ECF Finance Council Meeting April 2017

[David Robertson]

I've refrained from commenting on the GC voting reform proposals; and I didn't vote today. Instead I preferred to let Nature take its course; water to find its own level; Finance Council to stick a paw in the air.

And what seems to have occurred, seems to me quite wise. The GC proposals were, frankly, poor. Finance Council appears, after a fashion, to agree. Nothing has adequately convinced it, and further thought must now be given to voting reform. Good! Might I advise that, when the GC next addresses the matter, it establishes, first, what principles and outcomes any reforms seek to satisfy before tinkering with the current arrangements.

And for starters, the GC might want to remind itself that, today, 200 votes were cast by 20 people on behalf of 10,000.

[Mick Norris]

We got cookies and chocolate milk during the break. Glad I gave up my Saturday now.

Ben, we appreciate you and the others who did so

I had a very pleasant afternoon at Gigg Lane instead; I'd like to think John Philpott would have approved

[Roger de Coverly]

Might I advise that, when the GC next addresses the matter, it establishes, first, what principles and outcomes any reforms seek to satisfy before tinkering with the current arrangements.

Were not today's proposals those of the Board, rather than the GC? I rather thought Angus French made that observation, when he stepped down.

[Carl Hibbard]

We got cookies and chocolate milk during the break. Glad I gave up my Saturday now.

Ben, we appreciate you and the others who did so

I had a very pleasant afternoon at Gigg Lane instead; I'd like to think John Philpott would have approved

Going to take a few years to replace John and Richard but I doubt that one is even possible.

[John Reyes]

I noticed that richard left some money for the ECF

How much has he left to the ECF and also where is that money going to be used for?

[Carl Hibbard]

I noticed that richard left some money for the ECF

How much has he left to the ECF and also where is that money going to be used for?

Let us hope it's more junior focused rather than the Malcolm international agenda.

[David Robertson]

Might I advise that, when the GC next addresses the matter, it establishes, first, what principles and outcomes any reforms seek to satisfy before tinkering with the current arrangements.

Were not today's proposals those of the Board, rather than the GC? I rather thought Angus French made that observation, when he stepped down.

Probably, maybe, whatever. They began somewhere; went somewhere; ended nowhere

[Michael Farthing]

..and I didn't even get the cookies. First I knew about it was reading it on here

[benedgell]

I noticed that richard left some money for the ECF

How much has he left to the ECF and also where is that money going to be used for?

Let us hope it's more junior focused rather than the Malcolm international agenda.

The bequest is going to be in the region of £400k, which is a huge amount Richard has left to benefit English chess, and is going to the Chess Trust (the charitable part of the ECF).

[benedgell]

..and I didn't even get the cookies. First I knew about it was reading it on here

Did you get the chocolate milk?

[benedgell]

The ECF is planning to publish voting records at future meetings. It was suggested doing it for the ONOV vote, but as the suggestion was made after the votes were cast today it was decided to leave it until the next meeting.

For whatever its worth, 2 votes for option 1, 1 vote for option 2, 7 for option 3, 23 for no change was how my votes were cast on OMOV. I'll give specifically which votes were cast for which in my report.

[Roger de Coverly]

Let us hope it's more junior focused rather than the Malcolm international agenda.

The Chess Trust was the outcome of the ECF's ambition to turn itself into a charity. Becoming a charity of itself proved impossible as there was no means of disentangling the ECF's involvement with and support of professional players through the British Championship and International teams etc.

From the link
http://www.chesstrust.org.uk/

The Chess Trust has been established with the support of the English Chess Federation for the furtherance of chess. The Trust has the capacity to support a wide range of activities in its furtherance of the game. Its objectives are:
• The advancement of amateur sport by promoting the study and practice of chess in all its forms, principally, but not exclusively, for the benefit of the residents of England; and
• The advancement of education by promoting the development of young people through the teaching and practice of chess

As a statement of objectives it's somewhat vague, but I expect that's intentional, to retain maximum flexibility whilst taking advantage of the tax concessions available to charities. The slightly odd phrase "advancement of amateur sport" sounds as if taken directly from the rules and regulations governing charitable status.

[Paul Cooksey]

So, the ECF Board have got their financial plan through with almost no dissent from Council?

[IanCalvert]

"The Directors acknowledge the concern that the existing constitutional arrangements do not adequately reflect the interests
of Direct Members".

Twenty Council members block change... Maybe Chris Fegan will come up with a cunning plan!

[Andrew Zigmond]

It would be interesting to hear from somebody who was at the meeting as to who spoke against the voting reform proposals and what arguments they put forward. I would be particularly interested to know whether the point that the ECF is now mainly funded by direct members was put to them and what the counter argument was.

I'm disappointed by the outcome although hopefully some progress can be made.

The ECF is planning to publish voting records at future meetings. It was suggested doing it for the ONOV vote, but as the suggestion was made after the votes were cast today it was decided to leave it until the next meeting.

I thought that under the ECF bye laws the voting records had to be kept secret. Phil Ehr did put forward a proposal to change this (at the 2016 Finance Council I think) but it was talked out and I wasn't aware that it had been put forward again. I'm pleased voting records will be published as these are essential for accountability.