ECF AGM aftermath

[Andrew Zigmond]

A very interesting article from Richard James which may even get through to certain ex board members the message the rest of us have been trying to give them; namely that their agenda wasn't the problem but that they alienated the people they needed on side.

That said, I disagree slightly with the comments about the conservatism of chess players. Council does seem on the whole to be more progressive than it was ten years ago. The main problem with the rank and file across the country is not so much conservatism as apathy; I doubt most of my club colleagues would have noticed if Betty Boop had become ECF President at the AGM! However I think most club and league players have noticed that there isn't much new blood coming through anymore and that each season it's the same old faces getting slightly greyer every time. If there were initiatives locally and nationally that were bringing new players into clubs and leagues I suspect they would take notice. However in the short term I think the ECF will have to work around them just as a lot of chess organisations currently work around the ECF.

Unfortunately the 15-20 years points sums up the big part of the problem. A lot of players now in their sixties and seventies take the view that they've done their bit and if their club or league is badly dwindling they're happy to let it run out for what time they have left.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Unfortunately the 15-20 years points sums up the big part of the problem. A lot of players now in their sixties and seventies take the view that they've done their bit and if their club or league is badly dwindling they're happy to let it run out for what time they have left.

I know Richard said that himself, but I suspect he didn't mean that people in general should just let this happen.

My view is that rejuvenation of a chess scene (whether local or national) and the appearance of new members and new administrators and organisers, does happen, but not necessarily at a regular rate. It is cause for concern when the rate drops off, and the basic grass roots need to be there to encourage new players, and publicity campaigns are needed to raise the profile of the game, and succession planning is incredibly helpful if it happens, but you will go through natural periods where you get "the same old faces getting slightly greyer every time". If the history (of membership and administration of chess organisations) was documented better, it might be possible to actually study whether that is the pattern or not.

[Michael Farthing]

Well said Christopher.

How often do we read in the obituaries, "Bingo Little, though not one of the strongest players, was for over 30 years the stalwart organiser, secretary and captain of the Market Snodsbury Chess Club as well as President of the Drones Chess League. He was a great encourager of young players and unstinting in his time. Our sympathies go to his wife Rosie and his son Algernon" (or similar).

The grey haired men of today can look forward to similar epitaphs as can their successors.

[IM Jack Rudd]

If this were Facebook, I would Like Michael's post for the PG Wodehouse reference.

[Andrew Zigmond]

I think Christopher and Michael might have misunderstood the thrust of my post. The people in their sixties and seventies I referred to are `letting it happen` because they have pretty much done their time. In a fair few clubs you might well find that the majority of the members have done their stint as secretary/ captain etc and feel it's time for somebody else to come to the fore.

I remember Richard James writing in Addicts Corner (the legendary column in Chess he wrote with the late Mike Fox) as to how he remembered as a young man `putting the Percys and Harolds in their places` but how there weren't any Matthews and Jasons coming forward to replace them in turn, leaving him with no choice but to soldier on; a comment I remember all these years on. To be fair things aren't quite as bad as I thought they would be in 2015 due to the `false boom` that is taking place as the students inspired to play chess by Bobby Fischer near retirement. That said, there is still too much of a Mr Micawber (`something will come up`) attitude amongst local chess organisers.

[Michael Farthing]

And Mr micawber is right. Andrew Zigmond and Alex Holowczak have come up.

[David Pardoe]

A very interesting article from Richard James which may even get through to certain ex board members the message the rest of us have been trying to give them; namely that their agenda wasn't the problem but that they alienated the people they needed on side.

That said, I disagree slightly with the comments about the conservatism of chess players. Council does seem on the whole to be more progressive than it was ten years ago. The main problem with the rank and file across the country is not so much conservatism as apathy; I doubt most of my club colleagues would have noticed if Betty Boop had become ECF President at the AGM! However I think most club and league players have noticed that there isn't much new blood coming through anymore and that each season it's the same old faces getting slightly greyer every time. If there were initiatives locally and nationally that were bringing new players into clubs and leagues I suspect they would take notice. However in the short term I think the ECF will have to work around them just as a lot of chess organisations currently work around the ECF.

Unfortunately the 15-20 years points sums up the big part of the problem. A lot of players now in their sixties and seventies take the view that they've done their bit and if their club or league is badly dwindling they're happy to let it run out for what time they have left.

OMOV, or the right proportionate flavour thereof, would certainly be one step forward, but would need to be phased in...this would not pull in mass support, but might add some `empowerment` to those who want to have there voices heard... and, done in the right, proportionate way, could add real value.
Your criticism of the Board, and its seeming inability to work together is not untypical..... the `not these candidates` option is no answer. We do need the various bodies to `get connected` and actively contribute, including to the candidate selection and nomination process. Too many bodies have power, but are just dormant shells..

