Frank A. Camaratta, jr.
362 McCutcheon Lane
Toney, AL 35773
256.858.8070 (Phone)
256.851.0560 (fax)
fcamaratta@aol.com
fcamaratta@mindspring.com
May 16, 2001
Dear Colleague:
With this letter, I announce my candidacy for the U. S. Chess Federation Executive Board and solicit your support. I am offering my services to the Organization and hope you will agree that I am well qualified to lead us through this difficult period and to put in place the staff and programs that will lead to a more vibrant, healthy Chess Federation.
I am running for this post because I believe the USCF is a
serious business that deserves competent professionals. As a member of the Executive Board I bring to the table the broad experiences I have gained running my own business and as a Senior Corporate Executive, as well as my intimate knowledge of the chess community and the problems which face us.I have held the offices of Vice President and Treasurer of our organization from 1990 through 1996. I am also a past President of both the Connecticut State and New England Chess Associations as well as a recipient of the USCF
=s Distinguished Service award. A list of my volunteer services to the Chess community is attached. Aside from my six years of service on the Policy Board, I bring over 38 years of chess-related experience at all levels. I have a strong, diverse professional background and a long history of service to the chess community which uniquely qualify me for this position.During my term as Vice President and Treasurer from 1990 until 1996, I served as a member of the Strategic Planning Sub-Committee; liaison to the LMA, Finance, Correspondence Chess, Ratings and the Rules Committees; and chairman of the Computer Rating Agency. I developed the guidelines and procedures for both the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame and the Computer Rating Agency. As Treasurer, I led the restructuring of our LMA and brought the USCF financials into compliance with GAP. I also realized a net gain of over $120K in a single 9 month period with $350-$400
Aat risk@ funds, while actively managing the LMA assets. This was achieved by investing mostly in high quality stocks, within strict adherence to Delegates guidelines. These results required considerable research and daily monitoring of the investments, about a 1 hour/day minimum commitment. I also served on the Blue Ribbon Committee charged with the review and restructure of USCF governance.During my service on the Board, total membership increased from less than 53,000 members to over 83,000 paid members.
I have never been timid about championing unpopular causes and you have always afforded me the opportunity to present my arguments.
My chess interests are wide ranging and span the gamut from Scholastics, chess clubs, tournament organizing and directing, chess set design and manufacture, chess set collecting and chess history.
My organizing career began with high school chess and I firmly support a vigorous U.S.C.F. Scholastic Chess program. I have worked to promote chess as President of the New England Chess Association, President of the Connecticut State Chess Association and Director of the Philadelphia Interscholastic Chess League. I have been organizationally active in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Alabama.
Finally, I am a chess player. I hold an OTB Master's
rating (2320 and falling), and have been very active in correspondence chess
where I currently hold the rank of Senior Master in the USCF (2408) and
the International Master (IM) title in International Correspondence Chess
Federation (where my rating peaked at a wildly optimistic 2560). I have
represented the U.S. on three correspondence chess Olympic teams. I have won the
1979 U.S. Absolute Correspondence Championships, while finishing a close
second in 1978 and 1980. I also won my qualifying section in the First and Third
U.S. Correspondence Chess Championships. I am currently competing in the
first e-mail World Championships cycle. I engage in Internet play when time
permits and I find it an enjoyable respite.
My Business Background
The business experiences I bring to the Board will help provide effective leadership and sound policy making for our Federation. As a young entrepreneur, I ran my own business. As a professional, I have been responsible for technical management, business development and budget management for a large corporation. As a market segment manager, I was responsible for market segment growth, strategic planning, and market and competitive analyses. Other facets of my job included investment strategies, financial analysis, sales and marketing activities, and regulation compliance. I managed my business through a staff of financial analysts, accountants, engineers and technical specialists.
I moved from there to the executive position of Director of Advanced Engineering for the Space Flight Systems Division and then to my final executive management position within the Corporation as Engineering Division Director for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters prior to my retirement in May of 1999. I was responsible for the technical activities of nearly 200 Engineers, technical personnel and support staff.
