2003 AGM Minutes

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Minutes of Ulster Chess Union Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 18th June 2003

Minutes of Ulster Chess Union Annual General Meeting
 
Wednesday 18th June 2003
 
Civil Service Social Club
 
Maynard Sinclair Pavilion

 
 
Members Present:

Tom Clarke (RVH)
Tony Beckett (Bangor)
David Houston ( Queens)
David McAlister (Hillsborough)
Geoff Hindley (Civil Service)
Ed Morgan (North Belfast)
Tom Alcorn (Fisherwick)
Sam Moore ( Civil Service)
Michael McKimm ( Bangor)
John Cahoon (North Belfast)
Michael Holmes ( RVH)
Richard Proctor ( Bangor)
Martin Rodgers ( Bangor)
Mark Newman ( Bangor)
Mark Seidman ( Bangor)
David Grymek
Steve McCann ( RVH)
Owen Wilson ( Bangor)
Gerald Harvey ( Civil Service)
Chris Black ( RVH)
Damien Lavery ( RVH)
Paul Mclaughlan
Steve Scannell ( RVH)

 
 
David McAlister welcomed everyone and asked if there were any apologies.
 
 
1. Apologies : Ron Henderson ( Bangor), Joe Clarke ( North Belfast),
Albert McCarter ( Bangor), Alex Beckett ( Fisherwick), Philip Todd (
Bangor), James O'Fee ( Bangor).
 
 
Mark Newman distributed copies of last years AGM minutes.

 
 
2. Adoption of Minutes of Meeting for 2002

 
David McAlister - the minutes are comprehensive and a little long to be
read out. I therefore move that the minutes be approved. 
Tony Beckett proposed, Richard Proctor seconded.
 
The meeting agreed that these were a fair and accurate record of the AGM 2002.
 
David McAlister - are there any matters arising from the minutes.
None

 
 
3. Correspondence

Mark Newman - none pertaining to this meeting.

 
 
4. Officers Reports.

 
 
Presidents - David McAlister.
 
We have lost three stewart members of chess. Arthur Cootes a member of
Civil Service Chess Club, former president, revived the CIYMS club and
a great enthusiast for the game - he would coach anyone who asked. Not
many people with such goodness of heart - and is a friend sadly missed.
Sam Lynn also a great enthusiast and former vice-president and was
still playing at the Wednesday tournament at CIYMS - we have here a
picture of Sam and we were lucky to share some special moments with
him. Lastly Sam Cree a member of Ford chess club in the 80's - he had a
knack for raising funds - getting sponsorships for the Ulster Seniors
and arranging simultaneous' against Nigel Short and John Nunn. These
are the life blood of chess - it would be hard to find three such men.
We wish to say thankyou to them for contributing and enriching our
lives - thank-you.
 
 
Treasurers - Ed Morgan.
 
We had a good financial year. Mainly because our tourmanents were
self-financing - we are up £1000 on last year. David McAlister was very
good in controlling events and not asking for a fee. The books from
Arthur Cootes raised £579. Helped and any ideas for using this money
will be welcomed. The league fees and penalities worked well and
although some still tried to push the dates most paid reasonably
promptly.
 
 
JC - The £510 against children's chess - what is this.
 
 
EM - Money from Northern Bank sponsoring the Childrens Chess Tournaments jointly run by UCU and Schools Chess Council.
 
 
David McAlister - We also charged entry fee - the money not spent will
be used for childrens chess next year. We ran five competitions on
Saturdays with 5 to 6 rounds. You could see the standard of chess
improve. Some of the older players have played in our adult
competitions. Some of the money also went to donating to schools at the
WaterFront a chess set and board. We hope to repeat the tournaments
next year. Two tournaments run at the Waterfront for children who loved
it.
 
 
EM - Joe Clarke Coaches the Children at North Belfast.
David McAlister - Joe Clarke will be representing the UCU at the ICU on
the junior sub-committee. We have 3 young players in the Irish Squad
for coaching sessions. David Grymek, Eamon Walls and ....
 
 
Richard Proctor - Arlo White will be coaching youngsters at Holywood.
 
 
David McAlister proposed that the accounts be accepted by the meeting
Richard Proctor seconded.
 
 
The accounts were accepted unanimously.
( Tony Parker - entered the meeting)
 
 
David McAlister - thanked Edward Morgan for the full set of accounts
and stress how important the post of treasurer is to the organisation.
 
 
Edward Morgan - retorted that it was because he kept his distance from the President!

 
 
5. Election of Officers.

 
David McAlister - We have 4 officers and an additional 5 members.
 
 
President : David Houston proposed David McAlister. Tom Clarke seconded.
 
There being no further proposals David McAlister was elected President.
 
 
Vice President - Tony Beckett proposed David Houston, Mark Seidman seconded.
There being no further proposals David Houston elected Vice-President.
 
