ENGLISH CHESS FEDERATION 							   C13.8.2
ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 2010

REPORT FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE INCORPORATING CHESS FOR SCHOOLS

General

This year we had a successful British Championships in Canterbury where we were able to secure the attendance of our No 1 ranked player - Mickey Adams. After the behind the scenes dramas of the previous two years regarding who would run the event we managed to maintain a settled organisation team with David Welch and Alex MacFarlane.  The smooth running of the event was due to their hard work together with the rest of the congress team.  

Challenges facing the ECF

Last October the DCMS suspended the ECF grant citing amongst other reasons the lack of a Financial Director. Fortunately shortly after the AGM Gareth Caller came forward and with his help we were able to present a recovery plan to the DCMS and the grant was reinstated.  This acted as a wake-up call for us and in April we introduced measures to restore the reserves of the Federation.  At the time I stated that the ECF needed to position itself such that its long-term financial viability was assured irrespective of whether the DCMS grant was continued.  However, I did not expect the pace of events…

In May we were informed that that our grant from the DCMS for the current financial year had been cut by £15,000 (25%).  In the last few days, we were warned by the DCMS that the most likely outcome of the Government’s spending review is that the ECF will receive no further funding from the DCMS after the current financial year, i.e. this year's £45,000 will be the last contribution which we receive.   No definite decisions on future funding have been taken and we shall not have a firm decision until the DCMS itself learns how it is affected by the review. That said, the DCMS wanted to give as much warning as possible of the likely outcome.  The DCMS is facing strong pressure firstly to cut its own administration costs and to reduce its programme spend as much as possible, as quickly as possible.
 
The Board received this news after its meeting at which the Council paperwork was finalised.  Consequently, the potential impact of the loss of the grant has not been addressed in the Council paperwork, but will be discussed as part of the agenda.   The principal effect is that we no longer have the cushion of a 2- or 3-year phased reduction (which seemed to be the most probable scenario until now) and will have to take steps more urgently.  It is important that this Council meeting faces up to the need for reform of how the ECF is funded and that we properly explore the options without restricting ourselves by continuing with what we do now. 

Chess for Schools (CfS)

The key development in the last year has been the on-line Certificate of Merit.  This now has three levels of certificates.  Thanks to sponsorship from LV= a significant element of the initial cost in this area has been covered.   

I met with Henning Spreckelsen on 22nd September and informed him that the ECF was withdrawing from the CfS project as of 18th October after which it would cease to provide the logistical work required when distributing sets to schools.  A partner for Holloid is sought who will take over the ECF’s role of communicating with the schools and facilitating delivery of the sets following manufacture.  Holloid Plastics remains committed to the project and to date have borne all of the cost of the manufacturing of the sets.  Holloid has to schedule the production of the sets within the constraints of their commercial operations.  During recent months, the shortage of plastics raw materials has made it difficult for Holloid to arrange these productions slots.  The manufacture of the sets is likely to take at least a year once manufacture has restarted.  

I had always seen the setting up of chess academies as a key element of the whole of the CfS initiative.  However, we have never succeeded in finding a Manager for this post and the Board has decided to shelve this element of the CfS initiative.  

CONCLUSIONS

My thanks to my fellow directors and officers of the Federation for their work and support. I would especially like to thank the Office staff for their continued hard work in especially difficult times.  This year marks a watershed in that Cynthia Gurney has stood down after more than 25 years service for the ECF.   For many of us she has always been an integral part of the organisation and her knowledge and experience of how the Federation operates is something that we have relied upon.  Tina Weddell has taken over the role of Office Manager and I am sure will maintain the high standard of the Office.    

In the last year, I have been impressed by the ideas and initiative of the new directors and I think that there is a strong team capable of tackling the difficult challenges facing us.  Finally, I commend Andrew Farthing to Council delegates.  In the past 18 months in addition to the role of Strategic Planning Officer he has acted as my alternate Director during periods when I have been unable to perform the role.  I can think of no one better to take over the CEO role at this challenging time.  

Chris Majer 
Chief Executive ECF 
23rd September 2010