SCCU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Friday 8th March 2008 (start 7 pm) at the Exmouth Arms, 1 Starcross St, London NW1
10 attended. Main points: (1) Matter Arising. Yes, a Matter Arising. It stems, ultimately, from the 2007 AGM (item 3): see three reports down. The strayed Trophies had come home. Whether engraved or not we can't say. (2) Money. The new bank accounts are in place. There was some procedural tidying-up, but things are on track. Everyone has paid their dues except one County, which has promised to.
The long-advertised SCCU Equipment has been sold to CCF, which was the only bidder, for a lesser sum than the £350 originally and optimistically targeted. There was some debate about how to show the transaction in the SCCU Accounts, where the value of the Equipment has been nil for some time. (Don't tell CCF.) (3) ECF Grading Revisions. Not exclusively an SCCU concern, but a person was present who has been involved with the ECF's investigations into grading "anomalies" (we think this is the technical word) and their repair. Unsurprisingly he was asked questions. Nothing is cut and dried, but it remains very likely that the 2008 grades will be New Grades. In the transitional year it is intended to publish grades in the old currency as well, so you can tell whether you've gone up or down. But there will be no simple formula relating New to Old. Players with the same 2008 Old Grade will not necessarily have the same 2008 New Grade. "Will this be explained?", people asked. We're sure it will. They'll be rioting in the streets if it isn't. (4) County matches. This came up in two or three places. The County Match Controller noted the winners already known and congratulated Herts on their first ever SCCU Championship. Two future things were also discussed.
(a) ECF Stage 2008. The published draw is in several ways deficient (see the ECF-Stage page if you haven't), and a new version is promised for late March. It was observed that some teams were going to find themselves suddenly required to play Preliminary matches, and late March was rather late in the day to be telling them so. The Executive agreed to make quiet representations to the ECF. Some would have gone further.
(b) SCCU U75 Championship 2008-9? It was agreed, with little discussion, to put this possibility to the AGM. The new ECF grades would not be an objection if we used old ones instead. (5) Juniors. A date was announced for the U14/90 Final between Herts and Kent, but the team managers have since had second thoughts. We believe they are looking at June.
On the U18 Jamborees, it was noted that only two teams had played in the Open. Six had played in the Minor, but all from the same two counties again. This led to a new suggestion: (6) A reserved date for Jamborees? The U18 Jamborees had clashed with a 4NCL weekend. Would it be possible to set aside a free date for SCCU Jamborees, adult and Junior, and keep it free of all other SCCU activities? It would be nice to have all the jamborees played at the same time in the same place. The County Match Controller said it was certainly possible but would need everyone's cooperation. He had hoped that Counties would keep a weekend free for this year's adult Jamborees, but not all had done so. (7) SCCU Bulletin. There is still a printed Bulletin, though it has much declined in frequency in these Internet days. To be honest it last appeared more than a year ago. Its main function now is to serve as a journal of record. The Bulletin Editor, who happens also to be the Webmaster, suggested that production should be stabilised at one issue per season appearing at season's end in (say) July. He was working on the July 2007(!) issue and felt that he could keep to an annual schedule from July 2008. The Executive agreed to this. (8) British Championship qualifying places 2009, and SCCU Individual Championship 2008-9. Places were awarded as follows. SCCU Championship: Hertfordshire Congress (Royston), 1-2 December 2008. BCQ: Essex Congress, late May 2009; Royston; Surrey Congress, Easter 2009; Thanet Congress, August 2008. (9) British Chess Educational Trust Award. The Executive agreed on a nomination. We won't name the school till the Trust has announced its decisions. (10) ECF Council Rep. The Union, since October last, has had only one Council rep instead of four. It was agreed that the rep should be the SCCU President.
The meeting closed at 10.04 pm, which seems to be about the norm now.
rjh 12.3.08
SCCU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Friday 5th October 2007 (start 7 pm) at the Exmouth Arms, 1 Starcross St, London NW1
9 attended. Before the meeting began, members spoke warmly of Roy Heppinstall and it was resolved to donate £100 to charity in his memory.
