I thought the move was a done deal for USCF. Didn’t the state of Tennessee donate the land for USCF to build on?
As the state did donate the land to the federation, if the federation sells the land would that break the spirit of the deal. Do not mind were the federation office is in the nation, as New York state is the state for major international chess, it is logical to have the office there. As the taxs in the state are so great can se that moving would be the right idea, as the reporters can still send the information email.
Earnest,
Douglas
The land was donated by the city of Crossville, probably worth around $250,000.
It is reasonable to assume that if the USCF doesn’t move there, at some point they will have to transfer title of the land back to the city.
When I talked to the Crossville folks last August, I got the impression that they still want us, providing we can work out our problems. I don’t know how long they’ll stay interested.
uschess.org/relocateproposalrequest04.php
Think the federation will be moving.
Earnest,
Douglas M. Forsythe, Local TD
12313120
There’s nothing in that notice that would keep the USCF from moving more than a few blocks. In fact, the Board visited a potential site last Saturday.
As the federation is going to move, they can move to any place they want. As the federation has given its name to the book and chess to some chess organization. The federation only needs to take care of the rating department, the membership department, then the smaller departments. Not much left for the day to day paper work.
As emails have been the way of the federation for a number of years, it can get the emails from all the features and departments for Chess Life. As everything is done so much with emails, there is very little need for a face to face meeting even with the executive board. Most of the major meetings have been performed at the U.S. Open, everything can be voted up or down with a email.
The federation can move to the most low rent and low tax city or state, also the most low wage for the day to day workers. As everything is done so much with the use of emails, and now what is in the USCF catalog is performed from some other group has given me the feeling, what is left as a office. The rating department will be needed as a federation without tournaments rated will never happen.
Do hope that the federation does stay in the state of New York, chess in the state is the most important state that does have chess. Any FIDE tournament would be in New York City, some larger city yes but the federation has a larger pool of players from New York. CAn think a move to California if not the state of New York, as a crew that has worked for the federation for years would be nice they can stay in a state or even in the city were the federation has been for years.
Do hate the idea that the federation move to some small city, in some small state, in some small region were there is little or no chess. Even as I live in Michigan, would hate to see it move to my state when the crew would have too move or lose their jobs.
Earnest,
Douglas M. Forsythe, Local TD
12313120
We have plenty of chess activity here in Tennessee. It’s not New York, but compared to many states, we’re doing very well. However, I agree with Localtdforsythe, in that New York is the logical location for the chess headquarters of the USCF. When I first heard about the possible relocation to Tennessee, I thought it was a joke. Why would the USCF leave New York? I knew there was a financial crisis, but… Crossville, Tennessee? …not even Nashville? Granted, the state is centrally located, and we don’t have an income tax (thanks to our successful battle against the forces of evil, who recently attempted to implement an income tax here), but leaving New York seemed like a step in the wrong direction, even if the expenses are greater there.
Having said that, I think it’s a bit late for the USCF to back out of the move to Crossville. After all of the announcements that were made and all of the coverage by the local press, the USCF will lose face if the leaders of the organization simply change their minds. If something has changed on Tennessee’s side to sour the deal, that’s different, but if the USCF is flip-flopping like a fickle teenager (or worse, a politician), that won’t exactly inspire confidence throughout the membership. Either way, we need to know what’s really going on.
Maybe I’ve missed something, but I haven’t seen anything substantive in Chess Life or on the USCF’s website regarding the current status of the move, aside from this: USCF Looking to Relocate Office, which Localtdforsythe referred to earlier. We need a detailed explanation of the Crossville situation. What are the problems that stand in the way of the move, and why haven’t we heard about them from the USCF?
The first time when the news of moving to Crossville was a shock to me, new that the federation was going to be moving, The word was first given that they thought of the idea to move to Florida, as Florida would give nice winter tournaments with the thought of move international tournaments moving down to the sun belt during the winter. When word came they were moving to crossville, looked at the map: with the highway system it would be so logical as the highway they are on runs from California to North Carolina, have two highways that runs north to south on both sides. If the federation did keep the book supplies it would have been logical.
If you do look at New York as a high tax state, high property tax the move to Crossville still is very logical. What does the federation need, takes care of memberships, rating departments, finance and administration, editoral can even be assigned out. As federation can have any press to make Chess Life, as it can be faxed or emailed or if worse sent our UPS, ect. Even the art director can work at home, as pics can be scaned can be uploaded/downloaded from a server.
What I want to say, the reson for a brick and morter building is needed from the contact of the membership to the people that run the federation on a day to day need. The building can be a lot smaller then the building they are moving out from, with that in mind it can go any place it wants. True the federation would be better being in a state that has the bulk of its membership, as it only has to deal with the membership with membership and the rating department as the bulk of the phone calls and emails – the federation office can be any place it wants.
Earnest,
Douglas M. Forsythe, Local TD
12313120
Well, I see that the USCF Executive Board has once again (as of October 17, 2004) decided to move to Crossville, TN by March 31, 2005.
It is not that bad of a idea to move to Crossville. My brother lives in Knoxville, and have been to the city of Crossville. Crossville does have nice trees and that mountain range, with the best flatland around central Tennessee.
As the federation has broken itself up, having its’ merchandise in Milford, Connecticut. The server of the federation is in the state of Kansas, and the reporters for Chess Life can be any place they want, as the “Eastern News Distributors, Inc.” in New York City. The day to day operation of the federation, is membership and rating department, and the only way a person can talk with someone with ‘Chess Life’, only the classified department and the tournament life announcement.
Building a new building, and move into the city and rent office space would not be a major issue with not being connected to the players. The problem would be finding a new workforce, for the office personal that would not be moving with the office.