As regards the lack of new blood in chess....and lack of volunteers. There are many factors, including our current economic and social situation... and some obvious `blockers` in the area of junior chess....Do we need to focus on creating more junior specialist clubs.
Unfortunately, the Fischer era will probably never be repeated... such a legend and mercurial figure, who could hit the headlines, and produce magic on and off the chess board.!!!
Today we have boring chess engines, that can make chess look almost `dull`.. and reduce GM play to `rather average looking`, doesn't help..
So, can they find some media formula that can attract TV audiences...and funding. Is chess really watchable or is it really a participation `sport/activity`..? Bill Hartston and Ray Keene, etc did produce a brand of quite interesting, watchable TV coverage at one time... and a Grand Master series also did seem quite good, and was well presented.. Surely Channel 4 or some such channel could cater more effectively for these `minority` activities..
They can put snooker and golf into a format that attracts TV audiences... can they find a workable formula for major chess events.. or maybe it needs to be done via some kind of subscription service/option..
Has chess got the personalities to project the game, and more importantly, can the real attractions and skills of chess be projected. It is a great social and cultural activity, that has much to offer in this world be live in.... not,least, its fairly cheap, ..it gets you out of the house, away from the boring TV, actually meeting other people to enjoy an evenings social chess.. and various other flavours of chess. Yes, it has great educational value... but its not some kind of geeks activity exclusively for those lofty academic types, as the media sometimes portrays... It is truly an activity `for the common man`, that players of all standards can enjoy.. ... all should be made welcome. Some of our clubs could perhaps do with a conversion from league chess factories, to cater for wider needs, and thus attract new membership.
Until our clubs, leagues, Counties/Unions, and other bodies can put out the right positive messages, to encourage greater take-up and active support, we can only soldier on... with our volunteers, and in trying to attract more volunteers to keep the wheels turning..

Greater attention to `succession policies`, by creating stronger support committees might help.. particularly for Congress bodies..
We have many good events, that can fold in a flash, if they are run by one man and his dog, who might be really staunch chess enthusiasts, who have put years of hard work into various events...only for these to fold in the blink of an eye.. One problem is the lack of co-ordinated effort within our chess bodies. Many players turn up at clubs and just play there chess, almost oblivious to the fact that various bodies are in urgent need of there help...
You don't have to be some kind of organisational wizard to be able to make a contribution... common sense people from all backgrounds can help, and really could make a difference.

[Roger de Coverly]

The minutes of the Board meeting on the morning of the AGM have now been made available.

The identity of the coach who threatened legal action has been revealed along with the issue. It was a question of how many coaches would be taken to the event in Greece currently taking place. When some of the previously selected players dropped out because of uncertainties about visiting Greece, the ECF had decided to downsize the delegation including the coaches. The aggrieved coach was one of those downsized.

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... -final.pdf

[Michael Flatt]

The minutes of the Board meeting on the morning of the AGM have now been made available.

The identity of the coach who threatened legal action has been revealed along with the issue. It was a question of how many coaches would be taken to the event in Greece currently taking place. When some of the previously selected players dropped out because of uncertainties about visiting Greece, the ECF had decided to downsize the delegation including the coaches. The aggrieved coach was one of those downsized.

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/wp-conte ... -final.pdf

Was it correct to publicly name the coach making a legitimate claim for loss of earnings?

Was the second coach who was 'stood down' offered the same settlement?

[John Philpott]

Michael Flatt wrote

Was it correct to publicly name the coach making a legitimate claim for loss of earnings?

No - carelessness on the part of the ECF Company Secretary in preparing the publication version, now corrected.

[Michael Flatt]

Michael Flatt wrote

Was it correct to publicly name the coach making a legitimate claim for loss of earnings?

No - carelessness on the part of the ECF Company Secretary in preparing the publication version, now corrected.

John, Thanks for correcting this so speedily. If none of us made mistakes we wouldn't be human.

[Carl Hibbard]

That was a bad one.

[Roger de Coverly]

Was it correct to publicly name the coach making a legitimate claim for loss of earnings?

Was the second coach who was 'stood down' offered the same settlement?

Assuming the ECF a major commissioner of coaching services at a high level, falling out with a major client would not seem a good career move.

At an historic level, coaching services were unnecessary, as many players below the absolute elite were self taught.

[Michael Farthing]

I see that the Vacancies page on the ECF website has a new advertisement for 'Manager of Women's Chess' ...
Slipped in quite quietly, a few days after a small change on the Board and Officers page.

How can you get answers to an advert if you don't try and get exposure for it?

[Roger Lancaster]

I suspect it might have been hard(er) to fill those junior vacancies in the days before the AGM when Traci would have been unable to state with total certainty to whom they would report - hence the timing of those advertisements, just after the AGM.