Main points covered: (1) Rules & Appeals Sub-Committee. It was confirmed that those elected in absentia at the previous meeting had all accepted. (2) BCQ places 2009 & SCCU Championship 2008-9. Two congresses, Thanet and Surrey, had got their applications in well in advance. The decision isn't made till March. Further applications will be accepted up to the end of February. (3) Money. The Executive spent some time on Bank Accounts. Quite apart from the formalities of installing new signatories, we are transferring our money from one bank to another. Bank, not branch. The existing one had not been very satisfactory. (4) Grading. The Grading Secretary remarked that nearly everyone's grade would be going up next year. And the lower you are, the more you'll go up. This is part of the Big Adjustment which really is coming in July 2008. Never heard of it? Go and read Open Forum, or the ECF Forum or the Atticus one.
Someone mentioned the (no longer very) newfangled lower-end FIDE conversions. The ones with the five-times scale. "Is there any chance of going back to the correct eight-times?" Grading Secretary: "I don't think it's likely to happen."
FIDE conversions are scarcely used in ECF grading. Congress controllers are thought to have uses for them. Five-times, when introduced, was specifically described as "for ECF grading purposes only" (hence more or less pointless). This caveat seems to have been dropped. (5) SCCU Competitions. The County Match Controller remarked on this year's increased entry in the main competitions. For once it would actually bring more games with it. The U180 and U135 Jamborees, tentatively fixed for 30th March, would be offered to the current U180 holders if they wished to host them.
Someone wondered if there might be a case for a new Counties competition at (say) U75. "Let's wait and see what happens to the grades next year before we think about that." (6) Juniors. The CCF-website question simmers on, but only that. The eligibility definitions of the two Non-County Members were: Hampshire Juniors, as per ECF criteria as you'd expect. CCF: Past or present membership or traineeship of CCF. Nobody wanted to propose amendments, but could we now if we wished? President: While the new rules give the Executive the right to amend criteria, or indeed reject an entry, it would not be acceptable to do so without notice. (7) SCCU Equipment. You will recall that we got no offers when we asked for a minimum of £350. We had since received an offer for a smaller sum. Further offers will be invited. (8) Friends of Chess. It was agreed to renew the Union's Patronship of the Friends of Chess. (9) ECF Council meeting 20th October 2007. The Executive discussed two items on the agenda.
(a) Union Representation at ECF Council meetings. Or rather, the representation of Constituent Units. The existing rules are odd. The Counties and Leagues and Congresses get one rep each. (So one vote on a show of hands, though on a "card vote" they get whatever their Game Fee payment entitles them to.) For reasons doubtless forgotten, the CUs get varying numbers of reps. The SCCU, at four, gets more than anyone. It is proposed that the situation be rationalised by giving everybody one rep each. On a card vote, based on Game Fee, the SCCU would still carry more weight than most Unions but less than the larger Counties and Leagues.
This change was actually made two years ago for BCF Council meetings, and was proposed last year for ECF ones but went back to the shop for technical reasons. The Executive reached no clear consensus now, and the SCCU reps, still plural for the moment, were asked to use their best judgment.
(b) County Match dates. The outgoing Home Director had floated the idea of ECF-Stage matches starting earlier (eg Preliminary Round at the end of March). This would shorten the Union-stage season so far as to make things impossible for us. We would oppose any such thing.
Someone from Surrey put in a plea for ECF-Stage matches not to clash with Silverstone.
The meeting finished at 9.55 pm, far short of the modern record.
rjh 17.10.07, amended 21.10.07
ROY HEPPINSTALL
David Smith writes:
I very much regret to report the death of Roy Heppinstall who passed away on Saturday 29th September 2007 aged 65.
In addition to activities over the board, which included a spell as one of the leading players in John Philpott’s all conquering U175 squad, Roy had been involved in chess administration for a considerable period. After forming the Witham Chess Club in the 1960’s he was Chairman of both that Club and of the North Essex Chess League for many years and also found time to be Match Captain of the highly successful Essex Open Team, which captured the Counties Championship in both 2002 and 2006.
On retirement from employment with Marconi Roy expanded his chess activities considerably, becoming President of the Southern Counties Chess Union in 2002, and then Chief Executive Officer of the British Chess Federation (as it then was) in 2003. Although it was a difficult time for the Federation he was instrumental in pushing through a number of important changes, including the adoption of a Child Protection Policy and the conversion of the Federation to a Company Limited by Guarantee, combined with the change of name to the English Chess Federation, an achievement of which he was particularly proud in that it provided a sound basis for the Federation to move forward.
