Chess Life - June 2020 What differentiates me from other candidates? How will US Chess benefit? I am the only woman running for an all-male Executive Board (EB). I have been playing chess since I was six years old and visited 44 countries, traveling extensively for chess tournaments and business. I have vast professional level expertise in different areas of chess—playing, teaching, organizing, and directing—as well as finance and business, combined with not-for-profit experience. I am the only candidate who has previously served a full term on the US Chess EB (2015–2018). For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/AnjelinaUSChess/. US Chess has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Our chess community has suffered some painful human losses. Numerous chess players, coaches, organizers, and tournament directors have gone through uncertainty and anxiety because of the sickness. Many national, state, and local tournaments have been canceled, creating widespread financial hardship and disappointments. We must re-think our activities and services, solidify commitment and support of US Chess members, enhance our online presence and offerings, ensure financial stability, and extend corporate connections outreach. As a membership organization, we must take care of our base, our foundation—YOU—our members! As a 501(c)(3), we must expand, focusing on outreach, promotion, and advertisement of chess. This is an intricate balance and I have been advocating for years to be mindful and supportive of both in our growth plans. Moreover, the timing is important as well. Advancing slowly is no longer an option. We need an energetic campaign to boost the anemic growth reported in the December 2019 US Chess mailing: “US Chess membership is now over 96,000 …” from “approximately 60,000” in 1972 (or about 60% in 48 years). We live in the dynamic times of a Fourth Industrial Revolution. To thrive, we must have a well thought out, realistic but ambitious plan with actionable steps and a timeline. We should bring chess to schools and senior centers, support existing clubs around the country, and assist in opening new ones, welcoming various socioeconomic levels, under-represented groups, people with special accessibility needs, etc. I am asking for your vote in the upcoming US Chess Executive Board (EB) Election. There is a lot to do and I am ready and capable of helping US Chess at this critical time. “Anjelina has served as treasurer of the University High School Parents’ Association Executive Board for the past year, and plans to continue through the 2020-21 school year. Her determination and work ethic are unrivaled. She transformed our financial record keeping, provides professional guidance, and is a constant source of creative and sound fundraising advice.” ~Kyra Padden Holtzman, University High School Parents’ Association President.
Chess Life - May 2020 Anjelina Belakovskaia - US Chess Executive Board Candidate Dear US Chess Friends, Choosing the right leaders is an important undertaking. While the consequences of vital decisions might not be felt immediately, in the long term, they make all the difference. US Chess needs people who can think a few moves ahead, analyze actions and effects, find viable solutions to various problems, all while focusing on growth and financial stability. Such candidates should have passion for chess and US Chess; possess broad knowledge, experience and understanding in different areas; be able to form unbiased opinions and vote independently; act and communicate with integrity and high ethical standards; work well as a team and uphold fiduciary duties to the organization. I am running for the US Chess Executive Board (EB) this year because I firmly believe I possess the above qualities and am capable and passionate about contributing my leadership skills for the benefit of US Chess. With three out of seven EB members stepping down this year, I am the only candidate who has a full three years of prior experience on the US Chess Executive Board and is familiar with many issues and historical developments within the organization. As a current treasurer and board member of two 501(c)(3) organizations, I spent the last few years increasing my understanding of not-for-profit management, financial structures, fundraising and marketing campaigns, organizational and legal requirements—knowledge that is highly applicable and valuable for US Chess. As the treasurer of University High School Parents’ Association —one of the top high schools in the nation, serving 1,200+ children—I was tasked with creating an annual budget and working with various teams, to adhere to projections and reach the goal. I am happy to report that I not only boldly boosted the budget for the annual fund by 82% from the year prior, but worked diligently with the development team and other board members to meet this goal. By mid-March, our intake of funds was 296% above the prior year’s total and gives us an opportunity to support many important programs for students, teachers, and the school, that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. What differentiates me from the other candidates? I am the only woman running for an all-male EB. I grew up in the USSR and visited 44 countries, traveling extensively for chess tournaments and business. I will infuse diversity of thought, analytical approaches and creative tactical solutions to increase US Chess positional strength and nationwide outreach.
Chess Life - April 2020 Anjelina Belakovskaia - US Chess Executive Board Candidate Dear Chess Friends, I am excited to run this year for the US Chess Executive Board. It is time to reinstate women’s presence and active participation into the governance of the organization and to make our voices and opinions heard and incorporated. I’m a three-time U.S. Women’s chess champion and woman grandmaster. I earned my master’s in mathematics in finance from New York University. My decade of experience teaching finance at the University of Arizona, plus career experience on Wall Street and the energy industry (reported on in the Wall Street Journal and front page of the Money Section of USA Today 12/11/01) helped me deliver substantial contributions to US Chess during my 2015-2018 term on the Executive Board. I’m a mother of three children who all play chess and love the game. I’m currently a treasurer and board member of two 501(c)(3) organizations. I intend, with your support, to achieve even more.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/AnjelinaUSChess/ or read Letter of Recommendation
Q & A – please ask related questions and read my answers here!