02/17/2026
Please Vote No.
Please read the information below. In a nutshell, check your email/spam/junk folder and vote NO for the new bylaws.
TCA sent an email (check your spam/junk folder if you don't see it) today asking members to vote on new bylaws.
The Texas Chess Association (TCA) president is asking voting members to approve a new, updated set of bylaws — the rules that govern how the organization operates. This is also the first time TCA is using an online referendum instead of requiring members to attend an in-person meeting.
Under basic governance standards (including Robert’s Rules of Order), members should be given the exact text of proposed bylaws with sufficient notice before any vote opens.
Did every voting member receive the full proposed bylaws with adequate time to review them? Were members given time to compare old versus new, ask questions, or raise objections before being asked to vote?
I want to be very clear about my position, because narratives may form that don’t reflect my actual concern.
This is not about being “against TCA,” and it is not about me or other organizers losing opportunities to make money. This is about process, transparency, and governance.
TCA has recently shifted major tournaments from a largely open bidding model to internal control. At the same time, administration of those events appears to be handled by individuals closely connected to current leadership. Regardless of intent, this change raises legitimate questions about conflicts of interest and concentration of authority — questions that deserve clear answers, not assumptions about motives.
Asking for transparency, access to the full bylaws, and time for meaningful review is not obstruction. It is responsible participation by the membership.
If you were asked to vote without being given the full proposed bylaws and adequate time to review them, I encourage you to vote no.
Yours truly, and with the best interest of Texas chess in mind,
Kwunnie
