Winding down the CFC and FIDE elections

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Winding down the CFC and FIDE elections

Perhaps the CFC can be renamed CCFC: 'Children's Chess Federation of Canada'.

That would certainly make it easier to regain charitable status or some equivalent.

Normally I would be against such a putting-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket approach. Normally I would say you should balance efforts in youth chess with efforts in increasing CURRENT adult membership (not FUTURE adult membership).

The two are not mutually exclusive. I have been told that Windsor now has a normal complement of adult players relative to the rest of the CFC as a result of initiatives for youth -adult tournaments which we recently began.

But normal times aren't going to last much longer. The CFC is in danger of becoming a feeder system to a much better federation... a federation much more attuned to the 21st century.

Paul, I would suggest if you hope to establish your federation you need to do something about it and not just talk about it. Whatever the inadequacies of the CFC are, I am doing something to address them and at the same time I am doing things to grow Windsor chess which feeds into the CFC and the USCF scene in Michigan.

You may have won the battle, Vlad, but the war is just beginning.

Yes I can see that from the Kasparov people voting as a block to stop Windsor from hosting CYCC despite submitting an initial bid that meets all the requirements and despite being the only bid. I hope cooler heads will prevail. The CFC is in a much better position to deal with a missing CO bid if it has the CYCC squared away with a solid bid.

It is to be a war for the minds of chess players around the world. And you don't stand much chance, because you have the ball and chain of FIDE and all its corruption and inflexibility. And you also have the additional ball and chain of the traditional North American attitude about standard chess.

Now you are just being silly. Your product hopes to piggyback onto traditional chess. You need a thriving chess scene for your product to have even a hope of succeeding. The market for your product is a small subset of the general chess playing public. You seem to be more concerned with posting on chesstalk than you are with actually doing something which might actually advance your agenda.

I have undertaken two major projects at the CFC. One was developing a strategic plan for the CFC and the other was the NFP Act compliance process for the CFC. Both were daunting tasks. Both were accomplished by working logically step by step and getting a series of tasks completed. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Have you even taken the first step?

Yes, I'm a believer in my own hype just as you are with your words and thoughts about youth chess. You really do believe the future adult membership will be grown from the kids playing chess right now.

By definition, yes.

A very faulty strategy even if I weren't doing anything -- the CFC has no future because standard chess has no future.

The future is what you make it.

But what I am adding assures the total collapse of this strategy.

Cue maniacal laughter.

I would have worked with you if you had shown flexibility, openness, and fairness. Instead you dismiss someone of the business stature and chess interest of Sid Belzberg, almost like swatting at a fly.

Sid's offers came with strings attached the most notable being the nomination and endorsement of GK and the requirement that GK win the FIDE election. Later the offer changed and after the fact the offer has morphed into something that is no longer recognizable as the option that we were given.

Canadian chess will suffer for it, and you dismiss it like 'oh, that's fine, we have other sponsors'.

We do. In fact, yesterday I received a $500 donation for Windsor chess from a long time Chesstalk poster who prefers to remain anonymous. The funds will be used either to establish a chess class for kids or fund a tournament for kids. The way we manage to squeeze pennies it may even be possible that it will allow us to do both. These are exciting times for Windsor chess.

Even if we don't get the bid for the CYCC we will probably support the bid of whoever does at a rate greater than any other community including that of the host assuming we can smooth over the backlash that may develop. There may even be advantages of not getting the bid as we can channel the energy of the organizers and potential sponsorship that seemed likely to develop out of a successful bid to local initiatives and needs.

I'm shocked Jean Hebert hasn't interjected, asking you at the very least where are these other sponsors and what are they doing (Hebert has so far been eerily silent on this whole mess, even on the part about the secret $80K deal with Kirsan).

But after your treatment of Sid, I will not work with you at all. Go ahead, laugh. I look forward to seeing that laugh turn into something cognizant of just what you are up against and how quickly your world can be turned upside down.

Talk is cheap. You can talk and talk and talk but can you walk the walk?

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Sasha: in one of your posts (it would take a long time for me to find it now), you mentioned something to the effect that the CFC was required by the NFP act to notify all its members of any 'newsworthy events', and that keeping the $80K offer from Kirsan confidential on the governors' private forum violated that requirement.

Sasha appears to be confused. A publicly traded corporation is required to make notifications of such a nature under some circumstances. There are no similar requirements for a non-profit that I am aware of and I have read the act and most of the government publications and websites that deal with the NFP Act. Any breach of the NFP act will not automatically lead to dissolution of the CFC.

If you know that requirement of the NFP act to be a fact, you might not want to pursue that any further as it could lead to something as bad as the forced dissolution of the CFC. But even if you don't bring it to the attention of the government, you may wish to let ordinary CFC members know that this NFP act violation (if that is what it amounts to) was willfully undertaken by the Executive.

Sasha should be more concerned whether his willful multiple violations of confidentiality requirements might not lead to his removal as a member.

