20 May 2008

Agenda for the Annual General Meeting

Thursday 22 May 2008 at 7.30pm in the Training Suite, Students' Union, Queen's Road, Clifton, Bristol

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1. Opening Remarks

2. Apologies for Absence

3. Minutes of previous AGM and Matters Arising

4. Reports from Officers

5. Resolution adopting Reports and Accounts

6. Presentation of Trophies and Certificates

7. Election of Officers

·            President

The LMC nominates Andrew Borkowski, the current Vice-President

·            Vice-President

The LMC will make a nomination

·            Chairman

The LMC nominates Graham Mill-Wilson for re-election

·            General Secretary

The LMC nominates Roger Williams

·            Match Secretary

The LMC nominates Dave Tipper for re-election

·            Treasurer

The LMC nominates Peter Saunders

·            ChessTimes Editor

The LMC nominates David Collier for re-election

·            Congress Secretary

The LMC nominates Graham Mill-Wilson for re-election

·            ECF Representative

The LMC nominates John Paines for re-election

·            Grand Prix Secretary

The LMC nominates Geoff Gammon for re-election

·            Junior Organiser (see Motion A)

The LMC nominates Peter Saunders

·            Recruitment and Publicity Officer

The LMC nominates Peter Saunders

·            Tournament Organiser

The University of Bristol Chess Club will be asked to nominate a candidate

·            Webmaster

The LMC nominates Dave Tipper for re-election

·            4NCL Team Manager

The LMC nominates David Buckley for re-election

·            Auditor

The current Auditor is Martyn Sellars

8. Election of Life Vice-Presidents        

9. Bristol Chess Educational Trust

·            Trustees' Report

·            Donation from the League

10. Renewal of membership of the Friends of Chess

11. LMC Motions (see below)

12. Any Other Business

LMC MOTIONS

The following motions are proposed by the League Management Committee. Each motion is a proposed rule change, and requires a majority of two-thirds of those voting. Amendments may be taken from the floor. The current League Rules are printed in the back of the fixture book.

Motion A.  Organisation of the League Management Committee
It is proposed that the League Rules shall be amended as follows:

Delete Rule 2.1.a and replace it by the following:

"The LMC shall consist of the following League Officers: President, Vice-President, Chairman, General Secretary, Match Secretary, Treasurer, ChessTimes Editor, Congress Secretary, ECF Representative, Grand Prix Secretary, Junior Organiser, Recruitment and Publicity Officer, Tournament Organiser, Webmaster, 4NCL Team Manager (“the LMC posts”)."

[Explanation: The quickplay rules mean that the post of Adjudication Secretary is no longer required. Any necessary adjudications can be processed by the Match Secretary.

The revival of the Junior League means that it is appropriate to reintroduce the role of Junior Organiser as an LMC post.

The LMC wishes to thank Gerald Mobbs for his many years’ service as Adjudication Secretary. Gerald supports the proposal to remove the post.]

Motion B.  Eligibility of Players
It is proposed that the League Rules shall be amended as follows:

Delete Rule 6.3.b and replace it by the following:

"Additional players are automatically registered for the first team for which they play by the inclusion of their names on the Match Result form.”

[Explanation: The existing rule provides that a player is registered for the most junior team in a club by the inclusion of his name on a match result form. This has inappropriate consequences when a strong player is registered for a comparatively weak team.]

Motion C.  Eligibility of Players
It is proposed that the League Rules shall be amended as follows:

Delete Rules 6.3.g, 6.3.h and 6.3.i and insert the following as Rule 6.3.g:

 
"Players may play for the next lower team to that for which they are registered (e.g. “A” team player representing “B” team) if their ECF grade is below the Grading Threshold of the division in which that team plays. Additionally, players may play for lower teams (e.g. “A” team player representing “C” or “D” team) if their ECF grade is below the Grading Threshold of the division below that in which those teams play.”

[Explanation: The existing rules contain an anomaly in that there are some circumstances where an “A” team player may play down for the “C” team but a “B” team player may not. The LMC believes that the above is the fairest solution.]

Motion D.  Default of Games
It is proposed that the League Rules shall be amended as follows:

Delete Rule 6.6 and replace it with the following:

 
“6.6 Default of Games

a.    For each game defaulted in a Team Championship match in divisions 1, 2 and 3, Default Penalty Points (“DPPs”) shall be automatically imposed on the team defaulting, at the rate of 6 DPPs for a default on board 1, 5 DPPs for a default on board 2 and so on, reducing to 1 DPP on board 6.

b.    For each game defaulted in a Team Championship match in divisions 4 and below, Default Penalty Points (“DPPs”) shall be automatically imposed on the team defaulting, at the rate of 4 DPPs for a default on board 1, 3 DPPs for a default on board 2, 2 DPPs for a default on board 3, and 1 DPP for a default on board 4.

c.    A club may appeal against the imposition of DPPs, and the LMC can use its discretion in considering the appeal. The appeal must reach the Match Secretary within fourteen days of the match date. The LMC will normally waive DPPs if the club can show that 48 hours’ notice of intention to default was given.

d.    In divisions 1, 2 and 3, for each ten DPPs accumulated in one season, one Match Point shall be deducted from the team's total and the club shall be fined £1. If a team exceeds 45 DPPs during the season, it shall be required to resign from the Team Championships.

e.    In divisions 4 and below, for each five DPPs accumulated in one season, one Match Point shall be deducted from the team's total and the club shall be fined £1. If a team exceeds 22 DPPs during the season, it shall be required to resign from the Team Championships.”

[Explanation: The LMC feels that the current DDP levels are too harsh for divisions 4 and 5, where teams consist of only four players.]