Hey, Sam.....

[samsloan]

For at least 15 years since 1991, Paul Rubin has advocated de-coupling
the magazine from the membership. Paul Rubin also wants to reduce USCF
dues to no more than $5.

Yes. In your candidate's statement you said the USCF should have 1
million scholastic members by 2009. That is a good goal. You could
probably accomplish it with $5 dues. I don't see any other way to do
it.

Yes. And that was not just a boast. I intend to try to keep that
promise WITHOUT lowering dues.
Want more girls to play chess? Very easy. Get the picture of one of our
girl grandmasters published on the cover of People Magazine. That will
bring in thousands of new female chess players.
For years I have been demanding that Chess Life magazine publish a
picture of Irina Krush on the cover back when she was several times in
the mainstream news. Chess Life never did it.
Turning to the boys, whenever a new video game comes out millions are
sold within the first few days. If they will buy millions of just one
video game, why is it unreasonable to expect just one million of them
to play chess? Millions of boys play shogi, a more complicated and
difficult game, in Japan. Why not millions of chess players in America?
Sam Sloan

For U.S. chess to grow, it's critical that we begin thinking outside our
past marketing and PR failures. Several years ago I suggested that we hire a
full time PR professional, perhaps as the president or executive director.
That person's job would be to publicize chess in any way possible. There are
so many angles for accomplishing this. There's the sex (gender) issue of
girls playing, there's the minority issue (blacks, particularly). I'm sure
there are actors or sports figures who play, who might be recruited to
provide positive PR. "Chess is sexy" might be one approach. Politicians,
being whores, are always willing to dedicate days to various narrow
interests. Newspapers like the Times and WSJ publish all kinds of far-out
human interest stuff.
adp

I agree with your main points. However, I would be opposed to hiring a
full time PR Professional, as that costs money. PR should be among the
duties of our Executive Director.

Remember some years ago there was an Australian newspaper who sent out
pictures every day of a beautiful Australian girl and a brief biography
of her. These were published around the world. The New York Post
carried them.

I recommend that the USCF Prepare a publicity packet for each of our
young grandmasters. Whenever one of them wins a big tournament, send it
out to everybody. I guarantee you that the newspapers will publish it.
We have already under exploited Nakamura, Linderman and a bunch of
others including the Mongolian Girl with unpronouncable name. I met her
in a supermarket recently. She had no idea who I was. I promised her
that I was going to put her picture on the cover of Time Magazine.
Unfortinately, I cannot do that, because I do not have her picture.
Nobody has ever bothered to take a good one.

Sam Sloan

[Ange1o DePa1ma]

Post by samsloan

For at least 15 years since 1991, Paul Rubin has advocated de-coupling
the magazine from the membership. Paul Rubin also wants to reduce USCF
dues to no more than $5.

Yes. In your candidate's statement you said the USCF should have 1
million scholastic members by 2009. That is a good goal. You could
probably accomplish it with $5 dues. I don't see any other way to do
it.

Yes. And that was not just a boast. I intend to try to keep that
promise WITHOUT lowering dues.
Want more girls to play chess? Very easy. Get the picture of one of our
girl grandmasters published on the cover of People Magazine. That will
bring in thousands of new female chess players.
For years I have been demanding that Chess Life magazine publish a
picture of Irina Krush on the cover back when she was several times in
the mainstream news. Chess Life never did it.
Turning to the boys, whenever a new video game comes out millions are
sold within the first few days. If they will buy millions of just one
video game, why is it unreasonable to expect just one million of them
to play chess? Millions of boys play shogi, a more complicated and
difficult game, in Japan. Why not millions of chess players in America?
Sam Sloan

For U.S. chess to grow, it's critical that we begin thinking outside our
past marketing and PR failures. Several years ago I suggested that we hire a
full time PR professional, perhaps as the president or executive director.
That person's job would be to publicize chess in any way possible. There are
so many angles for accomplishing this. There's the sex (gender) issue of
girls playing, there's the minority issue (blacks, particularly). I'm sure
there are actors or sports figures who play, who might be recruited to
provide positive PR. "Chess is sexy" might be one approach. Politicians,
being whores, are always willing to dedicate days to various narrow
interests. Newspapers like the Times and WSJ publish all kinds of far-out
human interest stuff.
adp

I agree with your main points. However, I would be opposed to hiring a
full time PR Professional, as that costs money. PR should be among the
duties of our Executive Director.

If we can't afford to hire one, we can afford *not* hiring one even less.
The only justification for hiring one is if they pay their way, or more.
That should go without saying, if we hire a real pro and not somebody's
uncle. A good PR person is worth many times their salary.

Post by samsloan
Remember some years ago there was an Australian newspaper who sent out
pictures every day of a beautiful Australian girl and a brief biography
of her. These were published around the world. The New York Post
carried them.
I recommend that the USCF Prepare a publicity packet for each of our
young grandmasters. Whenever one of them wins a big tournament, send it
out to everybody. I guarantee you that the newspapers will publish it.
We have already under exploited Nakamura, Linderman and a bunch of
others including the Mongolian Girl with unpronouncable name. I met her
in a supermarket recently. She had no idea who I was. I promised her
that I was going to put her picture on the cover of Time Magazine.
Unfortinately, I cannot do that, because I do not have her picture.
Nobody has ever bothered to take a good one.

Sam, you're not a PR guy, and neither am I. Past EDs have had every
conceivable skill set except for publicity. You need to hire a PROFESSIONAL.
Don't pooh-pooh those skils.

I repeat: a professional, not somebody who will do the job on the cheap or
who will satisfy somebody's hankering for pickled herring. Such a person can
make an incredible difference.

Post by samsloan
Sam Sloan