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Date: 17 May 2008 22:58:57
From: samsloan
Subject: Madness! Madness!
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"Madness! Madness! ", spoken by Major Clipton, saying the final words
in the movie "Bridge on the River Kwai":
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050212/quotes
Only a few months ago, the newly elected members of the USCF Executive
Board were congratulating themselves on what a highly qualified and
experienced team they were, who would be able to lead the USCF to
great glories.
Now, even as I type this, they are sitting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a
meeting in which they are contemplating the final destruction of the
federation by stopping the publication of Chess Life magazine.
It looks like they are planning to do this without bothering to
consult the members or the delegates, similar to the way in which the
2004-2005 move from New Windsor New York to Crossville Tennessee was
done, without requesting or obtaining the permission of the delegates,
so that when the delegates finally meet in Dallas and August it will
have become a fait accompli, too late for anything to be done about
it.
Are they completely mad?
Sam Sloan
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Date: 10 Jun 2008 21:27:12
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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[quote="chessoffice"]Contributor fees do not include the online
editor. However, the amount paid to both people you refer to is much
less than you claim. The total budget for Chess Life Online
contributors fees is only about $22,000 and no contributor is paid
more than a small fraction of this.
It is pointless to ask questions about the elimination of Chess Life
for Kids, because no one is proposing that it be eliminated, and
charging $23 ($20 through affiliates) for membership with this
magazine is not going to cause its elimination.
Bill Goichberg[/quote]
However, Bill Goichberg also wrote:
"I don't know how much any specific writer is paid, but the total of
all contributors fees per year is about $105,000, and I would be
surprised if any contributor is paid more than about $6000.
"Bill Goichberg"
These numbers seem reasonable, until one realizes that Jennifer is not
a "contributor". She is a "content provider" and "online editor" which
is different, and her salary plus benefits is in the mid-five figures.
So, if you add Jennifer's salary to the $22,000 that Bill Goichberg
says is paid to "Online contributors" you get a total of $70,000,
which is exactly what I said it was.
So this gets back to my original question: It is a good idea to cut
back on our crown jewels, Chess Life and Chess Life for Kids printed
magazines, just so that we can continue to pay this $70,000 to our web
contributors and content providers?
Sam Sloan
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Date: 09 Jun 2008 17:08:12
From:
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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samsloan wrote:
> The problem with the Online Blog by Jennifer Shahade and the "Ask GM
> Joel" online column by Joel Benjamin is not that they are poorly
> written or anything like that, but that they are published on the
> Internet and given away free of charge. Anybody anywhere in the world
> can read them. USCF membership is not required. Thus, they bring in no
> revenues and do not contribute to the bottom line.
>
> I believe that readership of these columns is light. I have never
> heard anybody make a comment about them good or bad.
>
> It is interesting that Bill Goichberg, USCF President, states that he
> does not know how much Joel Benjamin is being paid. Benjamin is not
> known to work for free and rather is known for his exorbitant
> financial demands.
>
> But Goichberg does know how much the other person is being paid and it
> is well into mid-five figures, so in other words about half of the
> total contributer fees go to just one person.
>
> My question is: Do you think it is a good idea to cut Chess Life and
> eliminate Chess Life for Kids just so that we can keep these two
> highly paid individuals, who do not write for either publication, on
> the payroll?
>
> Sam Sloan
Once again, you are asking a question based on false premises. Are you
admitting now that you _don't_ know how much Benjamin is being paid?
Are you claiming that you _do_ know what Shahade is getting but you
won't say? There is no line item in the budget for web site
contributor fees. (There was in last year's budget, but the amount was
zero.) Since Shahade a contract employee with a title, she's probably
under either "Payroll" or "Professional fees." So "about half of the
total contributer fees go to just one person" is either dishonest or
stupid. I suppose in your case they are not mutually exclusive.
You know, Sam, if you didn't exist, Bill Goichberg would have to
invent you. Nothing makes Bill's ideas look better than having a
nutter like you as his opponent.
