ECF AGM 17/10/20

Debate directly related to English Chess Federation matters.
Paul Cooksey
Posts: 1519
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:15 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Paul Cooksey » Sat Oct 17, 2020 3:47 pm

we did the others first, addresses just started

John Reyes
Posts: 672
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:51 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by John Reyes » Sat Oct 17, 2020 4:20 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 3:47 pm
we did the others first, addresses just started
Tim and Nigel have giving their speeches
Any postings on here represent my personal views only and also Dyslexia as well

Paul Cooksey
Posts: 1519
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:15 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Paul Cooksey » Sat Oct 17, 2020 4:23 pm

Nigel spoke first. Made a relatively traditionalist case based on restarting existing events competently and expansion. Made a good impression IMO based on his competence, the work he has done with all board members, and his leading role in helping ECF launch online events during covid19.

The two Directors you would most expect to support Tim are Chris and Malcolm and both chose to ask Nigel questions. Chris asked the circumstances and timing under which Adrian Elwin decided to stand aside, which I think qualifies as a difficult if polite question rather than a friendly one. Nigel indicated a late decision, and Adrian spoke to confirm that he supported Nigel who he felt had done more of the HD role during recent months than he had himself.

Malcolm suggested he would like to see both Tim and Nigel on the board, perhaps splitting the role. He and Nigel both acknowledged that this was not an option Council could vote for, and Nigel confirmed he wanted to be Home Director not just online chess Director.

Tim spoke about a more innovative approach to the role, about how new events can address the short and long term challenges of English chess. I think forumites will have seen his posts on hybrid and online chess, and his desire to set up a "chess sage" group to advise on how OTB chess can be restarted.

This forum got a mention in a question from Nick Faulks. Tim Wall confirmed he would be happy to stop posting here if elected. Possibly even if not elected, although that was not part of the question

We are voting now, a break planned before results

Nick Grey
Posts: 1838
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:16 am

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Nick Grey » Sat Oct 17, 2020 4:31 pm

Thanks for coverage all.

Paul Cooksey
Posts: 1519
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:15 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Paul Cooksey » Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:27 pm

Towers: 168
Wall: 92
NOA: 0

all unopposed candidates elected with small numbers against, excepting Natasha Regan who had no votes against and presumably wins some sort of prize.
Last edited by Paul Cooksey on Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

John Reyes
Posts: 672
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:51 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by John Reyes » Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:29 pm

thanks paul
Any postings on here represent my personal views only and also Dyslexia as well

Mick Norris
Posts: 10310
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:12 am
Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Mick Norris » Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:35 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:27 pm
Towers: 168
Wall: 92
NOA: 0

all unopposed candidates elected with small numbers against, excepting Natasha Regan who had no votes against and presumably wins some sort of prize.
Well done Natasha

Quite a decisive result, I expected Tim and Nigel to be a close call
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Jonathan Rogers
Posts: 4634
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:26 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:39 pm

I should think that, judging from the reports on this thread, it was unwise for MP and CF to question NT. There was surely already an uncomfortable feeeling of Tim being part of their "group" which, if all elected, would have rather a large effect on Board deliberations; and if so, questioning Tim's opponent can only have added to that unease. (They would have done better to question Tim! Maybe next time ...)

Simon Rogers
Posts: 2337
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:30 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Simon Rogers » Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:49 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:27 pm
Towers: 168
Wall: 92
NOA: 0

all unopposed candidates elected with small numbers against, excepting Natasha Regan who had no votes against and presumably wins some sort of prize.
Well done Natasha Regan.
Natasha used to play for Guardian Royal Exchange in the Blackpool and Fylde Chess League, back in the 1990s before moving down south.
A very nice person.
I met her again a few years ago at the Blackpool Chess Congress.

Mick Norris
Posts: 10310
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:12 am
Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Mick Norris » Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:50 pm

Jonathan Rogers wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:39 pm
I should think that, judging from the reports on this thread, it was unwise for MP and CF to question NT. There was surely already an uncomfortable feeeling of Tim being part of their "group" which, if all elected, would have rather a large effect on Board deliberations; and if so, questioning Tim's opponent can only have added to that unease. (They would have done better to question Tim! Maybe next time ...)
They have never been tactically astute though
Any postings on here represent my personal views

NickFaulks
Posts: 8452
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:28 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by NickFaulks » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:05 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:27 pm
all unopposed candidates elected with small numbers against
Depends what you call small.
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a QR code stamped on a human face — forever.

David Robertson

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by David Robertson » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:07 pm

Jonathan Rogers wrote:
Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:39 pm
if elected, would have rather a large effect on Board deliberations
We can be pretty sure "deliberations" are not all it would have had an effect on

Paul Cooksey
Posts: 1519
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2016 4:15 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Paul Cooksey » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:09 pm

The NCCU motion on Director's terms went to a card vote, despite needing a 75% majority and losing on a hand vote.

Jonathan did understand my implication. Chris and Malcolm also spoke in favour of the proposal which Tim advocated on behalf of the NCCU. Chris made his opposition to the Governance committees response very strongly, provoking Robert Stern to read comments in the Pearce report in full. I believe this is the lawyer's equivalent of defcon 2. Of course some people are able to exchange robust points of view without it damaging their personal relationship.

Even if it was not the motivation for the NCCU motion, as we are assured, practically Mike Truran is the person it would have most impacted It would certainly have made it much easier for someone to replace him than would be the case in a contested election next year, if he chooses to stand.

Of course I'm hardly a big supporter of Mike's vision as CEO. But I'd rather lose a fair fight than win a rigged one, clearly making me a poor politician.

Kevin Thurlow
Posts: 5802
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:27 pm

"But I'd rather lose a fair fight than win a rigged one, clearly making me a poor politician."

An absolutely hopeless one!

J T Melsom
Posts: 1294
Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:12 pm

Re: ECF AGM 17/10/20

Post by J T Melsom » Sat Oct 17, 2020 6:55 pm

I missed the deadline for voting by proxy and wasn't able to attend the meeting. I've not met Tim Wall and my only contact with Nigel Towers was a 4NCL game which was needlessly over-extended by my opponent. Although doubts have been expressed to me about Tim's ability to deliver on the ground, I suspect he still has much to offer. His constant politicking don't really endear him to an essentially conservative electorate, and it is hard not to be wary of the potential alliances that would be formed upon his election. I doubt Nigel will be as visionary, but he has delivered this summer and he will almost certainly be less disruptive.

Post Reply