ECF Annual General Meeting 13 October 2012

[David Gilbert]

Is Alex the new ECF Chief Executive?

[Martin Regan]

Is Alex the new ECF Chief Executive?

Nope. He's more important than that.

[Andrew Zigmond]

Is Alex the new ECF Chief Executive?

Nope. He's more important than that.

We could do a lot worse.

[Martin Regan]

We could do a lot worse.

Your point being?

[Andrew Zigmond]

We could do a lot worse.

Your point being?

My point being that we could do a lot worse than having Alex as our CEO. I'm aware that he's Scottish but he has experience of running major events and commands respect from both the top players and the grassroots.

Before I get pounced on I'm not seriously suggesting it and I am aware that some people have had to beg to differ quite strongly with Alex on certain issues.

And it's just forty eight hours to my favourite congress.

[Ernie Lazenby]

Would that be the same one I will be at Andrew? Scarborough is one of the very best and I notice the numbers are creeping towards the 300 Mark. I also think Alex would be a good CEO.

[Andrew Zigmond]

It is indeed Scarborough. I always look forward to it, even though I invariably play like a muppet there (more so than I normally do).

[David Robertson]

Alex McFarlane would be a jaw-droppingly, carpet-chewingly awful CEO. Are some people completely bonkers? (Don't answer).

And I like Alex, quite alot.

[Andrew Zigmond]

Alex McFarlane would be a jaw-droppingly, carpet-chewingly awful CEO. Are some people completely bonkers? (Don't answer).

And I like Alex, quite alot.

If we remember the flippant comment of mine that started this sideshow I said, `we could do worse`. That is very different from suggesting somebody might be the best person for the job.

[David Pardoe]

It is quite apparent that the current electoral process at the ECF AGM is deeply flawed and unsatisfactory.
These `proxy waving` delegates who go round gathering up large amounts of proxy`s to take to the meeting, to use like power symbols at these meetings, are a considerable danger to proper democracy, when it is obvious that they have far too much latitude for swaying votes than they should have.

Comments about AR not producing a manifesto are a complete red herring....
These `manifesto`s are at best just an outline of the candidates views, they are not `official policies` that the candidate can just steam roller through, as some have claimed.
Its down to the board now to fill post(s), after candidate(s) have been needlessly `deselected` on the back of assorted grudges and negative comment.
It appears that the meeting took no account of the good things that Adam has done for chess. He has clearly demonstrated great enthusiasm for chess organisation, and these events, in the main, appear to have run with much success.
Had AR`s candidacy been clearly unsatifactory, I would have expected his nomination to have been questioned long before we got to the AGM meeting.
Remember, this body, rightly or wrongly, is run by unpaid volunteers, doing work in there spare time ...we`re not talking here about full time, paid professionals.
It is said that the current president of the NCCU took the job because no other volunteer could be found...and it lasts for two years. So that major body in english chess is managing to live with a candidate who was hardly regarded as the `preferred candidate`, it would seem. The world will not fall apart by such appointments...in fact, it might produce some pleasant surprises, who knows.
But for the ECF we have this strange alternative...the vote for no-one?????.....is absolutely stark starring bonkers.
If the meeting had simply deferred selection pending further questions of the candidate, that might be understandable...

[Ernie Lazenby]

Alex McFarlane would be a jaw-droppingly, carpet-chewingly awful CEO. Are some people completely bonkers? (Don't answer).

And I like Alex, quite alot.

If we remember the flippant comment of mine that started this sideshow I said, `we could do worse`. That is very different from suggesting somebody might be the best person for the job.

As in many walks of life we never really get to know about an individuals ability for a position until they occupy it. The experience we had with the last President is a classic example.

[David Robertson]

As in many walks of life we never really get to know about an individuals ability for a position until they occupy it.

True, very true. And many millions have been slaughtered throughout history because of this.

Which is why we call upon intelligent judgement and discernment, where we can, when selecting for crucial positions. Otherwise we end up with Prince Charles as King; Jimmy Savile as national treasure; and CJ de Mooi as ECF President

[Greg Breed]

Apologies to all for my late reply, it's taken me a generous portion of my life to trawl through this thread!
I'd like to quote Ernie:

John U, no one in England is ever going to make money at chess while it remains at the bottom of the heap and its going to remain there until it has a severe make over and vastly improves the public image.

...The added formatting is my own.
This made me wonder (having shortened my life by reading all this) what sort of impression a 24 page forum discussion such as this (over the space of a few days) would have on an outsider to English Chess.
The conclusion I came to was "I'd switch off and never return!!"

[Roger de Coverly]

This made me wonder (having shortened my life by reading all this) what sort of impression a 24 page forum discussion such as this (over the space of a few days) would have on an outsider to English Chess.

That it had a discussion group free of interference or censorship from the national body perhaps?

[Tim Spanton]

Amazing. I've been away from the forum for more than four hours and when I come back I find there's been no new postings on this thread. Is this a record?