Minutes February 2023
2023-02-23
Minutes of the Chess Edinburgh Council Meeting
held at the Edinburgh Chess Club, 1 Alva Street, Edinburgh on Thursday 23rd February 2023 at 19.30.
Present: David Stewart (Chair), Calum McGillivray. David Watson, Crawford Macnab, Jenny Wilson, Pe-ter Woollven and. Stewart Good
1. Apologies for Absence: Chihon Ley, Jim O’Neil, Bill Marshall and Martin Robinson.
2. Minutes of Last Meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 24h November 2022, were approved: proposed by Crawford Macnab and seconded by David Stewart.
3. Matters Arising
Child Safety Policy. Several members had read the Chess Scotland policy and it was noted that chess clubs and associations have permission to adopt the policy. However, the committee felt that we need more guidance on the need for the association to have said policy and exactly what it would entail. It was decided to wait until Jim O’Neil could get information from Chess Scotland.
4. Edinburgh Chess League
The League Secretary, Calum McGillivray, reported that on the whole the leagues are running well.
There have been two defaulted matches and one case of an ineligible player, which meant that he had to amend the match result. There have also been a few late cards which result in the offending clubs being fined.
Most clubs are submitting their results electronically.
It was decided that the League play-off matches must be played by the end of May.
Martin Robinson is still to go through the records of past winners to allow the full engraving of the Division 1 Trophy and Crawford Macnab again offered to help.
5. Edinburgh Allegro Chess League
Peter Woolven has agreed to take on the running of the League, which will restart next season. He has had a meeting with Maurice Kelly and is now in possession of the necessary materials.
6. Lothians Allegro Congress
This was held at Bainfield Bowling Club on Sunday 15th January and was very successful.
There were 111 players, which is only slightly fewer than pre-covid and it made a profit of £368.
Almost all of the players had entered and paid online, which greatly assisted in the smooth running of the event. Also, as prizewinners were paid electronically, the presentation of trophies was held very soon after play ended.
7. Summer Cup/Plate
Calum McGillivray will circulate the clubs.
David Stewart reported that he has been unable to establish who has the Summer Plate trophy and Dave Watson said that he would look through the minutes of past meetings.
8. Edinburgh Congress
As we still appeared to have no venue the committee felt that it was now too late to organise the event on the proposed dates at the end of March. Dave Watson was delegated to contact Martin Robinson and Jim O’Neil to see if they had managed to book a venue and if not it would have to be cancelled.
However, it might be possible to hold it later this year.
9. Lothians Junior Chess
Jenny Wilson reported that Lothians Junior Chess are holding a number of events:
(a) The Lothian Junior championships on Saturday 25th February at Broughton High School. There are 100 entrants which matches pre-covid numbers. There are two tournaments for those at Primary school and one for Secondary pupils and there has been a pleasing increase in the numbers in the latter event.
(b) The Scottish Girls Championships at St Georges School on the 18th March.
(c) The UK Chess Challenge Mega Final at Broughton High School on the 26th March.
(d) The UK Chess Challenge Giga Final at Broughton High School on the 24th /25th June: the first time this has been held in Scotland.
10. Website
Bill Marshall continues to update the website
Discussions regarding the need for a back-up administrator are ongoing.
11. Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer, Jim O’Neil, had circulated a detailed report prior to the meeting.
It showed that we have a net income of £887 for the period from June 1st. 2022.
The Treasurer is still to train Martin Robinson in the online banking system so that he can provide backup if required.
12. President’s Report
David Stewart reported that he had attended a Civic Reception at the City Chambers to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Edinburgh Chess Club.
The insurance claims for the Chess in the Park equipment destroyed in the fire are ongoing.
13. Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 25th May 2023 at 7.30pm at the Edinburgh Chess Club.
Calum McGillivray to book.