfect fit.
>

We ain't talking about credentials here.

We are talking about a board member who is active in the determination of the
office relocation as well as consideration of resumes for the ED position.

The board as a whole has the obligations to its members to pick the best
location for the office, as well as the best candidate for the position of ED.
Both of these decisions could be influenced by a board member who is also a
candidate for ED.

Grant P

GrantPerks

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

Mike Nolan wrote:
"Where, specifically, in that standard does it say that a board member
must wait some length of time after being a board member before becoming
a USCF employee?"

Its in the "agreements made" language.

"(2) Executive Board members must be motivated solely by the best interests of
the USCF in exercising their duties. Any potential conflict of interest,
whether due to financial, political, personal, geographical, organizational,
familial, or other considerations, must be prevented from affecting any Board
member in the discharge of his or her duties.

(a) Except where noted below, no Executive Board member or a member of his
immediate family may receive financial compensation from the USCF for any
reason, except for standard reimbursement of expenses, during his tenure on the
Board, or for two years after completing his tenure if such compensation
results from bids accepted or agreements made by the Board during his tenure.
In claiming expense reimbursement, a Board member must claim only that portion
of expenses that were incurred in non-political activities that were a
legitimate exercise of the Board member's duties. "

Paul Rubin

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

gperks2@aol.comnojunk (GrantPerks) writes:

quote:

> (a) Except where noted below, no Executive Board member or a member
> of his immediate family may receive financial compensation from the
> USCF for any reason, except for standard reimbursement of expenses,
> during his tenure on the Board, or for two years after completing
> his tenure if such compensation results from bids accepted or
> agreements made by the Board during his tenure.

That says BM could resign from the board one day, and be selected as
ED through some fig-leaf process the next day, since the agreement
wouldn't be made during BM's tenure. I'd say it is sloppy language.

StanB

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

"Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote in message
news:7xzn2w912z.fsf@ruckus.brouhaha.com...

quote:

> That says BM could resign from the board one day, and be selected as
> ED through some fig-leaf process the next day, since the agreement
> wouldn't be made during BM's tenure. I'd say it is sloppy language.

One day? One moment.

StanB

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

"Parrthenon" <parrthenon@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20041008073334.01852.00001804@mb-m13.news.cs.com...

quote:

> Frank Brady has demanded that Beatriz Marinello resign before the next
> Board
> meeting of October 17 - 18. She is threatened, rightly or wrongly, with
> charges
> under New York law of violating her fiduciary responsibilities by actively
> seeking the positon of ED while serving on the Executive Board. She
> reportedly
> denies having made up her mind about seeking the post. It is further
> suggested,
> again rightly or wrongly, that Board members who have supported her
> alleged job
> quest may also have overstepped the legal line of the fiduciary laws.

Here is an example of violation of fiduciary trust. It is also a mutually
exclusive example of a board member serving as the chief executive officer.
Presumably paid. I don't know if it took place in New York or Illinois.

"Scrushy allegedly controlled HealthSouth while CEO and Chairman of the
Board, and personally participated in the preparation of financial
statements and other financial documents. The indictment alleges that
Scrushy caused HealthSouth to falsify financial statements, making the
company appear more successful than it actually was. According to the
indictment, internal reports at HealthSouth between 1996 and 2003 showed
that the company failed to produce sufficient net income to meet the
expectations of Wall Street securities analysts, the market and its own
internal budgets, a failure that Scrushy and others allegedly referred to as
"not making the numbers." Scrushy and others allegedly devised a scheme to
inflate HealthSouth's earnings by making false and fraudulent entries in
HealthSouth's books and records, and by covering up the accounting fraud
with false financial filings and statements. The indictment alleges that the
scheme added approximately $2.6 billion in fictitious income to HealthSouth's
books and records during the course of the conspiracy. "

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/Se.../04_crm_654.htm

Parrthenon

2004-10-09, 12:45 am

Once again, for the record, I was just reporting what I have been told about
the inside machinations.

My view is that Beatriz Marinello has been one of our better presidents
and that Bill Goichberg is doing a good job, though there are unacceptable
conflicts of interest.