I also am the owner of The House of Staunton, which I founded in 1989. It is a successful small business which specializes in new and antique chess sets and is dedicated to customer satisfaction and the production of the world
=s finest Staunton pattern chessmen.I now have some specific experience developing and maintaining a website. I began by hand-HTML coding each page of my site, but eventually I saw the wisdom of using task-specific software, DreamWeaver in this case. The House of Staunton website is far from finished, and I
=m learning more every day, but it has given me an appreciation for the enormous amount of time and work involved. We still lack a shopping cart, but that is coming. You can visit our ever expanding website at: www.houseofstaunton.com.On the personal side, life casts me as a father and husband, with five sons and a daughter. I enjoy card and board games of all types. I will continue to pay softball (as long as my knees and stamina survive). I dabble in carpentry, woodworking and landscaping. I also collect and restore antique chess sets. Educationally, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and earned my post-graduate degrees from Drexel University, Phila., PA.
Some Issues
1. Our mission is simple - to expand the role of chess in American
society. Concentrating our efforts on introducing chess to our youth, exposing
the news media and population to our art, encouraging OTB chess and obtaining
corporate sponsorship for major events are some of the major components of our
core business - promoting chess.
Tournament chess and our professional chessplayers are our showpieces - or
Astore front@, if you will. The nature of that Astore front@ is gradually changing to be sure, but, if we don=t have an inviting Astore front@, we all might just as well pack up our bags and go home.Unfortunately, we sometimes seem to be trying to balance the budget on the backs of our organizers. We need to encourage tournaments and the appearance of TLAs in our magazine, not discourage them. The TLA fee structure must be returned to their original levels. This will have a negative short-term budget impact, I
=m sure, but it is the wrong solution to the problem. More tournaments mean more exposure. More exposure means more opportunities to attract new members.5. We must actively pursue office modernization initiatives and hire the right people, with proven track records, to do the job. But, more than that, we need people with enough understanding of the requirements who can prepare the proper specifications that will serve as the blueprint to which such a system can be built. Developing such specifications is an area in which I have some related experience.
6. We need a human voice answering the phones in New Windsor and staff to speak directly with our customers, to answer questions, give advice, etc. It is an expense to offer this service, but it is more expensive in the long-run not to.
7. It would seem desirable to have a fully functional website. It could be the one-stop source for information on ratings, tournaments and results, books and equipment, on-line play and the like. It could also be designed to accept and immediately rate tournaments submitted on line - with the proper verification procedures in place. Unfortunately, although that is something I think the USCF must offer, I don
=t think it is something we can effectively manage ourselves. We should be seriously considering outsourcing some of these options.9. The single most important post in our organization is that of Executive Director. Perhaps the most important obligation of any Board is to insure that we hire and retain competent professionals for that position.
The vitriolic attacks we have seen in the past on the professionals we had hired to fill this demanding post are very destructive and must cease. We can not allow candidates to use politically motivated objurgations on the professional staff as a springboard into office.
10. There has been much written of late about the financial health of our organization. During my abbreviated campaign, in 1999, I wrote that I thought that there were some concerns about the financial health of our organization, but I did not think the situation was critical. Obviously, the situation has proved to be far more serious than I first thought. It is very difficult (and dangerous) to try and make any absentee diagnoses. We are now on a rather precarious course and only a good professional management team can successfully lead us through this financial crisis.
11. As Treasurer, I had proposed a contingency line item in the budget - which was dubbed, somewhat unkindly, as
ACamaratta=s Slush Fund@ by the opposition. It is clear that, in an operation such as ours where much of our revenue is not fixed, either a contingency line item or a surplus in the order of 2.5% would be prudent budgeting praxis. Also, we, as an organization, have a proclivity for proposing aggressive budgets. We should not commit to spend what we can=t reasonably expect to generate in revenues. We need to adopt a more prudent budgeting approach. This was my advice when I was Treasurer and it is my position now as a candidate.12. The LMA needs a fresh look. We need to unravel the
Amystery@ of the LMA Fund for our members. The LMA is nothing more than a savings account. It is basically a savings fund, which requires a saving plan, an oversight committee, investment guidelines, Delegate approval for major withdrawals, etc.The membership can understand a Savings Account. It is an asset, period. However, many of our members don
=t have a clue what the LMA is. Many consider it a liability. I don=t know how many times I=ve heard that the LMA is underfunded by millions of dollars. That is simply not true. There is a cost associated with providing services to our Life Members, but almost any realistic marginal cost analysis will debunk that Amillions of Dollars@ myth.Also, the true
@liability@ is a moving target. It is dependent on such variables as total membership, number and average age of the Life Member pool, marginal magazine and postage costs, interest rate assumptions, etc. To make things even more chalenging, we only owe the Life Member the same services we provide our Regular Members. In effect, we have the power to control those services and therefore the associated costs. For example, if we were to cut the magazine to 11 issues one year, that would save more money than we currently allot annually to service the Life Member pool.This is certainly a difficult subject to discuss
intelligently in a brief campaign letter, but I would be more than willing to
share my thoughts with you by phone.
