ECF Annual General Meeting 13 October 2012

[Roger de Coverly]

What would you suggest as the rating lower cut-off for "making decisions and directing policy"?

I'm just using ratings as a proxy for experience. Even at 2000, you are likely to have played several IMs or GMs if your tournament experience has been wide enough. The average player, in the sense of the median on the British scale is at around 140 ECF.

[Roger de Coverly]

In many walks of life people hold top administrative positions who otherwise do not excell at the grass root activity..

It's my view they can be a menace. CEOs of Companies who don't understand what their Company does or makes for instance.

[Angus French]

Re the non-election of Adam to the post of Director of Membership and Marketing.

There were, I think, quite a few reasons why this didn’t happen – most of them touched on already. My feeling is that the following had an impact:

1. No election address. This was mentioned by several people at the meeting. In itself it didn't give a good impression. And, further, it wasn’t known what intentions Adam had for the position. His proxy was asked if he knew but he didn’t.

2. Not present at the meeting. I think it was known that Adam was running a tournament but no election address and not being present isn’t a good combination.

3. Lack of support at the meeting. Phil Err spoke in support of Adam but I’m not sure that anyone else did – I don’t recall (though my memory might be faulty) any Board members other than Phil offering support (for what it's worth, those who were Board members at the start of the meeting numbered three); I also don’t recall support being offered by any of the people at the meeting who had had positions under Adam when he was Home Director of Chess.

4. Lack of support for 2012 British Championships. As Home Director, Adam had overall responsibility for the Championships but the Congress Manager said she’d had no support from him. The only contact she’d had during the Championships was receipt of an email invitation to one of Adam’s own events.

The above may seem ungenerous but I’m afraid Adam did (and had done) himself no favours. Council preferred, on a show of hands, to vote for ‘none of the above’. I believe the vote was 9 for and 20 against with about 10 abstentions.

[Alex McFarlane]

I'm not sure 4 is strictly accurate in the list above but I think the sentiment is close enough.

You could possibly add a 5th reason from the meeting. The motion to have a Women's Director seemed to be based on how little the then Home Director had done in that area. His request for a more detailed proposal being seen as a rejection.

[Krishna Shiatis]

What exactly happened with the motion on having a Women's Director? Why was it rejected?

I am not sure why that was rejected. What harm could that have done except bring another person in to help who was willing to do so?

The budget is already given, so it would not have cost any more, it would have simply given the Women's managers more control of their own budget and a seat at the table - surely a good thing?

[David Robertson]

Well, I know only what I'm reading here (chalk 1 up to the forum in that regard). I don't know much about the backstory; don't know Adam Raoof personally; don't know who loves him and who doesn't, nor why. And I can't really fathom out why Adam behaved as he did, knowing Council as he will.

But I can use a modicum of intuitive commonsense. It looks to me as if he really doesn't give a damn; as if he's decided he has other/better things to be doing. At risk of using a term in bad taste (apologies, if so), I'd say Adam committed 'suicide by vote'. Or more tastefully, 'resignation by vote'

[Mick Norris]

What is the grading distribution of those who like adjournments compared with those who don't?

Those who have regular fights on this issue at their AGMs would know better than I would. But is it not the case that the top divisions of leagues with multiple options, find that the G/90 solution or equivalents is the one preferred by most of the players?
Is it not also the case that those in favour of the "old ways of adjudication" are those who mostly don't play outside the league in question? This being my point about breadth of experience.

My own experience is the reverse of this - it was one of the highest graded players (over 200) who refused to play in the Manchester League with a quickplay finish

[Krishna Shiatis]

With regards to the positions which remain unfilled, will they remain so for the entire year or will the ECF board/council attempt to fill them?

What is the procedure now?

The ECF does need someone in Marketing and as a CEO at the very least.

[Alex Holowczak]

With regards to the positions which remain unfilled, will they remain so for the entire year or will the ECF board/council attempt to fill them?

The Board is empowered to fill the vacancies.

[William Metcalfe]

It was stated at the meeting that somebody was intrested in becomming CEO but no name was given

[David Robertson]

Since the Board is - indeed, must be - empowered to fill crucial vacancies, we enter new territory (to my knowledge).

Assume the Board finds (presumably suitable) candidates, those people lack the mandate of an election by due process. There's no reason to assume that ECF due process, as it stands at the moment, is the best way to secure suitable candidates - head-hunting could be a better way - but it is all the legitimate due process we have just now.

I guess people won't worry overmuch in the present circumstances if credible people emerge by whatever route. But the 'wicked question' presents itself: is an annual election by Council the best way to secure quality Directors? It may not be.

[Simon Brown]

With regards to the positions which remain unfilled, will they remain so for the entire year or will the ECF board/council attempt to fill them?

The Board is empowered to fill the vacancies.

If on reflection they decide that Council treated Adam badly, and assuming he sells himself properly for the relevant role;

1. Can the Board constitutionally appoint Adam to any role?
2. Can the Board constitutionally appoint Adam to the role for which he lost the vote?
3. If the answer to 1 and/or 2 is yes, does the Board have the b*lls to do it?

I suspect John P, assuming he hasn't erased his recent memory banks, can answer 1 and 2. Anyone care to speculate on 3? ECF board member views particularly welcome.....

[Ernie Lazenby]

I think if the board attempted to appoint Adam to any of the vacancies it would trigger another round of discontent. The ECF and it's members need a period of calm following a bad period after Sheffield 2011. Adam was closely aligned with CJ and it's best he's not been appointed.

[Alex Holowczak]

If on reflection they decide that Council treated Adam badly, and assuming he sells himself properly for the relevant role;

1. Can the Board constitutionally appoint Adam to any role?
2. Can the Board constitutionally appoint Adam to the role for which he lost the vote?
3. If the answer to 1 and/or 2 is yes, does the Board have the b*lls to do it?

(1) Yes
(2) Yes
(3) Unable to comment

[William Metcalfe]

Appointing Adam to any position would be like poking a Wasps nest with a stick.
Also it was deceided to defere the county champs questions till the April meeting