A year ago, at the US Women’s Chess Championship, I was suggested to run for the USCF Board. Ever since, I contemplated this idea… I know that there is much more needs to be done and as a professional chess player myself (WGM), a business person, a Mom of 3 chess playing kids and a coach running Belakovskaia Chess Academy, I feel I can bring a lot to the table. From improving professional chess image, to attracting more girls into chess, to rising the number and size of chess scholarships in colleges around the country - there are areas I can see contributing my efforts into.
According to USCF rules: “Nominations must be made by petition containing the signatures of fifty (50) or more members of the USCF who are either registered or eligible to register to vote, and by payment of a filing fee of $100 to the U.S. Chess Federation.
The members signing the nomination petition must include at least fifteen (15) USCF delegates representing at least five (5) states. The petition to nominate a candidate and the filing fee must be postmarked by Wednesday, December 31, 2014.”
Thus, I would like to collect the necessary signatures. If you are interested in signing the petition - please visit drive.google.com/file/d/0B5pzYL … sp=sharing
and enter your info there, or send an email to Anjelina @ gmail.com with your information and agreement to be added to the list.
Also, please help me to spread the word and reach more USCF members, including 15 USCF delegates.
Paging Ken Ballou or anyone else in a position of authority who knows the answer. Will an on-line petition supported by an e-mail suffice? I thought you needed actual signatures. I would hate to see someone go to all the effort to meet the requirements and find out that the on-line signatures wouldn’t suffice.
If that is the case, though, do not despair, Anjelina. Many people have in the past offered to collect signatures at major events where many delegates would be present and many states represented. You still have a decent chance of getting the signatures needed.
Thanks a lot for your replies and comments. I have sent an email to Ken for clarification of the proper ways to collect signatures.
I will let you know his reply. Meanwhile, Allen, do you have any suggestions?
As documented in Article VI Section 4 of the USCF Bylaws, a nomination petition must bear signatures of those members supporting the nomination petition. Furthermore, the call for nominations published in Chess Life and on the USCF web site reads:
In previous years, Executive Board candidates have used e-mail to send a PDF file with the nomination petition. Members have printed this form, signed the petition, scanned the result, and returned the scan of the signed petition by e-mail. The candidate then presumably printed the scanned petition and submitted it to the office.
The office can not accept (and the Election Committee will not validate) “digital signatures” (generated using, for example, an RSA private key) as being equivalent to a written signature. Primarily, this is because there is nothing in the certificate accompanying the signature that binds the subject of the certificate to a particular USCF ID (and therefore a valid USCF membership).
Most of us have done exactly what Ken suggested. We have sent out the petition forms and gotten actual signatures - then either had those mailed or faxed to the office. Nothing says all the signatures have to be on one page. One can have 50 different petitions all with just one signature.
I had several folks in different places in the country with petitions. I also sent them to various delegates and others - some contacted through the USCF forums - to ask for signatures.
If memory serves me correctly, a few people have previously stated they would gladly collect signatures for potential candidates. Well gentlemen, if you meant it, please speak up and reach out to Anjelina! You know who you are!
Thanks for the delicate prod, Mike. Again, I’ll be in Louisville at the EB meeting in the middle of November. That will score seven signatures, all delegates from different states, so long as all are willing. That’s almost half of the specific signature requirement.
If this is something Anjelina wishes, just say so here, and I’ll take care of it. I can create the petition at my end, so don’t need anything else.
Thanks a lot for clarification. I have uploaded the .pdf petition to http://chessforparents.com/docs/AB-USCFpetition01.pdf
and will encourage USCF members to print, sign and either fax it to me at (520) 838-8080 or email to anjelina @ gmail.com . When I meet the requirements, I will print all of them and fax, then mail to the USCF office.
Mike & Grayson,
Your help would mean a lot and I definitely appreciate it. Seven delegate signatures sounds great!
I am going to play in the Phoenix Open at the end of November and will send some emails right now to collect the additional signatures.
I look forward to meeting the requirement soon. Let’s do it together!
Can you please confirm or clarify your statement above, as it contradicts the information I received that I have to submit ORIGINAL signatures to the USCF.
So, the correct answer is that the office must receive the original signature, not a reproduction. That means the signer of the petition must return the physically signed paper, not a reproduction, to the (potential) candidate.
Hi, Grayson!
Any success in Louisville with Delegates signatures?
Also, since I still would need the original, would you like me to send you a return address envelope with postage?
Thanks!
Anjelina
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