Hi, Jim.
Who were the folks who actually made it? And where can we find the
games played? In retrospect, I'm real glad my wife and I stayed home.
It's never too early to start planning for next year so that we can
all budget for the tournament, show up and bury the hatchet between
the USCF and the USBCA differences on tangential opinions. What really
matters is what transpires on the board. The rest of it boils down to
hoops we just have to jump through.
So, whether it's Alex and Nita from Manchester, NH or anyone else
organizing the gig, we've got several months to go until then,
tournaments online to play and, Godwilling the COVID nonsense get
solved, tournaments in person.
I really don't give a rip about intersectionality and all the rights
junk. Working out the details for online and in-person events for the
US Championships for Blind players oughta boil down to common sense
and putting egos aside to have a competitive chess tournament. That's
what really matters anyway is playing the game we all love.
David
On 12/1/20, Jim Slagle <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Chess Players,
Only three players showed up for this dangerous tournament.
Best wishes, Jim Slagle
On Sunday, September 20, 2020, 06:49:36 PM EDT, Janelle Losoff
<jlosoff@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thank you, James Slagle.
You're right! When ordinary, well-intended people try to plan events for a
disability community, those organizers and officials will probably get
something wrong. The old disability activist slogan, "Nothing about us
without us," rings true. Events for people with any disability, should be
planned by the community that that event is for. Yes, USBCA can ask sighted
people from other organizations for help, but probably should never let
outsiders run the whole show alone. Unintentional, systemic ableism happens.
That's life.
People outside a disabilty community may mean well but we/they can't
possibly know the wants and needs of a disability community without
consulting it and walking in its shoes for a while That is why I asked to
join you here on the USBCA list.
Although my impairments are different than yours, my human rights and
disability activism is universal and intersectional. I also have a selfish
motive for helping you. I am discharging a debt. Blind and visually impaired
people that I have known and loved, like Al Sandrin, taught me to preceived
the world differently than I normally would as a writer. What a priceless
gift! Okay, enough about me.
Maybe nothing can be done to change the 2020 US Blind now, but what about
future events? If Covid-19 is still raging a year from now and you want to
run an important event online tournaments, how would you organized and run
the event? What help might you want from sighted partners and other people
and organizations, like US Chess, who want to see your games?
Ready, set, go!Janelle
On Sun, Sep 20, 2020, 1:18 PM Jim Slagle <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Janelle and others,
Today, Paul Benson noted that the dispute might be based on a misconception
by the Manchester people.
Running an online tournament for blind players is relatively simple. On
Skype for example, the players tell each other their moves. The timekeeper
writes down the moves. We have been running such tournaments for 16 years
with no problem.
Maybe some sighted people think that an online tournament would need to be
run like a sighted online tournament. That is, there would have to be a
displayed chess board, and the men would have to be moved by a mouse.Of
course, this would be complex and would be unsuitable for totally blind
players.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely, James Slagle
On Sunday, September 20, 2020, 09:16:00 AM EDT, jhomme1028@xxxxxxxxx
<jhomme1028@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Janelle,
Since CoVID has forced me to do my day job using three or four online
platforms, I offer my input into this process.
Jim H
==========
Jim Homme
Skype: jim.homme
FreeChess: jhomme
Twitter: jimhomme
Facebook: jimhomme
Website: jimhomme.com
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Janelle Losoff
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2020 5:15 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Thank you, Janelle Losoff! Re: Official notice of
2020 U.S. Championship for blind players
Thank you James, Alex, Jim, and all
As I have stated before, I am here to listen, learn and support USBCA in its
efforts to make chess more accessible and inclusive for blind and visually
impaired players. It's not my place to get in the middle of any
disagreements between USBCA members, the USBCA Board, US Chess employees or
join event organizers. I have no power nor control over what happens with
this year's US Blind Championship. I'm more concerned about peaceful
communication and cooperation between USBCA, US Chess and my own
accessibility committee.
As much as some of you would like to see this year's US Blind Championship
played on line, that is probably unlikely. Many OTB tournaments have
successfully moved online. Others have not. It takes a great deal of time,
planning and cooperation between organizers, online services, techs,
programmers and TDs to pull off an online event. I know this because my
husband and I are moving our Las Vegas Internation Youth Championship
online. It's a very steep learning curve and even highly experienced online
organizers are often at the mercy of online glitches.
Perhaps next year the US Blind will be successful played online. I am
optimistic because by next year the US Chess ASCC should have completed
writing accessibility guidelines for ordinary online players as well as for
players with visual impairments. Also, by then, more organizers and TDs
should be trained to facilitate online play, including me. We will see.
In the meantime, I encourage USBCA officers to speak directly with Boyd Reed
and Alex Relyea if you hear conflicting reports or rumors.
Thank you for allowing me to speak in your group and to contribute to this
discussion. I wish you all the best.
