ECF 2024 AGM

[John Reyes]

Elections
Note: All existing post holders have indicated they wish to continue.
(a) President: Dominic Lawson nominated by Aga Milewska
(b) Chair of Council: David Eustace, nominated by Aga Milewska
(c) Chief Executive: Mike Truran nominated by Aga Milewska
[C41.6c]
(d) Director of Finance: Alex Longson nominated by Aga Milewska
(e) Director of Women’s Chess: Aga Milewska nominated by
Malcolm Pein
(f) Director of Junior Chess: Alex Holowczak nominated by
Aga Milewska
(g) Non-Executive Director: Danny Rosenbaum nominated by
Mike Truran
(h) FIDE Delegate: Malcolm Pein nominated by Aga Milewska
(i) Chair of Governance: Robert Stern nominated by Aga Milewska
(j) Member of the Finance Committee
Zoe Varney, nominated by Nick Faulks, Chair of the Finance Committee
(k) Member of Governance Committee
Mark Murrell, nominated by Robert Stern the Chair of Governance

[Andrew Martin]

Aga Milewska seems quite keen to nominate people.

[Joey Stewart]

Aga Milewska seems quite keen to nominate people.

It hurries along the boredom of agms if you just get your hand up fast for the first (and, often, the only) standing candidate.

[John Reyes]

Aga Milewska seems quite keen to nominate people.

It hurries along the boredom of agms if you just get your hand up fast for the first (and, often, the only) standing candidate.

I don't know if that is a mistake but we find out at the AGM as i know i seconded some people as well

[John Reyes]

Also to let you all know the Gold members meet on Zoom yesterday and there will be a report that is send out very soon asked how you want us to vote and said at the AGM

[Ian Thompson]

Aga Milewska seems quite keen to nominate people.

I don't know if that is a mistake but we find out at the AGM as i know i seconded some people as well

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-agm ... nations-2/ - "By way of departure from existing practice, the AGM agenda will only set out the nominations required to enable a candidate to stand for election. Excess nominations will not be included."

[Angus French]

Aga Milewska seems quite keen to nominate people.

I don't know if that is a mistake but we find out at the AGM as i know i seconded some people as well

https://www.englishchess.org.uk/ecf-agm ... nations-2/ - "By way of departure from existing practice, the AGM agenda will only set out the nominations required to enable a candidate to stand for election. Excess nominations will not be included."

"By way of departure" isn't a reason though, is it? How is it decided which nominations are required and which are excess? Is it a good look if the most of the published nominations come from the same person?

[Roger de Coverly]

How is it decided which nominations are required and which are excess?

The minimum nominations would be as described in the documents governing the conduct of the ECF. In recent times there's been a propensity for some candidates to acquire as long a list as possible. That's been cut out, but I agree that leaves another problem as to which nominating people or organisations to leave in. Having directors nominate one another does make it appear a closed shop with outsiders unwelcome.

[Mike Gunn]

To answer the last point first, I believe the nominations listed are those received first which satisfy the criteria.

The issue about listing nominations was discussed by the governance committee and the new practice follows our advice. The actual content of the agenda is determined by the CEO and Chair of Council.

[John Reyes]

This was sent out to the gold members today

Hi Gold Members,



We are writing in advance of the ECF AGM on 26/10/24. There is a survey below that we ask you to complete. It will give us the chance to see how you are all feeling about the ECF and also to inform how we represent you at the meeting. All 4 Gold Member Reps have had the chance to discuss the agenda, and we do not believe that there is anything particularly controversial on it. So please complete the survey to let us know what you think and if you have any pressing issues then replying to this email should reach all of us so that we can discuss them.

Gold Member Survey for ECF AGM 2024

Please note that no identifying data will be stored with this survey (unless you add that in yourself). We will accept responses up until Thursday evening so that the reps can review your responses before the meeting.

We would also like to give a brief introduction to our two newest reps Gavin Cartwright and Julian Morrison. Please read a brief statement from each:

Gavin Cartwright

Hi, I am Gavin and I was elected Silver Rep last year and now as a Gold Rep. I work in IT in a Further Education College. My main goal with this is to try to ensure that there is good, open and transparent democracy within the ECF where you, the members are truly taken into account with decision making. Additionally, I have a personal goal of trying to raise the profile of Chess within Further Education Colleges as I think they are often forgotten when discussions about Chess in Education occur.

Julian Morrison
Hi, I’m Julian, and this is my first year as a Gold Rep. I’m honoured to represent you, the Gold Members. I work as a Foreign News Journalist, and my main goal, alongside the other reps, is to ensure your voice is heard at ECF meetings. I aim to fully represent your views and give back to the game I love.



Gavin Cartwright, Julian Morrison, John Reyes and Tim Wall

ECF Gold Member Reps"

[Paul Cooksey]

I'm expecting a relatively dull meeting tomorrow with no contested elections. A couple of highlights about the future are the quotes below.

The ECF is always a bit of a hybrid between a company and a Parliament. A more corporate approach to appointing a new CEO.

I'd welcome a vision for the future from a new CEO, although I suppose uncertainty about government funding is a complicating factor.

I’ve no wish to ‘hand-pick my successor’. Exactly the opposite is the case. Accordingly, I’ve asked the Non-Executive Directors, and they have agreed, to take on the task of identifying, interviewing and appointing suitable candidates, and I expect to take part in that process only if requested to by them. I’ve also told the Non-Executive Directors that I’m more than happy to work with whomever is identified to ensure a proper hand-over (that being the principal purpose of the process), reserving only the right to stand down at once in the unlikely event that I consider my successor to be someone who is not prepared to ‘roll their sleeves up and get stuck in’ and to continue to develop the spirit of collegiality and teamwork that the Board has worked hard to foster over the last few years.

the Board is proposing to review its composition and structure and present proposals for managing the resulting changes for consideration at the Finance Council meeting in April 2025.

[Paul Cooksey]

The first substantive update from Malcolm, including a reference to some of the events supported by the DCMS grant which I'd missed on the ECF site: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/dcms/

Malcolm expressing a very cautious line on the likelihood of future funding and recommending the ECF budgets without it. He reported a good working relationship with the people he was working with, but also an awareness there is opposition to DCMS funding to chess.

[John Reyes]

17 people in the venue included some new reps like Jonathan fowler and the new bronze rep jc le Saux

[Paul Cooksey]

We had quite a long digression discussing future possible inflationary price rises, which Alex raised as a likelihood. In part because more paid role required.

I connected this - I hope fairly - to a discussion on reorganising the overloaded home directorate, possibly adding Events Organisation and IT and Operations roles.

Most speakers in favour of price increases, the exception being me as usual

[Paul Cooksey]

Three Votes so far before the break, all unopposed:

President - Dominic Lawson 201-16
Chair of Council - David Eustace 205-9
CEO - Mike Truran - 203-0

A remarkable vote of confidence for Mike, most candidates having annoyed someone at some point.