AGM : 15 October 2011

[Mike Gunn]

I have circulated the S&B blog questions to all directors and their alternates, so everybody knows about them. It is up to individual directors to respond or not and there may also be a board response.

[Alex McFarlane]

You have to feel sorry for the CEO!

Sorry, I've tried to treat this thread with a bit of levity. However I have to say that if the ECF Board as a whole had been more open and taken collective responsibility when it was really needed then the CEO would not be in a position where people would need to be sorry for him.

I was very tempted to go to this AGM and ask a few pertinent questions but decided that I would probably just get more angered by proceedings. CJ De Mooi provided so many opportunities for the ECF to move forward. All that was required was a certain amount of moderation. THe Board's failure to provide a framework for him to work within has caused all the problems.

[Alex McFarlane]

I have circulated the S&B blog questions to all directors and their alternates, so everybody knows about them. It is up to individual directors to respond or not and there may also be a board response.

But will the response be made public?

[Roger de Coverly]

I was very tempted to go to this AGM and ask a few pertinent questions .

Unless you represented one of the many chess bodies forming the non-individual members of the ECF, I doubt that you would be allowed to speak, even if you were allowed to attend as an observer.

(edit) Does being an ECF Manager make a difference? (/edit)

But will the response be made public?

I think during "Chess for Schools" that attendees were asked to not report something said at the AGM. Usually though, reports of what's been said and agreed are circulated (unofficially).

[Alex McFarlane]

There are various bodies I could represent.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

There are various bodies I could represent.

But who represents the Managers of the British Championships? The Director of Home Chess?

[IM Jack Rudd]

There are various bodies I could represent.

But who represents the Managers of the British Championships? The Director of Home Chess?

The Director of Home Chess is the Director to whom said Managers report, if that's what you mean.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

There are various bodies I could represent.

But who represents the Managers of the British Championships? The Director of Home Chess?

The Director of Home Chess is the Director to whom said Managers report, if that's what you mean.

What I was trying to get at was what Alex McF said: "I was very tempted to go to this AGM and ask a few pertinent questions but decided that I would probably just get more angered by proceedings." If such proceedings included him being told that there was no official way for him to speak, I can see what he means. Is there an official organisation representing tournament organisers and/or managers? I'm aware of the Chess Arbiters Association, but that seems slightly different.

[Roger de Coverly]

Unless you represented one of the many chess bodies forming the non-individual members of the ECF, I doubt that you would be allowed to speak, even if you were allowed to attend as an observer.

Answering my own question, it's very much a private club. There are no rights for individual members to even attend, let alone ask questions.

The Direct Members shall have no right to receive notice of or to attend General Meetings but shall have the right to vote in the category in which they are in membership for the purpose of electing Direct Members’ Representatives who are also of that category to attend and vote at General Meetings in accordance with Article 13.

Bold added.

[Alex McFarlane]

Neville Belinfante is the normal CAA rep but is elsewhere so I could have gone in his stead. I could have gone as Scarborough. There are a couple of other NE England votes I could have gone to represent.

You would hope that any member would be allowed to attend if not to participate at least to observe.

On observing - is anyone going who will be able to give a blow by blow account of the action?

[Sean Hewitt]

I gave running commentary last time. Sadly I shall be washing my hair on Saturday, but I am sure somebody will - as long as they are not defaulted for having their phone turned on

[Mike Gunn]

What I was trying to get at was what Alex McF said: "I was very tempted to go to this AGM and ask a few pertinent questions but decided that I would probably just get more angered by proceedings." If such proceedings included him being told that there was no official way for him to speak, I can see what he means. Is there an official organisation representing tournament organisers and/or managers? I'm aware of the Chess Arbiters Association, but that seems slightly different.

Until a few minutes ago I believed Alex was going to be present at the AGM and he would (of course) have been welcome to speak there.

[Mike Gunn]

In response to Roger's point above, individual members of the ECF can attend the AGM (with my permission). Indeed one member of this forum has already asked permission to attend, and it has been given!

[John Upham]

but I am sure somebody will

Perhaps Roger could Tweet matters as they happen especially on the issue of Chess Tax?

[David Robertson]

Let face it, guys. As an 'organisation', ECF is completely shot. Financially. Politically. Morally.

We have a crisis, a big crisis. Don't let it go to waste. Time for a big re-think about what we do; how we do it; who does it. Oh, and who pays!

Will the AGM be anything more than 'business as usual' with a fee hike? Doesn't look like it.

So the next crisis is unlikely to be long postponed. And of course, it will be more severe. Sorry to be gloomy. Sorry to be realistic too.