Roy's earlier ill health was followed by his replacement as Chief Executive in October 2006, but his many achievements were recognised earlier this year when he was elected as an Honorary Life Vice-President of the Federation.
Although always displaying a courteous and approachable manner, his Yorkshire roots had given him a steely determination to succeed in all his undertakings, a quality which he maintained throughout the illnesses from which he suffered in recent years.
Roy is survived by Muriel, his wife of 41 years, and by a daughter, son and granddaughter, to whom we all send our deepest sympathy at this sad time.
DS 1.10.07M Roy's funeral was on Thursday 11th October 2007 at the United Reformed Church, Witham. It was very well attended, not only by the local community where Roy was well known and respected, but also by Chess people who were there in numbers, from the SCCU Counties and beyond. Gerry Walsh, ECF President, represented the English Chess Federation. Also in attendance was Cynthia Gurney, who looks after the ECF's Office at Battle.
The SCCU's three Open-division County matches on Saturday 13th October 2007 will start with a minute's silence in Roy's memory.
SCCU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Saturday 23rd June 2007 (start 2.30 pm) at the Exmouth Arms, 1 Starcross St, London NW1
was quorate. 13 attended. Before proceedings began, the meeting stood in silence in memory of Fred Manning. (1) President's Report. Roy Heppinstall said that after five years in office he thought it was time for him to stand down. He thanked those whose support had been invaluable in his recent period of ill health, and he received a round of applause for his period of service. Readers will be aware that he has also served with distinction at ECF level.
Roy mentioned a topic which had never been far from the surface this year: the CCF issue, which is reported in our coverage of the March meeting below. It seemed no nearer to resolution. The topic was raised more for information than anything else, though limited discussion took place. Proposals, in the absence of notice, were not invited or made. (2) County Match Controller's Report. David Smith was not present but had circulated a written report of the past season. The new thing was, Kent and Herts had both expressed an interest in joining the U175. This would make 6 teams if both did, so single-round, and that is thought to be what both teams want. It was suggested they should perhaps talk to each other, because an entry from only one of them would mean double round if someone insisted, and there was a feeling someone might.
The Oxon rep said his County might at some time come into the U100. The question of central (?= London) venues came into it. (3) Junior Director's Report. Neill Cooper outlined a successful season, marred only by the fact that the U14/90 Finals were tomorrow. With hindsight we can say the Final went Sussex 9 15 Surrey
It was noted that some Junior Trophies had strayed. They had apparently been taken for engraving a few years ago and not seen since. (4) Bulletin Editor's report. You can guess what the Bulletin Editor said. He has produced a December issue, and he promised another to round off the season. This must be round about due. (5) Accounts 2006-7. Richard Quin's Accounts, not yet "audited", showed a surplus of £100 or near enough. We now had reserves of just over £3000, which was the target Richard set when he took over as Treasurer. He observed that we were dependent on Patrons and donations, but proposed no change in fees for 2007-8. This was agreed. The Executive Committee was charged with approving the Accounts when "audited".
The question of CLG status came up again. Richard said the initial cost, if we did everything ourselves, would be no more than £25. (6) Presentation of Trophies. You know who won the Trophies. But they were all there, and for once were all collected. (7) Elections and Appointment. The President and Treasurer stood down, and were succeeded respectively by Tim Thurstan and Rod Langham. No other changes, and What's New is up to date. (8) SCCU Rules. The Executive Committee proposed amendments to the General and County Match Rules. They went through pretty much as drafted. The amendments were largely tidying up, but included extensive changes to the team eligibility rules. It is now possible for the Executive to reject a team entry, or an NCM's definition of eligibility.
We have not yet updated the Rules on the site. Sorry. We'll let you know when we have. Note 5.8.07 We have now. (9) NCM Reps. This election is the prerogative of NCMs. Three nominations had been received and were automatically accepted. The Reps are in What's New. (10) Sale of Equipment. You will be aware that the Union had invited sealed bids for the purchase of its sets, boards and clocks. No one had responded, perhaps because the reserve price was too high. The Executive will think further.