 
Secretary - Richard Proctor proposed Mark Newman Tony Parker seconded.
There being no further proposals Mark Newman elected Secretary.
 
 
Treasurer - Tony Parker proposed Ed Morgan Sam Moore seconded.
There being no further proposals Ed Morgan elected Treasurer.
 
 
David McAlister any other proposals for committee members. We should
nominate people and then if necessary have an election. We need about 5
members any more and the meetings get unwieldy.
 
 
Joe Clarke ( North Belfast) - John Cahoon proposed, Steve McCann seconded.
 
Geoff Hindley - David Houston proposed, Gerald Harvey seconded.
 
Jim Waddell - Geoff Hindley proposed, David McAlister seconded.
 
John Cahoon - Edward Morgan proposed, Sam Moore seconded
 
Richard Proctor - Steve McCann proposed, John Cahoon seconded
 
 
David McAlister - that makes the five - we can co-opt at a latter date
if necessary. If people wish to come to observe meetings they are
welcome as long as we don't have hoards. If everyone is happy we shall
vote these five on block. 
 
 A vote was taken by a show of hands - unanimous.

 
 
David McAlister - we now move to the two motions before the AGM. If we take the second one first :

 
 
B. "That the in-coming committee of the UCU write to Ron Henderson and
offer him our gratitude for the sterling work he has carried out
running Ulster Chess Promotions for many years."
Proposed by Edward Morgan.
 
 
David McAlister - Ulster Chess Promotions has been a vehicle for
getting equipment at a discount - members get a discount and the UCU
gets a small profit. Ron Henderson has been running this for a long
time and done a fantastic job.
 
Mark Seidman seconded the motion.
 
Tony Beckett - Ron gives treats every order efficiently.
 
Motion Passed.

 
 
A. "That the final round of the league be played over a weekend/week day evening - as a single event".

 
 
David McAlister - the final round to be played as one event. Draw as
normal but on last round - all teams meet in Belfast at a central
venue. Clubs travelling into Belfast will be treated as away match so
that no extra journeys to be made. This would be a grand climax with
the trophies being presented on the night. We shall throw the
discussion to the floor. 
 
Tom Clarke - I endorse this motion. I have played in a similar event
with all 3 divisions playing that would and approx 200 players lots of
excitement. Queens would appear the best venue.
 
 
David McAlister - could hold divisions on different nights - depends on
venue. We would have approx 16- 18 teams on one night that would mean
some 80 players. You would need a big venue. I think a weekday would be
preferable to a weekend as the matches are normally played during the
week.
 
 
Sam Moore - depending on which night you pick some players will not be
able to play.
Edward Morgan - shouldnt be a problem if we give sufficient advanced
notice.
Richard Proctor - I agree with Sam. Some nights would be difficult and
team would end up short of players. Weekend might be better.
 
 
David McAlister - we need to decide weekends or weekday.
Richard Proctor - the fairest way would be to take a poll of the club members.
 
 
David Houston - best to decide here tonight.
 
 
Sam Moore - travelling will be an inconvience to the home team who will not be playing in the surrounds of their own club.
 
 
Tom Clarke - teams stretched through-out the year - sometimes pulling
members from other divisions. All teams on one night wont allow for
this flexibility - may have problems getting full teams.
 
 
David Houston - this could arise anyway - if teams playing on same night.
 
 
Gerald Harvey - if both teams agree could the teams play a different date.
 
 
David McAlister - this would miss the point. No.
 
 
Richard Proctor - Bangor would prefer a Saturday.
 
 
Sam Moore - not all teams play in the KO cup.
 
 
Tony Beckett - people have commitments on weekends and it would take a weekend out for our tournaments.
 
 
David McAlister - a day during the week would be better, it wouldnt be taking a weekend from our tournaments.
 
 
David Houston - we could have division one final one week and division two final the next week.
 
 
Tom Clarke - with three hours and presentation - we are talking four hours for the evening. 
 
 David McAlister - presentation would be relatively short - we
would aim to start at 7:45pm. and extend the evening by half an hour.
 
 
Tony Beckett - there will be a cost to the implementation of this.
 
 
Edward Morgan - about an extra £30 for Queens for the evening.
 
 
Gerald Harvey proposed that the event be held on a week night rather than a weekend
 
 
Edward Morgan - this will be taken as an amendment to the existing motion.
 
 
Mark Newman seconded.
 
 
A vote by hand was taken - in favour - 12 against 5 amendment carried.
 
 
David McAlister - the motion has been amended - now vote for the whole amended motion. 
 
Gerald Harvey - the event would need to be started promptly. Not all league matches start on time.
 
 
David Houston - we would start the clocks promptly.
A vote by hand was taken in favour - 10 against 4 motion carried.
 
 
David McAlister - that is the substantive motions we now move onto Any Other Business.
 