Respectfully,
Janelle
On Sat, Sep 19, 2020, 6:24 AM Jim Slagle <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Janelle Losoff and others,
Thank you for your efforts on this issue.
I am one of the founders of the USBCA in 1967.
I was its first President and a many-time competitor for the U.S. Blind
Championship.
I agree with Alex, Jim Thoune, and many others that the 2020 Championship
should be online and not over-the-board in Manchester, New Hampshire.
I would definitely enter an online Championship.
I would definitely not enter the Manchester Championship.
Going to Manchester is money-consuming, time-consuming and dangerous.
Sincerely,
James Slagle
On Saturday, September 19, 2020, 06:07:07 AM EDT, barrassoal@xxxxxxxxx
<barrassoal@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thank you Janelle for your willingness to assist. I am not on the USBCA
board, so it would not be appropriate for me to comment on communications
between our organizations and event organizers. I will speak for myself as
an USBCA member for over 30 years, a USCF life member, and as a competitor
in both several of the OTB championships as well as other USCF tournaments,
both at the scholastic level and as an adult. An on-line championship is
what we desperately need now. As you know better than all of us, many USCF
tournaments are now taking place in this format. The OTB championships have
been very sparsely attended since the late 90s. Some years, we have had as
few as three or four players, and that was the state of affairs prior to
COVID. Add to that the difficulties of travel in these times, and you could
very easily end up with one or two competitors. That would be an
unsatisfactory result for all involved—organizers, players, hotel—anyone
involved in the effort. The only way to avoid that is by moving to an
on-line format.
You might ask why so few players have participated in OTB events in the
past? There are a number of reasons, and those are specific to each
player. Some I have heard previously are the difficulty of travel (some
competitors have multiple disabilities beyond their blindness), cost, and an
increasing ability to compete in the familiar confines of one’s home. Add
to that the COVID situation, which I believe complicates travel more for
those of us without sight, and you have a perfect storm that could easily
result in one or two competitors, or perhaps even none at all.
I leave it to the USBCA board to fill you in on the communications they have
had with the USCF and organizers. I have not been party to those, and it
would be inappropriate for me to comment on them. But an on-line event to
me is clearly the best way forward. We can even help recruit volunteer
time-keepers if that is the problem. Some international championships for
physically disabled players are now on-line and setting the right precedent
for us. I just hope everyone can come together and follow it. Thank you.
Alex
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of JT
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2020 11:03 AM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Official notice of 2020 U.S. Championship for
blind players
Hi Janelle,
Thank you Thank you Thank you! For offering your assistance. It may take
some time to get copies of the discussion specifically between Alex and
Ginny Alverson, the current USBCA President. I will forward you copies of
the emails exchanged between Boyd Reed and myself as soon as I can lay hands
on them. I only hope I didn’t delete them in a fit of depression. I assure
you, he did say emphatically that there would be and could be no online
championship event this year. I will be back in touch.
Gratefully,
Jim T
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Janelle Losoff
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 7:47 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Official notice of 2020 U.S. Championship for
blind players
Hi Jim and all,
I've been following this thread for a while now and am concerned. As the
former US Chess ASCC Chairman and your guest, it's not my place to interfere
in the US Chess/USBCA relations. As a ASCC member my mission is merely to
help US Chess organizers and TDs better serve players with disabilties.
ASCC also supports the right of players to ask for, and received reasonable
accommodations for fair play during US Chess events.
Since the US Blind is a cooperative effort between USBCA and US Chess, I
have taken an interest in it. With your permission, I wish to act as a
bridge for better communication and cooperation between the two
organizations.
Jim, in your email, you said Boyd Reed at US Chess has "dug in his heals"
about having the US Blind played OTB. That doesn't seems like something Boyd
would do. Where did this idea come from? Did you see an email, text or
post about it? If so where was it written and who wrote it? Rumors can be
damaging to both organizations. Let's stop them.
My husband, Alan Losoff, and I have run many National events in partnership
with US Chess since 1992. In all that time, US Chess has trusted and
respected us as organizers to run our events within it's guidelines and the
safety guidelines of the State where we've held our events. I have never
known US Chess to interfer with the rights of organizers or other
organizations once a National contract is signed.
Do you know of any time US Chess has forced an organizer to cancel an event,
move an event online, or insist on OTB play against an organizer's wishes?
I haven't seen any evidence of that, but if you have, please let me know.
It's important.
Yes, I hear your concerned about playing an OTB event now, especially for
your USBCA members. It's a tough time for organizers too. Some organizers
are stuck in contracts that can't be broken via force majeure. My own US
Chess National Open Championship was cancelled by the Nevada State Gaming
Commission that controls all casino operations and casino hotels in the
state. I don't know what Alex's situation is. Do you? What's the Covid-19
situation in New Hampshire? Last I looked checked, it was much improved.
https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/new-hampshire?view=total-deaths&tab=trend
And the New Hampshire safety guidance seems reasonable.
https://www.covidguidance.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt381/files/files/inline-documents/guidance-universal.pdf
Yes, travel to and from the US Blind may be a challenge, but somevplayers
will get there. If the US Blind is held over the board, what can we do to
help Alex Relyea, USBCA and US Chess make it safe and successful?