The Masked Bishop read what I wrote as a criticism of the current
leadership. It was not. Nor was it praise. It was just a report telling you
what is going on.

I have no strong views about whether Beatriz Marinello should or should
not be the next executive director. A search process should make that
determination.

Contrary to what Grant Perks wrote, I made no argument that fiduciary
laws have been breached. I was reporting about the nature of the battle that
will ensue if war breaks out. Frankly, I have no idea whatsoever -- not a
glimmer in the supernal ether -- whether any laws have been violated. Any
opinion of mine is legally worthless.

I was simply telling you people what I was able to find out.

Period.

-- Larry Parr

________________________________________________________________
"FIDE has made its decision. Players who refuse to be drug tested will not be
able to play chess." -- Dr. Press, co-founder of the FIDE Medical Commission.

Sam Sloan

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

On Fri, 8 Oct 2004 19:28:39 -0400, "StanB" <stanbooz@comXXXcast.net>
wrote:

quote:

>No I'm not. If she resigns and is hired we'd have a WIM with experience in
>the office and a degree in accounting. Sounds like the perfect fit.

I do not believe that Beatriz is suitable. She has apparently been
involved in several failed business ventures. When running for USCF
election, she stated that she was opening a pet food business on the
Internet. What happened to that? She moved to Miami for a job with the
World Chess Hall of Fame shortly after she was elected USCF President.
That was an obvious conflict of interest. She lasted about two weeks
at that job. More recently, she was trying to open a store in Miami.
What happened to that? What happened to the previous business she had
running a chess school?

Bill Goichberg is working for free. Beatriz wants to make enough money
as USCF Executive Director to earn a living. I assume that she wants
to get the more than $100,000 per year that Frank Niro and George
DeFeis received. The USCF lost nearly two million dollars under them.
Goichberg has returned the USCF to profitibility for one year after
the USCF lost money eight years in a row. I do not see how any
reasonable person would agree to throw out Goichberg and replace him
with Beatriz.

Sam Sloan

StanB

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

"Sam Sloan" <sloan@ishipress.com> wrote in message
news:4167ca4e.96807984@ca.news.verio.net...

quote:

> I do not believe that Beatriz is suitable. She has apparently been
> involved in several failed business ventures.

Apparently? Well that proves it.

quote:

>When running for USCF
> election, she stated that she was opening a pet food business on the
> Internet. What happened to that? She moved to Miami for a job with the
> World Chess Hall of Fame shortly after she was elected USCF President.
> That was an obvious conflict of interest. She lasted about two weeks
> at that job.

A job given to her by a genorus benefactor so she could have health
benefits. She felt uncomfortable even so and resigned.

quote:

> Bill Goichberg is working for free. Beatriz wants to make enough money
> as USCF Executive Director to earn a living. I assume that she wants
> to get the more than $100,000 per year that Frank Niro and George
> DeFeis received.

When you assume you make an XXX out of you. Only Schultz is saying it is a
six figure job now. Didn't he tell you that when he leaked the story to you?
Who does Don think we should hire?

The Masked Bishop

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

>The Masked Bishop read what I wrote as a criticism of the current
leadership. <

No, I didn't. I merely stated that your report bolstered my OWN claims
of gross incompetence at the top. Your data was neutral...I feel it
supports my own biased position.

Read more carefully, Larry.

TMB

GrantPerks

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

Stanbooz asked:

quote:

>When you assume you make an XXX out of you. Only Schultz is saying it is a
>six figure job now. Didn't he tell you that when he leaked the story to you?
>Who does Don think we should hire?

If Beatriz negotiates a contract for future employment while on the board this
is a conflict of interest that has no remedy.

If Bill G divest of CCA then his conflict has ended.

Grant Perks

PS
Disclaimer: I am not posting either in favor of one candidate or another, just
addressing the issue of the obvious conflict of interest.

Chessdon

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

>When you assume you make an XXX out of you. Only Schultz is saying it is a

quote:

>six figure job now. Didn't he tell you that when he leaked the story to you?