Did they actually risk the entire future of the CFC just to keep this Kirsan offer hush hush? OR... is there no such requirement in the NFP act?

If I were a betting man, I would bet on the latter.

I only mention this because you brought it up. I do not want something as bad as the forced dissolution of the CFC.

Lets deal with reality and not fantasy.

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Winding down the CFC and FIDE elections

While the NFP file played a role I am sure that the improvements in youth chess have helped.

Perhaps the CFC can be renamed CCFC: 'Children's Chess Federation of Canada'.

Normally I would be against such a putting-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket approach. Normally I would say you should balance efforts in youth chess with efforts in increasing CURRENT adult membership (not FUTURE adult membership).

But normal times aren't going to last much longer. The CFC is in danger of becoming a feeder system to a much better federation... a federation much more attuned to the 21st century.

You may have won the battle, Vlad, but the war is just beginning. It is to be a war for the minds of chess players around the world. And you don't stand much chance, because you have the ball and chain of FIDE and all its corruption and inflexibility. And you also have the additional ball and chain of the traditional North American attitude about standard chess.

I don't know if you fully understand what I'm talking about, but you will. You are doing great getting kids into chess, and please do keep that up. I need kids getting into chess, especially when I don't have to do anything myself to make that happen. I know that the kids will eventually realize the limitations of standard chess. You say you don't know why anyone would try my 'chess variant', but the term 'chess variant' is totally inadequate to describe what is coming. I'm not so misguided as to thing people are going to go gaga over something as rudimentary as my Option Chess variant (which is meant to eventually extend standard chess). But it's ok if you keep thinking in those terms, because for all your ego, you are not seeing the real war you are soon to be faced with.

Yes, I'm a believer in my own hype just as you are with your words and thoughts about youth chess. You really do believe the future adult membership will be grown from the kids playing chess right now. A very faulty strategy even if I weren't doing anything -- the CFC has no future because standard chess has no future. But what I am adding assures the total collapse of this strategy.

I would have worked with you if you had shown flexibility, openness, and fairness. Instead you dismiss someone of the business stature and chess interest of Sid Belzberg, almost like swatting at a fly. Canadian chess will suffer for it, and you dismiss it like 'oh, that's fine, we have other sponsors'. I'm shocked Jean Hebert hasn't interjected, asking you at the very least where are these other sponsors and what are they doing (Hebert has so far been eerily silent on this whole mess, even on the part about the secret $80K deal with Kirsan).

But after your treatment of Sid, I will not work with you at all. Go ahead, laugh. I look forward to seeing that laugh turn into something cognizant of just what you are up against and how quickly your world can be turned upside down.

[Paul Bonham]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Now I'm studying very carefully what's actually happened. Until then I can't really comment on what will be my next move.

Sasha: in one of your posts (it would take a long time for me to find it now), you mentioned something to the effect that the CFC was required by the NFP act to notify all its members of any 'newsworthy events', and that keeping the $80K offer from Kirsan confidential on the governors' private forum violated that requirement.

If you know that requirement of the NFP act to be a fact, you might not want to pursue that any further as it could lead to something as bad as the forced dissolution of the CFC. But even if you don't bring it to the attention of the government, you may wish to let ordinary CFC members know that this NFP act violation (if that is what it amounts to) was willfully undertaken by the Executive.

Did they actually risk the entire future of the CFC just to keep this Kirsan offer hush hush? OR... is there no such requirement in the NFP act?

I only mention this because you brought it up. I do not want something as bad as the forced dissolution of the CFC. In any event, I do hope that you keep asking about where is the actual written offer, and was it vetted by a lawyer. I also hope you as a voting member keep track and find out if the CFC ever gets a sniff of this $80K.

I also noticed in this thread Steve Douglas asked Vlad Drkulec if he could now provide details of this offer. Steve, if you're reading this, one of your better posts. Much better than just calling someone a troll when all they are doing is either making good points or asking good questions. Keep it up! Maybe your appointment as Vanguard of the Old Boys Network was something you needed! :D

[Fred McKim]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Could any 2010' Governor tell me, please, what, if anything, was offered to the CFC by any or both candidates during FIDE Presidential Campaign of the same year?

Sasha Starr.

My recollection is that we received nothing.

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Could any 2010' Governor tell me, please, what, if anything, was offered to the CFC by any or both candidates during FIDE Presidential Campaign of the same year?

Sasha Starr.

Hi Sasha:

I was a governor then. Think that was a face to face AGM meeting in Edmonton? My memory is bad.

Anyway, there will be AGM Minutes in the archive - likely accessible through the CFC Website? But don't know whether they will answer your question.

I myself, I'm afraid, have no recollection about the FIDE Presidency issue, except that there was almost unanimity to vote for Karpov.

Hope I haven't got the facts too badly mixed.

Bob A

[Sasha Starr]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Could any 2010' Governor tell me, please, what, if anything, was offered to the CFC by any or both candidates during FIDE Presidential Campaign of the same year?

Sasha Starr.

