Post
by David Pardoe » Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:02 pm
It seems that Malcolm has more than enough on his plate, and doing a fine job in promoting chess in the UK.
The knit picking over peoples credetials is not really helpful. We are very lucky that such people willingly give of there free time to attend these meetings.
I`ve said before that the ECF is too `South centric`, and is under represented by the northern chess community at board level. I strongly favour having some additional regional directors...at least 2 or three for the North, 1 or more for the East, and 1 for the south west (at least), added to the current list, so that these areas can be heard & represented. We also need to see more ECF meetings in the north...Sheffield, York, Manchester, etc.
I see the ECF as a facilitating body, not necessarily as some kind of `cash cow` which props up all sorts of chess endevours. I see it having the role of trying to ensure the smooth operation of all the various `branches` of chess...not as the `big brother` body playing at some kind of grand `fat controller`. Its in that vien that I see the BCF as a potentially far more important `Flagship` and influential organisation for UK chess. But such a body would be there to allow and encourage the constituent membership (the real power houses in the land) in an `unbrella` capacity...as Ive said previously.
Sean said earlier about support for the e2e4 & 4NCL...maybe an additional `events` director for these initiatives (and congresses generally), would not go amiss. We must be cautious not to use these very valuable events as battering rams to drive change, with wild threats of ex-communication if things dont always go smoothly. Good communications are vital at all levels.
I was intregued by the points about NED responsibilities...approving renumeration...? If only the hard working people could get some renumeration...its just not feasible in organisations like the ECF...the rewards all come from the fruits of good works..... long may this continue.
Junior chess...schools chess..free sets, etc. Can we not use our `chess networks` to help with distribution issues...maybe delivering sets to `Congress pickup points`, county match pickup points, or even ECF meetings...for collection and onward distribution. Maybe the ECF Office could assist with planning and logistics, using various key organisors to provide linkups to co-ordinate things.
Many other points to work on, if we are to avoid the mediocracy of a semi-detched `little england`. Plenty to work at....!!
Many still feel the `closure` of the BCF (on its 100th birthday..centenary), was an ill conceived hatchet job...the one real signifant vote of the `membership`, (43% in favour of retaining the BCF Flagship, I think), was ignored & just swept under the carpet, many might feel.
But...we are where we are....... CJ rules ok
BRING BACK THE BCF