And ... In Conclusion ...
As an executive officer for a large corporation, I had to be able to lead projects, make decisions and produce results within an oftentimes challenging technical, budgetary and political framework. My activities on the USCF Policy Board and numerous USCF committees have provided valuable insights into the internal mechanics of the Federation and have helped to develop a working relationship with many of its key personnel. The years of organizing have allowed me to hone my negotiating skills. Forming and operating several local chess clubs, as well as serving key positions in state and regional associations, have exposed me to fundamental organizational issues that are key to attracting and keeping an active membership base within the framework of a smoothly operating infrastructure. My professional background has provided me with the necessary skills to run a business in a highly competitive, rapidly changing environment.
But, more than business and technical matters, chess is people. As an active tournament director and organizer, I have learned to work well with people and have been successful in providing players (our customers) enjoyable, smoothly run activities with pleasant playing environments and programs. I have founded and operated three chess clubs. My most successful being the Shoreline Chess Club of Madison, CT, which boasted a roster of over 80 members, featured a popular program of weekly activities, and regularly drew between thirty and forty players.
As a policy-maker, I intend to remain apolitical, impartial and open. I will continue to bring forward issues for discussion regardless of the political implications, if I believe they need to be discussed.
Having served as your Vice president and Treasurer, you have had the opportunity to view my performance over a six-year period. Those of you who have attended Delegate or Board meetings that I have chaired can attest to my competence and fairness.
I hope this gives you an honest portrait of the person, the
chess player and the professional. I have managed technical tasks, business
ventures, and most important of all, people. I can think of no better background
to bring to the U.S.C.F. Executive Board.
It
This August, we will have an opportunity to put four individuals in key leadership positions during this critical period in our history. Please take the time to review my business and chess credentials, along with the ideas I have advanced and the principles I represent. I promise to bring the same clear thinking and unbiased decision making to the Executive Board that I did in my role as a corporate executive.
Yours is an important duty and responsibility. By your vote, you will chart the course for these next four crucial years. We need to have our best available professional resources in place, ready to hit the ground running. I have the capability, the track record, the energy, the desire and, now that I am retired - the time. I would like your support in 2001.
Remember, in this World, there are three kinds of people: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. Please consider each candidate carefully before marking your ballot.
Should you wish to contact me personally, feel free to write or phone at the number listed above anytime. Let's all work together for Chess as we chart a course into the new millennium.
With warmest regards,
Frank Camaratta, Jr.
(I AM Smiling!)