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Date: 09 Jun 2008 12:49:53
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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The problem with the Online Blog by Jennifer Shahade and the "Ask GM
Joel" online column by Joel Benjamin is not that they are poorly
written or anything like that, but that they are published on the
Internet and given away free of charge. Anybody anywhere in the world
can read them. USCF membership is not required. Thus, they bring in no
revenues and do not contribute to the bottom line.
I believe that readership of these columns is light. I have never
heard anybody make a comment about them good or bad.
It is interesting that Bill Goichberg, USCF President, states that he
does not know how much Joel Benjamin is being paid. Benjamin is not
known to work for free and rather is known for his exorbitant
financial demands.
But Goichberg does know how much the other person is being paid and it
is well into mid-five figures, so in other words about half of the
total contributer fees go to just one person.
My question is: Do you think it is a good idea to cut Chess Life and
eliminate Chess Life for Kids just so that we can keep these two
highly paid individuals, who do not write for either publication, on
the payroll?
Sam Sloan
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Date: 07 Jun 2008 03:03:45
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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People thought I was exaggerating when I wrote that Bill Goichberg and
the rest of the board has gone completely mad.
In reality, I was understating the situation.
The motion which has already been passed 6-0 by the board and is just
awaiting ratification and approval by the delegates is worse than
anybody imagined.
It provides that regular members of the USCF will no longer receive
Chess Life magazine. Thus, when our 30,000 regular members go to renew
their regular membership, they will probably not realize that they
will no longer receive Chess Life. Few of them will be alert enough to
realize that only if they pay for the "Premium Membership" at a cost
of an extra $13 will they receive Chess Life magazine.
Obviously, there will be so few subscribers that Chess Life will stop
publication soon.
Worse than that, Chess Life 4 Kids will stop publication immediately.
This is completely mad, and remember that this has already been passed
by the board 6-0.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 21 May 2008 18:40:47
From:
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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samsloan wrote:
> On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 4:51 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> As has often been the case, Sam attacks without really
> understanding, saying such things as if 10000 members switch to non-
> magazine memberships, USCF will lose $120,000 (which overlooks that
> USCF would also save almost $150,000 in printing and mailing), and
> that the bulletin postage will be at least 42 cents (which overlooks
> that first class is not the only class of mail).
>
> Typically, when such obvious mistakes in his arguments are pointed
> out, Sam does not admit error or revise his conclusion, but merely
> switches to a different line of attack. He appears to begin his
> analysis with an opinion, and then seeks evidence to support it. This
> leads to discussion in which others argue that the upside of an idea
> outweighs the downside or vice versa, while Sloan maintains that the
> idea is 100% downside or 100% upside and that anyone who believes
> otherwise is stupid, crooked or insane.
>
> Bill Goichberg
>
>
>
> Instead of ridiculing me, why do not you answer the question?
>
> How do you propose to both print and mail a bulletin to the USCF
> membership for only 34 cents?
>
> I believe that even the bulk rate postcards you send announcing your
> tournaments cost more than 34 cents.
>
> Also, do you suppose that the members will be happy and satisfied to
> receive a two page bulk mailing instead of the Chess Life they are
> used to receiving?
>
> Remember that you are doing all this just to save the job of Joel
> Benjamin as an online columnist.
>
> Sam Sloan
A bulletin would fall under Periodical rate (formerly 2nd Class),
which is cheaper than Bulk. The postal regs on this are very
complicated, so figuring out the real cost would be difficult
(certainly beyond Sam's limited math skills).
Does the Sloon really expect us to believe that Benjamin is being paid
enough to make a significant difference to the bottom line? Even Lucas
doesn't get that much. There are legitimate questions about Bill's
proposal, but having Sloan as its main opponent might lead people to
vote for it. (He's not _always_ wrong, but that's the way you want to
bet.)
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Date: 21 May 2008 17:50:50
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 4:51 PM, <[email protected] > wrote:
As has often been the case, Sam attacks without really
understanding, saying such things as if 10000 members switch to non-
magazine memberships, USCF will lose $120,000 (which overlooks that
USCF would also save almost $150,000 in printing and mailing), and
that the bulletin postage will be at least 42 cents (which overlooks
that first class is not the only class of mail).