The AGM concluded at 5.48 pm and was followed very quickly by an
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
AGMs always are. These days they are also preceded by one, but we have spared you the preparatory meeting. Even the postparatory one only does routine things. (1) BCF Representative RJ Haddrell (2) ECF Representatives T Thurstan, RJ Haddrell, Rod Langham, D Smih (3) London CA Representative M Gunn (4) Rules & Appeals Sub-Committee (subject to its members' acceptance) T Thurstan, M Gunn, RJ Haddrell, JT Melsom, JA Philpott (5) Future meetings. Autumn Executive Friday 12th October 2007 (provisionally then, but it is now firm)1; Spring Executive Friday 7th March 2008; AGM Saturday 21st June 2008 1Note 12.9.07. The October meeting is re-scheduled for the previous week 5th October.
SCCU OPEN FIXTURES 2007-8
28.5.07
but amended 9.7.07 to reflect the late entry of Middx
David Smith davidandjanesmith@ntlworld.com, County Match Controller,
writes:
Here are the fixtures for the SCCU Open fixtures for 2007-8. Please note that although the entries are the same, the weekends are different, mainly because of changes in the 4NCL schedule which I have, as usual, avoided along with the Metropolitan Congress (6th October), Herts Congress (1st December) and Hastings (5th January).
In any case these fixtures are provisional and can be changed by agreement between the Counties concerned. But please do let both myself and the Webmaster know if any fixtures are re-arranged.
Fixtures:
Oct 13
Nov 3
Dec 8
Jan 26
Feb 23
SyK SxH EM
KSx ESy MH
SxE HK SyM
EH SySx MK
HSy KE SxM
If there are any queries please let me know asap. Best wishes to all for an enjoyable season.
SCCU TREASURER SOUGHT
You will be aware that Richard Quin, now resident in Dorset for a year and more, is not especially disposed to continue as SCCU Treasurer after this year's AGM in June. The Union urgently seeks applications for the post. For details, see Treasurer's job description. If interested, please contact the President or Secretary or the outgoing Treasurer.
SCCU SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
Friday 9th March 2007 at the Exmouth Arms, 1 Starcross St, London NW1
was called in order to ratify the decisions of the inquorate AGM (four reports down) and luckily, unlike the previous rescue attempt, was not itself inquorate. Ten, which is just the quorum, attended and the decisions were ratified.
It was also, reasonably, agreed that in the SCCU Rules the terms "British Chess Federation" and "BCF" should, wherever appropriate, be replaced by "English Chess Federation" and "ECF".
Nothing else was on the agenda. Those present, minus the 1 non-Executive attender, made a comfortable quorum for the
SCCU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
which followed. Or didn't, exactly, though it was scheduled to. For quorum reasons the evening was more of a sandwich, with the General meeting in the middle. Main Executive items: (1) Money. The Treasurer reported a satisfactory position. With just short of £3000 in the bank he thought our reserves had reached an acceptable level. Far from increasing the fees, he expected to propose discounts next year for anyone who paid promptly. (A discount exists now, but only for Non-County Members.) (2) Grading. It was noted that halfyear Rapidplay grades had been introduced, and that the ECF Board would propose, at the April Council meeting, that it be extended to Standardplay. The Grading Secretary had expressed no objection to this. But some thought it would cause problems in County leagues even if they tried to ignore it, and at least one had reservations about congresses. It was agreed nem con, and with only two abstentions, that the SCCU would oppose the introduction of halfyear Standard grades. (3) Juniors. It's a couple of years since we made a nomination for a BCET (British Chess Educational Trust) Award. The Counties just never seem to put any schools forward. There would still be time this year, but only just. Each Union is more or less guaranteed one Award, if it makes a nomination.
They do things differently elsewhere. In the NCCU we believe the Counties take it in turns to nominate, so everyone knows whose turn it is. (But we did hear they got behind, not so long ago, and claimed about five years' worth of backdated awards all at once.) (4) SCCU Equipment. Two different organisations had expressed an interest in buying our equipment. Were we interested? Yes, the Treasurer thought, and the Executive thought, and a third prospective purchaser emerged at the meeting.
