I am always happy to read what people have to say.Angus French wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2019 2:22 pm
I'm quite happy to stick to my description of Roger's report as "grossly misleading". You'll need to wait a few days before I comment further (assuming you want to read what I write).
There is a legitimate concern about the perception that ECF members are `taxed` to pay for international chess without any other apparent return. I discussed this prior to the meeting with the various individuals who represent me at council. It is also the case that the ECF does need to do more to regenerate the grassroots. If you read recent board minutes the person who seems the most vocal and pro-active about it is ... Malcolm Pein.
As I have said the board does need to be held to account. At the same time they cannot be expected to divulge every detail, particularly confidential payments to players. To portray the board and particularly Mike Truran and Malcolm Pein as shifty and economical with the truth is more than misleading. It is malicious.
And maybe it is time to look at your own record. You were briefly a non executive director (co-opted on to the board as the best placed unsuccessful candidate after Sean Hewitt resigned). You did not seek re-election. You were then elected to the governance committee which lasted all of a few months. Ditto your appointment as voting register officer. Was it because you discovered that there was actually some hard work involved?
It seems to me that you enjoy needling the board, particularly Mike Truran and Malcolm Pein (both of whom I'm sure could easily drop their voluntary work for the ECF and use the resulting time for salaried work). I was one of those who witnessed your response when Mike Truran (in a discussion about the ECF library) referred you to an answer he had already given - Carl and Jack quickly removed the comment but I saw it and it told me a lot about your motives.
It may well be that I'm doing you an injustice. As the founding member of the controller arbiter nexus I know what that feels like. However I will continue to call out your insinuations about the ECF board. A final point - Malcolm Pein and Mike Truran were probably the two most powerful men in English chess prior to their election to the board. They achieved this standing through three factors a) considerable chess ability in their own right b) a professional background but mainly c) sheer bloody hard work.
EDIT - quotes fixed.