Its been a rough year for the chess community, with several deaths and other tragedies.  Today I read the annual statements of the Governors of the Marshall Chess Club.  I wouldn't consider them election statements as there is no election.

The two clubs we had used to be the centers of a vibrant community.  We used to be like one big family.  I don't know if we were always happy, but it was like a family, one that people chose to join and chose to stay in.  I don't recall anyone going homeless.

I like some of the current board members, on the other hand, some of the statements teak of dishonesty.   I suppose that we are so used to dishonesty in advertising and in politics, that we no longer bother to call anyone on it.  We used to be better than that.

As for the gentrification of the Marshall, its part of what's happening in the city and in the world.  There is no point in challenging it.  It will subside when the phenomenon subsides in the larger world.

Governor Sandra Oliver said something quite wise: "While new Board members bring new skills and energy, old-timers bring institutional memory and insight into long standing issues."

The Marshall Chess Club has lasted a long time.  We could name some universities and religious institutions that have lasted just as long, but not so many small non-profits.

We didn't put just anyone on the board because they seemed like they would do some volunteer work or donate some money.  We would put people on who had proved their love for a club over many years.  Even that we would do gradually.   There certainly was institutional memory and insight into long standing issues, and a great deal of insight was passed on from the more experienced to the less experienced.  Changing almost the whole board in a period of a few years was not a good idea.

This counts for the tournament directing too. New York City long had higher standards for tournament directing than the rest of the US thanks to Bill Goichberg, Steve Immitt and several others.  This is no reflection on the character or the intelligence of the present tournament directors.  Nor is Steve coming back.  He has no reason to.  It is better to have continuity.

How about those who pay their dues year after year even if we rarely go to the club any more?  Perhaps we have gratitude for what we already have received, and we have faith that some day the club will get back on the right track.

I have some minor suggestions for the board:  Don't borrow too much against the building.  Property values are tremendously inflated like a balloon.  Eventually the property value of the building will go down, perhaps drastically, and the debts will not.

Safety first:  Avoid overcrowding.  Don't allow people to sit on the stairs.  Consult a safety expert.   It is helpful to consult an accident lawyer.  They can tell you what you need to know to avoid accidents.

That's just my opinion.  Feel free to comment.

Let us remember those who have passed on:

Robert Ali
Ilya Figler
Will Fisher
Myron Fleisher
Nagib Gebran
Nathan Jackson
Edward Kopieki
Edward LaMarca
Mikhail Layevskiy
William Lombardy
Peter Roberts
Anyone else I left out or added inadvertently