CFC Presidency

[Sasha Starr]

Re: CFC Presidency

Dear Governors/Voting Members, CFC Members and past/future CFC Members.

We are at the beginning of complete repositioning of chess in Canada. What do we have now? A mismanaged and stagnating organization. From Vlad Drkulec's post: "I believe our total from non-members is something like $1,000". Membership keeps going down. Its Website is a joke.

Is that what we want to continue? Very soon the Governors/Voting Members will have an opportunity to answer this question!

With your help there will be a real corporate and individual sponsorship established, CFC's web site will be developed at no cost to CFC, everything will be fixed, and it is just a beginning. New and old individual and corporate sponsors will be engaged.

Kasparov Chess Foundation may engage in various projects. One of those could be a program for talented kids similar to what they have in the US. You could see a report on chessbase about Sam Sevian and Kayden Troff, both 2012 World Youth champions u/12 and u/14 respectively. Now the oldest is becoming GM and the other one at age of 13,5 has earned the second GM norm. They have one more 13,5 years old Jeffrey Xiong, who scored first GM norm at Chicago open. Besides, some participants in the current US Championship, like Robson, Naroditsky, Molner, Shankland, all went through KCF's program. Mr. Kasparov is personally involved in the program providing the master classes. The Executive Director is doing scouting and manages the program. They also are hiring the specialists to work with super talents like those mentioned above. This is something that could happened in Canada! And there will be no secrets: everything will be transparent!

I've already announced publicly my email, thank you for numerous emails I've received already, and you can verify that I've personally answered all of them.

Those of you who would like to contact me personally over the phone - here is my mobile phone number: 647-964-4556. Looking forward to hear from you. To assure your time for the personal phone conversation please send a short email and we'll set up the time, except the World Cup in Soccer!

CHEERS!

Sasha Starr.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: CFC Presidency

Thank you, Halldor, for admitting the current state of organized chess in Canada!
Don't you think it's the direct result of the current CFC administration's work?

The current president spent a lot of time developing the CFC's new articles and bylaws to comply with the NFP act. He repeatedly asked for help and did not get it aside from Frank Lee among the governors and Pierre Denomme among the non-governors. When it became clear that I had to row across that ocean myself, I did so. The CFC survived and lived on. I don't recall very much from you even in terms of governor discussions. You prefer to snipe from the grassy knoll to doing the work required.

I happen to oppose the current Prez of the CFC because I think he is doing a poor job. I have a vote and I will vote to remove him from the office.

We can go back to being a federation that prevents talented little girls from playing if your vision for the CFC prevails.

I agree with you on this point.
Don't you think the current Prez should have handled this non-issue differently?
Why he didn't allow to discuss and decide it on the AGM - how it was in the past and how it should be according to the CFC Handbook?

I guess you missed the memo about the NFP act. In the past the executive decided.

[Michael Barron]

Re: CFC Presidency

And the state of organized chess in Canada is frankly bad - participation is at a historical low.

Thank you, Halldor, for admitting the current state of organized chess in Canada!
Don't you think it's the direct result of the current CFC administration's work?

I happen to support the current Prez of the CFC because I think he is doing a good job. I have a vote and I will vote for him to say in office.

I happen to oppose the current Prez of the CFC because I think he is doing a poor job. I have a vote and I will vote to remove him from the office.

Whether GK or KI are at the head of FIDE will not have much impact on organized chess in Canada.

I agree with you on this point.
Don't you think the current Prez should have handled this non-issue differently?
Why he didn't allow to discuss and decide it on the AGM - how it was in the past and how it should be according to the CFC Handbook?

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: CFC Presidency

Thank you, Halldor!

[Halldor P. Palsson]

Re: CFC Presidency

What really sucks is that the CFC has alienated its only major patron that has donated more time and money then any one in the history of the CFC ever with no expectation of anything in return. The one time I ask for anything it is met by hate and ridicule. It is too much to ask of the CFC not to elect Putin's puppet. Especially after I was assured that the CFC initially was going to go for Kasparov.
You should evaluate Sasha and Nava on the content of his and her character's and the program they are offering and not on the FIDE candidate they support . I believe you are the one that incorrectly denied that even Spraggett supports the CFC endorsing Kasparov. Wake up and see the world the way it is!

Well Sid life sucks and then you die. You and your fellow travellers GK campaign is wearing down folks that work day in and day out on running chess in Canada. And the state of organized chess in Canada is frankly bad - participation is at a historical low.

I cannot evaluate Sasha as a chess organizer because he has no track record. Nava simply plays the absolute minimum number of games to qualify for the women's team.

I happen to support the current Prez of the CFC because I think he is doing a good job. I have a vote and I will vote for him to say in office.

