ECF Director elections for 2012/13

[Roger de Coverly]

When was the last time the ECF submitted a set of properly audited accounts (okay, don't answer that)?

They do eventually get round to it in time for their legal obligations to be satisfied. Even for 2010-11, the filing, although three months after the AGM was just within the required time period. The BCF on the other hand, which is only a shell, has been a year or more behind.

I don't know if the mystery of the missing Congress Game Fee was ever cleared up. If it was even done, the obvious investigation of comparing income per Congress with the previous year was never made public. I saw a hint in the minutes that it may all have been an illusion. There's a reference to a change of accounting practice to only book the income when received. As there would be a number of Congresses, Easter ones in particular, during March and April 2011 as well as during March and April 2010, the effect of the accounting change could have been to report income from the 2010 Congresses in the year ended 30th April 2010, but not report income from the 2011 Congresses in the year ended 30th April 2011.

[William Metcalfe]

Do not be so sure that nobody is going to challenge Nigel for the Fide Delegates role

[Roger de Coverly]

Something not widely known is that the President appears to have a business relationship with a well known chess correspondent.

http://www.threebrains.co.uk/

In the relatively small chess world, it would be next to impossible for all the directors to avoid business relationships which could give rise on occasion to conflicts of interest.

[Roger de Coverly]

Do not be so sure that nobody is going to challenge Nigel for the Fide Delegates role

The Chairman of the Governance Committee has referred in cryptic terms to the possibility of a third contested election. The possible candidate is apparently still seeking the necessary support to become a declared candidate.

[Andrew Zigmond]

Steve Giddins has published his analysis of the de Mooi statement here. http://stevegiddinschessblog.blogspot.c ... stand.html It's as vicious and cutting as you would expect.

However there's an interesting point concerning Adam Raoof. Choosing my words carefully, if what Mr Giddins says is true, it paints a rather disappointing picture of somebody who looks set to remain a major figure in the ECF. I know very little about Mr Raoof except that he has an excellent track record in chess organisation and we have a surprising number of mutual friends on facebook but this new information worries me. Let's not forget that if attempts at reconciliation had been followed through we would be in a much stronger position now.

[Roger de Coverly]

However there's an interesting point concerning Adam Raoof.

They've known each other for years from the Golders Green tournaments. Here's an interview with both from 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNWITVbma5I

[JustinHorton]

Something not widely known is that the President appears to have a business relationship with a well known chess correspondent.

http://www.threebrains.co.uk/

In the relatively small chess world, it would be next to impossible for all the directors to avoid business relationships which could give rise on occasion to conflicts of interest.

CJ is just a small point in the wider Buzan/Keene web which apparently includes Leontxo Garcia and even Valerie Singleton.

[Jonathan Bryant]

In the relatively small chess world, it would be next to impossible for all the directors to avoid business relationships which could give rise on occasion to conflicts of interest.

True, of course, but that's why it's all the more important that any potential conflicts of interest should be acknowledged and declared publicly - and this is obviously one of them.

Good spot, Roger.

[Jonathan Bryant]

... if what Mr Giddins says is true .... this new information worries me.

True or otherwise - and I haven't the faintest clue in this case because I haven't read the article in question - Gidders' famed moral compass is only ever pointed at the people he doesn't like and never at his friends. That and an extensive track record of trolling leads to a rather distorted impression of events even if/when he is telling the "truth" in some sense.

Try, for example, to find Gidders' critique of Ray Keene's or Nigel Short's behaviour over the past couple of years and see where you get. An instance of him slating RDK before they became mates is rather easier to uncover.

[Ernie Lazenby]

I have read Mr Giddins blog and he sumed it up very well using his Oxford education and eloquence with words; of course us lesser mortals had already said much the same on this forum albeit in a manner more befitting those not so well educated but before he put fingers on his keyboard.

[John Philpott]

There were various developments today while I was enjoying a trip to Hastings to play chess.

1. Rupert Jones has been nominated as the FIDE Delegate. There will therefore be a contested election for this position.

2. Tyrone Jefferies has withdrawn as a candidate for Director of Finance after learning of the nomination of Chris Mattos. Chris has provided an election statement, which should appear on the ECF website in the morning.

3. Sean Hewitt has been nominated as a Non-Executive Director. With Jack Rudd standing for re-election, there are currently two candidates for the two NED positions.

[Roger de Coverly]

1. Rupert Jones has been nominated as the FIDE Delegate. There will therefore be a contested election for this position.
.

You have to hope his position isn't one of "Let's be a Kirsan bootlicker"

[David Robertson]

Does anyone perform 'due diligence' on candidates at this stage? I mean, we're awash with investigative 'due diligence' after people are elected. But beforehand?

[Andrew Zigmond]

If Rupert is willing to pledge not to come on to this forum and insult other people then he has to be an improvement on the present FIDE delegate.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Does anyone perform 'due diligence' on candidates at this stage? I mean, we're awash with investigative 'due diligence' after people are elected. But beforehand?

That's the way of the world, unfortunately, isn't it? Like the Scottish Football Association suddenly discovering the bloke who was running Rangers was a bit of a rotter ... just after everything had gone T-s up.