[Sasha Starr]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Yes that would have been ideal. Frankly if the CFC did not endorse either candidate I would have considered personally sponsoring events as I have done in the past with no strings.The CFC endorsing the likes of Kirsan was a very bitter pill for me to swallow.
Anyway's it is water under the bridge.

It is a bitter pill for me to swallow just as well.

Unfortunately it is one of the cases when democracy has miserably failed. Two highly motivated people were able to succeed in spite of the fact, that the large majority of people here have supported GK (remember President's poll here: 1 for KI, almost 30 for GK); and on the other poll, the Governors' poll, 66,67% of votes were against endorsement of KI. Well, both of these polls, even Governors, were deemed non binding. So the public opinion was ignored, the wishes of the Governors were neglected. The fact remains that Five Executives, being motivated/induced or whatever else by the President and FIDE rep, have delivered endorsement of KI (two of them have abstained).

I agree that this is the most disastrous decision of CFC ever.

Only after the endorsement was publicly announced I've decided to contest the Presidency of CFC - just to provide an alternative. I'm not upset by the election's results.

Now I'm studying very carefully what's actually happened. Until then I can't really comment on what will be my next move.

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: FIDE Presidency 2018 - Draft Susan!

If the CCC wants another topic to champion, go for it. :)

Hi Kerry:

As you know, CCC loves losing causes ........ it's all a matter of high principle, not functional success!:D

And yes, I was somewhat serious......she shows in her public annotating a lot of people skills when interviewing.....she's known........she'd be unique - a women running in a man's world. She has some baggage around her time with the USCF....some allegations of non-high-ground operating with her husband...don't know the truth of it, but that may not matter...she may be now tarred with it.

But public charisma, and being liked, goes a long way in politics. Would a draft movement generate excitement?

What do others think? Should I bring this to the Cooperative Chess Coalition (CCC) international chess organization to discuss?

Bob A, CCC Co-ordinator

(Note: CCC is just a four member organization of ordinary chess players - a mere grain of sand on the beach. But I believe small groups can do miracles sometimes.........)

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: Winding down the CFC and FIDE elections

"You may be correct in the long-run but you probably should have picked a better running mate."

Sasha was not my "running mate" he independently decided to run and since he was the only alternative I endorsed him. I do not control what people do and i had no aspirations to run for the office myself.

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Your support and the Kasparov foundation support were available only "on the idea that the CFC endorses Gary". Right?

Yes that would have been ideal. Frankly if the CFC did not endorse either candidate I would have considered personally sponsoring events as I have done in the past with no strings.The CFC endorsing the likes of Kirsan was a very bitter pill for me to swallow.
Anyway's it is water under the bridge.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

Of course, my support or the Kasparov Chess Foundation are within our control and we can do as we please. We have no control over what FIDE does and that is especially true if Gary is not in power. KCF or Sid Belzberg do not equal FIDE, they are all separate independent entities.....make's sense?

Your support and the Kasparov foundation support were available only "on the idea that the CFC endorses Gary". Right?

[Kerry Liles]

Re: FIDE Presidency 2018 - Draft Susan!

Kerry:

Would you like the Cooperative Chess Coalition (CCC) to consider starting a "Draft Susan for 2018" campaign?

Bob A

I didn't see a smiley face there, so I will assume your question is a serious one. I seriously think Susan Polgar
has the organizational ability and the charisma to run FIDE (properly and honourably I might add). Note that
she could hardly get a voice of reason into the USCF, so her chances in FIDE are the same chance as a
God Particle showing up in my cheerios...

If the CCC wants another topic to champion, go for it. :)

[Bindi Cheng]

Re: Winding down the CFC and FIDE elections

Well Mr Cheng, i have very passionate beliefs about certain thing'a and you might find it surprising that the treatment meted out to me was in my opinion unimaginably awful given my past track record with the CFC. This resulted in very colorful exchanges. It was made very clear to me from the executive that most governors fully intended to reward Vlad for the very hard work he had done relating to the NFP .

My opinion about Kirsan has not changed and regardless of what you think of me or Sasha endorsing Kirsan from where I sit is the possibly the worst decision the CFC has ever made.

You may be correct in the long-run but you probably should have picked a better running mate. Even if the endorsement was the worst decision possible, pairing up with Sasha and allowing him to go on a posting frenzy has alienated the vast majority of CFC governors. When there's only two possible choices and one represents a relatively safe option who actually has done a lot for chess and another who promises the world but has not a single chess credential on his resume and has nothing but criticism as his campaign (sounds like US politics), it should be easy to see who's going to win.

[Sid Belzberg]

Re: Benefits to Canada: FIDE Presidential Election

http://www.chesstalk.info/forum/show...ll=1#post80354


I found these quotes contradict each other - conditional vs non-conditional. Can you comment?

Of course, my support or the Kasparov Chess Foundation are within our control and we can do as we please. We have no control over what FIDE does and that is especially true if Gary is not in power. KCF or Sid Belzberg do not equal FIDE, they are all separate independent entities.....make's sense?