The provisional minutes of the 2009 AGM will appear here soon.
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Sunday, August 3rd, 2008, at St George’s Hall, Liverpool
Present: Lara Barnes, Alex McFarlane, Geoff Jones, Dave Welch, , Adrian Elwin, Paul Bielby, Mike Adams, Stewart Reuben, Simon Woodcock, David Sedgwick, Ian Campbell, Dave Thomas, Neil Graham, Chris Majer .
1. Apologies. Apologies that had been received were from Peter Purland, Alex Webster, Kevin Staveley, Wilf Arnold, Neville Belinfante, Andy Howie, Gerald Jacobs, Scott Freeman, Peter Wilson, Mary McDermott, Roger Edwards, Gerry Walsh, Jack Reid, Tim Thurston, Ewart Smith, John Thornton, Phil Thomas, Alan Ruffle, Peter Gibbs, Cyril Johnson.
2. Minutes. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Saturday, August 5th, 2007, at Gt Yarmouth were accepted as a true record
3. Matters arising. The wording on the ECF website to be changed for International Arbiters without CRB clearance to be changed to “CRB status not known”. This also to be added to BCF arbiters when listed. The delay in getting these arbiters listed on the website is down to data protection and getting their permission to list their details. Chris Majer agreed to action.
Stewart Reuben had not gone ahead with running an organisers’ seminar
Paul Bielby was not invited to the World Youth due to numbers.
The enamel badges were not proceeded with due to the cost.
The secretary had purchased 50 shirts for Associate Members.
4. Chairman’s Report. The Chairman’s report is attached.
Chris Majer agreed that the ECF should review their policy document on arbiters
Chess Scotland appoints arbiters through their Arbiters’ committee, which has one member on the Chess Scotland board.
The chairman was thanked for her report and time in office but regret was expressed that she was stepping down.
5. Treasurer’s Report. A copy of the treasurer’s report is attached.
The current CAA membership position was queried to which the secretary agreed to publish the exact numbers in these minutes. These are 2007 Full Members (qualified arbiters) 46 paid up (one paying for 2006) Associate Members 7. 2006 Full Members 31, Associate Members 11
The treasurer’s report was accepted subject to audit.
Chief Arbiter’s Report. Alex McFarlane reported that he had only been involved with one small dispute but stressed that disputes should be addressed to their respective National Chief Arbiter.
He then instigated a discussion on pairing rules, the outcome of which was agreed that Alex, David Welch and a Welsh representative should meet and if in general consensus, new rules should be issued, preferably with the law revision coming up 1st July 2009, for instigation from 1st January 2009.
6. There were no reports from the Scottish and Welsh Delegates and the English delegate had submitted general reports after each ECF meeting.
7. Election of Officers
(Office) (Nominee) (Proposer) (Seconder)
There were no nominations for the post of chairman so Lara agreed to continue
Chairman Lara Barnes Stewart Reuben Adrian Elwin
David Sedgwick proposed that if all the present officers had agreed to stand again that they be re-elected en bloc. David Thomas seconded. It was carried
Secretary Geoff Jones
Treasurer Wilf Arnold
Chief Arbiter Alex McFarlane
Information Officer Kevin Staveley
Committee
Dave Welch
Adrian Elwin
Neville Belinfante
ECF Delegate Neville Belinfante
Chess Scotland Delegate Alex McFarlane
WCU Delegate Kevin Staveley
Michael Adams was appointed auditor. Proposed by Stewart Reuben, seconded by Neil Graham.
8. Stewart Reuben brought to the meeting attention that FIDE is proposing from July 2009 that FIDE Arbiters should only be appointed after attending a course. He brought this up because there were candidates who had the necessary qualifications now but if they did not get their application in would fall under the above rule change.
Stewart Reuben report that on a recent trip to Rumania, he had learned that their arbiters had to undertake a test each year to continue. A discussion ensued on the ECF renewal policy. It was pointed out that Scottish Arbiters are canvassed yearly on their activities and this is reviewed by the Arbiters committee. It was decided to action the CAA committee to look into Arbiters renewals,
The secretary reported that he had been tasked as ECF Manager of Arbiters to look at those arbiters who had not moved across from BCF arbiters to ECF arbiters and that about 20 had agreed to start the process off with, at the moment ,6 having moved across
9. Training Courses The chairman reported that she was running a training course in Hartlepool in October. The secretary reported that Ken Coates might be also running another on at Wellington College in September. The Secretary to investigate and try to get these advertised on the ECF website.
Arbiter courses may be (and have been) used as refresher courses from already qualified arbiters
Stewart Reuben reported that apprentice arbiters had attend Hastings and Gibraltar to gain FIDE norms, indeed at Hastings there were three FIDE norms available towards the four required.
10. Any Other Business
a) The chairman reported that we were close to getting our own website with Alex McFarlane having agreed to build one. The secretary stated that the treasure had purchased a name but he could not remember what this was.
b) Stewart Reuben and David Sedgwick both confirmed that the FIDE meetings in Dresden would be open to visitors and conducted in English.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 5.05p.m.