Statement by Greg Shahade on his resignation from the USCF Executive Board

It is with regret that I find myself forced to resign from the Executive Board. According to the USCF bylaws it is impossible for an immediate family member of a EB member to have a paid position within the USCF. In the midst of the Chess Life interviews and hiring decision made by the EB (of which I wasn't a part of due to a conflict of interest), it was decided that Dan Lucas would be the best choice for editor, but that the USCF should also utilize the skills of my sister, Jennifer Shahade, as a website content editor. Once it was made clear to me that the USCF was prepared to consider her for a job, yet could only do so if I resigned from the board, I felt there was no choice but to do so.

Our website has been lacking for a long time and often has very uninteresting news stories and fails to properly cover many of our major events. I ran on a platform of improving Chess Life and the website, and I believe that my sister is the perfect person to help bring our website into the 21st century, and make it the top source for American chess news. I feel that her having this position is more important than my position on the Executive Board, and to make this happen, I feel that my resignation is the best thing for the USCF.

It has been an eye opening experience being part of the USCF Executive Board and I have high hopes for the future. The current Board has a good rapport with one another and every one of them are very dedicated to improving American Chess. I am also very impressed with the job that Bill Goichberg is doing as President of the Board. When I first was elected I was not so sure that he was the right person for the Presidency but during my time on the board I feel that he is by far the best candidate for the position and as long as he is the president I have optimism that the USCF will make responsible and well thought out decisions.