Hi Stan:

Sam assumes and you make outright statements. Sam's assumption is wrong as is
your statement.

Some facts:

I did not leak the story to Sam or anyone.

Yes, I do think the job is a $100,000 job.

I think both Beatriz and Bill are capable of doing the job. Off hand, I can't
think of anyone other than those two that have the experience, ability and
dedication to do it.

For your information I have been a strong advocate in our board deliberations
of splitting the job between them. At one point my impression and that of
several other Board members was that they both liked that idea though for
various reasons it is dead in the water now.

I am not the only person saying the job is a $100,000 job. On the other hand,
it is my perception that you are one of the few people who say it isn't.

If Bill and /or Beatriz apply for the job, they would be applying because of
their love of chess and neither would expect and probably not accept a six
figure salary and that is a fact.

Don Schultz

StanB

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

"Chessdon" <chessdon@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041009120918.03855.00004180@mb-m19.aol.com...

quote:

> Yes, I do think the job is a $100,000 job.

Why? What is the industry practice for 20-30 predominatily unskilled person,
nonprofit organizations?

quote:

> I am not the only person saying the job is a $100,000 job. On the other
> hand,
> it is my perception that you are one of the few people who say it isn't.

"They" would know better than me. I base my argument on my extensive
knowledge of what nonprofits, townships, and businesses pay in the
Philadelphia area.

WPraeder

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

>> Yes, I do think the job is a $100,000 job.

quote:

>
>Why? What is the industry practice for 20-30 predominatily unskilled person,
>nonprofit organizations?

Stan,

According to the 2004 GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report New York Edition,
the national median annual total CEO/Executive Director compensation for an
organization the size of the USCF would be $85,000. For the state of New York
the median annual total compensation would be $95,012. This amount runs much
less in the Newburgh area. Of course total compensation consists of salary,
bonus, benefits, deferred compensation, as well as expense account and other
allowances. If we are to believe the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor
Statistics salary would be about 72 percent of total compensation putting a
corresponding New York salary median in the $60,000-$70,000 range for an
Executive Director.

Therefore people may be correct to hesitate to disagree with a professional
expert like yourself on this topic. A six figure salary for a nonprofit
executive director of a three million dollar New Windsor based organization
would be above the entire New York 75th percentile -- comparatively a very
generous use of membership funds setting the expectation of national top talent
and related performance that the USCF has yet to achieve.

Regards,
Wayne Praeder
http://journals.aol.com/betteruscf/...ess/entries/460

StanB

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

"WPraeder" <wpraeder@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041009182528.15280.00001593@mb-m22.aol.com...

quote:

>
> Stan,
>
> According to the 2004 GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report New York
> Edition,
> the national median annual total CEO/Executive Director compensation for
> an
> organization the size of the USCF would be $85,000. For the state of New
> York
> the median annual total compensation would be $95,012. This amount runs
> much
> less in the Newburgh area. Of course total compensation consists of
> salary,
> bonus, benefits, deferred compensation, as well as expense account and
> other
> allowances. If we are to believe the US Department of Labor Bureau of
> Labor
> Statistics salary would be about 72 percent of total compensation putting
> a
> corresponding New York salary median in the $60,000-$70,000 range for an
> Executive Director.
>
> Therefore people may be correct to hesitate to disagree with a
> professional
> expert like yourself on this topic. A six figure salary for a nonprofit
> executive director of a three million dollar New Windsor based
> organization
> would be above the entire New York 75th percentile -- comparatively a very
> generous use of membership funds setting the expectation of national top
> talent
> and related performance that the USCF has yet to achieve.
>
> Regards,
> Wayne Praeder

http://journals.aol.com/betteruscf/...ess/entries/460

I see.

Executive will exert his/her full time and energy to his/her duties as the
Executive Director of the USCF.

You're just not a team player.

WPraeder

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

>I see.

quote:

>
>Executive will exert his/her full time and energy to his/her duties as the
>Executive Director of the USCF.
>
>You're just not a team player.

