English Chess Forum

I consider that the proceedings at today's meetings (there is a Board meeting and BCF AGM as well as the ECF AGM) deserve a separate thread. Hotel WiFi permitting, I would hope to be able to keep members of the Forum updated as the day develops.

Sitting on the 8.23 from Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street (at £6 for an advance purchase single a definite bargain) I have the feeling that this is likely to be a very long day. Spare a thought though for Tina and Andrew from the ECF Office who were setting off from Battle at 5.30 a.m.

John Philpott wrote:I would hope to be able to keep members of the Forum updated as the day develops.

Thanks John it is appreciated

John Philpott wrote:Sitting on the 8.23 from Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street (at £6 for an advance purchase single a definite bargain) I have the feeling that this is likely to be a very long day. Spare a thought though for Tina and Andrew from the ECF Office who were setting off from Battle at 5.30 a.m.

Well, I've just got up and had breakfast. Will aim to get out of the door in about an hour, and aim for the 0946 service from Sandwell & Dudley for Birmingham New Street. Should still be about an hour early for the Board meeting.

Why can't all Council meetings be in Birmingham?

As an aside, the weather is overcast, but the clouds look quite thin, so I'm hopeful it won't rain.

Alex Holowczak wrote

Why can't all Council meetings be in Birmingham?

Because of the requirements of the Procedural Bye Laws. If you are elected as Director of Home Chess today, you will become a requisitionist in your own right, and able to propose amendments to the Bye Laws. Any such change would be unpopular with the Office staff: quite apart from the travelling involved for them, it was pointed out to me yesterday that the Birmingham Ibis costs the ECF noticeably more than the Euston Square Hotel.

As an aside (although it is not actually off topic) has anybody ever heard the one about the Directed Proxy form that indicated votes for Rupert Jones AND Nigel Short AND Neither of the above?

Hopefully everyone will have a safe and uneventful journey there and back

John Philpott wrote:Alex Holowczak wrote

Why can't all Council meetings be in Birmingham?

Because of the requirements of the Procedural Bye Laws.

I knew that; it was said merely in jest.

Perhaps there is an argument for not having both a face to face Finance Council Meeting and an AGM.

I'm at work this afternoon so I won't be able to watch the `drama` unfold which I'm a bit disappointed about. Still, if I wasn't working I'd actually be playing chess instead.

I am very happy to be at the e2e4 High Wycombe event and following proceedings as no more than an interested spectator.

The cloudy morning has become a bright and sunny day. A small but select band of ECF Directors have gathered at the venue, and the Board Meeting is threatening to begin within the next five minutes.

As I sit at home on a gorgeous Saturday with my wonderful family, I cannot help but wish I was spending the day in Birmingham with a load of would-be student union politicians talking bo**ocks.

Ok, I'm joking really.

I am currently attending the Board meeting via Skype. The thrust of the meeting so far seems to be

"There seems to be a problem with this call.

Hold on a minute while we try to get the call back".

Skype is trying to tell you something...

Perhaps we should have live streaming of the AGM on pay per view. We could sort the ECF's finances out at a stroke!

The WiFi at the hotel seems satisfactory. No sign so far of the Finance Director at the Board meeting.