Mr. Homme - thank you for your email.
Again, I state that US Chess has no position on whether or how this event is
held. We have not attempted to pressure or influence any organizer who has
successfully bid on a national event in 2020. The only reason I am in this
discussion is because Joan DuBois brought it to my attention months ago that
there was misinformation disseminated that US Chess had authorized the 2020 US
Blind to be moved online. Despite what Mr. Thoune states in this thread, I am
not at "loggerheads" with anyone in this process, because I am not making any
decisions here. US Chess's decision making role ended when the 2020 event was
awarded to Relyea Chess.
If there are USBCA members who oppose Mr. Relyea's plans for this event (and it
seems clear that there is opposition, based on conversations with Ms. Alverson
and Mr. Thoune), then I am not at all opposed to USBCA having a conversation
with Mr. Relyea. However, he makes the decisions for this event - which, as my
last email plainly states, is the same consideration US Chess has given to
every other national event organizer this year.
If USBCA does decide to organize a call with Mr. Relyea, I'd suggest including
Joan DuBois as an invitee. Ms. DuBois is the staff member with the longest
connection to the event. Her knowledge might prove useful. I will let her
know that she may receive an invite.
Thank you for your time.
--
-bmr-
Boyd M Reed | Director of Events
boyd.reed@xxxxxxxxxxx | 931.787.2244
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim <jhomme1028@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2020 6:10 AM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Boyd Reed <boyd.reed@xxxxxxxxxxx>; Alex Relyea <relyea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [usbca_chess] Re: 2020 U.S. championship for blind players
Hi All,
Please allow me to suggest that the USBCA board, Alex, Boyd, and any other
necessary parties use the USBCA Zoom account to discuss this, keeping in mind
that it is the greatest game in the world that binds us together and I am sure
that we can come to an understanding and mend this rift before it gets any
wider and return from the meeting as even stronger friends.
Jim H
On 10/15/20, JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Boyd, Alex, and Everyone,
Boyd, You and I have been at loggerheads ever since I mistakenly
posted an invitation to blind US players for an online national
championship tournament to be sanctioned by the USCF. I have
apologized for that error and owned that I failed to check out the
validity of the report which led me to post said invitation. However,
I must take exception to your calling me a liar. You told the USBCA
unequivocally that if we wanted a national championship tournament, it
would have to be an OTB event, that it belonged to Alex Relya, and
that you would in no way consider an online event for 2020. If there
is a contentual difference between what I wrote in my last post and
what you told us, I fail to see it. I made a mistake when I posted the
initial invitation; I didn't verify details. I owned that and
apologized for it. To say now that it is your policy not to interfere,
to say, as you do in item 6 below, that you did not express an opinion
"one way or the other..." wel, I'm sorry, it just isn't true. You
didn't tell us that you wouldn't work with Alex, you didn't tell us
that you couldn't work with Alex, you didn't tell us that we could try to
negotiate with Alex. In fact, what you told us was that there could not be an
online event for 2020.
Period. Perhaps we could consider it for 2021, but it absolutely could
not be done this year. That's what you told us. If that somehow
conveys to no opinion, one way or the other, well, again, I fail to see it.
Look, I'm just as tired of this discourse as you are and as, I have no
doubt, everyone else is, too. If we need to have a zoom meeting with
whomever to calm the waters, whatever we need to do, let's do it. I
have no desire to fight with the USCF, nor does the USBCA--if I may
speak for the organization. I believe we've said more than once that
we want to work with US Chess. And that is especially true in this especially
difficult time.
Thank you,
Jim Thoune
(971) 242-9991 Cell.
-----Original Message-----
From: Boyd Reed [mailto:boyd.reed@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 2:48 PM
To: JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx>; usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: 'Alex Relyea' <relyea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: 2020 U.S. championship for blind players
I apologize to all recipients in advance for the tone of what I'm
about to say. I do not apologize in the least for the content.
The only portion of Mr. Thoune's missive to which I will deign to
reply is quoted below.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it defies my
understanding why Mr. Reed and Mr. Relya have refused to give up their
efforts to put on this year's OTB tournament."
For those of you joining this discussion in medias res, any attempt to
portray that either I or US Chess has expressed any preference on
whether/how this event is held is an absolute lie. I do not know why
he continues to repeat this lie about me personally, but I'm well past
tired of it. And as long as he continues to spread this lie, I will
continue to plainly call it out as such.
There have been numerous emails between myself, Mr. Thoune, Ms.
Alverson, and Mr. Relyea on this subject, as well as a lengthy phone call
with Ms.
Alverson a few months ago. I have conveyed the US Chess position with
complete consistency to all parties. That position is outlined below.
(1) US Chess awarded the bid for the 2020 US Blind to Relyea Chess, of
which Mr. Relyea is the proprietor.
(2) This bid was awarded pre-pandemic.
