Re: Board minutes
Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 12:43 pm
My report from the ECF AGM can be found here:
http://www.chessit.co.uk/phpforum/viewt ... ?f=5&t=284
http://www.chessit.co.uk/phpforum/viewt ... ?f=5&t=284
The independent home for discussions on the English Chess scene.
https://www.ecforum.org.uk/
You'll remember that Phil Ehr had 59 votes cast against him at the AGM, which represented something like a quarter of the electorate. Quite a rebellion considering there was no challenger. I'm now led to believe that the majority of the board voted against his appointment, which must be making the board an 'interesting' place to be right now.Mick Norris wrote:Phil Ehr comes out particularly badly in them, the impression given previously by Sean Hewitt that Phil is the problem seems to be backed up
Before that can happen, Phil has to try to make himself effective. On the evidence thus far, he is unable or unwilling to do that.Stewart Reuben wrote:Phil was reelected democratically (I voted against him) and now people should be seeking to enable him to be effective.
Since Parliament is supposed to be a model of politics, people see on Wednesday lunchtime that constant arguing/point-scoring between Cameron and Miliband.Stewart Reuben wrote: Phil was reelected democratically (I voted against him) and now people should be seeking to enable him to be effective.
People have tried to help him, but Phil Ehr doesn't want help and refuses such offers.Lewis Martin wrote:... I don't know what is happening there. But hearing there's arguments, instead of people helping him, I'm not surprised.
When the Finance Director is condemning the CEO in such a public way, it gives an insight of the level of exasperation felt by him and rest of the board. However, it is no coincidence that all of the contested elections this year were for vacant posts. People are reluctant to challenge incumbents, but there are willing volunteers in the wings.David Eustace wrote:The Director responsible for the Board minutes has allowed the situation to get completely out of hand.
For what little it is worth Phil Ehr (at Stewart Reuben's suggestion) approached me last New Year about doing the Minutes. Although cautiously favourable at first, after sleeping on it I turned it down, as the modest fee was not worth it when travelling time was taken into account.Sean Hewitt wrote:People have tried to help him, but Phil Ehr doesn't want help and refuses such offers.Lewis Martin wrote:... I don't know what is happening there. But hearing there's arguments, instead of people helping him, I'm not surprised.
For example, months ago John Philpott offered to do the minutes. John didn't want to do the minutes - he was already doing plenty for the ECF - but he recognised the importance of getting minutes produced in a timely fashion. Phil of course turned the offer down, promised to produce the minutes himself and then spectacularly failed to do so. To quote the other placeWhen the Finance Director is condemning the CEO in such a public way, it gives an insight of the level of exasperation felt by him and rest of the board. However, it is no coincidence that all of the contested elections this year were for vacant posts. People are reluctant to challenge incumbents, but there are willing volunteers in the wings.David Eustace wrote:The Director responsible for the Board minutes has allowed the situation to get completely out of hand.
A number of folk who were in the 59 who voted against Phil Ehr hoped that it would be a shot across his bows, making him change his ways and become more inclusive. Sadly, that does not appear to be the case so it will be interesting to see what happens next.
Getting someone to take the minutes at the meeting has not, in general, been the problem. However, rather than letting the minute takers draft be circulated to the board for comment and approval as would be normal, Phil insisted that the draft minutes were sent only to him. He then claimed that they need a significant re-write which, of course, only he could do. At this point, the minutes invariably disappeared into a black hole.Paul Buswell wrote:For what little it is worth Phil Ehr (at Stewart Reuben's suggestion) approached me last New Year about doing the Minutes. Although cautiously favourable at first, after sleeping on it I turned it down, as the modest fee was not worth it when travelling time was taken into account.
One has to question the purpose and effectiveness of ECF Board meetings if the Minutes of recently held meetings are not available to Board members.Roger de Coverly wrote:Is another backlog crisis developing? The last published minutes were back in October.
As pointed out at the time, there isn't a need at all for minutes whether redacted or otherwise to be made public. The requirement is more of a timely summary of the ECF Board's decisions and actions, with an emphasis on the timely.