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Dear Dr. Mikhail Korenman and IM Blas Lugo,
In supporting your candidacy for the current USCF Executive Board election, we would like to share our great concern regarding the current status of the US Chess Federation and the direction it is moving. We hope that when elected you can help USCF leadership to follow the mission of the organization and provide the adequate service to its members. Here are some areas of concern:
1. “USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess in American society.”
As members of the USCF, we do not support the governance body spending hundreds of thousands of membership dollars for legal fees to cover up political mistakes mismanaging this wonderful organization! Such has taken away potential sponsors for the organization, and negative media coverage is not supporting the positive role of chess. Current leadership has not been able to offer new or sound ideas in a long time. We feel that it is time to involve people who understand these deep problems and can offer real positive solutions.
2. “USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players (professional and amateur) and potential players. It encourages the development of a network of institutions devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional associations, and it promotes chess in American schools.”
It is our understanding that the USCF membership is declining rapidly, especially adult membership. There are no new networks or events being organized by this organization. There is very poor, if any, relationship between the national organization and state affiliates. This situation has to be changed immediately! USCF should support the young players to grow professionally, providing more services, and support though organizing many more educational and training activities.
3. “USCF offers a monthly magazine, as well as targeted publications to its members and others. It supervises the organization of the U.S. chess championship, an open tournament every summer, and other national events.”
We are extremely concerned about cutting the Chess Life and canceling the Chess for Kids publication completely. After 70 years as a successful publication, Chess Life is in a real dangerous situation to be shut down. Of course, a big concern for us is the US championship. The rules are changing nearly every year. The system has to be changed and the rules must be set far in advanced!
4. “USCF serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and as a participant in international chess organizations and projects.”
USCF should re-establish its relationship with FIDE. There has not been any official FIDE event in the US for the last 10 years! USCF should support all organizers who are planning to organize international chess events in the United States! It is worse when the USCF management is working against organizers who want to help our players.
Former U.S. Champions GM Onischuk and GM Shulman
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Support for Executive Board Candidacy
· GM Anatoly Karpov, 7-time World Champion: “I am very impressed with the tremendous progress and development of the chess programs by Mikhail Korenman over the years. He has done so much for chess.”
· IM John Donaldson, Captain – US Olympiad Teams: “I believe Mikhail has the leadership ability, energy, and vision to help the USCF out of its current problems.”
· GM Alexander Onischuk, 2007 U.S. Champion: “Dr. Korenman understands professional, amateur, and scholastic chess. He’ll be a big asset for the USCF EB.”
· GM Yury Shulman, 2008 U.S. Champion: “Scholastic chess program, organized by Mikhail, involve a lot of kids in Kansas and now in Illinois.”
· IM Anna Zatonskih, 2008 U.S. Women’s Champion: “Mikhail Korenman is an excellent organizer and dedicated chess enthusiast. He does a lot for popularity of chess in the U.S.”
· Wes Fisk, Lindsborg, KS, City Council: “Mikhail has worked tirelessly on the behalf of chess and chess players. He is a visionary, who thinks outside the box”
Support for the election was also received by U.S. Champions Onischuk, Shulman, Zatonskih, Goletiani; Grandmasters Akobian, Kaidanov, Ehlvest, Ibragimov, Stripunsky, Khachiyan, Perelsteyn, Goldin, International Masters Donaldson, Shneider, etc.
Dr. Mikhail Korenman
Vice-President, Illinois Chess Association
President, International School of Chess
National media on Dr. Korenman’s chess achievements:
“I am grateful for your hard work to promote peace.” – Letter from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
“In recent years Lindsborg has witnessed a minor revolution in self-identity, and one man is largely responsible for the shift: Mikhail Korenman has made this town crazy for the game of chess.” – National Geographic magazine
“Mr. Korenman’s enthusiasm, imagination and web of contacts have been crucial to the burgeoning appeal of chess here” – The New York Times
“In the United States, Korenman has built an impressive résumé as competitor, teacher and tournament organizer” – The Star
The best 4 candidates are clearly Dr. Mikhail Korenman, IM Blas Lugo, Dr. Eric Hetch, and Mike Nietman.
these nominations are okay, but I would like to nominate Bobby Fischer to the USCF Executive Board. I don’t think any of the current e-board members would have a problem with this, except possibly Susan and Paul, but the others would welcome him aboard and possibly pay for his trips from Iceland to the USA to attend the meetings.
Only Bobby Fischer will bring the stature and prestige back to the USCF with the additional benefit of not rocking the boat too much.
Imagine the press and photo-op potentials with current board members !
