Member verification

I received some mail and now an email supposedly from uscf asking to call  1-877-488-3839 for member verification. This number doesn't appear to be associated with uscf is this illegitimate? 

I have received that email twice and even a paper mail in my mail box. I believe it's some legit marketing campaign that is associated with USCF but you're not obliged to do anything.

Yes I called the number. It's a project to create an "oral history" document. It's mildly interesting and I believe it's legitimate, but at the end they want to sell you a book and some merch.

https://new.uschess.org/news/us-chess-oral-history-project

I assumed it was confirming that I, as a LIFE member, was still alive

nah my son got one too. He's 29 and has only been a USCF member for 2 years and pays year-to-year for the membership. He doesn't have much of a USCF chess history to give.

Yes, I phoned the number and went through the interview. US Chess is one of many organizations compiling an "Oral History Project" for the Library of Congress. After the interview by a skilled oral histographer they sent me a cogent seven minute redaction of the interview with my redundancies taken out. Sure, they want to sell you the final project in book and digital form, but you don't have to buy anything. It is well worth your time. Before phoning reflect on what chess has meant to you and how it has shaped your life. But since I am 70 maybe I have more to say than when I was 16.

When your USCF account expires are you kicked from the club?