Home Office Chess Club AGM
22 May 2007
Agenda
Minutes
Annual Blitz Tournament
••Agenda
1. Minutes of 2006 AGM and matters arising
2. Secretary’s report
3. Match captains’ reports
4. Treasurer’s report
5. Report on Grand Prix
6. League AGMs
7. Election of Officers
8. Club activities in the summer of 2006
9. League entries for 2006/07
10. Any other business
••Minutes
Present: Tony Ashby, Peter Biggs, Harry Carter, Keith Dunmore, Richard Fries, Mark Fulleylove, Michael Keane, David Lacey, Tim Pelling, Maria Sant, James Toon.
Apologies: Matthew Baker.
1. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising
1.1 The minutes of the 2006 AGM were approved.
1.2 On paragraph 13.2, the friendly match against Hastings Chess Club had not been arranged. A further attempt would be made this summer. It would be arranged as a one-day outing on a Saturday. The date should be chosen so as to avoid clashing with the GLCC match against Hastings in late July. James Toon would make an approach, on receipt of contact details from Tim Pelling and Richard Fries.
Action: Tim Pelling, Richard Fries, James Toon
2. Secretary’s report
2.1 As of May 2007 the club had 22 members. 18 of these had played for the Home Office in league competitions – all those on the current membership list except Maria Sant (who had just joined), Harry Carter, Gurchand Singh and Dilveer Sually.
2.2 Two social events had taken place, in September and December 2006. These were enjoyable occasions although not many members had turned up.
3. Treasurer’s report
3.1 The club’s accounts had not yet been audited. They showed an in-year deficit of £171.14 and a closing balance of £65.35. The relatively large deficit had arisen from one-off items such as the purchase of equipment. However, looking only at regular income and expenditure, it was clear that the club was running at a small loss each year.
3.2 After some discussion it was agreed that the annual subscription should remain at £10 and should be reviewed again in one year’s time. This was on the assumption (later confirmed) that the club reduced its league fees next season by withdrawing the 2nd team from the London Commercial League.
3.3 The Treasurer had collected subscriptions from 15 members this season. As a total of 18 members had taken part in matches, he would attempt to collect subscriptions from the three members who had not paid.
Action: Richard Fries
4. Match captains’ reports
4.1 James Toon and Peter Biggs reported on the performance of the 1st and 2nd teams in the Civil Service League and the London Commercial League. For the 1st team, the highlight of an otherwise unremarkable season was winning the London Commercial League cup competition. It had seldom been possible to field a full-strength side and the captain had often had to call on members of the 2nd team. One positive point was the excellent performance of Tim Hurdle in his first season in the club.
4.2 The 2nd team had had a disastrous season, losing almost all their matches and defaulting about 50% of the individual boards. Peter Biggs was hopeful that some former regulars would be available again next season. But he was not prepared to run two teams, and wanted to keep only the Civil Service League 2nd team going. This was agreed.
5. Grand Prix report
5.1 The Grand Prix had been won this year by James Toon. It had been an exciting contest with very little separating the first three players. Accordingly no changes were proposed to the Grand Prix formula for next season.
6. League AGMs
6.1 The Civil Service League AGM had taken place on Thursday 17 May. James Toon summarised the main points:
• Senior Recorder’s report – 202 players entered League events in 2006/07, the same as in 2005/06. There were 11 adjudications, significantly down on the year before (29). From 2007/08, cup finals will be held at the venue of the home team rather than at a central venue.
• The Game Fee charged by the ECF has risen from 45p to 46p.
• Club proposals – the Home Office proposals relating to quickplay finishes were withdrawn when it became clear that no other club supported them. The GLCC proposal to allow non-civil servants to play in the League after 3 years’ continuous club membership was accepted 9–2 on a vote.
• Executive Committee proposals – a proposal to increase the Player-Fixture fee from 45p to 48p was lost 3–5 on a vote. A proposal requiring the Senior Recorder’s approval to postpone matches was lost 2–5 on a vote.
• The Civil Service Chess Congress, which was held in 2004, 2005 and 2006, will not take place in 2007, not least because the desired venue is unavailable. It may return in 2008.
• James Toon was appointed a Vice-President of the League in recognition of services to League and club chess over the past 20 years.
• Nigel Blades (UNATS) takes over as Blitz Tournament Controller, David Gilbert (DHSS) takes over as Individual Tournament Controller, and Paul Efstathiou (GLCC) joins the Executive Committee.
• Dates for next year – the Individual Blitz will take place on 13 September 2007, the Team Blitz will take place on 8 May 2008, and the League AGM will take place on 15 May 2008.
6.2 The meeting noted in particular the lack of support for quickplay finishes. There seemed little point bringing this issue back to the Civil Service League AGM unless the ECF decided not to grade matches from leagues where adjudication was an option.
7. Election of officers
7.1 The following were elected to serve as officers of the Home Office Chess Club until the next AGM:
| Chairman: | Harry Carter |
| Secretary: | James Toon |
| Treasurer: | Richard Fries |
| Webmaster: | James Toon |
| 1st team captain: | James Toon |
| 2nd team captain: | Peter Biggs |
| Committee members: | Keith Dunmore, Tim Pelling |
7.2 James Toon would send details to Ian Pheby and John McAllister for inclusion in the Civil Service League and London Commercial League handbooks.
Action: James Toon
8. Club activities over the summer
8.1 The meeting reviewed last summer’s activities (a simultaneous exhibition, a rapidplay tournament over four evenings, and a handicap blitz tournament). It was decided to take a different approach this summer. There would be a club night on the first Thursday evening of June, July, August and September, for blitz chess, training sessions or whatever members wanted. Ad hoc club nights could be arranged on other dates if members requested.
8.2 The club’s evening out was confirmed as Wednesday 4 July. This would take place at The Jugged Hare (a Fuller’s Ale and Pie House) on Vauxhall Bridge Road from 7.00pm.
9. League entries for 2007/08
9.1 This had already been discussed.
10. Any other business
10.1 Peter Biggs and Richard Fries had taken part in the Jon Speelman simultaneous exhibition organised by the London Commercial League. Both of them lost to Speelman but it was an enjoyable evening.
10.2 James Toon spoke about the implications for the Home Office Chess Club of the transfer of large numbers of Home Office staff to the new Ministry of Justice. The club could decide to do nothing, on the basis that all current members would still be eligible to play for the Home Office in future. Alternatively, the club could open its doors to all members of the Ministry of Justice, including those in the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and others with no Home Office connection.
10.3 After some discussion the meeting voted 7–2 to expand the club. This had a number of consequences:
• The club would need a new name to reflect the inclusion of the Ministry of Justice. This would be decided by a meeting of the Executive Committee, following a competition to generate possible names. The league authorities would be notified so that the new name could go into the handbooks for the coming season.
• The constitution would need to be amended, at an Extraordinary General Meeting which the Secretary would arrange.
• The Secretary would try to find out whether the Ministry of Justice had a sports and social association to which the renamed club could affiliate. This might provide a basis for a membership drive.
Action (all points): James Toon
••Annual Blitz Tournament
The Annual Blitz Tournament took place after the AGM. A total of 10 club members took part. James Toon won the event, finishing just ahead of Tim Pelling. The scores are given below (out of 9).
| James Toon | 8.5 |
| Tim Pelling | 8 |
| Tony Ashby | 6.5 |
| Peter Biggs | 5.5 |
| David Lacey | 4.5 |
| Keith Dunmore | 3.5 |
| Richard Fries | 3 |
| Mark Fulleylove | 3 |
| Michael Keane | 2.5 |
| Maria Sant | 0 |