What am I doing?

[Adam Raoof]

I would like to see all expenses claimed itemised in the accounts. I think that Directors should not feel guilty about claiming expenses, but I would like there to be a public record of how money is spent, since (especially in the future) that money is raised directly from players.

I think that in many respects the ECF is quite old fashioned. This may not come as a shock to you, I know. But in Corporate Governance terms we may be lagging behind other organisations - I read on another thread that the trustees of the PIF are only elected every 21 years, which is unusual. We have quite a large Board, possibly the maximum number, where we could have opted to cut it down. Directors are elected every year, where most Board members appointments for Housing Associations are three year terms.

In a previous role as an elected sabbatical officer for a student's union, all officers were trustees and had access to a permanent staff, and were paid a proper wage for a year to encourage them to concentrate on delivering the best job possible. It didn't always work; one year is not enough to see through major projects. In Housing Associations it is now normal for (previously voluntary) Board chairs to be paid honoraria, and I believe the same applies for local councillors.

We have an electoral system that gives me three block votes as the organiser of a series of tournaments based on the amount of game fee paid, and gives the players in those tournaments no direct vote at all. In the past I have usually given my proxies to others that I respect and asked them to vote as they see fit. What I would prefer to do is pay less game fee and give those votes back to the people that earned them - the players!

[Sean Hewitt]

Whilst it's great for the ECF's finances that several directors (and Adam and Lawrence are not the only ones by any means) are generous enough not to claim expenses, we have to be careful not to make it seem "bad" to reclaim genuine out-of-pocket expenses. It would be a mistake to limit the pool of potential volunteers only to people who are prepared to sacrifice their own money as well as their time. It's hard enough to find volunteers as it is.

Andrew,

I agree entirely. There is also a danger that the costs of running the ECF become understated within the ECF accounts when expenses incurred are not shown. Much better for the money to be accounted for as a cost and if the beneficiary doesn't want to claim then it should be classed as a donation back to the ECF. Then, if a subsequent post holder does claim it doesn't come as a shock.

There was a similar problem a couple of years ago when the costs for sending an Olympiad team appeared according to the accounts to have sky rocketed. What actually happened was the previously a sponsor had agreed to pay the fees of the players. Instead of showing this in the accounts as a donation the costs were reduced and thus, when there was no sponsor there was a big shock to the system.

Sean

[Kevin Thurlow]

"There is also a danger that the costs of running the ECF become understated within the ECF accounts when expenses incurred are not shown. Much better for the money to be accounted for as a cost and if the beneficiary doesn't want to claim then it should be classed as a donation back to the ECF. Then, if a subsequent post holder does claim it doesn't come as a shock."

I agree entirely. You might actually discourage a talented volunteer from stepping forward as he feels he can't claim expenses. Or he claims expenses and gets people moaning at him for doing so.

[cjdemooi]

We know what's important -

I've just got the press release celebrity list for the London Marathon. My biography mentions my ECF Presidency but bizarrely, completely omits anything about Eggheads...

[Paul Buswell]

Just a comment rather in medias res... the Hastings & St. Leonards Chess Club enjoyed a visit from CJ four weeks ago... most entertaining and frank and honest and informative and well worth other clubs doing - even bitter and hardened cynics were impressed.

PB

[Alex Holowczak]

We know what's important -

I've just got the press release celebrity list for the London Marathon. My biography mentions my ECF Presidency but bizarrely, completely omits anything about Eggheads...

Are you running it dressed as a giant King?

[Malcolm Pein]

I would appreciate it if any reference to the WCC2012 in London would emphasise that we will finish no less than 3 months before the start of the Olympic Games.
The IOC would be less than pleased if we did anything else and getting to close to it would risk being submerged by it. As yet I have not signed any contract with FIDE but I do have the option and go to Sofia shortly to try and progress


MP

[David Sedgwick]

I would appreciate it if any reference to the WCC2012 in London would emphasise that we will finish no less than 3 months before the start of the Olympic Games.

The IOC would be less than pleased if we did anything else and getting to close to it would risk being submerged by it. As yet I have not signed any contract with FIDE but I do have the option and go to Sofia shortly to try and progress

MP

Best of luck Malcolm. If we can have the World Chmpionship Match 2012 in London that would be great.

I hope your point about the date is now well understood, although there was some confusion at one time.

[Matthew Turner]

Just seen our current President cheering an ex-President on. Come on Steve.

[Matthew Turner]

Steve Davis is through to the third round of the World Championships after defeating John Higgins. What an amazing performance. Perhaps he'll join C.J. and Matt Piper in doing the Marathon now.

[Alex Holowczak]

Davis plays Neil Robertson in the Quarter Finals. Robertson trailed 11-5 overnight, and 12-10 this afternoon, but still won 13-12. Davis would have had much more chance against Martin Gould. Robertson blitzed him 10-2 in the first round last year.

[David Lettington]

Robertson blitzed him 10-2 in the first round last year.

Perhaps Davis should challenge him to a game of "snooker without balls", he'd probably win that. See http://www.jlevitt.dircon.co.uk/snooker.html for more details.

[cjdemooi]

I completed the course in 3:25:44 and am now in considerable pain. However, so far I've raised over £5400 (although there's still time to add a few pennies!) but I don't think I'll be doing it again...

[John Upham]

Robertson blitzed him 10-2 in the first round last year.

Perhaps Davis should challenge him to a game of "snooker without balls", he'd probably win that. See http://www.jlevitt.dircon.co.uk/snooker.html for more details.

Norton reports 14 threats from this URL : beware.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I remember that JL did not like the suggestion that (if snooker = chess + balls) chess = snooker - balls. That did not sound like much of a game to him.

Mind you, that would pretty much be blindfold chess, wouldn't it. An improvement even, you could lie back on the green baize when contemplating your moves...