The Masthead
from the first issue of the newsletter
An Interview with Joan DuBois about the USCF Chess Review Newsletter
by J. Franklin Campbell, CJA Webmaster
Hi Joan, thanks for agreeing to do this interview to provide information
on the planned USCF on-line newsletter Chess Review Online. It
looks like an ambitious project, but one which could provide valuable
information about USCF activities on a timely basis.
- Franklin:
- What is the purpose of
this new publication ... why publish this newsletter in addition to
Chess Life? At what segment of the chess community is it aimed? Is
it for USCF members only?
- Joan:
- Improve communications
with our members and prospective members which will also allow us
to spotlight newsworthy and items of chess interest which may not
make it into Chess Life. We hope it will not only give our members
more chess news but we also plan to use the newsletter as a marketing
tool.
- Franklin:
- Is this to be a weekly
publication? Will it publish on a regular basis or rather when enough
new material has been collected? When do you anticipate publication
to begin?
- Joan:
- We are working to have
the newsletter be a weekly publication. Our first newsletter is actually
a reality today!
- Franklin:
- What kind of material
can we expect to see in future issues? Will there be regular columns?
Will things like annotated games and instructional material be part
of this magazine, or should we expect articles on how to organize
a club and run a tournament?
- Joan:
- You will see GM games,
highlights from chess events, items from chess communities throughout
the country, Outreach articles, Questions To A TD article, etc. We
plan to offer a wide range of information thereby making it appealing
to all members regardless of chess strength!
- Franklin:
- Will Chess Review Online
be produced by the regular USCF staff? The sample issue I saw appealed
to readers to provide input ... will this be an important element
in the new publication?
- Joan:
- We have a team of four
people responsible for the newsletter. One is currently employed with
the USCF (myself) and the other three are volunteers. Ed Scimia is
the Editor. Although Ed's last day as a USCF employee as of tomorrow
he will continue to be editor on a volunteer basis. Ed has journalism
experience and is an avid chess player!
- Franklin:
- How will it be distributed,
by on-line only, or will there be a printed version? Will we be able
to sign up for a mailing list? Will it be available by link from the
USCF web site?
- Joan:
- We are offering the newsletter
on our website and those who subscribe will receive an abbreviated
version via email which will have links incorporated for quick and
easy access to the full version located online.
- Franklin:
- How does this fit in
with USCF's current fiscal situation? Many people will be surprised
to hear of a new service being offered. Of course, on-line publication
can be done quite inexpensively.
- Joan:
- Adding benefits is certainly
a concern but we were able to form a team of volunteers dedicated
to seeing the newsletter become not only a success but become another
informative communique from the US Chess Federation.
- Franklin:
- Thanks for the information,
Joan. Do you have any further comments you would like to make about
this new publishing project?
- Joan:
- In my 35 years of working
for the USCF I've seen it come far and I see a bright future for USCF
and its members. With utilizing the talents of so many of our members
we are able to provide benefits at very little cost which is a win-win
situation for USCF and its members. The benefits from chess that children
can use in their everyday lives continues to be remarkable. The future
of chess lies with the younger generation and the more that USCF can
be involved in this the better. Franklin, I appreciate this opportunity
to speak on behalf of the USCF and introduce our USCF Newsletter.
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