ChessMoves

April 2000

Newsletter of the British Chess Federation

Online Edition

Roger Edwards,
Director of Grading

Report by Roger Edwards
Director of Game Fee and Grading

This was presented to the BCF MB for their meeting of 12 February. It was not possible to consider the problems in depth because of the urgency of relocation of the BCF Office.

I have now had four months to look at the new system, but much of the time has been spent on administrative matters: answering queries; Direct Membership print-outs; budgets, etc. I have not been able to fathom out how to process everything satisfactorily.

Producing a new Grading List early this year was abandoned some time ago. I had hoped a corrected list would appear in January. A fair amount of processing has been done, but problems are still arising.

Arnold Lutton
the Minutes Secretary's eye-view of the
12 February Meeting

Much has been covered elswhere, either last month or this.

Robert McFarland, the new Finance Director, reckons the books can be balanced by paring spending to the bone, especially in the areas of Women's chess, Publicity, Marketing and Home Chess. Cyril Johnson, the Home Chess Director, is an extremely prudent manager and won't find cuts too hard to handle. Others are stoical. Howard Curtis has done a great deal of work at Coulsdon at less than cost.

The Board has embarked on an investigation to obtain a clear picture of the Management Services needed of the BCF and the new office will be structured to service these needs.

This was the first meeting of the Board chaired by Gerry Walsh. He obviously enjoyed the experience.

Thanks were recorded to Ray Clark and Gary Kenworthy for their contributions to the BCF as Directors of Finance and Coaching respectively.

Peter Turner produced a detailed policy paper for Junior chess with 17 different tasks. An application has been made for funding from the lottery for "Homework Clubs". Jonathan Tuck has been appointed officer in charge.

Despite chasing, two leagues Thames Valley and Hillingdon have still not provided any information. Two further grading officers have resigned. West Sussex because he lacked modern technology and Devon because he became understandably impatient to receive corrected information.

The new system does not appear to have a method for the automatic calculation of Game Fee. Thus I have re-introduced a manual system which has so far led to only two queries. Cynthia at the BCF Office has been most helpful in setting this up.

Effectively I am now trying to do the job of two Directors and one member of staff. About 1400 "office" and 400 "director's" hours are needed. Thus my budget includes £7000 for staffing costs. Additional time and funding is needed for software support.

Anybody interested in volunteering as Game Fee Officer should contact the BCF Office as soon as possible. This is not too onerous a task and involves a certain amount of chasing up people in the evenings and at the weekend.

I had a most constructive meeting with Chris Howell on 12 March. He showed me how to carry out a number of functions. A number of small problems remain which were not considered in the original specification.
The revised grades, with corrections, as far as possible, are now available on CD. diskette or via email from the BCF Office. The charge is £2 for this service regardless of the system.

Also in ChessMoves, April 2000, paper edition * Varsity Match * BCF Board Meeting, 11 March * National Club Championship * Drug Testing * County Results * Obituaries * Book Reviews * Bunratty Festival * Ilford Chess Congress changes * Cappelle Open results * Adams in Bermuda * Congress Diary * Terence Chapman Group Grand Prix * Batsford Competition

ChessMoves, April 2000, was edited by Stewart Reuben

Feedback & Contacts

Report by Roger Edwards Director of Game Fee and Grading