Is chess life for kids really getting cancelled? My kids really look forward to receiving this publication in the mail. I would be a shame if it disappeared.
M. Korenman and Lugo are simply the two best candidates in this election.
Someone ought to tell Anon 2:09 that Bobby Fischer is dead.
I wonder as well how much research Anon 10:42 has done into the candidates if that person cannot even get the name of the candidate right (not just here but in another thread as well).
There should be an investigation on the conduct of Goichberg, Berry, Hall and Hanken. They should also be banned from running in the USCF election.
I’ll also go Bobby.
– Imagine those photo sessions.
I will vote for Bobby.
If he is dead, he can’t do
as much harm to USCF as Bill Goichberg and Jim Berry.
There should be an investigation on the conduct of Goichberg, Berry, Hall and Hanken. They should also be banned from running in the USCF election.Um, Hall and Hanken aren’t running for anything. Hall couldn’t if he wanted to, since he’s a USCF employee.
small examples. Go do your own research for the rest:
Example 1: (Hanken to Goichberg)
Come on Bill, I will go half on the airfare. There are so many good reasons to do this. Give it some thought. Just think what going half means to me and what it means to you. If we lose a critical vote, you will think of this. All the money you have given the USFCF will be in the toilet if we ultimately lose this fight.
Jerry
Example 2: (Hanken to the person who they bribed)
If Bill says “yes”, you wouldn’t owe anything to him. I asked for a sponsorship gift, not a loan. At the Open, you could still spend lots of time with … Also you may have some pay for the blog you will do for Jennifer.
…Notice that I am willing to provide some food for you and …. I will have a fridge which will help. As to changeing, aren’t you on Southwest? They .don’t charge to change or cancel a trip.
Example 3: (Hanken to the persons who they bribed)
Dear …. and ….,
If …. is willing to serve as a Delegate, it is important that you go on line today (when it is still July) and purchase a six month membership in USCF. It is $25 and I will personally reimburse you this money. I hope to talk with you later today, ….
Jerry
Note that both persons were certified by S. CA and NY (by Goichbrg himself), states of Hough, Hanken, and Goichberg!!! And look up when one person became a USCF member, days before the vote. There are plenty more. It can also be backed up with phone records among all parties. You can do your own research for the rest.
Bribery is illegal. This one involved the USCF President Bill Goichberg, USCF Secretary Randy Hough and Chess Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken. USCF VP of Finance Randy Bauer, USCF VP Jim Berry and USCF ED Bill Hall are hiding this very serious illegal conduct from ALL USCF members. When will honest Randy Bauer, Jim Berry and Bill Hall launch an investigation against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken? Hmmm? When will you demand for Goichberg, Hough, Bauer, Hall and Berry to resign? How come I don’t hear the bogus moral outrage scream from Harry Payne, Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins, Brian Lafferty, Brian Mottershead, and the rest of the gang? Where’s the phone call from Lafferty to the authority to report this illegal conduct? How pathetic!
http://uscf.fiorechess.org/
Pages 14 and 15 of Susan’s Amended Complaint reads as follows:
42. Defendants Hanken, Hough and Goichberg wanted so badly to see Truong removed from the Board that they even went as far as bribing a USCF member, Jessica Lauser, and her husband, Hero Smith, with free hotel accommodations, airline tickets, tournament entry fees, meals and future writing opportunities in exchange for them to come to Dallas for the Delegates Meeting and vote to remove Truong. Lauser was never a Delegate, and Smith was not even a member of the USCF until days before the USCF Delegates’ Meeting, when Hanken, Hough and Goichberg paid Smith’s membership fees. Hough and Goichberg then certified both Lauser and Smith as Delegates so they could vote against Truong in the motions to remove Truong from the Executive Board. After the “USCF trial” against Truong, Lauser and Smith voted against removing Truong from the Executive Board. Despite attending the meeting with the purpose of voting for Truong’s removal, they changed their votes after hearing facts Truong presented in his defense and which facts were suppressed by
Defendants Kronenberger, Goichberg, Hall, Hough, Hanken, and Berry.
I am sick and tired of seeing Chess Life and the USCF website being used to portray a one-sided and inaccurate account of the lawsuits. Accordingly, I am dedicating space on my server to enlighten the members of all the facts – you may view it at USCF Legal Issues.
To read the filings against Goichberg, Berry and the USCF
http://www.chessdiscussion.com/fullphpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2565
Well I voted for Hecht, Lugo and Korenman.