 
7. Any Other Business.
 
 
John Cahoon - I wish to thank Tony Parker for all his effort for advertising the tournaments - posting leaflets.
The meeting gave Tony a round of applause.
 
 
Richard Proctor - Bangor Club are running their annual active
tournament on 20th September at Groomsport Parish Hall named after
Eddie Webb - one of the founding members of Bangor Chess Club.
 
 
Owen Wilson - We need more promotion of chess. Ideally a chess column say in the Telegraph.
 
 
David McAlister - we have approached the regular newspapers and they
wont take a column. In the past they have. They do occasionally put an
article about a tournament. We have a web site.
 
 
Owen Wilson - Arlo White did a good job of getting articles into the
Bangor spectator and these resulted in new members for Bangor.
 
 
David McAlister - the committee are aware of the positive effect of
being in the press can have but you need a person or people committed
to organising this someone with talent to push in the right direction
to get sponsorship and press coverage.
 
 
Richard Proctor - I think the incoming committee should make every effort to get chess into the press.
 
 
Tony Parker - Would the incoming committee consider a code of conduct?
 
 
David McAlister - we would need an officer to deal with complaints. An arbitration procedure.
 
 
David Houston - we could look into this.
 
 
David McAlister - Edward Morgan proposed that we give a vote of thanks
to Arthur Cootes widow. I have thanked her on behalf of the UCU and
passed on our regrets at the passing of Arthur Cootes. A player who
will be missed.
We must decide what to do with the money raised from the sale of chess
books. Currently we have sold £500 and if we sell the remaining books
we will raise about £700. We could run a tournament similar to the
Target one.
 
 
Tom Clarke - use it for the development of junior chess.
 
 
Gerald Harvey - use some for flowers on the grave - there werent many chess players at the funeral.
Richard Proctor - we could have an Arthur Cootes Appeal fund. And people could make applications for using it.
 
 
Edward Morgan - a trust fund and we could riase more money for it.
 
 
David McAlister - a friends of chess fund. Other people could sell/donate their books or magazines - would keep it going.
 
 
Edward Morgan - we could sell further books at tournaments for the fund.
 
 
David Houston - could give money to new clubs for sets, for development
of chess in Ulster, and a special rider for Junior Chess as a priority.
 
 
Tony Beckett - the fund to be administered by the committee.
David McAlister - I suggest a motion that we name these funds to
reflect our intended purposed : The Arthur Cootes Memorial fund for the
development of chess in Ulster in particular Junior chess.
 
 
Richard Proctor - proposed
Edward Morgan - seconded.
 
 
Motion carried by a show of hands.
 
 
Tom Clarke - the league finals, do we have enough equipment to run them on one night?
 
 
David McAlister - if two separate evenings the UCU would have enough sets and clocks.
 
 
Richard Proctor - has the league fees and UCU, ICU fees been set.
 
 
David McAlister - these remain as set. There would have been a motion
if we were intending to increase them. The ICU is not within our
control. An increase by the ICU would be met with disfavour. Current
fees are :
ICU 20 euros or £13 there are concessions for under 18 of 3/4 and under
12 1/2.
UCU £5 Adults £2 Children and league fees £40.
 
 
Michael Holmes - can we play rated games out of the league and tournaments?
 
 
David McAlister - 1 hour 30 min games are perfectly entitled to be
rated as long as formalised and notified to David McAlister or David
Houston who should be notified prior to the event.
 
 
Tony Beckett - we need to be careful about mixing casual chess with tournament chess. We could devalue chess under the UCU.
 
 
David McAlister - as long as notified in advance of the event and within some sort of structure.
 
 
Michael Holmes - a club challenge competition . In Holland this keeps people coming to the clubs over the summer.
 
 
Steve Scannell - a ladder type tournament.
 
 
David Houston - as long as done at the club and we are informed. Then
we could let Vincent Bissett know and pass him the results for grading.
 
 
Tony Beckett - I dont see a problem with two people have a ladder match at a club being rated.
 
 
Michael Holmes - people could send in two signed score sheets to validate result.
 
 
David McAlister - we would expect the match to have some public visibility - ie at a club.
 
 
David Houston - would need agreement from myself or David McAlister before the match.
 
 
Steve Scannell - would there be a charge for the grading?
 
 
David McAlister - No. ICU would rate this as any other tournament.

 
 
Meeting Ended.

 
 
David McAlister presented the medals for the league and KO cup and
thanked everyone for attending.
Richard Proctor - lead a quiet moment for Sam Lynn and expressed thanks
for the family for donating money for chess trophies for the club.
Richard also left out for members to see a picture of Sam in his garden
and a certificate given to Sam by the club for his contribution to
chess.
Mark Newman
Secretary
50 Abbey Mount
Bangor
BT20 4DB
Home Tel: 01247 456638 Work Tel: 01232 444955
Mark@newman-oboyle.freeserve.co.uk
Tuesday, 16 September 2003

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