ERIC JOHNSON SUBMITS THREE ADMS
I have submitted three ADMs. I welcome the
chance to post them on your website, and encourage potential co-sponsors to
contact me and/or the USCF secretary.
Please retain the "odd" numbering, as I have also submitted seven ADMs
on behalf of others.
Sincerely,
Eric C. Johnson
Delegate, Pa.
8. (Sponsor: Eric C. Johnson, Pa.)
ADM: The delegates endorse
the nomination and induction of Anthony E. Santasiere into the U.S. Chess Hall
of Fame, citing his accomplishments as a player, writer, and overall chess
celebrity during the founding years of the U.S. Chess Federation.
(Note: This ADM gives the delegate body the chance to express support for
Santasiere's candidacy -- it does not actually place him in the Hall of Fame.
I have nominated Santasiere for several seasons, and he always gets high marks
from the Hall of Fame Committee; however, they have opted to go with living
candidates in some years, and decidedly academic/arcane choices (e.g., Benjamin
Franklin) in others. The ADM asks the delegates to endorse the Santasiere
nomination, as he was a real flesh and blood chess celebrity during the
foundation years of the USCF, as visible then as GM Soltis, GM Mednis, GM Evans
and GM Benko are today in the pages of CL.)
9. (Sponsor: Eric C. Johnson, Pa.)
ADM: The delegates hereby instruct the
office to immediately make available copies of the recently concluded contract
with Games Parlor, such that every delegate at this meeting shall be provided a
paper copy of the agreement prior to the end of this meeting.
(Note: The delegates already have the right to see contracts. The EB,
however, has voiced concerns over the disclosure of the terms of this particular
one, and the President has suggested that the EB is consulting legal counsel on
the matter. This ADM simply informs the office that it needs to have
copies on hand in Framingham, and that a significant number of delegates will
want to see them. The ADM is needed only if the EB chooses not to release
the information -- an unfortunate, but likely, scenario.)
Editor's note: The Games Parlor contract is now
online at http://www.nightsong.com/phr/chess/gpcontract/contract.html.
10. (Sponsor: Eric C. Johnson, Pa)
ADM: The delegates hereby
affirm the principle that TLAs comprise a vital and intrinsic part of the
content of the printed version of Chess Life. The office is hereby
instructed to take active measures to solicit and print as many TLAs as possible
in each issue, after first establishing sustainable price levels for this
service by working through appropriate governance channels . The delegates
explicitly renounce and forbid any announced office strategy or plan
that would include the diminution, elimination or
discouragement of paid TLAs in printed form, including but not limited to
proposals based on the aesthetics of Chess Life or its attractiveness to unnamed
sponsors or advertisers. The delegates hereby affirm that Chess Life's
priority mission is to communicate organizational news to all USCF members,
including news about upcoming local USCF-rated events.
(Note: In the transcripts of official USCF business meetings, the office
has expressed the view that TLAs are "subsidized" and that they
detract from the potential revenue-drawing power of Chess Life -- in other
words, that the federation is better off not printing them at any price!
The ADM is silent on price (i.e.., it is compatible with any other ADM on
pricing plans), but instructs the office to quickly reorganize its attitude on
the issue of TLAs. The office should be soliciting MORE, not fewer, TLAs,
and do so at a sustainable price. Arguments based on the aesthetics of CL
pages or the "difficulties" in hiring/retaining a clerk to type TLA
copy are not very plausible, yet have been advanced in official meetings.
Personally, I am very upset that an ADM is needed to address "office
attitude" on this important subject.)
The editor will be glad to enthusiastically cosponsor this one.