ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS - updated December 2006

USCF is pleased to announce the return of the "Activity Means Members" program after many years. We hope to encourage more USCF-rated tournaments and more chess clubs to exist in as many locations as possible, thus promoting membership. The key to growth is to have rated tournaments in more places, not just more events in areas that already have substantial activity.

If you run an affiliated club or other organization, we hope you will increase your schedule of rated play. Especially valuable is activity in an area presently lacking it - for example, if your affiliate now uses only one location, you might consider also holding an event an hour or two drive away. Such a tournament may enroll new members who would not now travel to your current site, but once they enjoy rated play and are part of USCF, some may begin to play at your original site as well.

If you are not now part of a USCF affiliate, why not start one? To learn more, call 931-787-1234, ext 123 (Joan DuBois - jdubois@uschess.org) or ext. 128 (Alan Kantor - clubs@uschess.org).

To help affiliates promote USCF membership, we offer the following new programs:

Adult dues specials:

Dues slashed for age 20-24!: The membership category previously called "Youth" has been renamed "Young Adult," and eligibility has changed from under 21 to under 25. As a result, annual dues for those aged 20 through 24 have been almost cut in half, from $49 to $25!

One-year membership with Chess Life: If purchased online at uschess.org, now only $39 for everyone! This special dues sale rolls back prices to lower than they were in 1995! The sale is in effect through March 31, 2007 and may be extended if the response is sufficient. Two year memberships are now $72 and three year memberships $104. (Note to affiliates: If you collect a $49 membership and submit it online to USCF, there is a $10 affiliate commission; if you submit it by mail or phone the affiliate commission remains $2.)

Free LONGER Tournament Life Announcements!

Run an additional tournament this winter! Each affiliate is entitled to one TLA per month of up to 8 lines and up to 2 issues of Chess Life, for any tournament between January and March 2007, if no TLA for such an event appeared in 2006, and the TLA is e-mailed by the appropriate deadline. The 8 free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs.

Special categories of free TLAs!
Each affiliate is entitled to one TLA per month of up to 8 lines for events in the following categories, if submitted by e-mail. The free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs:
NEW! USCF BOOSTER TOURNAMENT.
A tournament that offers at least two USCF membership renewal prizes, or a quad that offers at least one per section.
Chess Club special. A tournament playing only on one or more weekday evenings.
RBO. Open to Under 1200/Unr or Under 1000/Unr. Tournament name must include "Rated Beginners Open" or "RBO."
Blitz. Time control of Game/5. TLAs such as "USCF-rated Blitz every Friday 7 pm" are accepted.
Collegiate. A tournament limited to college students. USCF dues have recently been drastically reduced for most college students!
Student. For college students or below or age 25 or below (age 25 must be eligible).
Junior. For age 20/below (age 20 must be eligible).
Non-scholastic with scholastic. A tournament for all ages held concurrently (same location) as a scholastic tournament that in its previous year drew at least 50 players. We encourage organizers of scholastics to hold open or collegiate events on the side.

Special rates for club ads.
Up to 5 lines: $180 per year, $100 for 6 months for unchanged club ads in the TLA section. Announce meeting dates & times, activities, contact info, etc.

USCF discussion groups.

See www.uschess.org/forums for four groups: Tournament Organization, Chess Club Organization, Tournament Direction, USCF Issues.

Your ideas are welcome!

Please contact myself (chessoffice@aol.com) or Joan using jdubois@uschess.org. and if you have ideas on what other features the "Activity Means Members" program should include to help affiliates, please be sure to include them.

It has been over 40 years since USCF's first "Activity Means Members" campaign, promoted by Ed Dickerson of Missouri, appeared in the pages of Chess Life throughout 1962. Similar efforts of the 1960s included "Operation M" (members), "Operation MM" (more members), and "12 x 12" (12,000 members by the 12th month of 1968, a goal that was achieved). USCF membership more than quadrupled between July 1960 and July 1970, increasing every year and growing from 4,579 to 22,623.