Whether GK or KI are at the head of FIDE will not have much impact on organized chess in Canada.

Sid your contributions to Canadian chess were invaluable when you chose to be involved. But that was some time ago. Each year we have 1/3 of CFC members new to chess so there is little memory of what you did years ago.

I would like folks like you and GM Spraggett to be involved in Canadian chess. I happen to think organized chess in Canada would be better if you were involved. However, both of you choose not to be involved. That choice has stood for many years.

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: CFC Presidency

Sid, you gave money ten years ago. You were generous but others have been more generous. The host of this board Larry Bevand has spent more this year on CFC related chess initiatives including NAYCC than you did in any particular year. As for time investment it is not clear to me to what you are referring.

You made an offer with strings attached. We got similar offers with no strings attached. Kasparov has been in New York for years now and he has not shown that he cared about Canada and is quoted as saying that he doesn't give a damn what Canadians think before this FIDE contest was even on the table. When things don't go his way there is this great wailing and gnashing of teeth among sympathetic media. This seems to be a recurring pattern in every federation at least from what I am hearing through the back channels. I don't think that you are going to be able to bully your way into making us do what you want. If Sasha wins then you will win but God help the CFC in that case. I will pray that it doesn't go belly up in two years which will be the limit of my legal liability. As a voting member I will vote against any program which seeks to pay the members of the board of directors.

Vlad i am glad that you are bringing up substantive issues
1)I am not privy to the CFC finances so I can't comment on who gave the most nor do I care. I was simply going from info given to me from an ex governor.

2)My offer has never had the "strings attached" that you described. That is something you have invented to justify your support of Kirsan. Form the first meeting i had with Hal Bond there were no strings attached and he eagerly embraced our offer in writing only to have a total about face after he returned from the Candidates in Russia and appeared to give us a lame excuse that the executive was suddenly skeptical not withstanding his claim that the executive always had great respect for his FIDE views. Then you wonder why we would be disrespectful of this behaviour.

3) I already have had Gary in Canada where he gave a simul and an interesting speech at the Empire club

4)I saw your evidence of Gary "not giving damn on the CFC board and it consisted of a link to a video in french. I am not fluent enough in that language to understand what was said exactly. If it is anything like your other outrageous comments that have proven to be completely false I am very skeptical of your claim.

5)You have only given vague details of a "similar offer" from someone that has never put a dime into Canadian chess and has a long history of broken promises in other federations. You accept that offer instead from someone with a proven track record.
6)You characterize what I am doing as "bullying". That's very interesting considering that my donations in the past were unconditional and the one time I ask for a favour from the CFC the treatment and attitude is one of betrayal.

7) Of course the media is going to be sympathetic to us , you endorsed someone who is Putins close partner (you denied that one for a long time until the proof was overwhelming), and who's close political aids murdered an opposition journalist (something you don't consider as good evidence that he may have been involved), this is the man that you described as a
peaceful Budhist and I agree 100% with Bonham who said that your sugar coating of this man in the globe and Mail Article is a real sham! Sorry Vlad but you made a fool of yourself in that article and you have no one to blame but your self.

8) This not about me "winning". This is about getting a thriving chess federation going. It just happens that Gary could be a big part of this whether he wins the FIDE race or not. As for your concern about the CFC going bankrupt I believe that Sasha has been very careful to point out that the preservation of the existing CGC balance sheet is essential and any new expenses would have to be accretive.
This means new expenses has to be derived from sponsorship dollars (something the CFC has appeared to be masters of repelling) or new revenues. As I stated earlier I have known Nava for a long time and she has a very solid background in administration and finance and i would sleep very well at night with her involvement. i have also offered to help Sasha where i can with the finances and do not foresee solvency problems ever. It seems that this is a cheap shot you are throwing out to create FUD.

When you run a profitable company expenses are fine as long as you get maximum dollar for every dollar spent. That being said the governors I have seen volunteer because like me they believe in chess and money is not a motivator so this is a non issue.

By the way if you are relying on Kirsan's campaign promises as a way of getting money who has never put a dime into Canadian chess that is much more alarming given that you have driven away people that have put money into chess.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: CFC Presidency

What really sucks is that the CFC has alienated its only major patron that has donated more time and money then any one in the history of the CFC ever with no expectation of anything in return. The one time I ask for anything it is met by hate and ridicule. It is too much to ask of the CFC not to elect Putin's puppet. Especially after I was assured that the CFC initially was going to go for Kasparov.
You should evaluate Sasha and Nava on the content of his and her character's and the program they are offering and not on the FIDE candidate they support . I believe you are the one that incorrectly denied that even Spraggett supports the CFC endorsing Kasparov. Wake up and see the world the way it is!