Typically, when such obvious mistakes in his arguments are pointed
out, Sam does not admit error or revise his conclusion, but merely
switches to a different line of attack. He appears to begin his
analysis with an opinion, and then seeks evidence to support it. This
leads to discussion in which others argue that the upside of an idea
outweighs the downside or vice versa, while Sloan maintains that the
idea is 100% downside or 100% upside and that anyone who believes
otherwise is stupid, crooked or insane.
Bill Goichberg
Instead of ridiculing me, why do not you answer the question?
How do you propose to both print and mail a bulletin to the USCF
membership for only 34 cents?
I believe that even the bulk rate postcards you send announcing your
tournaments cost more than 34 cents.
Also, do you suppose that the members will be happy and satisfied to
receive a two page bulk mailing instead of the Chess Life they are
used to receiving?
Remember that you are doing all this just to save the job of Joel
Benjamin as an online columnist.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 21 May 2008 08:17:40
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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Giochberg has gone completely insane. A committee should be formed to
have him committed to the lunatic asylum.
Goichberg has just announced regarding his "New Plan", "The board is
placing it on the delegates agenda".
The "New Plan" is totally nuts.
Goichberg writes in an email today, "I had estimated 50 cents cost per
issue of the bulletin, but the office now reports a cost of just 34
cents. Instead of the quarterly bulletin we now suggest bimonthly for
Regular and Youth and every four months for Scholastic."
Perhaps Mr. Goichberg is not aware that the postal rates just went up
to 42 cents. I would like to hear his explanation of how he will both
print and mail his bulletin which will consist primarily of TLAs for
his own tournaments for only 34 cents.
His "New Plan" provides that the USCF will stop selling life
memberships but will sell ten-year memberships instead.
It is the life memberships that keep the USCF for going out of
business. Every year the USCF sells 80-90 life memberships for $1000
each. Although small in comparison with the total budget, it is that
$80,000 to $90,000 extra money that keeps the USCF from going out of
business.
Also, this $1000 when invested wisely at say 5% brings in more money
than the current dues of $41 per year, so the Goichberg "New Plan" to
stop selling life memberships proves that Goichberg has gone insane
and needs to be committed to a mental institution for his own benefit
and protection.
The "New Plan" does not state what the fate of the existing life
members will be, but it seems clear that they will not get Chess Life
any more but will just get the bulletin.
It is likely that the Life Members will file suit saying that when
they bought a life membership they were promised a subscription to
Chess Life for the rest of their lives. The cost of defending this
suit might prove to be more than the savings realized by not sending
them Chess Life.
As has always been the case with Goichberg in the past, he will not
listen to anybody. A long and distinguished list of long-term USCF
veterans have written to him telling him that his "New Plan" is a very
bad idea. As has long been typical of Goichberg, he thinks that the
only good ideas are his own. He is ignoring the warnings that his "New
Plan" could completely destroy the USCF. He is proceeding forward with
it.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 19 May 2008 02:07:29
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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Have you read the Goichberg proposal? The "New Plan" advocated by
Goichberg is to make Chess Life magazine optional. He has also stated
that if there are not enough subscribers to Chess Life, the
subscription rate will be raised or the print version will be
eliminated and the magazine will be entirely online.
Goichberg proposes that the dues for those who do not want to receive
the print version of Chess Life will be $12 less than what he calls
the "premium membership" for those who do not receive Chess Life.
Also, life members will not receive Chess Life any more unless they
pay for the premium membership.
Here is what Randy Bauer wrote about Chess Life yesterday:
"IT IS A DINASOUR. GET OVER IT.
"Time to move on. If Ms. Alarie really disagrees. . . well, she should
chat with Moodys and Standard and Poors.
"Randy Bauer"
Randy Bauer ran for office and got elected twice by claiming great
expertise as the budget director of the State of Iowa "where the tall
corn grows". He was swept from office the first time by the voters who
were unhappy with the move to Crossville.for which Bauer was the main
proponent. The voters forgot about that and put him back into office
two years later. Now, Bauer is calling Chess Life magazine "a
dinasour".