Although I can only speak for myself here, please help me support you and
USBCA.
Respectfully yours,
Janelle Losoff, member
US Chess Accessibility and Special Circumstances Committee &
USBCA guest
On Fri, Sep 18, 2020, 9:09 AM JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi David,
I don't want to belabor the point... But maybe I do need to say this: My not
attending an OTB tournament this year has little to do with how well or
poorly I am recovering from COVID. In fact, I am pretty well recovered from
my bout with the beast. In fact, my antipathy has everything to do with the
fact that I personally feel it is foolish for people to travel unnecessarily
at this time, Especially when there is a perfectly viable alternative. For
whatever reason, Boyd and Alex have dug in their heels against an online
event. I feel it amounts to reckless endangerment. To any who choose to go,
I wish a pleasant and safe experience.
Jim T
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Rosenkoetter
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 9:16 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Official notice of 2020 U.S. Championship for
blind players
Hi, Jim.
That's totally understandable. If you need to stay back this year, I hope
your recovery is going well. And, I'd agree. If we were to have the event
online, we'd probably get a bunch more folks. I've been playing in my fair
share of USCF tournaments online, so I know for sure how well they work.
AndMaybe, next year, everyone can reconvene in Pittsburgh again or somewhere
else. I've said it before. I'll go anywhere, any time, any way possible to
participate in our o.t.b. championship.
David
On 9/16/20, JT <hazelnutt2001@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I wish I could echo David's enthusiasm. I will go so far as to say
that I do hope that whoever chooses to attend the tournament gets
there and back home without contracting or spreading the Coronavirus.
I, for one, just don't see the point in taking the chance. If anyone
from the USCF reads this, I'd sure love to hear how pushing this OTB
event is going to benefit the USBCA. Three people have told me that
they "might" attend. And I cannot in good conscience make any sort of
impassioned plea to players to make the journey.
If we were doing it online, I'd be right there, front and center,
trying to get people to participate. And I bet we'd have closer to 30,
rather than three. But... IT's their money, and their call. Be safe,
everybody. If you plan to travel, be careful!
Jim T
PS: In case anyone wonders, I'm not speaking as a USBCA board member,
I'm speaking as one individual who got nailed by the virus despite
taking every precaution. I am speaking as one individual who loves
chess, who cares greatly about promoting the game to everyone, in
general, and to blind and VI players in particular. I am speaking as
one individual who would do most anything to get people involved with
chess, almost anything. But I won't ask people to put themselves in
the way of something that could do them harm, especially when there is
such a simple and more popular alternative.--JT
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David
Rosenkoetter
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2020 7:38 AM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: Official notice of 2020 U.S. Championship
for blind players
Folks, I'm so glad to see this announcement. It's certainly short notice.
But I hope we can get a few of us to play.
And, in answer to Vinnie's question, I doubt the tournament would be
in Alaska. Normally, it's been in Steelers territory. But, being in
Celtics'
and Red Sox land will be great this year. So,, set up the boards,
start the clocks, and let's get ready to rumble.
David
Live Free or Die is the NH State motto.
On 9/15/20, /vincent Beatty <vbeatty1@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Perhaps next year it can be in Alaska!
On Sep 15, 2020, at 12:56 PM, Ginny Alverson <sportsgirl17@xxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hello, all: I think I neglected to paste the details for the U.S.
championship for blind players in the last message I sent. I don’t
know how I neglected to do this. Here is the official announcement
from the tournament organizer and the USCF.
Ginny Alverson: President, USBCA
TLA:
2020 U.S. Blind Chess Championship
4 SS,
G/135 d0. Courtyard Manchester/Boston Regional Airport,
700 Huse Road, Manchester, NH 03103, (603) 641-4900. Free shuttle
to/from airport.
EF: $1. Reg.: Onsite - Sat. 24 October: 9-9:45am or online at
www.relyeachess.com. Rds.: Sat. 10-4, Sun. 10-4.
Prize Fund: $1,400 GTD: 1st: $400, 2nd: $300, 3rd: $200, 4th: $100,
$100-Best player U1400, $100- Class E (1000-1199), $100- Under 1000,
$100- Upset Prize. NOTE: All players must be classified as Legally
Blind and bring proof. You must also be a current member of US Chess
for $18 a year. You can join US Chess at the event! Contact: Nita
Patel, td@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Phone: 603-716-3040 or Joan DuBois, tla@xxxxxxxxxxx, (c) 931-200-3412.
BCCA Gambit and Counter Gambit Tournament coordinator.
