Draft Minutes of 114th Annual General Meeting, June 8th 2009.

1: Members present were: M R Baker, A Bamford, G T Berryman, R Carver, I Chacon, T M Cox, R Fenton, J Fewkes, G Jepps, J Latham, J Leon, C McKinley, R Quinn, A W Ruston, G Udell, B Wade, M J Ward, C E Winch, D G Woodruff. [19 members]. Apologies for absence were received from P Moody, T Ransom, Roy Turner.

2: The minutes of the 113th meeting were accepted and then countersigned by the Chairman.

3: Matters Arising. None.

4: Announcement of trophy winners (* denotes trophy was presented at the meeting)

Somerset Cup Yeovil *
Division 1 Yeovil *
Division 2 East Frome *
Division 2 West Glastonbury
Division 3 Central Gillingham
Division 3 East Trowbridge
Division 3 West Glastonbury

5: Treasurer’s report.
[1] C Winch circulated printed copies of the balance sheet and reported that in the year ending 24/05/2009 there had been a surplus of £53.81.
[2] It was agreed that affiliation fees for 2009/10 would be unchanged i.e. remain at £7.00 for the first team in the Divisions 1 & 2, £4.50 for each additional team and £3.50 for a team in Division 3.
[3] It was noted that in 2009/10 ECF Game Fee will be 50 pence per player per game for the Somerset League and Cup matches (one third of this internal club games.)

6: Other reports. The following officers reported to the meeting.

6.1 Match Captain. The first team won the Harold Meek Competition with wins against Cornwall (8.5-4.5), Devon (8.5-7.5), Gloucestershire (8.5-7.5) and Hampshire (11-5). The second team played friendly matches against Devon (won 6.5-4.5) and Dorset (Lost 7-9). B Edgell reported that he would not be available for re-election as Captain in the next season.

6.2 The League Secretaries.

Division 1. Yeovil 9, Frome 6, Glastonbury 5, Taunton 4. Division 2 East .Frome 9, Trowbridge 9, Bath 3, Norton Radstock 3. Division 2 West. Glastonbury 19, Sedgemoor 18, Yeovil 14, Taunton 13, Chard /Ilminster 9, Weston 6, Wellington 5. Division 3 Central. Gillingham 11, Glastonbury 10, Frome 9, Wincanton 5, Yeovil 5. Division 3 East. Trowbridge 10, Norton Radstock 7, Frome 4, Bath 3. Division 3 West. Glastonbury 20, Chard/Ilminster 20, Wellington 12, Sedgeless 10, Weston ‘B’ 10, Weston ‘A’ 8, Taunton ‘A’ 2..

6.3 The CC Match Captain In the season 2007/8 the Somerset team was second in the Butler-Thomas Competition with a score of 6.5/10. In the current year so far we have 6/8.

6.4 Tournament Secretary gave detailed report of the 18th Frome Congress held at Selwood Middle School on May 11th to 13th. There were 4 sections and 180 players. The Somerset trophies were won as follows:

Open (Denys Bonner Trophy) James Sherwin (Bath)
Major (Leon York Memorial) Jim Fewkes (Yeovil)
Intermediate (Roy Hossell) Paul Moody (Glastonbury)
Minor (Cyril Chapman) David Spowart (Norton Radstock)
Jean Mackereth Trophy David Spowart (Norton Radstock)

6.5 ECF Delegate gave a detailed written report covering details of Board Members newly elected at the last ECF Council Meeting. He noted, in particular, that Jack Rudd had achieved the title if International Master earlier this year.

6.6 WECU Executive Delegate gave a detailed written report covering 1) a summary of WECU financial position, 2) appointment of Frank Kingdon as Hon. Life Vice-President, 3) appointment of Philip Meade as Fixtures Secretary, 4) results of the 2009 Easter Congress and 5) arrangements for the 2010 Easter Congress.

7 Names of Chess Leagues. It was agreed that in future copies of league rules, fixture lists and results the titles Division 1, 2 ,3, would be used and not Henry Powell, Charles Marsh, Vice-Presidents as until now.

8 Changes to League Rules.

The following changes were agreed

1] GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS & ELIGIBILITY

A) All Division 1 and Division 2 matches should be played over 6 boards and all Division 3 matches played over 4 boards, except by prior arrangement. Division 1 teams are open to players of all grades; division 2 teams are restricted in that only one player graded over 165 (formerly 150) is allowed to play in a team. In division 3 no player graded over 145 (formerly 125) may play and there is an upper limit of 125 (formerly 100) on the average grade per player.

[2] UNGRADED & LOW GRADED PLAYERS
2C) For those not covered by 2A & 2B ungraded players are “deemed to be” 110 (formerly 80.)
2D) Additionally, in division 3, players graded under 95 (formerly 60) are deemed to be 95 (formerly 60). (The aim of this is to prevent teams from using one very low graded player and 3 relatively highly graded players.)
[4C] CLOCKS. “If a player is not present at the start of a game his opponent may start his clock. A player forfeits the game when his flag drops at the first time control.” It was recommended by G Udell that we retain this rule in spite of a recent modification to the FIDE rules. Also. It was agreed “In the case of the new limits causing a major problem for a particular club the executive committee is authorised to make reasonable changes to the limits”.

9 Quickplay Finishes. It was agreed that the rules given in the agenda would be incorporated in the League Rules so that players and team captains would have ready access to them.

10 Somerset Cup Final Tie-Breaking. It was agreed that the existing rules for tie-breaking would remain in force.

11 Election of Officers.

President: C McKinley

Vice-Presidents: A Bamford, C F Barratt, G T Berryman, D P Bonner, B J Francis, R W Gregory, G N Jepps, R Maishman.

Secretary: J E Fewkes

Treasurer: C E Winch

League Secretaries: G Udell, M J Ward (Mr Ward available to serve for 1 year only)

Match Captain: Post remains vacant.

Correspondence Match Captain: J E Fewkes

Senior Tournament Secretary: G N Jepps

Results Officer: G N Jepps

ECF Delegate: D G Woodruff

WECU Executive Delegate: D G Woodruff

WECU Council Delegate: G Udell

Committee Members: R Carver, D G Woodruff

12. Appointments.

Accounts Examiner: M R Baker

Arbiters: N Belinfante, J Latham, A T Mordue, J Rudd, D Woodruff.

13 2010 AGM will be held at The Tor Leisure Centre at 7.30 p.m. on Monday 10 June.. Items for inclusion in the formal agenda must be received by the secretary by 30 April.