From: "'Ben Bednarz'" <BenFB <at> AOL <dot> COM>
Date: 14 jun 1999
Subject: Re: U.S. Ratings

In a message dated 6/12/99 9:43:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
lkaufman <at> WIZARD <dot> NET writes:

<<     On the unrelated topic of who has done the most for shogi in America,
although I don't want to see this become a debate, I'd just like to mention
that George Fernandez also deserves consideration for this unofficial honor.
While nearly everyone else in American shogi is either completely from an
American chess background or from a Japanese background, George,  a
Cuban-born American chess player with a Japanese wife, has done a great deal
to bring the two disparate groups together.  Many of the problems we
experience here in shogi are a result of the cultural differences between us,
and George has done much to bridge the gap.
       >>
I stand corrected by Larry's much more diplomatic reply.  My previous remark
was a gut reaction to George's comment.  The truth is that all of these
people -- including those who don't get along with each other -- are
important to whatever success we see with American shogi.  My hat's off to
them all.

Ben Bednarz