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Ray's
notes on the Annual General Meeting held 9:30 am, 17 May 2003 at
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Ray's
notes on the Annual General Meeting held 9:30 am, 17 May 2003 at
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Please note that
this report is unofficial. The Secretary will produce the minutes.
In my President's report, I thanked all players, over-the-board and postal, who had represented the county and the officers for keeping the show on the road.The recent British Land UK Chess Challenge Megafinal held at University College Worcester was probably the biggest chess event (over 200 competitors) held in Worcestershire for thirty years. This event had shown there is scope for more junior activities in the county and Worcestershire should try to raise a side for the Midland Counties junior jamboree. I referred to the need to increase Worcestershire chess activity. I think the association should increase its communication with players living in Dudley, Hagley, Stourbridge, Warley and Halesowen that were snatched by the West Midlands authority in the 1970s. I would also like to see a reinstatement of the county Individual Championship competition, which was not held this year. To realise these ideas the association will need to recruit new members to help organise activities. The meeting agreed that Ray should ask for members of a Strategy Group tp come up with proposals to but to the Executive Meeting in September. Arnold Kirkland, Phil Church and Maurice were nominated and I was asked to call for ideas and further members from players in Worcestershire.
The Secretary, Maurice, had also doubled as captain for the County 1st Team in the MCCU Open competition and was dealing with financial matters while Burt was unwell after his nasty fall. In the financial report he stated that the end of year balance was very similar to last year. Maurice particularly thanked Vice-Presidents who had again been very generous in their support enabling club affiliation fees to be kept low. The cost of accommodation for county matches had increased substantially over the year (£60 for the last home county match) and Worcestershire will have to review arrangements for home matches. On a brighter note, Maurice reported that he had received enquires from new clubs that may enter league sides next season.
In the debate on financial matters, it was agreed that affiliation and league entry fees should not be increased. Owing to the difficulties at home inter-county matches, players who had represented the county in home matches during the 2002-3 season would have a rebate on their board fee if they play in home matches in the 2003-4 season. Although the 1st team had poor results in the 2002-3 season, Peter Kitson and Mike Boyce on top boards had performed well. The 2nd team scored three wins led by Jason Cole. Postal results were similar to last year with some improvements. Arnold reported on the successful Junior Congress held at Worcester when 28 players from 10 schools took part. Derek Digger reported that Alan Ruffle was helping with the grading and most counties are now moving to electronic systems.
Kevin Ryder of Halesowen
Chess Club (left) receives
Lawrence Wheatley of St James Chess
Club (right)
Division 1 Bonham Trophy from President, Ray Collett (right)
Receives Division 2 Trophy From President Ray Collett
(left)
The League prizes were presented to Kevin Ryder who accepted the Bonham trophy for Halesowen who retained their Division 1 Championship after a striong challenge from Worcester City. The Division 2 title was won by St James and the trophy was presented to Lawrence Wheatley. The submissions for the Woodcock prize are being judged, and wll be announced shortly.
The honorary officers, team captains and delegates elected for the 2003-4 season were:
Changes to the County League Rules proposed by St James' were debated. After a full discussion it was agreed that no changes would be made for the 2003-4 season, but Senior Officers were asked to tidy up Clause 12 and present a draft to be considered at the September Executive meeting, because there is an anomaly concerning the duration of the playing session and produce an enabling clause to allow league competitions to take into account exceptional circumstances. The Redditch members agreed to play their home fixture against St James at a venue where it is possible to complete the 3h playing session. In response to a request from Hagley, members agreed to suspend one of the rules for the 2003-4 season to allow the club to continue to enter a side in Division 2.