Stan,

Any board member can get the same GuideStar information I have. One can only
hope board members will someday move away from their belief systems and more
towards fact based governance. If agreeing with you makes me not a team player,
so be it. Anyway it takes one to know one.

Regards,
Wayne Praeder

Randy Bauer

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

parrthenon@cs.com (Parrthenon) wrote in message news:<20041008073334.01852.00001804@mb-m13.news.cs.com>...

quote:

> WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING?
>
> By Larry Parr
>
> Sam Sloan reported a few days ago that Beatriz Marinello wishes to become USCF
> executive director. She would replace Bill Goichberg, who is unpaid and whose
> tenure at New Windsor was initially billed as of interim duration.
>
> After reading the Sloan story, which surprised this writer on a number of
> accounts, I began contacting some past sources. It would appear that Sam's
> brief account is correct. The Executive Board voted 5 to 2 to begin a search
> for a new Executive Director. Mr. Goichberg would be eligible to apply, but my
> sources tell me that the Board will also break 4 to 2 in favor of hiring
> Beatriz Marinello (Randy Bauer, Tim Hanke, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, Steve Shutt
> in favor; Frank Brady and Don Schultz against).

Your source guesses incorrectly. I, for one, have made no decisions
about an executive director.

In fact, I did not favor opening up the process at this point in time;
I believe that the office relocation is a big issue and deserves our
attention at the moment. It will be better to have all the details
worked out for the move before turning our attention to another big
issue like hiring a permanant full time executive director.

I would also not make up my mind before actually seeing who all
applies, reviewing their credentials, and talking with the finalists.

quote:

>
> This new Board, like all previous Boards, has fallen into disarray. The
> infighting has become fierce.

I think the Board has created a credible budget, is moving forward on
office location, continues to work on several promising chess
partnering arrangements, etc. It seems to be working ok to me.

quote:

>
> Frank Brady has demanded that Beatriz Marinello resign before the next Board
> meeting of October 17 - 18. She is threatened, rightly or wrongly, with charges
> under New York law of violating her fiduciary responsibilities by actively
> seeking the positon of ED while serving on the Executive Board. She reportedly
> denies having made up her mind about seeking the post. It is further suggested,
> again rightly or wrongly, that Board members who have supported her alleged job
> quest may also have overstepped the legal line of the fiduciary laws.
>
> HOW IT BEGAN
>
> One account has it that Beatriz Marinello announced to the Board a month ago
> that she wished to become executive director and offered to resign immediately
> as USCF president. She is said to be ill and needs a job to procure health
> insurance and, indeed, a living. Earlier, Miss Marinello had been seeking a
> position at the Hall of Fame, but that opportunity fell though.
>
> She had supposedly been critical of Bill Goichberg's performance prior to
> informing the Board that she wished to have his job. Critics would argue that,
> if true, such criticism from her was self-interested and designed to put the
> skids under Mr. Goichberg, who has long faced credible charges of conflict of
> interest. Supporters would argue that Beatriz Marinello's job as USCF president
> was, after all, to be justly critical when shortcomings warranted presidential
> brickbats.
>
> THE CURRENT BATTLE
>
> Beatriz Marinello has allegedly built a coalition on the Board which favors her
> assuming Mr. Goichberg's position. As mentioned already, the coalition includes
> the Messrs. Bauer, Hanke, and Shutt as well as Mme. Shaughnessy.
>
> Those opposing her appointment have raised the spectre of New York's tough
> conflict of interest laws that contain tough rules about what a board member of
> an organization may do to procure private advantage within that organization.
> One basic principle is that a serving board member cannot violate any rules or
> normal procedures of an organization when seeking a preferment. Violating
> fiduciary responsibilities can lead to criminal proceedings, and there are
> threats to go to the state attorney general, a man named Elliott Spitzer, who
> is either a vigilant and courageous crusader for justice or an ambitious and
> vicious prosecutor who has imbued his staff with the inquisitorial spirit of
> 21st century America.
>
> A potential target, who could be pared off the Board majority in favor of
> Beatriz Marinello, is Iowa state budget director Randy Bauer.
> Anti-Marinelloites may point to any alleged irregularities in Mr. Bauer's
> pursuit of his agenda or in his alleged support for Miss Marinello when calling
> for an investigation by the attorney general of fiduciary violations.
>
> "Any New York prosecutor worth his lawyerly feces," says a source, "could not
> resist trying to make a reputation by dragging down the budget director of
> another state."

