The following is a statement which Tom Hales recently published on the NCCA website.

"Chess Politics Run Amuck  [sic] Spell Check recommends "amok"

NM Leland Fuerstman has been an important part of North Carolina chess for over thirty five years.  However, a recent post on his message board has left some (including myself) wondering how we arrived at a place where all manner of civility has gone out the window.  Is this in the best interest of chess?  I don't think so.

It is perfectly legitimate to question the competence of a leader, but it can be done is a respectful way. Comparing Gary Newsom to a Nazi goes beyond hyperbole, and is an unseemly way to address grievances real or imagined. 

(Let's stop right here...  what about the covert tactics that Newsom has used against me as outlined in my previous message entitled "NCCA's 'Minister of Propaganda' Declares Fuerstman a "non-Person?" The victim has rights, too. My comparison may seem a bit harsh to some, but it is absolutely factual and certainly relevant. After all, most of my information came from YOU, Tom, from unsolicited telephone calls which you made to me!!? You shared your very unhappy sentiments with me about a number of NCCA issues (not all of which I shall mention here) and indicated  that you, in fact, have maintained the copies of E-mails which NCCA Vice-President Gary Newsom had sent to you and all other officers demanding that I be "ignored." (For those of you who have not figured it out yet, Newsom is really the signal caller and driving force of the current administration, not the incompetent "wimp" {as he was referred to by Tom Hales} who was elected President.) You also shared with me the phone call which Newsom made to you demanding that you not discuss any NCCA business at the CCC meeting? From what I gathered during our conversations, you had become disillusioned, to say the least, at the evasive actions which Newsom had taken against me?! But, now, I'm not real sure what the purpose of your phone calls to me were (unless, as one of my advisor's suggested, "someone had put you up to them?" which I doubt.) It seems to me that, in order to save face with your cronies and maintain your status, you are attempting to burn the candle at both ends?! Unfortunately, in prosecuting your double agency, you continue to contradict yourself)

I also find it inappropriate to question someone's integrity without evidence. This appears to be one point of the said message, to imply that the NC Invitational selection process has been manipulated for personal gain.

(Well, unless you called me up and purposely told me a pack of lies, everything I state here is absolutely true, since all of my information came directly from YOU! That IS my evidence... You complained to me that Beaman had already "declared that Newsom would play in the invitational" even though Dr. Dana had won on tie-break!? You further shared your "strong disapproval" that at the State Championship, Chief Tournament Director Beaman had advised Newsom, that "if he "Drew" his final game, he would qualify for the invitational!?" You then shared with me that an "angry" Gary Newsom called you afterward to voice his opinion about your challenging Victors decision"?? Remember, you stated that he was very emotional and said something like,"I've waited all my life to play in the invitational" and "otherwise I would have played for the win," etc!"
During that conversation, I asked whether Dr. Dana had already notified them of his intentions "not" to play to which you responded, NO? (I reminded you that qualifiers often withdraw and alternates replace them - However, at that point in time, no one had withdrawn. - Since then, I have learned that NM Harris has pulled out allowing Newsom to participate.) Regardless, it seems as though President Beaman would have naturally double checked the tie-break systems in order to verify that Newsom, who is also a tournament director, had in fact won the seat before he made his announcement. And, incredibly according to you, that Victor had curiously taken on a different personality and stated to you, "I'm the President, I've made the decision, and my decision is final!" - Do you deny that? - Maybe it wasn't outright manipulation, but it absolutely further demonstrates Beaman's knee jerk decision making and overall incompetence.

I am closer to this process than most, one might say on the "front lines."  Mistakes have been made, but I have seen no evidence to suggest that either Victor Beaman or Gary Newsom deserve to have their good intentions questioned. 

(Oh, really?! No evidence?? If what you reported directly to me that I have stated above is not evidence, then I don't know what is?)

On the contrary, I have seen in Gary a willingness to step aside to avoid controversy.  If Gary Newsom plays in the NC Invitational, it will be the result of specifically meeting the qualifications, and nothing more.

This statement has been posted with the prior approval of President Beaman and Vice-President Newsom, but they neither approved the content beforehand, nor edited it in any way. So this is one man's opinion.
 
Respectfully,

Tom Hales, editor.

(Such a disclaimer seems like a contradiction in of itself?!; Tom, I have heretofore judged you to be an honest and truthful man. Though you may not approve of my freely quoting you, you know in your heart that everything which I have stated here is true. I have a right to defend myself from people who make false and misleading statements about me on the internet. I make no apologies for exposing what Beaman and Newsom have done. Finally, one must bear in mind that my only crime in this whole affair was an attempt to voice my opinion and ask questions,  which every member should have a right to do. Have a nice day. LF