English Chess Forum

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Malcolm Pein @TelegraphChess wrote: Election News. I have decided to stand for the post of Chief Executive of the @ecfchess I feel a change of direction is needed. Manifesto to follow. #ECFChange #MalcolmandAga #Peincampaign

As Paul said above the statements are now on the website, so I now know a little about Fenella.
There is also as Paul stated very little difference regarding policy / ambitions. Both ladies state a desire to build on the success of the Queens Gambit, but I’m unsure as to how they intend to achieve this.
A question for Fenella would be Why Now?
Why not two years ago when the post was vacant?

Bob

People's circumstances change, especially working mums - changing circumstances being a topic covered quite well in Fenella's statement in my view. You could ask the same question of the other candidate as well.

[This is of course speculation on my part, but I'm wary of the narrative Bob seems to be constructing here.]

Bob Clark wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:04 pm

As Paul said above the statements are now on the website, so I now know a little about Fenella.
There is also as Paul stated very little difference regarding policy / ambitions. Both ladies state a desire to build on the success of the Queens Gambit, but I’m unsure as to how they intend to achieve this.
A question for Fenella would be Why Now?
Why not two years ago when the post was vacant?

Two years ago both Fenella and Agnieszka had competed in the 2019 English Woman's Championship, which had bloomed that year into a popular and exciting chess event, with the young guns giving the established Woman's Olympiad old guard plenty of trouble. It had pretty much one of the most tense finishes anyone could ask for at a chess championship. It's a shame Covid robbed us of the 2020 and 2021 events. Perhaps this was the catalyst for positive action? The majority of those junior girls are still active and improving, and there could be good times ahead.
http://chess-results.com/tnr467011.aspx ... NG&flag=30

J T Melsom wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:10 pm

Bob

People's circumstances change, especially working mums - changing circumstances being a topic covered quite well in Fenella's statement in my view. You could ask the same question of the other candidate as well.

[This is of course speculation on my part, but I'm wary of the narrative Bob seems to be constructing here.]

I’m not constructing any narrative except perhaps in your imagination.

If you read Aga’s address she states that she has been shadowing the role and attending board meetings over the last year, so I don’t need to ask her why now.

As you said your speculating, and you may be right regarding changing circumstances, but she has been active in organising events for many years according to her statement, so the question Why now and not two years ago seems relevant.

Isn't it enough that she and Aga are excellent candidates available to undertake the post now, rather than why neither was able to do so in 2019?
I think you see Fenella as somehow in Mike Truran's camp in this election and I just don't see the evidence for that at all. Not every aspect of this election comes down to this binary division of the candidates.

I remember once saying that political parties tended to be an emergent phenomenon of democracy. These elections, and this forum's coverage of these elections, are doing nothing to shake my belief in that hypothesis.

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:05 pm

I remember once saying that political parties tended to be an emergent phenomenon of democracy.

Did anyone say you were wrong?

The current state of the ECF Member Reps exemplifies the early stage where only one party has noticed this fact.

IM Jack Rudd wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:05 pm

I remember once saying that political parties tended to be an emergent phenomenon of democracy. These elections, and this forum's coverage of these elections, are doing nothing to shake my belief in that hypothesis.

Agreed, although the votes are 3:1 for Mike, 2:1 for Fenella and over 5:1 for Robert, so at least some split-ticket voting is going on.

Too few women in ECF so vote for both. A female CEO by 2030 as well?

Nick Grey wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:15 pm

Too few women in ECF so vote for both. A female CEO by 2030 as well?

A female CEO by 2001, in fact.

I'm not sure I was aware of this. Others may have known already.

From the CSC webpage
https://www.chessinschools.co.uk/staff

Three of the five named as "Head Office" are involved as candidates in the ECF elections.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:50 pm

From the CSC webpage
https://www.chessinschools.co.uk/staff

Three of the five named as "Head Office" are involved as candidates in the ECF elections.

But of course. "In Schools and Communities" can also be translated "Literally Everywhere". Why would they consider it out of scope to spend all the ECF's money in addition to their own?

Jonathan, I know you take pride in the accuracy of your pronouncements. Therefore could you check your comment about me. The link seems to be a circular reference.

Jonathan Bryant wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:57 pm

Now, these results weren't necessarily as a result of seeing the people concerned as part of a 'CSC Block', but there does seem to have been a certain lukewarmish response to CSC candidates at times. E.g. the following year John Foley lost a NED election getting only 31 of around 500 votes cast

posting.php?mode=quote&f=25&p=271702

Yesterday evening , following a period of careful thought, Fenella Headlong decided to withdraw her candidature from the election for Director of Women's Chess. She has made a statement about this which is being placed on the ECF website where the Election Addresses have been published. Her own address has been taken down. I would ask forumites to read it before making further comment here.

I'm sure members of the forum will be wishing her well for the future.

Carl, Might it perhaps be appropriate to close the poll early?