Laughable. I'll be in New York City October 21-22 doing state credit
presentations at the three national credit rating agencies if they
wish to serve papers.

quote:

>
> There is no suggestion that Mr. Bauer is guilty of wrongdoing in promoting
> either his agenda or possibly that of Beatriz Marinello, but there is a
> suggestion that if the battle becomes heated, the memoranda of all concerned
> will come under close scrutiny. The issue may become the culpability of Board
> members who support alleged violations of fiduciary laws by other members..

I think Beatriz has done a good job as President; I think Bill has
done a good job as interim ED. They have helped move the USCF away
from the brink of bankruptcy. It would be hard to argue a breech of
fiduciary responsibility in the actions of either. I'm confident that
any decision the Board makes about a move or the hiring of a permanent
ED will be in the USCF's best interest and expose no one, individually
or collectively, to legal action.

Randy Bauer

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

chessdon@aol.com (Chessdon) wrote in message news:<20041009120918.03855.00004180@mb-m19.aol.com>...

quote:

>
> Some facts:
>
> [...]
>
> Yes, I do think [...]
>
> I think both [...] Off hand, I can't think of [...]
>
> I am not the only person saying [...]
> it is my perception that [...]
>
> If Bill and /or Beatriz apply for the job, they would be applying
> because of their love of chess and neither would expect and
> probably not accept a six figure salary and that is a fact.
>
> Don Schultz

One word is missing near the end:

"... and that is probably a fact".

Thank you for a post full of... "facts".

Wlod

StanB

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

"Sam Sloan" <sloan@ishipress.com> wrote in message
news:4167ca4e.96807984@ca.news.verio.net...

quote:

> I do not believe that Beatriz is suitable. She has apparently been
> involved in several failed business ventures.

Apparently? Well that proves it.

quote:

>When running for USCF
> election, she stated that she was opening a pet food business on the
> Internet. What happened to that? She moved to Miami for a job with the
> World Chess Hall of Fame shortly after she was elected USCF President.
> That was an obvious conflict of interest. She lasted about two weeks
> at that job.

A job given to her by a genorus benefactor so she could have health
benefits. She felt uncomfortable even so and resigned.

quote:

> Bill Goichberg is working for free. Beatriz wants to make enough money
> as USCF Executive Director to earn a living. I assume that she wants
> to get the more than $100,000 per year that Frank Niro and George
> DeFeis received.

When you assume you make an XXX out of you. Only Schultz is saying it is a
six figure job now. Didn't he tell you that when he leaked the story to you?
Who does Don think we should hire?

Chessbored101859

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

>As I recall, Beatriz serves on the USCF "office committee" which is

quote:

>responsible
>for not only hiring the new Executive Director but determining the new office
>location. This is an obvious conflict of interest on her part if she is
>interested in the position of ED.

An additional rumor....

Why would the USCF want to move to Crossville and open an additional office in
Miami? Some say BM wants to be ED, live in Miami and draw the full salary
while the bulk of the office is in TN. USCF can barely afford one office. Not
TWO. The office will not run efficiently with an absent boss. The airfare to
supervise would eat up a large amount of the 3-figure income!

I recall some discussions several years ago about an EB member not being able
to draw salary from USCF for at least two years after leaving the EB.

Is Bill asking to be replaced? I doub it.

Paul Rubin

2004-10-12, 12:48 am

chessbored101859@aol.com (Chessbored101859) writes:

quote:

> Why would the USCF want to move to Crossville and open an additional
> office in Miami? Some say BM wants to be ED, live in Miami and draw
> the full salary while the bulk of the office is in TN. USCF can
> barely afford one office. Not TWO.

Wouldn't some of it still be in New York? That's three.