Think about the numbers. If only 10,000 USCF members decide to take
the non-premium membership for $12 less, that means that there will be
$120,000 less to pay the editorial fees of Chess Life. That means the
magazine will fold. It is as simple as that. Even the online version
will not be able to survive. Look at what happened to "Inside Chess"
and to many other magazines when they went online.
Sam Sloan
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Date: 18 May 2008 04:50:46
From: samsloan
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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Here are two quotes from postings by Randy Bauer so far during the
meeting that is going on in Tulsa. It certainly sounds like that they
are planning on dropping the magazine right now. Remember that in
order for the USCF to stop losing money it is not necessary to stop
publishing Chess Life (except as an independent subscriber based
publication). It is only necessary to drop about three people from the
payroll and I can easily think of three people on the payroll who
provide nothing of any significant benefit to the members.
Sam Sloan
"Ms. Alarie appears to want a research project. I doubt we will ever
find an organization that would meet her demands for something that
fits the characteristics of the USCF. Instead, she wishes to accept
the "great" analysis of Sam Sloan, who suggests that the fact that the
Wall Street Journal has lowered its price for online subcriptions
somehow means the USCF setting up a two-tiered pricing structure for
its membership based on getting the magazine or getting it online is
dispositive.
"Great research, Ms. Alarie.
"it is tiresome, to say the least, to hear people complain about
designing a dues structure that accepts the fact that fewer and fewer
people subscribe to, and read print magazines. Where have these people
been? I have yet to hear anybody refute the point I made that print
media has the worst credit outlook of any sector of the economy. Why,
Ms. Alarie, do you think that is? Why, Ms. Alarie, do you not view
that as useful information? Please, Ms. Alarie, tell us a forecaster
who suggests that organizations or for profit corporations should be
basing their communications strategy on magazines?
"IT DOESN'T EXIST. IT IS A DINASOUR. GET OVER IT.
"Time to move on. If Ms. Alarie really disagrees. . . well, she should
chat with Moodys and Standard and Poors.
"Randy Bauer"
"We are not eliminating the magazine, and those who do value it will
continue to pay for it. Ms. Alarie - please, what is wrong with that?
"There are those who do not value the magazine, and they will not have
to pay for it. Ms. Alarie - please, what is wrong with that?
"You are seeking "accountability" - isn't aligning costs with those
who value those expenditures accountability. Ms. Alarie - please, what
is wrong with that?
"There was plenty of analysis done by Mr. Goichberg, Mr. Nolan, Mr.
Unruh, and others to arrive at the projections. We will be happy to
share this with any and all in Dallas. What is the problem?
"Meanwhile, I'm still interested in your reading of the LMA loss -
what do you think of that $21,000 loss, which no Executive Board
member had a say in and Chuck Unruh advised against? Is that a GOTCHA
you would direct elsewhere? Should the EB suggest that the LMA
Committee relinquish that responsibility? Don't you think that is a
material issue for the current year finances?
"Randy Bauer"
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Date: 18 May 2008 00:17:24
From: Old Haasie
Subject: Re: Madness! Madness!
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On May 18, 1:58=EF=BF=BDam, samsloan <[email protected] > wrote:
> "Madness! Madness! ", spoken by Major Clipton, saying the final words
> in the movie "Bridge on the River Kwai":
>
> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050212/quotes
>
> Only a few months ago, the newly elected members of the USCF Executive
> Board were congratulating themselves on what a highly qualified and
> experienced team they were, who would be able to lead the USCF to
> great glories.
>
> Now, even as I type this, they are sitting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at a
> meeting in which they are contemplating the final destruction of the
> federation by stopping the publication of Chess Life magazine.
>
> It looks like they are planning to do this without bothering to
> consult the members or the delegates, similar to the way in which the
> 2004-2005 move from New Windsor New York to Crossville Tennessee was
> done, without requesting or obtaining the permission of the delegates,
> so that when the delegates finally meet in Dallas and August it will
> have become a fait accompli, too late for anything to be done about
> it.
>
> Are they completely mad?
>
> Sam Sloan
Does this mean the long anticipated arrival of the Mensa-like Metro
Districts will be delayed a few more weeks?
Old Haasie
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