US Chess Past Presidents Say: "Join or Renew Your Membership!"

Dear Friends of US Chess,

The extraordinary circumstances surrounding daily life during the coronavirus pandemic is now familiar to all. Members of the chess community have been affected by the pandemic through illness, job loss, altered routines, and disruption to life as we know it. Yet it is said that in every cloud there is a silver lining. Our silver lining: Chess is a timeless game that is growing in popularity during this time of social isolation.

We, the living Past Presidents of US Chess, have come together to ask you to renew your US Chess membership or re-join during this time. It has never been easier to play rated US Chess games on your favorite online chess server. Recently, US Chess also has added the ability to rate games at slower time controls, not just Blitz or Quick chess. Your rating travels with you from platform to platform, giving you a consistent measure of your strength as a player. Your rating does not expire, so if you are rejoining our community, you can pick up where you left off.

US Chess has evolved during the many decades we have guided the organization. While rated play continues to be central to what US Chess does, the organization is also working to grow chess in underrepresented communities, bring more women into the game, use the game to enhance cognition in older adults, and better understand how playing chess enhances skills among players of all ages. We concur with the current US Chess Executive Board in affirming that everyone has a seat at the chess table.

We encourage you to continue to play both rated games and casual ones, perhaps even teaching your family and friends. We hope you will join us and #GetUSChess today. We wish you good health during these times. Click here to #GetUSChess and be part of our community.

Sincerely,

Leroy Dubeck, 1969–1972

Tim Redman, 1981–1984, 2000-2001

Steven Doyle, 1984–1987

Harold Winston, 1987–1990

Maxim Dlugy, 1990–1993

John McCrary, 2001–2003

Beatriz Marinello, 2003–2005

Bill Goichberg, 2005–2009

Jim Berry, 2009–2011

Gary Walters, 2015–2017

Mike Hoffpauir, 2017-2018