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Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:58 pm
by Roger de Coverly
David Robertson (October 2013) wrote:What should we do next?

Easy. Someone should open a book on the first resignation. No way that Board of suppurating egos and personality disorders will hold together for long.
That was a very accurate prediction. But who to blame?

The Home Director, the current Junior Director, the Membership Director and one of the non-Execs were accustomed to working together at e2e4 events, the 4NCL and Midlands tournaments. The Finance Director has had a relatively long involvement with the ECF, mostly taking minutes I believe. The CEO was able to work with the rest of the Board without public conflict when Junior Director although his chess background is mostly that of a "chess parent". The International Director whilst a contemporary of Lee, Whiteley and others when at Oxford, hadn't been greatly involved in chess during the intervening years. The other non-Exec had only been involved as a player and his primary focus had been with Junior organisations. That leaves the President as an outsider, who admits never playing a serious game in the UK.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:43 am
by Mick Norris
Roger de Coverly wrote:The other non-Exec had only been involved as a player and his primary focus had been with Junior organisations.
Julian has been an arbiter at many events over the years, including lots of longplay and rapidplay events that are mainly adult players, and he is a FIDE licensed arbiter - he has been President of the Manchester League too

You really don't know what you are talking about :roll:

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 10:10 am
by David Pardoe
Talking of Arbiters,
Roger Edwards has been a Senior British Arbiter at the ECF for many years, and has given many years of good service to British Chess.
A man of actions and good deeds, and a sound steady approach. The ECF really needs such people at this time..

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:08 pm
by Chris Rice
"Roger Edwards a man who promises nothing and is guaranteed to deliver" Steve Giddins (extract from Nigel Short's article in New In Chess 2014#2)

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:55 pm
by Paolo Casaschi
Chris Rice wrote:"Roger Edwards a man who promises nothing and is guaranteed to deliver" Steve Giddins (extract from Nigel Short's article in New In Chess 2014#2)
Such a pity the article is not available online :-(

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:33 pm
by Andrew Zigmond
Chris Rice wrote:"Roger Edwards a man who promises nothing and is guaranteed to deliver" Steve Giddins (extract from Nigel Short's article in New In Chess 2014#2)
Roger Edwards is the only ECF President from the last four who hasn't resigned in acrimonious circumstances. I think he deserves a lot more credit for that than he currently gets.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:39 pm
by Carl Hibbard
David Robertson wrote:Yes. That just about nails it.
Another good post here I have to say:

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... story.html

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:09 pm
by IM Jack Rudd
Andrew Zigmond wrote: Roger Edwards is the only ECF President from the last four who hasn't resigned in acrimonious circumstances. I think he deserves a lot more credit for that than he currently gets.
It's stretching the definition a bit to apply it to Gerry Walsh, too: he didn't so much resign as see out his term and not stand for re-election.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:27 pm
by Paul Douglass
Carl Hibbard wrote:
David Robertson wrote:Yes. That just about nails it.
Another good post here I have to say:

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... story.html
Justin Horton - Please remind me what position(s) he's held in the ECF or chess in general?

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:29 pm
by Carl Hibbard
Paul Douglass wrote:
Carl Hibbard wrote:
David Robertson wrote:Yes. That just about nails it.
Another good post here I have to say:

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... story.html
Justin Horton - Please remind me what position(s) he's held in the ECF or chess in general?
Relevance? I enjoyed the post either way.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:35 pm
by Paul Douglass
Nothing regarding your opinion of the post. I quoted it due to your link to the S&B blog.

It's just another post from Justin Horton criticising an organisation he's never been an officer of.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:51 pm
by Andrew Zigmond
IM Jack Rudd wrote:
Andrew Zigmond wrote: Roger Edwards is the only ECF President from the last four who hasn't resigned in acrimonious circumstances. I think he deserves a lot more credit for that than he currently gets.
It's stretching the definition a bit to apply it to Gerry Walsh, too: he didn't so much resign as see out his term and not stand for re-election.
Gerry Walsh decided not to seek re-election under absolutely ferocious criticism and left under a massive cloud. I think my point still holds.

And I agree with Paul Douglass. As can be seen in another thread it is the S&B bloggers who described those shown in a photograph of Varsity match sponsors/ organisers as `shysters` - while two of those pictured have their critics the rest are all gentleman who devote much of their time and money to fostering chess in this country. Carl himself has had to moderate a few threads they've dragged off topic when one of their pet targets is mentioned.

What chess needs more of is a) people with the knowledge and status to attract sponsors and investment to the game at all levels and b) volunteers willing to give up their time to make events happen. What it needs less of is people chuntering from the sidelines while not contributing an awful lot themselves.

Sorry if I overstep the mark with this one but I think it needed to be said.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 9:02 pm
by Alex Holowczak
Andrew Zigmond wrote:What it needs less of is people chuntering from the sidelines while not contributing an awful lot themselves.
Two things overwhelmed me today.

The first was the number of pleasant comments and e-mails about the National Club, and also general e-mails from other people who read the e-mail. I think it demonstrates that beyond the "chuntering from the sidelines", there are actually plenty of people who appreciate the efforts of those who give up their time.

The second was was the number of people who had Out of Office automated e-mails switched on. :(

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 9:07 pm
by Paul Douglass
Alex Holowczak wrote:
Andrew Zigmond wrote:What it needs less of is people chuntering from the sidelines while not contributing an awful lot themselves.
Two things overwhelmed me today.

The first was the number of pleasant comments and e-mails about the National Club, and also general e-mails from other people who read the e-mail. I think it demonstrates that beyond the "chuntering from the sidelines", there are actually plenty of people who appreciate the efforts of those who give up their time.

The second was was the number of people who had Out of Office automated e-mails switched on. :(
Unfortunately I can't play OTB chess currently but have always appreciated the effort and commitment of people such as yourself Alex, willing to give up their precious spare time in organising chess tournaments. Best of luck for the future.

Re: Sean Hewitt resigns

Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 10:12 pm
by PeterFarr
Andrew Zigmond wrote:
As can be seen in another thread it is the S&B bloggers who described those shown in a photograph of Varsity match sponsors/ organisers as `shysters` - while two of those pictured have their critics the rest are all gentleman who devote much of their time and money to fostering chess in this country. Carl himself has had to moderate a few threads they've dragged off topic when one of their pet targets is mentioned.
Andrew, you are mistaken here. If you re-read the thread you will see that it was not an S&B blogger that made this remark, and it is perfectly clear that none of the admirable organizers, sponsors or arbiters involved were called a 'shyster' at all. What did happen was that other people took the original remark completely out of context to make unfounded generalisations.

P.S. - though in keeping with the spirit of Andrew's post, I have to say that as a county player, I'm very grateful to him for taking on the county championship controlling this year.