USCF Policy Board Candidate - Michael Atkins
Announcement for Candidacy on USCF Forums
This e-mail announces my intention to run for USCF Policy Board. There really needs to be more candidates than offices so there is a choice and being alive doesn't qualify one for the board. I will eventually have a website up at http://members.cox.net/arlingtonchesscl ... yboard.htm which will contain my thoughts about the Board and where I think it will go, but my history in chess is briefly described below.

Age 51, Single, Masters in Clinical Psychology and have worked in Fairfax County (Virginia) Mental Health System as a Therapist for almost 20 years. Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in State of Maryland.

USCF Life Member, joining at age 16 in 1973.
Became a Local TD in 1974 so my High School could have events and we could get ratings. Became a member of Towson Chess Club in Baltimore in 1974, eventually serving as an officer several times and running the Baltimore Open several times, along with other events for Atlantic Chess Association. Became a Senior TD in 1979 and continued to play but was was inactive as a TD while in Grad School and early in work career.

Became active again as an organizer and director when joining Arlington Chess Club in 1990. Started running World Blitz Chess tournaments in 1991 and that turned into a ten year monthly series, 1995-2004. Worked at the 1996 US Open in Alexandria and became serious about directing again. Became ANTD in 1999 and NTD in 2000. I've worked at many US events since 1997. I was chosen USCF Tournament Director of the Year in 2007 but always felt a little funny about that because there are so many possible choices, how does it get narrowed to one person.

Have been USCF Clearinghouse for tournaments from Baltimore to Richmond since 1999. This involved working with Maryland, DC and Virginia organizers and the clearinghouse was one of the first online.

From 1997 - 2008 have served 4 times as President of the Virginia Chess Federation and the other years were as Vice President for Tournaments. Have written articles for Virginia Chess Newsletter, Chess Life and Chess Life Online. Have helped develop tournaments, helping Tom Braunlich design and get the Millennium Chess Festival off the ground. Have been a FIDE Photo Contributor for many years.

I helped design the original US Chess Center website, created and ran the New York Open websites for 1997-1998 and 2000 and have done the Arlington Chjess Club since since creating it in 1995. I've done many chess websites for CCA in the past and now congratulate Chris Bird on his spectacular CCA sites - well done!

I think it is good for anyone seriously involved in chess to donate time to the USCF at least once in their lives. If elected,
my goal is to help the USCF find its path in the 21st Century. Every organization created before the internet has been changed, is changing or will go out of business in this new world. I don't have an agenda other than what I perceive to be good for the USCF and for tournaments, which is my area of expertise. I don't want to be a part of any particular slate other than what is good for the long term health and survival of the USCF. There have been way too much politics in chess for way too long, especially on the board. I hope to be a part of a goal-oriented, non-political board designed to help the USCF survive.

 
Goals for the USCF Policy Board
1.) To be non-political as I perceive the role of the board as setting goals and policies and then both choosing the right people to get it done and holding them accountable when it doesn't happen. This does not mean micro-management. Too many recent Executive Directors have either been micro-managed to to point of impotence, chased away when the board changes or politically attacked. The board needs to set goals and give the Executive Director the power and authority s/he needs to function as an administrator and leader.

2.) To function as a integrated and cohesive board, not attacking each other, not suing each other, and not doing anything that will bring discredit to the USCF. Why would any large corporation want to give its money and name to an organization with so much in-fighting?? Add the problems of this economy and the question becomes even larger. The USCF is supposed to support the development of chess in the United States, scaring people away doesn't accomplish that goal.

3.)