ECF Council Meeting 12 April 2014

[Roger de Coverly]

The President's role is primarily an ambassadorial and liaison role.

Well that's what Roger Edwards was told. Given the original AP election address on which he was elected ranged well beyond ambassadorial and liaison roles, should he not have been told that his manifesto was essentially that of an Executive President, which wasn't the job on offer?

[David Sedgwick]

The President's role is primarily an ambassadorial and liaison role.

Well that's what Roger Edwards was told. Given the original AP election address on which he was elected ranged well beyond ambassadorial and liaison roles, should he not have been told that his manifesto was essentially that of an Executive President, which wasn't the job on offer?

He was told. He didn't listen. He thought he could persuade Council to elect him nevertheless. He was right.

After the election, he was told repeatedly that he had to change his approach in various ways. He didn't listen. He thought he didn't have to listen, as he believed his position to be impregnable. He was wrong.

[Andrew Zigmond]

David, I fail to understand why you assert that 'the ECF remains rudderless'. You may or may not like the ship's direction of travel, but it is the CEO and the Board who deliver the ECF's stategy as determined by Council. The President's role is primarily an ambassadorial and liaison role.

You might want to peruse the ECF's Directors and Officers Responsibilities Regulations document to get a better idea of the directors' and officers' various roles and responsibilities rather than spouting off at random: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... g-2013.pdf

PS I heartily endorse Andrew's observation in his final sentence.

PPS 'bizarre', not 'bazzar'.

If this was facebook I'd have hit the like button.

It remains my view that we need a President with the contacts and business knowledge to bring investment and sponsorship into ECF activities (something one past president did brilliantly, for all his other faults) while respecting the experience and dedication of the ECF's volunteer workforce (the thing the same president got badly wrong).

[NickFaulks]

and fights vigorously for English players within FIDE - we should trust him to get on with it and consult with those affected.

Really? Affected by what? If Short is aware of ways in which English players would like FIDE to make their chess experience more pleasant, he hasn't passed them on. I asked a while ago on this forum what upset English players and received only one reply, which referenced matters which the BCM was convinced were going to happen, but they never were and didn't.

Andrew, please what do you have in mind?

[Richard Haddrell]

I thought someone would have quoted this exchange by now.

Speaker A: "If a 12½ per cent increase in Game Fee would be so insignificant in budget terms, what will it achieve apart from having Roger de Coverly foaming at the mouth?"
Speaker B: "Isn't that an aim in itself?"

Luckily Council resisted the temptation.

[Mike Truran]

Richard

Thank you for not identifying Speaker A.

[Roger de Coverly]

I thought someone would have quoted this exchange by now.

I note the continued opposition of the SCCU to compulsory membership.

This would exclude Game Fee (unofficially, and lamentably, called pay-to-play) in congresses. The proposal is political, of course. The Board proposes no increase in Membership fees, and seeks to drive the wedge in a little bit further in the direction of compulsory Membership. We cannot say to what extent the Executive's view was informed by politics, but it would not support this rather large increase.

[David Pardoe]

David, I fail to understand why you assert that 'the ECF remains rudderless'. You may or may not like the ship's direction of travel, but it is the CEO and the Board who deliver the ECF's stategy as determined by Council. The President's role is primarily an ambassadorial and liaison role.

You might want to peruse the ECF's Directors and Officers Responsibilities Regulations document to get a better idea of the directors' and officers' various roles and responsibilities rather than spouting off at random: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... g-2013.pdf

PS I heartily endorse Andrew's observation in his final sentence.

PPS 'bizarre', not 'bazzar'.

Mike, was it not your mate Sean Hewitt (a recent ECF Board casualty), who commented that the CEO had lost all sense of objectivity at the ECF Board meetings?
He also accused him of failing to produce the Board Minutes in any kind of acceptable timescales.
Did he not go further, saying that the CEO was lacking in competence, and failing to handle business matters appropriately.
He then said, I believe, that the CEO would go to any lengths to retain/reinstate AP as President
If so, this surely shows a leader who has lost touch with the Board.
I`ve asked above what the CEO thinks about Nigel Shorts views on the FIDE/ECU issues that so divided the Board and ECF Council.
Does he support Nigel Short and his actions/position.

You might well talk of Director responsibilities...? A few of the Board and Council Membership should also take a close look, and reflect how the recent episodes have brought the ECF crashing to the ground.
Mike Gunn wisely side-stepped any of the more contentious issues at yesterdays meeting, which probably avoided the unedefying spectacle of a mass chess boxing match, breaking out in spontaneous reaction to some searching challenges.
Yes, rudderless is probably an understatement.

Do you really think that AP saw himself as merely some kind of ceremonial figure?
He is an ACTION MAN through and through, but proved far too hot to handle, so the back stabbers were summoned.
Julian Clissold cautioned against extreme haste and taking ill thought out actions that might have significant adverse effects for the ECF, and that the Directors should take a step back to explore all the possible remedial actions that might be available, starting with some face-to-face discussion of all the issues.
They ended up holding an emergency meeting, at which Directors spoke briefly, then held a vote, without any time being allowed to reflect on the comments made and discuss further any of the points at issue, before proceeding to vote and raise the red card..