Sid, you gave money ten years ago. You were generous but others have been more generous. The host of this board Larry Bevand has spent more this year on CFC related chess initiatives including NAYCC than you did in any particular year. As for time investment it is not clear to me to what you are referring.

You made an offer with strings attached. We got similar offers with no strings attached. Kasparov has been in New York for years now and he has not shown that he cared about Canada and is quoted as saying that he doesn't give a damn what Canadians think before this FIDE contest was even on the table. When things don't go his way there is this great wailing and gnashing of teeth among sympathetic media. This seems to be a recurring pattern in every federation at least from what I am hearing through the back channels. I don't think that you are going to be able to bully your way into making us do what you want. If Sasha wins then you will win but God help the CFC in that case. I will pray that it doesn't go belly up in two years which will be the limit of my legal liability. As a voting member I will vote against any program which seeks to pay the members of the board of directors.

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: CFC Presidency

I'm a past governor of the CFC and I didn't know. Who are we talking about so I'll know if he is likely to know.

Don't misunderstand me. I realize you made a substantial and generous financial contribution to Canadian Chess.

This particular issue with the FIDE presidency saddens me.

Hi Gary,
The former governor has been around as long as you but I do not give out names without permission. In any event it makes little or no difference as the main issue today is that the CFC has botched the FIDE presidency issue and if things do not change could well chase me away permanently in addition to Gary's support that we would have had whether or not he wins the FIDE election. This is a blunder for the record books.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: CFC Presidency

A past governor of the CFC

I'm a past governor of the CFC and I didn't know. Who are we talking about so I'll know if he is likely to know.

Don't misunderstand me. I realize you made a substantial and generous financial contribution to Canadian Chess.

This particular issue with the FIDE presidency saddens me.

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: CFC Presidency

Now I know. Who told you?

A past governor of the CFC

[Gary Ruben]

Re: CFC Presidency

I would have guessed that also but the other day I was told that it was me.

Now I know. Who told you?

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: CFC Presidency

I didn't know that. I would have guessed Mr. Prentice. I remember being at a CFC meeting where Mr. Prentice was sitting beside Mr. Pugi and giving money away. One player asked for money to go to an event and Mr. Prentice quickly approved it.

I would have guessed that also but the other day I was told that it was me.

[Steve Douglas]

Re: CFC Presidency

The irony is on you, because whatever Mr. Belzberg and Mr. Starr have posted about what should be allowed here, it pales in comparison to your rants about bullying, shouting, innuendo, ad hominen attacks... you have made yourself judge and jury of ChessTalk. And the worst part is, just like with Nigel Hanrahan, it's the people you disagree with that are doing all the bullying. Why is it always that way? Do you think it might be.... because the people who constantly cry "Abuse! Bullying!" don't have a leg to stand on?

Given that, it should not surprise you that your attempt at sarcasm gets interpreted as your actual position. And I still believe it IS your actual position.





There you go, folks: the self-appointed old boys network spokesman, here to tell everyone what dictionary is the only dictionary we should all be using. Don't you DARE make bastardized use of the language! The language is written in stone, never to change! Just like chess!

Nice try, old boy. Now go play with your grandchildren if you have any... they might teach you a few new words.

Thank-you for demonstrating what a shouting, bullying, ad hominem argument is.

It is also illogical, factually baseless, and demonstrates what a straw-man is.

Steve

[Gary Ruben]

Re: CFC Presidency

What really sucks is that the CFC has alienated its only major patron that has donated more time and money then any one in the history of the CFC ever with no expectation of anything in return.

I didn't know that. I would have guessed Mr. Prentice. I remember being at a CFC meeting where Mr. Prentice was sitting beside Mr. Pugi and giving money away. One player asked for money to go to an event and Mr. Prentice quickly approved it.

[Kerry Liles]

Re: CFC Presidency

This revelation on Vlad's lack of investigation or even interest in anything the "Kasparov people" had to provide does not surprise me one bit. I already knew just by intuition that Vlad had made no efforts at communication of this nature. Vlad's personal creed is likely to be "I don't want to believe" when it comes to anything that upsets his rigid world view.

I even call into question Vlad's statements that in the early stages of the FIDE election process, he tentatively supported Kasparov. I believe Vlad would purposely make that up to have everyone think he actually made some kind of fair assessment of the candidates. As we are seeing, nothing could be further from the truth.

It looks like Vlad's own statement -- "All will be revealed in the fullness of time" -- is coming back to haunt him.

You forgot to mention his stand on Climate Change... I'm surprised Paul. That sort of omission is a sad lack of focus from you.