The equipment is kept at Coulsdon, along with the CCF's, and we never use it. There is still 36 of everything, as far as anyone knew, plus the odd extra board. It is far from new. No one knew what it was worth, but it is costing us about £30 in insurance every year. We would invite offers, perhaps with an arrangement that the equipment should be available for SCCU use if its new owners were not using it. (5) British Championship Qualifying places 2008 and SCCU Individual Championship 2007-8. Seven congresses had applied. The Executive awarded the Union's four BCQ places to Hertfordshire, Ilford, Southend and Surrey, and the SCCU Championship to Ilford. (6) Coulsdon CF. We've not mentioned this before. But, at the start of the season, there were objections to CCF's choice of the U14/90 team names CCF Kent and CCF Surrey. There were related complaints that CCF was distributing literature which suggested it represented (various) Counties, and running a website whose name suggested strongly that CCF was responsible for all junior chess in one County. It was said that some junior CCF players had been under the impression they were playing for a County.
The question of the team names was put to a panel of senior SCCU people, who concluded that "CCF Kent" and "CCF Surrey" were acceptable names because not misleading. But they felt that CCF ought to review its literature to ensure it would not mislead, and to amend its website (which they found particularly misleading).
This was months ago. It came up again because Surrey felt CCF had still not meaningfully attended to the panel's recommendations. Surrey now put it to the Executive. The Executive endorsed the panel's conclusions, agreed that misleading website material remained, and urged CCF to attend to it.
This account is rather potted. (7) SCCU General Rules. Surrey felt that the NCM rules on eligibility were too inflexible. It should be possible for any NCM, not just the most long-standing ones, to redefine its eligibility criteria year by year and competition by competition. Equally it should be possible for the Executive to reject the criteria. Or to reject an entry, whether from an NCM or a County. The Executive agreed, and asked the Rules & Appeals Sub-Committee to draft it with a view to AGM proposals.
While it is about it, the Sub-Committee will do a general review of the Rules. It is to make a preliminary draft available to Council members. (8) CLG Status. This came up again, and the Executive felt we should do something about it. The President will make some approaches. Surrey are expecting to achieve CLG status shortly. (9) Middx Centenary. 2007 is Middx's Centenary year. They plan, among other things no doubt, a match Middx v Young England (date to be announced). Financial support from ECF is expected, and donations are invited from elsewhere.
These meetings went on till close to 10 o'clock.
rjh 10.3.07
SCCU SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
22.9.06
was called in order to ratify the decisions of the inquorate AGM (two reports down). It was inquorate. Fortunately those present were sufficient for the
SCCU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Friday 22nd September 2006 at the Golden Lion, 2 Britannia St, London WC1
which was scheduled to follow immediately. Nine attended. (1) So what to do about it? We had to ratify the AGM decisions somehow. In the end it was decided to try again, with a brief SGM immediately before the Executive meeting 9th March 2007, and if that fails heaven help us. (2) Quorum for General Meetings. There was, oddly enough, some feeling that we ought to reduce the quorum from ten to eight. It was noted that the five County reps present could all have brought a friend, since Counties are entitled to two reps at General Meetings. Not that it's obvious they could have been expected to, for this particular meeting with an expected duration of 30 minutes or so. It seems likely to come up at the 2007 AGM if not before.
Apart from that: (3) Accounts 2005-6. It was noted that the Accounts, which the Irregular meeting adopted subject to independent review, have now been reviewed and passed muster. All that remains is to ratify the adoption. (4) U180 & U135 Jamborees 2005-6. There had been some suggestion of re-staging these in September after the abortive attempt in April. Nothing had come of it. The 2006-7 Jamborees are already arranged, provisionally at least, for 1st April 2007. (5) ECF AGM 21.10.06. The Executive discussed various things.
(a) Elections for Office. Unusually there are several contested elections, and the Executive decided who we'd support. No, we won't say just now.
(b) Game Fee: discounts for prompt payment. There is, as we've said (see ECF page 19.9.06 for some detail) a proposal that Game Fee be treated in the same way as Regional Membership fees. The proposal is made jointly by SCCU, WECU and the London League. The Executive decided to support it.
(c) County Finals: central venue. Essex and Kent propose a rule change to the effect that the Home Director be required to use "one or more" venues, rather than being restricted to one as at present. We shall support this.
Executive meetings are getting longer again. This one nearly made 9.30 pm. We've got a long way to go to equal the good old days.
rjh 27.9.06