The ECF council were made explicitly aware of the perceived risks of hiring AP, and axing RE, but they chose to ignore all the health warnings, partly due to the outrageous voting system they use, which was a green flag for AP to take up the reigns and execute his strategy, fully supported by his friend, PE.
If you cant see the colossal dysfunctionality in all this, maybe you too have become one of the headless chickens running the ECF establishment.
Some generous offers of assistance have been forthcoming, from experienced hands willing to offer their services....


Bizarre or what...??

[Roger de Coverly]

Do you really think that AP saw himself as merely some kind of ceremonial figure?

No, but that was basically the job on offer as currently specified by the ECF. To get a position where he could dictate events, he should have stood for CEO or possibly as Commercial Director.

Gerry Walsh was an Executive President, but that could just cause conflicts against a CEO or Executive Directors with their own ideas. The structure then adopted was designed to accommodate a figurehead who might not be expected to be involved in the day to day running of the ECF, but who would turn up at meetings, presentations and for media interviews.

[Andrew Zigmond]

and fights vigorously for English players within FIDE - we should trust him to get on with it and consult with those affected.

Really? Affected by what? If Short is aware of ways in which English players would like FIDE to make their chess experience more pleasant, he hasn't passed them on. I asked a while ago on this forum what upset English players and received only one reply, which referenced matters which the BCM was convinced were going to happen, but they never were and didn't.

Andrew, please what do you have in mind?

I possibly didn't phrase the sentence quoted above very well, obviously we are all within FIDE. However FIDE rules and politics largely only affects FIDE rated events.

Obviously at my level, a club and congress player with a miniscule rating, there are things I think could be improved and I want to see developments in these areas. However I do have an IM friend and last July I found myself in the company of several titled players - what struck me was that they have a very different set of priorities and frustrations. I got the impression that a lot of top players are bemused by the issues that hamper progress at amateur level while upthread somebody asked why it's such a big deal which Eastern European GM is elected to what role.

My point was that Mr Short knows what he's doing and should (in consultation with the International Director and other ECF officials who are involved with FIDE rated events) be allowed to get on with it, without being chuntered at by club players.

[Andrew Zigmond]

Some generous offers of assistance have been forthcoming, from experienced hands willing to offer their services....


Bizarre or what...??

Like who exactly? Have they made these offers publicly? Are you able to provide names or is this just speculation and hearsay?

[David Pardoe]

That is in addition to the two mystery candidates mentioned for the Commercial Director slot, and Angus French, who has been linked with the NED vacancy...
But, apparently their is no rush to fill the current vacancy for President, so we remain rudderless, at least for the time being...

[Mike Truran]

Not sure whether you're trying to be annoying, or whether you're just a bit slow on the uptake. Could be both of course.

[David Pardoe]

and fights vigorously for English players within FIDE - we should trust him to get on with it and consult with those affected.

Really? Affected by what? If Short is aware of ways in which English players would like FIDE to make their chess experience more pleasant, he hasn't passed them on. I asked a while ago on this forum what upset English players and received only one reply, which referenced matters which the BCM was convinced were going to happen, but they never were and didn't.

Andrew, please what do you have in mind?

I possibly didn't phrase the sentence quoted above very well, obviously we are all within FIDE. However FIDE rules and politics largely only affects FIDE rated events.

Obviously at my level, a club and congress player with a miniscule rating, there are things I think could be improved and I want to see developments in these areas. However I do have an IM friend and last July I found myself in the company of several titled players - what struck me was that they have a very different set of priorities and frustrations. I got the impression that a lot of top players are bemused by the issues that hamper progress at amateur level while upthread somebody asked why it's such a big deal which Eastern European GM is elected to what role.

My point was that Mr Short knows what he's doing and should (in consultation with the International Director and other ECF officials who are involved with FIDE rated events) be allowed to get on with it, without being chuntered at by club players.

Andrew...see my earlier post.
There are any number of chess players in this country with a direct interest in FIDE chess and who play in FIDE rated events.
And for the privilage. they are charged a huge membership premium to join the ECF. Money that presumably gets syphoned off to pay into the corrupt, much criticised, FIDE club...?
And you mentioned the FIDE delegate consulting with various ECF officials about policy matters, etc..
Would this include the ECF President, and perhaps the CEO?
Your notion that things should just be left with the FIDE delegate is quite wrong.
As I said earlier, it would be interesting to hear what the CEO`s views are on FIDE policy and our FIDE delegate.

[Roger de Coverly]

And for the privilage. they are charged a huge membership premium to join the ECF. Money that presumably gets syphoned off to pay into the corrupt, much criticised, FIDE club...?

Rather than presume, you should look at the accounts. These only show modest amounts being paid to FIDE mostly as rating fees and the 1 Euro per active player as the ECF's membership cost.

You may recall that overcharging players for participation in Internationally rated events was a political decision, so that club players, particularly less active ones, would not have to face the true cost of switching to a per head method of raising money for the ECF.