Mike Nolan

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

Paul Rubin <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> writes:

quote:

>Wouldn't some of it still be in New York? That's three.

I think the plan to keep the editorial offices in New York was because
at the time they had two years to go on the space they rent. That's no
longer the case, the lease runs out in May.

I'm not sure that the Crossville/Miami split is still on the front burner,
either.
--
Mike Nolan

Paul Rubin

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

gperks2@aol.comnojunk (GrantPerks) writes:

quote:

> (a) Except where noted below, no Executive Board member or a member
> of his immediate family may receive financial compensation from the
> USCF for any reason, except for standard reimbursement of expenses,
> during his tenure on the Board, or for two years after completing
> his tenure if such compensation results from bids accepted or
> agreements made by the Board during his tenure.

GrantPerks

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

StanB wrote:

quote:

>No I'm not. If she resigns and is hired we'd have a WIM with experience in
>the office and a degree in accounting. Sounds like the perfect fit.
>

Sam Sloan

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

On Fri, 8 Oct 2004 19:28:39 -0400, "StanB" <stanbooz@comXXXcast.net>
wrote:

quote:

>No I'm not. If she resigns and is hired we'd have a WIM with experience in
>the office and a degree in accounting. Sounds like the perfect fit.

StanB

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

"Paul Rubin" <http://phr.cx@NOSPAM.invalid> wrote in message
news:7xzn2w912z.fsf@ruckus.brouhaha.com...

quote:

> That says BM could resign from the board one day, and be selected as
> ED through some fig-leaf process the next day, since the agreement
> wouldn't be made during BM's tenure. I'd say it is sloppy language.

One day? One moment.

StanB

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

"WPraeder" <wpraeder@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041009182528.15280.00001593@mb-m22.aol.com...

quote:

>
> Stan,
>
> According to the 2004 GuideStar Nonprofit Compensation Report New York
> Edition,
> the national median annual total CEO/Executive Director compensation for
> an
> organization the size of the USCF would be $85,000. For the state of New
> York
> the median annual total compensation would be $95,012. This amount runs
> much
> less in the Newburgh area. Of course total compensation consists of
> salary,
> bonus, benefits, deferred compensation, as well as expense account and
> other
> allowances. If we are to believe the US Department of Labor Bureau of
> Labor
> Statistics salary would be about 72 percent of total compensation putting
> a
> corresponding New York salary median in the $60,000-$70,000 range for an
> Executive Director.
>
> Therefore people may be correct to hesitate to disagree with a
> professional
> expert like yourself on this topic. A six figure salary for a nonprofit
> executive director of a three million dollar New Windsor based
> organization
> would be above the entire New York 75th percentile -- comparatively a very
> generous use of membership funds setting the expectation of national top
> talent
> and related performance that the USCF has yet to achieve.
>
> Regards,
> Wayne Praeder

WPraeder

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

>I see.

quote:

>
>Executive will exert his/her full time and energy to his/her duties as the
>Executive Director of the USCF.
>
>You're just not a team player.

WPraeder

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

>I think the Board has created a credible budget, is moving forward on

quote:

>office location, continues to work on several promising chess
>partnering arrangements, etc. It seems to be working ok to me.

Randy,

It's always good to hear from you. It's great that we have a credible budget
and things are working OK. Can you provide us with a status on a few items?

What further work has been done to reduce expenses without obliterating
services?

Since we cannot afford continued divisiveness, how have you helped the Board
come together to solve near and long-term problems?

Since past Boards have been undermined by members' involvement in chess
business activities, what has been done to implement a strong
conflict-of-interest policy to ensure that all Board members (including the
President and Executive Director) are acting in the best interests of the
membership?

To help plot a steady course, what has been done to develop a dialogue with our
members and focus greater attention to long-range objectives? What related
broad policy and goals have been articulated that support our members?

What is our organization doing to make itself more relevant to the members?

How are we holding the Executive Director accountable for hiring and developing
a professional staff that can achieve results, particularly in serving our
customers?

What has been done to develop, a cost accounting system to determine whether we
are providing the services members are wishing to purchase with their dues?

