The USCF should support senior chess for altruistic reasons. While the reason you give falls under this criteria, it is IMHO, by itself, insufficient. Most senior level of play goes down and deserve just as much consideration of support as those rare exceptions where their level of play goes up as shown in your example.
I do however favor senior chess promotion. USCF can promote senior chess, at little bottom line cost, by giving top senior prizes in tournaments, charging lower tournament entry fees for seniors and lower membership dues as well, award national champion recognition above certain age categories and giving seniors rating protections. I once organized an over-80 national championship match as an aside to one of our major events. It drew many spectators and local newspaper coverage. Much of what I suggest here is already in place but it is not enough as too many seniors leave chess as they get older.
Don Schultz
Chessdon: The USCF should support senior chess for altruistic reasons. While the reason you give falls under this criteria, it is IMHO, by itself, insufficient. Most senior level of play goes down and deserve just as much consideration of support as those rare exceptions where their level of play goes up as shown in your example.
I do however favor senior chess promotion. USCF can promote senior chess, at little bottom line cost, by giving top senior prizes in tournaments, charging lower tournament entry fees for seniors and lower membership dues as well, award national champion recognition above certain age categories and giving seniors rating protections. I once organized an over-80 national championship match as an aside to one of our major events. It drew many spectators and local newspaper coverage. Much of what I suggest here is already in place but it is not enough as too many seniors leave chess as they get older.
Don Schultz
CHESSDON Posts: 832Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:59 pmLocation: Highland Beach, FloridaUSCFId: 10516790
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I am a senior and don’t want any special consideration because of my age. I do not want a Senior Prize. One might as well call it a Senility Prize. Class prizes are just fine. Juniors need and deserve support.
The fact that Juniors need and deserve support, which most all of us agree, is no reason not to support senior[ chess!
Don Schultz
Given that pretty soon seniors will be all that is left of the adults in the federation, consideration and promotion of senior chess events seems like a rational, economic thing to do. I do note that an increasing number of states are holding Senior championships, and at a reasonable cost.
Millions ask why…I ask, why not?
Oregon Senior Chess Championship
July 7-8, 2012
Site: Pioneer Adult Community Center, 615 Fifth St., Oregon City, OR
(enter by basement door on Washington Street). Wheelchair accessible.
Type: Rated 5 Rd. Swiss System Registration: 9:00-9:45 AM on July 7
Rds: Saturday 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm; Sunday 9 am & 3:30 pm
Time Control: Game in 120 minutes (with or without 5 second delay)
Entry Fee: $25 if received by July 1 ; $30 later
Memberships required: U.S.C.F. and player’s state federation
Open to players age 50 and up, no matter where they reside.
Byes: Up to two half point byes allowed in any round if requested by end of rd. 3.
Prizes: Prizes: $1000+ (b/40 paid entries), Overall $200-100-50, Under 1800
$100-50, Under 1600 $100-50, Under 1400 $100-50, Over age 60 $75,
Over age 70 $75, Over age 80 $50. Trophy to Open winner.
First Washington & Idaho senior each guaranteed minimum $50 prize.
Champion’s name will be engraved on the Dr. Ralph Hall Memorial Trophy on
display at Oregon City/West Linn Chess Club, and will receive free entry into the
2013 Oregon Senior Chess Championship.
2011 co-winners, Mike Janniro & Stephen Deeth, receive free entry this year.
Advance entries to tournament director: Frank Niro, 2265 E. Clifton Drive,
Meridian, Idaho 83642; E-mail: fan3@cornell.edu – cell phone: 503-347-0750
Organizer: Oregon Chess Federation
Host: Brian Berger, President of Oregon City/West Linn Chess Club
Sponsor: The Geezer Gallery. Please visit - geezergallery.com
Coverage: Tournament results and games will be in Northwest Chess
Wait just a tempo! I’m talking about players 65 and over as Seniors. Not youngsters of 50. Juniors have an age limit. Seniors start when?
What’s AARP membership set at? 
On a more serious note, I’ve seen 50 as a threshold, I’ve seen 60, I’ve seen 65.
The closer I get to 50, the more I’d say that “Senior” should be 75 or so. I’m not ‘old’ yet!!!
USCF has 65 eligible for Senior membership. Let’s be consistent with our terms.
Isn’t the USCF’s Senior Open available to all members 50 or older?
Do they have a Junior Senior trophy ? 
The USCF isn’t consistent with other definitions, such as the use of the word Master, what constitutes either junior or scholastic chess, why should Seniors be any different? 
A recent “senior” tournament in the Chicago area had a lower age limit of 40. Forty. Don’t call me old before my time, man.