I passed on Nietman because he declared that he favors spending more money on lawsuits in his June statement in Chess Life. Good thing I did not vote for anyone else. These 3 are the best of the best. No need to vote for 4 and take a chance someone will overturn one of my prime candidates. Sure hope we members win. As a life member for many years I have seen no real progress at USCF. It is corruption as usual. Only we can members can change that culture of corruption with our vote. Now is the time to do just that.
I will never again play in a Goichberg tournament and support his corruption. NEVER….
One tournament organizer recently made an excellent bid to the USCF to host various national championships in Chicago. One of Goichberg’s most profitable chess tournaments also takes place in Chicago at a similar time. The motion to award a multiple year bid to the Chicago organizer would have passed 3 (Yes) – 2 (No) -1 (Abstention) if Goichberg had recused himself from voting due to his conflict of interest with Continental Chess. Goichberg refused to recuse himself, and his Board majority refused to ask him (Goichberg) to recuse himself, and the motion was at a 3-3 deadlock when the Board voted. The USCF sees annual cash inflows in the range of $3.2 million through the dues of its 80,000 members, grants, gifts, advertisements, bequests, sponsorships, et cetera. At one time, the USCF annual revenues exceeded $6 million. For the last thirty years, Goichberg, through his constant presence on the USCF Executive Board, has managed to unlawfully cause many thousands of dollars to be unfairly directed to his pocket, his political allies, and the coffers of Continental Chess.
This is why Goichberg, Berry, Atkins, Haring and other Goichberg’s friends must not be elected. The corruption must end.
Dear Bill Goichberg,
I just got my subpoena to produce documents for your case against Susan and Paul.
Not a problem – I have absolutely nothing to hide.
But I am appalled at who is requesting this information.
IT IS CONTINENTAL CHESS!!!!!!
Not the USCF. Not Sam Sloan. Nope, it’s you, Bill Goichberg.
Why the vendetta? When I found out that you and Jerry Hanken arranged, by paying for rooms and free entries, to have Jessica and her husband Hero, vote to expel Susan and Paul from the board and your lawyer accusing them of doing things that are still in question – I decided I really don’t want to associate with an organization run like this.
After your failed attempt Jerry Hanken sent me a ” drop dead – get lost” email.
Hanken and you are the reasons I am getting out of chess.
And now you are personally pursuing this. You should be ashamed!!
Fred Gruenberg
(There are a total 9 emails between USCF President Bill Goichberg, USCF EB Secretary Randy Hough, Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken and the individual who was bribed. These two individuals were certified as delegates from Southern California delegate and NY Downstate by Bill Goichberg. These emails are now part of the evidence.)
Note that the legal fees for Continental Chess is paid for by the USCF instead of Bill Goichberg personally while Goichberg and the USCF denied Polgar and Truong of indemnification.
Also note that Fred Gruenberg is at least the 4th person who has corroborated with the bribery charges against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken.
How come the USCF attorneys are not investigating this issue? How come the USCF attorney are not reporting this illegal conduct to the authority as they have done with others, especially when the proof is in black and white? How come the members are not informed of this illegal conduct instead of the BS that is being put in Chess Life and CLO by Bill Hall?
How come honest Randy Bauer and Jim Berry are not talking out about this? How come honest Bauer and Jim Berry are not demanding an investigation?
How come Goichberg’s candidates Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins and people who are on his camp like Brian Mottershead and Brian Lafferty are not demanding for Goichberg and Hough be removed from the Executive Board for their illegal conduct?
How come all these guys are not demanding to have Jerry Hanken removed as President of Chess Journalist of America? And these are pretending to demand for transparency and honesty?
Come one, be real. What do you want them to do? Prosecuting Goichberg, Jim Berry, Hough and Hanken isn’t on their agenda. This was never about the welfare of the USCF or finding out the truth. This was always about Goichberg trying to knock off people who opposed him, his friends, and his political agenda. This is what he has done for 30-40 years. Why would it be different now? The only difference is all others walked away while Polgar fought back on behalf of the members. She said that’s what she would do and she kept her word. That’s the one thing they didn’t expect. They clearly expect Polgar and Truong to walk away. Now we can clearly see this Goichberg and Jim Berry scheme to be reelected and keep their power for another 4 years. I hope Polgar won’t ever back down. She’s the only one who can fight the USCF Mafia.
Example 1: (Hanken to Goichberg)
Come on Bill, I will go half on the airfare. There are so many good reasons to do this. Give it some thought. Just think what going half means to me and what it means to you. If we lose a critical vote, you will think of this. All the money you have given the USFCF will be in the toilet if we ultimately lose this fight.
