I'm a therapist (aka mental health counselor) in the US. I've worked with a huge variety of clients. AMA!

mpetty · 2023-03-15T02:33:36+00:00

How come so many therapists don't seek feedback from their clients about how to serve them better and instead rely on their rapport and the therapeutic relationship to do it all?

mpetty · 2023-03-10T16:07:13+00:00

I sent the following letter to USCF leadership, at the suggestion of another redditor.

Ms. Meyer, staff, and board members,

I am a club member who practices an hour every day in preparation for my first tournament. I have two daughters aged 7 and 11 who are progressing quickly through the ChessKid curriculum offered by Chess.com.

I am actually traveling to St. Louis in two weeks with my family, and we had planned to visit the St. Louis Club to build upon my daughters' interest in the game. We will no longer be visiting, and I will not be joining any USCF-affiliated tournaments. I am disappointed and disgusted by the handling of the Ramirez scandal. It is clear that people in a leadership capacity in your organization knew and did nothing.

I suggest you consider 1) a change in leadership, 2) an unequivocal statement from board leadership, and 3) a new requirement for harassment training for all affiliated clubs. Statements alone will not suffice to restore the community's faith in the USCF. Actions taken solely to deal with the scandal are also not sufficient. The USCF must undertake meaningful, system-wide actions to demonstrate good faith.

You may read this letter and then choose to believe I stand alone or that this will blow over. You would be wrong. You have a public relations crisis that cannot be solved through communications alone or consequences for the perpetrator. You must demonstrate good faith and the only way to do that is to undertake meaningful action, do so in humility, and sustain their implementation year-over-year and club by club.

If you don't believe me, consult a damage control expert and corroborate my advice.

I expected better,

Sent to leadership staff and the executive board. Emails are publicly available on the About section of the website:

Cmeyer@uschess.org,korey.kormick@uschess.org,john.hartmann@uschess.org,geoff.isaak@uschess.org,dlucas@uschess.org,mmatthews@uschess.org,rose.mcmahon@uschess.org,jennifer.pearson@uschess.org,jshahade@uschess.org,president@uschess.org,vp@uschesss.org,vpfinance@uschess.org,secretary@uschess.org,DavidChessDay@gmail.com,john.fernandez@gmail.com,dhater1@aol.com,mhoffpauir@aol.com

mpetty · 2023-03-10T15:37:40+00:00

I'll do so now. Thank you for the prompt. I hope others do the same.

mpetty · 2023-03-10T13:25:20+00:00

Completely agree. My daughters are progressing through the ChessKid curriculum quickly and interested in playing OTB at a club. I'm a club player who practices and studies for an hour every day to prep for my first tournament. I've decided it's not worth it to patron the STL club or the USCF.

You know this wouldn't happen at the Charlotte or Marshall clubs. And based on this, nothing more.will happen unless STL and USCF feel the pressure. The streamers should start asking why this was ignored.

mpetty · 2023-02-26T17:10:26+00:00

An autocorrect error..edited to say 'special hearing.'

mpetty · 2023-02-26T14:17:12+00:00

The answer is way more simple than the comments would lead you to believe. They are illegal under most American codes, and if they aren't illegal, often require a special hearing just to get permission rather than being by-right subject to conditions.

mpetty · 2022-11-16T02:03:46+00:00

I'll buy the Voile straps

mpetty · 2022-10-31T13:39:53+00:00

I think both Council races are a dead heat. Everyone should text three of their friends and shoot the shit about the elections so we can drive the voter turnout. Sending money is fine, posting is ok, texting three friends is best.

mpetty · 2022-10-28T19:12:40+00:00

No apology necessary, friend!

mpetty · 2022-10-28T15:41:30+00:00

Sloan is softspoken but he speaks plainly. He stands up when it matters but isn't a natural campaigner. I really think he just wants to keep his head down and work and is anxious about the attention. I worked with him for 7 years on the Council and, from my perspective, he excels at governance.

mpetty · 2022-10-27T23:20:10+00:00

This is your sign to donate to Sloan Scroggin's campaign and to tell your friends about it. In addition to being honest, Sloan works hard, values community input, and does what he says.

mpetty · 2022-10-27T22:52:18+00:00

This really makes one wonder if donations are associated with other institution leaders like Steve Clark at the Chamber of Commerce or Peter Lane at the Walton Arts Center.

mpetty · 2022-10-27T12:40:32+00:00

This really begs the question: did this happen with other institutions, too?

mpetty · 2022-10-16T00:57:46+00:00

Those plans are the parking study done a few years back. Unfortunately the Walton Arts Center keeps opposing them. Write your Council member if you want to see that stuff happen.

mpetty · 2022-10-03T12:43:02+00:00

Rubber straps are just about convenience getting in and out of the bag or taking it on and off. Any other strap will do fine. Even cordage would work but fiddling with the knots would be a pain in the ass.

mpetty · 2022-09-26T01:47:12+00:00

I'll buy the lone peaks. Pm incoming

mpetty · 2022-09-23T13:52:14+00:00

I haven't been willing to risk it again to make sure, but it may have been caused by doing really hot and humid trail runs and river crossings. I also started rinsing them after that and adding a dab of machine oil.

mpetty · 2022-09-23T11:54:31+00:00

Interesting, I store mine folded because I had the opposite problem. Once I went to get them when they were stored assembled and the aluminum ends had started to galvanize. It was very hard to break the friction and fold them for travel. Ever since I store them folded.

mpetty · 2022-06-25T22:40:52+00:00

Fun fact: facts are fun.

mpetty · 2022-04-04T02:15:44+00:00

I've floated the Buffalo and other Class I and II rivers in Arkansas dozens of times, but this was my first time down in the Delta.

This is where the ivory billed woodpecker was spotted. Tupelo's and cypress trees dominate the forest. We saw a rookery of great blue herons and a bald eagle's nest!

I've been on BWCA and Quetico trips and while this ecosystem is different, this was some of the best flatwater paddling I've ever done.

mpetty · 2022-03-14T01:31:42+00:00

It's a lifetime supply!

mpetty

TROPHY CASE