What are we doing to build accountability and results into the culture of our
organization, from employee and vendor contracts to performance evaluations,
including the Board itself?

Regards,
Wayne Praeder

Sam Sloan

2004-10-15, 5:50 pm

On 15 Oct 2004 12:11:29 GMT, wpraeder@aol.com (WPraeder) wrote:

quote:

>
>Randy,
>
>It's always good to hear from you. It's great that we have a credible budget
>and things are working OK. Can you provide us with a status on a few items?
>
>What further work has been done to reduce expenses without obliterating
>services?
>
>Since we cannot afford continued divisiveness, how have you helped the Board
>come together to solve near and long-term problems?
>
>Since past Boards have been undermined by members' involvement in chess
>business activities, what has been done to implement a strong
>conflict-of-interest policy to ensure that all Board members (including the
>President and Executive Director) are acting in the best interests of the
>membership?
>
>To help plot a steady course, what has been done to develop a dialogue with our
>members and focus greater attention to long-range objectives? What related
>broad policy and goals have been articulated that support our members?
>
>What is our organization doing to make itself more relevant to the members?
>
>How are we holding the Executive Director accountable for hiring and developing
>a professional staff that can achieve results, particularly in serving our
>customers?
>
>What has been done to develop, a cost accounting system to determine whether we
>are providing the services members are wishing to purchase with their dues?
>
>What are we doing to build accountability and results into the culture of our
>organization, from employee and vendor contracts to performance evaluations,
>including the Board itself?
>
>Regards,
>Wayne Praeder

I am certainly very glad that we did not elect Wayne Praeder to the
board. Otherwise, the USCF would be paralyzed and not be able to get
anything done.

Sam Sloan

Chessbored101859

2004-10-17, 12:47 am

>As I recall, Beatriz serves on the USCF "office committee" which is

quote:

>responsible
>for not only hiring the new Executive Director but determining the new office
>location. This is an obvious conflict of interest on her part if she is
>interested in the position of ED.

Paul Rubin

2004-10-17, 12:47 am

chessbored101859@aol.com (Chessbored101859) writes:

quote:

> Why would the USCF want to move to Crossville and open an additional
> office in Miami? Some say BM wants to be ED, live in Miami and draw
> the full salary while the bulk of the office is in TN. USCF can
> barely afford one office. Not TWO.

Wouldn't some of it still be in New York? That's three.

Randy Bauer

2004-10-18, 5:47 pm

Wayne,

It's always good to hear from you. In terms of status on the items you
list - let's see, it's been two months now since I've been in office. I
think I've found a cure for the common cold and am working on a cancer
vaccine. Sorry I haven't been able to do more. Maybe in another week or
two.

Randy

"WPraeder" <wpraeder@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20041015081129.22356.00001890@mb-m16.aol.com...

quote:

>
> Randy,
>
> It's always good to hear from you. It's great that we have a credible
> budget
> and things are working OK. Can you provide us with a status on a few
> items?
>
> What further work has been done to reduce expenses without obliterating
> services?
>
> Since we cannot afford continued divisiveness, how have you helped the
> Board
> come together to solve near and long-term problems?
>
> Since past Boards have been undermined by members' involvement in chess
> business activities, what has been done to implement a strong
> conflict-of-interest policy to ensure that all Board members (including
> the
> President and Executive Director) are acting in the best interests of the
> membership?
>
> To help plot a steady course, what has been done to develop a dialogue
> with our
> members and focus greater attention to long-range objectives? What related
> broad policy and goals have been articulated that support our members?
>
> What is our organization doing to make itself more relevant to the
> members?
>
> How are we holding the Executive Director accountable for hiring and
> developing
> a professional staff that can achieve results, particularly in serving our
> customers?
>
> What has been done to develop, a cost accounting system to determine
> whether we
> are providing the services members are wishing to purchase with their
> dues?
>
> What are we doing to build accountability and results into the culture of
> our
> organization, from employee and vendor contracts to performance
> evaluations,
> including the Board itself?
>
> Regards,
> Wayne Praeder
>
>

