Hi Janelle,
We owe you a sincere thank you for your efforts. Jim Slagle is our senior
member, but I have been a member since 1971. I offer some history regarding
the relationship between the two organizations.
In the mid 1980s, a chess player named Dick Mcstraw convinced his Lions Club in
Findlay Ohio to fully fund the tournament for about three years. His club
covered the cost of a hotel room for players and meal money. Since Dick was
finding the money, both organizations worked with him, and attendance at those
tournaments was well over 20. The USBCA made Dick our president. The
tournament moved around a bit after Findlay, but with some exceptions, the
event stayed in the Midwest. Around 2000, the USCF unilaterally determined to
hold the blind championship at the US open. In thos four years, we had three
one year, six another, seven in a third.
Eventually, Dick Mcstraw with the help of a lion from West Virginia convinced
the USCF to stop moving the tournament around with the US open. When I became
president, I convinced MS Dubois to let the USBCA provide a mailing in braille
and large print to every player who claimed the special membership rate
applicable to blind members during the past 20 years. Many letters were
returned, but that year Michael Allen and Dan Steininger, two class A players,
came to the event. The next year, the USCF said no to the special mailing
which we had provided. Before I left office, I asked Ms. Dubois to consider
using their records to compile a list of players who claimed that special
membership rate say for the past five years. Then reach out to that group to
communicate about what they would want in a national championship. Is that
group 25, is it 40? That group is chess players who pay dues to the USCF so
they can play in tournaments. The USCF has the ability to develop that list
and engage in some communication.
Sorry for the length of this message. I have one final question. Does anybody
know why Alex and Boyd are so eager to hold an over the board event during this
pandemic? I am puzzled by that question.
Thanks for getting this far.
Al
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Janelle Losoff
Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2020 6:49 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 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
<mailto: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
<mailto:jhomme1028@xxxxxxxxx> <jhomme1028@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto: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 <https://twitter.com/jimhome>
Facebook: jimhomme
Website: jimhomme.com <https://www.jimhomme.com/>
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of Janelle Losoff
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2020 5:15 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
<mailto: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
<mailto:barrassoal@xxxxxxxxx> <barrassoal@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto: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
<mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of JT
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2020 11:03 AM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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>
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Janelle Losoff
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 7:47 PM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
<https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america/new-hampshire?view=total-deaths&tab=trend>
&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
<mailto: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>
[mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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>
[mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:vbeatty1@xxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Perhaps next year it can be in Alaska!
On Sep 15, 2020, at 12:56 PM, Ginny Alverson <sportsgirl17@xxxxxxx
<mailto: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 <http://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 <mailto:td@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> .
Phone: 603-716-3040 or Joan DuBois, tla@xxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:tla@xxxxxxxxxxx> , (c) 931-200-3412.
BCCA Gambit and Counter Gambit Tournament coordinator.