RESUME
Frank A. Camaratta, Jr.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
Small Business Ventures
- Sole Proprietor, Slot Car Raceway, 1968-1970
- Sole Proprietor, OmegaSon, Custom Sound system design and installation, 1972-1975
- President, CEO, The House of Staunton, 1990-Present (www.houseofstaunton.com)
Corporate Executive Positions
- Manager, Structures, Dynamics, Reliability, Materials & Processes; 1978
- Program Manager, Composite Structures, 1986
- Director, Advanced Engineering, 1988
- Director, Engineering, Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters, 1989
- Retired, May, 1999
ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE
International:
Chess Collectors International
- Director (1990 - Present)
- Organizer, CCI Antique Chess Set Auction, Weschlers, Washington, D.C., 1996
National:
United States Chess Federation
- U.S.C. F. Treasurer (1993-1996)
- U. S.C. F. Vice President (1990-1993)
- Associate National Tournament Director (1988-p)
- Blue Ribbon Committee
- Strategic Planning Committee (1990-1996)
- Chairman: Computer Rating Agency (1987-p)
- Chairman: Ratings Committee (1986-1990, 1996-p)
- Chairman: Hall-of-Fame Committee (1986-1987)
- Chairman, LMA (2000)
- Member: LMA Planning Committee (1996-p)
- Member: Finance Committee (1996-p)
- Member: Ethics Committee (1996-p)
- Member: Postal Chess Committee (1982-1990)
- Member: Rules Committee (1989)
- Member: Hall-of-Fame Committee (1988)
- Delegate: Southeast Region (1996-p)
- Delegate: Mid-South Region (1989)
- Delegate: New England Region (1983-1988)
Regional:
New England
- President: New England Chess Assoc. (1986-1988)
- Vice President: New England Chess Assoc. (1985-86)
State:
Florida
- Director: Florida State Chess Association (1996-1998)
Connecticut
- President: CT Chess Association (1985-1988)
- Tournament Director: CT Chess Assoc. (1982-85)
Pennsylvania
- Director: Penna. State Chess (1970-1972)
- Director: Phila. Intercollegiate Chess League (1963-65)
- Director: Phila. Interscholastic Chess League (1961-63)
Local:
Connecticut
- President/Founder: Shoreline Chess Club of Madison, CT (1981-1988)
- Editor: "Friday Knight" Quarterly (1981-1988)
Pennsylvania
- President/Founder: NAEC Chess Club, PA (1969-78)
- Director: Marple-Newton Chess Club, PA (1963-72)
- President/Founder: Drexel University Chess Club, Phila.(1961-1966)
- President/Founder: Msgr. Bonner H.S. Chess Club,PA
TOURNAMENT DIRECTING EXPERIENCE
- 2001 Space City Open, AL: Chief TD
- 2000 US Open, St. Paul, MN, Director
- 1996 Space City Open, AL, Chief TD
- Alabama State Championships (1995): Chief TD
- U.S. Junior Chess Congress, AL (1995) Chief TD
- U.S. Amateur Championship, CT (1988): Organizer/TD
- Northeastern Chess Congress, CT (1986-1988): Organizer /Chief TD
- CT State Championship (1987): Organizer /TD
- Borris Spassky Simul, CT (1985): Organizer
- CT Chess League (1984): Organizer, Chief TD
- Shoreline Open, CT (1982-85): Organizer, Chief TD
- Madison, CT Chess Club Championship (1981-1987): Organizer/TD
- Gambone-Leight Invitational (First USCF Futurity), PA (1972): Assistant
- Phila. Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Chess League (1961-1965): Director
SPONSORSHIP
- Raised $5,000/year in Corporate sponsorship for the Northeastern Chess Congress three successive years, 1985-1987.
- Obtained $50,000 in corporate Sponsorship, 1988.
EDUCATIONAL
- Saturday Chess Program, Ryerson Elementary School, CT (1983-1984)
- Adult Evening Classes, Phila. Area Schools (1965-72)
- Miscellaneous chess lectures and exhibitions in Phila., New Jersey and Connecticut. (Malls, Chess clubs, Prisons and Schools)
CHARITABLE
- March-of-Dimes Chess-a-thon (1975), NJ
- Gave private simuls and lectures to handicapped children; Toms River Rehabilitation Center, NJ
- Member, New Jersey Junior JCs, 1973-1978.
SOME CHESS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S.C.F. Distinguished Service Award
- Guest Lecturer, CCI Convention, Miami, 2001
- Guest Lecturer, CCI Convention, Paris, 1992
- Guest Lecturer, CCI Convention, New York, 1990
- Correspondence Chess International Master (Over 2500)
- OTB Master (Currently 2320 USCF)
- XI Correspondence Chess Olympiad Finals 6th Board
- XI Correspondence Chess Olympiad Prelim 6th Board
- X Correspondence Chess Olympiad First Board
- 1st Place 1979 U.S. Absolute Correspondence Championships
- 2nd Pl 1978/80 U.S. Absolute Correspondence Championships
- Northeast Regional Collegiate Champion 1962-1965
- Phila. Intercollegiate Chess Champion 1962-1965
- Phila. Interscholastic Chess Champion 1961
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Post-graduate degrees, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa.
PERSONAL
Married, with five sons, one daughter, two dogs, numerous fish.