WPraeder

2004-10-18, 5:47 pm

>Wayne,

quote:

>
>It's always good to hear from you. In terms of status on the items you
>list - let's see, it's been two months now since I've been in office. I
>think I've found a cure for the common cold and am working on a cancer
>vaccine. Sorry I haven't been able to do more. Maybe in another week or
>two.
>
>Randy
>

Randy,

It is always good to have at least one person on our board who is accountable
and accessible. Thanks for sharing your startup status with the membership and
not blowing us off. If you don't mind we can checkpoint again later, perhaps at
the halfway point of your term? I know you will continue to address these tough
issues and remain true to the organization and yourself.

As the wise man once said it's time to hold all in the organization --
including the Board, the Executive Director, and the staff -- accountable to
those who really pay the bills, the members.

Regards,
Wayne Praeder

WPraeder

2004-10-19, 12:45 am

>If Beatriz negotiates a contract for future employment while on the board

quote:

>this
>is a conflict of interest that has no remedy.
>
>If Bill G divest of CCA then his conflict has ended.
>
>
>Grant Perks

Grant,

A conflict of interest is simply a situation in which an individual has two
separate and competing interests and it is unclear which interest will win out
if it comes down to it. Even if something you're considering isn't actually
illegal, a breach of bylaws, or a damaging conflict, but it seems improper to
someone from the outside then your organization's reputation could still be
damaged. Any perception of impropriety will harm the organization.

I understand you are not taking sides and I must agree with your observations.

Regards,
Wayne Praeder

WPraeder

2004-10-20, 5:46 pm

>Wayne,

quote:

>
>It's always good to hear from you. In terms of status on the items you
>list - let's see, it's been two months now since I've been in office. I
>think I've found a cure for the common cold and am working on a cancer
>vaccine. Sorry I haven't been able to do more. Maybe in another week or
>two.
>
>Randy
>

WPraeder

2004-10-21, 5:46 pm

>I think the Board has created a credible budget, is moving forward on

quote:

>office location, continues to work on several promising chess
>partnering arrangements, etc. It seems to be working ok to me.

Randy Bauer

2004-10-23, 12:45 am

quote:

>
> Randy,
>
> It's always good to hear from you. It's great that we have a credible
> budget
> and things are working OK. Can you provide us with a status on a few
> items?
>
> What further work has been done to reduce expenses without obliterating
> services?
>
> Since we cannot afford continued divisiveness, how have you helped the
> Board
> come together to solve near and long-term problems?
>
> Since past Boards have been undermined by members' involvement in chess
> business activities, what has been done to implement a strong
> conflict-of-interest policy to ensure that all Board members (including
> the
> President and Executive Director) are acting in the best interests of the
> membership?
>
> To help plot a steady course, what has been done to develop a dialogue
> with our
> members and focus greater attention to long-range objectives? What related
> broad policy and goals have been articulated that support our members?
>
> What is our organization doing to make itself more relevant to the
> members?
>
> How are we holding the Executive Director accountable for hiring and
> developing
> a professional staff that can achieve results, particularly in serving our
> customers?
>
> What has been done to develop, a cost accounting system to determine
> whether we
> are providing the services members are wishing to purchase with their
> dues?
>
> What are we doing to build accountability and results into the culture of
> our
> organization, from employee and vendor contracts to performance
> evaluations,
> including the Board itself?
>
> Regards,
> Wayne Praeder
>
>

WPraeder

2004-10-23, 9:45 am

>Wayne,

quote:

>
>It's always good to hear from you. In terms of status on the items you
>list - let's see, it's been two months now since I've been in office. I
>think I've found a cure for the common cold and am working on a cancer
>vaccine. Sorry I haven't been able to do more. Maybe in another week or
>two.
>
>Randy
>

WPraeder

2004-10-25, 6:46 am

>If Beatriz negotiates a contract for future employment while on the board

quote:

>this
>is a conflict of interest that has no remedy.
>
>If Bill G divest of CCA then his conflict has ended.
>
>
>Grant Perks