(3) Every organizer has different needs and pressures. Some may have
hotel/meeting contracts that, based on the state/local authorities in
their event location, may not let them cancel without significant
penalty. Given the wide variety of differences around the country as
to how this pandemic is being handled, US Chess has not dictated to
any organizer how they should handle their affairs.
(4) Some bid events have been canceled this year. Many have been
changed to an online format, with the blessing of the Executive Board.
A few have been, or will be, held in person. (The US Armed Forces
Championship was held in person this past weekend. The US Class
Championship will be held in person later this month.)
(5) US Chess has, in every single case, left it entirely to the
organizer's discretion whether to hold the event - and, if they choose
to hold it, whether to do it over-the-board or online.
(6) Mr. Relyea is solely responsible for what direction the event takes.
Neither I, nor anyone else at US Chess, have taken any role in that
decision. I do know that he has consistently stated he wants to have
the event in person. I have not expressed an opinion on that, either
in favor or against - because that’s entirely his decision. I will
not express such an opinion here. What I will tell anyone reading
this is what I've told both Mr. Thoune and Ms. Alverson - if you want
changes in the format of this event, you need to talk with Mr. Relyea,
because he has earned the right to be the organizer of record.
If anyone has questions, feel free to email me. Thank you for your time.
--
-bmr-
Boyd M Reed | Director of Events
boyd.reed@xxxxxxxxxxx | 931.787.2244
-----Original Message-----
From: JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 2:28 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Boyd Reed <boyd.reed@xxxxxxxxxxx>; 'Alex Relyea'
<relyea@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: 2020 U.S. championship for blind players
Hi David, and Everybody,
I'm sorry to hear that Indiana has suspended its requirements for the
use of masks. I've heard other states have done so, as well. It seems
that many are choosing to follow the ludicrous behavior being modelled
by our so-called leaders in Washington. And as a totally predictable
and expected result, more than 20 states are reporting significant
increases in COVID cases. Just yesterday I took a two-hour trip from
Bowling Green down to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to make my second
donation of Convalescent plasma. I mention that because it is about
the only reason that motivates me to travel outside Bowling Green.
Frankly, if I had my way, charges of criminal negligence and reckless
endangerment would be brought against all those, from the top down,
who choose to show their indifference toward their fellow human beings
by disregarding any of the guidelines which might help to eventually
eliminate this blasted virus. Meanwhile, no, I'm afraid I won't be in
attendance in New Hampshire. I've said it before, and I'll say it
again, it defies my understanding why Mr. Reed and Mr. Relya have
refused to give up their efforts to put on this year's OTB tournament. For
any who do choose to attend, please, take it from one who knows, COVID is
nothing to mess with.
Even if you don't wind up in the hhospital, it can make you unhappy
for weeks, even months. Be aware that, even if you hold fastidiously
to the recommended safeguards, it can still get you, Especially now,
with the numbers of people who are ignoring the guidelines. And we
still don't know why many people can carry the virus, even to the
point of developing the antibodies, without showing symptoms. And they
can blithely pass those symptoms along to others and not have a clue
what they've done nor even when they did it. It got me, and I still
don't know, will probably never know, where I picked up the virus.
Theresa never did show symptoms, but she has the antibodies. We assume
she developed them in her body's fight against what she was getting
from me, but that's only conjecture. And we were as careful as we could be,
right from the start of this whole mess.
Ok, enough. Sorry, folks, but I feel rather strongly about COVID and
what people are doing and not doing. If you do choose to attend the
tournament in New Hampshire, be careful, be as safe, and also as
considerate toward others, as you can be. I hope you have some good
chess! And I hope that neither you, nor those around you, experience
any fallout thereafter from your adventure.
Jim T
-----Original Message-----
From: David Rosenkoetter [mailto:davidrosenkoetter260@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2020 8:35 PM
To: J Thoune <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: 2020 U.S. championship for blind players, Attention, Ginny
Hi, Jim.
I just saw your question on list about the OTB tournament. Just curious.
Have you recovered enough to consider going ? I'd still be interested
in playing if there are enough players to hold four full rounds of
chess. With a week and a half to go, the cost of the room seems to be
a financial reality check and may be the deciding factor in whether to
withdraw my participation if there's not going to be a good turn-out.
Here's to you being in good health. Amy and I have been laying pretty
low as far as taking all the COVID precautions even though Indiana is
no longer requiring folks to wear masks in public. Allen County, where
Fort Wayne is, just had its highest case diagnosis count in one day
this past week. With that said, I am so itching to play OTB chess with
blind folks, sighted folks, or mixed company, it's not even funny. So,
now onto scheduling my games for the various Skype stuff we're all doing.
David
On 10/12/20, JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ginny, Has Alex said anything about how many people have signed up
for the tournament?
Jim T
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ginny Alverson
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2020 2:40 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Hotel rate for the 2020 U.S. championship for
blind players
Hello all: Alex Relyea is still planning to hold the 2020 U.S.
championship
for blind players over the weekend of October 24 and 25 in
Manchester, N.H..
The hotel rate is $119 per night.
Ginny Alverson: President, USBCA