Jerry
Example 2: (Hanken to the person who they bribed)
If Bill says “yes”, you wouldn’t owe anything to him. I asked for a sponsorship gift, not a loan. At the Open, you could still spend lots of time with … Also you may have some pay for the blog you will do for Jennifer.
…Notice that I am willing to provide some food for you and …. I will have a fridge which will help. As to changeing, aren’t you on Southwest? They .don’t charge to change or cancel a trip.
Example 3: (Hanken to the persons who they bribed)
Dear …. and ….,
If …. is willing to serve as a Delegate, it is important that you go on line today (when it is still July) and purchase a six month membership in USCF. It is $25 and I will personally reimburse you this money. I hope to talk with you later today, ….
Jerry
Note that both persons were certified by S. CA and NY (by Goichbrg himself), states of Hough, Hanken, and Goichberg!!! And look up when one person became a USCF member, days before the vote. There are plenty more. It can also be backed up with phone records among all parties. You can do your own research for the rest.
Bribery is illegal. This one involved the USCF President Bill Goichberg, USCF Secretary Randy Hough and Chess Journalist of America President Jerry Hanken. USCF VP of Finance Randy Bauer, USCF VP Jim Berry and USCF ED Bill Hall are hiding this very serious illegal conduct from ALL USCF members. When will honest Randy Bauer, Jim Berry and Bill Hall launch an investigation against Goichberg, Hough and Hanken? Hmmm? When will you demand for Goichberg, Hough, Bauer, Hall and Berry to resign? How come I don’t hear the bogus moral outrage scream from Harry Payne, Ruth Haring, Mike Atkins, Brian Lafferty, Brian Mottershead, and the rest of the gang? Where’s the phone call from Lafferty to the authority to report this illegal conduct? How pathetic!
It’s pathetic that the USCF and the board majority (Randy Bauer and Jim Berry) chose to cover up corruption and illegal conduct by the USCF President Bill Goichberg and others.
Now it’s clear why Goichber are so anxious to go after Polgar. He doesn’t want anyone who can expose his long time pattern of despicable behavior on the board. Bauer is screaming about fiduciary duty all the time and yet he and Jim Berry chose to do NOTHING! What a hypocrite!
Defendants Hanken, Hough and Goichberg wanted so badly to see Truong removed from the Board that they even went as far as bribing a USCF member, Jessica Lauser, and her husband, Hero Smith, with free hotel accommodations, airline tickets, tournament entry fees, meals and future writing opportunities in exchange for them to come to Dallas for the Delegates Meeting and vote to remove Truong. Lauser was never a Delegate, and Smith was not even a member of the USCF until days before the USCF Delegates’ Meeting, when Hanken, Hough and Goichberg paid Smith’s membership fees. Hough and Goichberg then certified both Lauser and Smith as Delegates so they could vote against Truong in the motions to remove Truong from the Executive Board. After the “USCF trial” against Truong, Lauser and Smith voted against removing Truong from the Executive Board. Despite attending the meeting with the purpose of voting for Truong’s removal, they changed their votes after hearing facts Truong presented in his defense and which facts were suppressed by Defendants Kronenberger, Goichberg, Hall, Hough, Hanken, and Berry.
Did the USCF investigate the bribery charges related to USCF President Bill Goichberg and his gang?
Why didn’t the USCF turn over all the bribery evidence to the authority? How come the USCF is hiding the facts from its members?
Could you please explain this? Isn’t bribery illegal? And now Goichberg is endorsing Ruth Haring, Jim Berry, and Mike Atkins so the corruption can continue?
I voted for IM Blas Lugo, Dr. Eric Hecht, and Dr. Mikhail Korenman.
Bill Goichberg and Bill Hall are responsible for multiple lawsuits against the USCF. Bill Goichberg and Bill Hall are responsible for violating the exclusive contract with ChessCafe.com. The USCF may potentially have to pay ChessCafe millions of dollars in damages. But Goichberg and his board majority are hiding the facts from the USCF members and delegates while spending over $600,000 of USCF members’ money without authorization. They’re protecting each other while running the USCF to the ground. This is the most corrupt group of chess politicians and now they want Jim Berry, Ruth Haring and Mike Nietman to be elected so they can continue hiding the truth from the members. Disgusting!
Bill Goichberg is my uncle.
STOP PICKING ON HIM
Reliable sources report that the USCF is completely out of money.
This means that the USCF has exhausted the entire $350,000 bequest that it received earlier this year and has exhausted its entire line of credit too.
It is time for Bill Goichberg and Bill Hall to resign and step aside.
They are incompetent and simply cannot do their jobs.
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