This was published on the Yorkshire Site on 20 Sept. see
http://yorkshirechess.org/who-keres/
Membership Organisation (MO) Framework Agreement
The ECF CEO has not accepted our Membership Framework Agreement which we presented at the AGM. He had a signed copy from us and we understood that it would be agreed if the AGM voted to pay game fee on Yorkshire league fixtures. Indeed Andrew Farthing rang Jon Griffith the following day to find out how the meeting had gone and we presumed that everything was accepted.
A week before the Framework Agreement was to commence (1 September) we received an invite to sign the Framework Agreement. We queried it but Andrew Farthing insisted that we had to sign the new Framework Agreement which has a particular clause omitted. The new agreement will not grade members in unregistered events. For example Bradford league games will not be graded by the ECF even for its members. The agreement we signed in June stated that they would continue to grade games from non registered leagues such as Bradford and Andrew Farthing was specifically asked this question at the YCA AGM and he clearly stated that he didn’t know of any moves within the ECF Board to change this.
The ECF have effectively changed the goal posts about membership entitlement and the YCA committee were agonising over calling an Emergency General Meeting to give everyone the chance to vote again. We felt there wasn’t enough time to do so but also that the principle of remaining in the ECF was voted for at the AGM so we should stick with it. If I have presumed wrong I apologise.
What I can state is that Yorkshire has not signed a Framework Agreement which means we are not tied down by contract with the ECF and we will bring this up for the vote at the next AGM.
There are three reasons for not signing:
1. There is no benefit to players. Previously the MO scheme offered cheap ECF membership. Now players can get membership via the ECF web-site or office as cheap or cheaper than we could offer under the Framework Agreement.
2. The Framework Agreement would require us to undertake considerable administrative and accounting work.
3. The ECF have moved the goalposts:
At the AGM Andrew Farthing was asked if the ECF will continue to grade the games of ECF members played in non-registered events. He assured us that he knew of no plan to change this. But he went away and changed it in the new Framework Agreement; notifying us (without any consultation) at the end of August. So ECF members’ games in clubs and in eight local leagues now cease to be ECF graded.
Game Fee and ECF Membership
So what does it mean for you if you wish to join the ECF?
You need to join the ECF directly instead of going through our treasurer. In order to play in the Yorkshire league without incurring a £2 per game fee, you should be at least a bronze member costing £13 (or £12 if you join online) Details of how to join can be found on the ECF site.
The new Game Fee rules insist that non ECF members will be charged £2 per player per game in order for the whole competition to be graded.
Yorkshire registration fees are:
Free for ECF members.
£2 per game for a non ECF member. This will be charged to the club.
The ECF claim they will be publishing a full downloadable list of members on their website.
I think it is such a shame that the ECF Board feel the need to use the ‘stick’ approach to try to obtain members and fees. Does this mean they admit don’t have a ‘carrot’ that can entice new members? If they did then surely the named and shamed Yorkshire leagues should all be clamouring to join the ECF game fee.
Please note that 100% of all registration fees from Yorkshire League players this year will go to the ECF.