Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

2014 Canadian Open : Pre-registered players, and GM Anton Kovalyov is on the list, as below:
GM DE FIRMIAN, Nick A – 2400
GM FEDOROWICZ, John A – 2400
WIM FLEITES MARTI, Yuleikys A - 2400
GM MORADIABADI, Elshan A – 2400
GM KOVALYOV, Anton A – 2400
IM LAWSON, Eric A – 2400
WGM PINA VEGA, Sulennis A – 2400
GM ROUSSEL-ROOZMON, Thomas A – 2400
IM RUIZ SANCHEZ, Orlen A – 2400
GM SAMBUEV, Bator A – 2400
GM TIVIAKOV, Sergei A – 2400
GM VAN WELY, Loek A – 2400
HADDADI, Farshad B - U2400
DEHMEL, Jens B - U2400
DERRAUGH, Geordie B - U2400
LEE, Brendon C - U2000
ARMSTRONG, Robert D - U1700
LEE, Frank D - U1700
LEE, Melissa D - U1700
DEMOCRI, Fardin E – U1300 and unrated
DEMOCRI, Firooz E – U1300 and unrated
DEMOCRI, Radin E – U1300 and unrated

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

Last night I was thinking about what has just been written. What he wants would clearly break the law. Wasn't KS one of those people who were whining about the CFC losing their charitable status? Then he wants us to break the laws regarding that status to funnel money to a chess player so that people can avoid paying tax. Classic. As GM David Norwood wrote - "Chess players think that the world owes them a living. They are wrong."

I wouldn't be that sure with GM. David Norwood's statement, as mentioned above. For instance in Europe, there are quite many chess players making a good living from chess!

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

The Return of Foxwoods: Kovalyov Wins, Sevian Earns GM Norm.

http://www.uschess.org/content/view/12530/738/

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

The chess games played by GM.Anton Kovalyov can be found here: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=96626

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

It sounds like a dangerous precedent for the CFC to set. Basically, saying CFC will "officially" cover the FIDE rep expenses (with the "unofficial" understanding that the FIDE rep will happen to make a donation of that exact amount back to the CFC).

David, I agree with you. If you inferred that I was supporting a linkage between covering FIDE rep expenses and a donation, then you misunderstood me. In fact, I was stating just the opposite. The reimbursement of expenses must stand on it’s own merits. IMHO, “reasonable” FIDE rep expenses should be covered by the CFC budget. (But then remember, I am no longer on the CFC executive.) I would advise anyone to obtain prior approval from the CFC executive if you are expecting to be reimbursed.

[David Ottosen]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

Brad, with all due respect, I think you have misconstrued what the auditor has told you.

In this scenario, a tax receipt can be issued, but it is because Phil has issued a cheque to the CFC, not because he has expense receipts for FIDE meeting.

To clarify, break it down into 2 transactions:

Phil has $XXX in expenses to FIDE meeting: CFC pays Phil $XXX to reimburse him.
Phil gives CFC cheque for $YYY: CFC gives Phil tax receipt for $YYY.

If perhaps $XXX = $YYY, that is irrelevant.

It sounds like a dangerous precedent for the CFC to set. Basically, saying CFC will "officially" cover the FIDE rep expenses (with the "unofficial" understanding that the FIDE rep will happen to make a donation of that exact amount back to the CFC).

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

In the meantime Anton has been still involved in chess playing in The USA chess arena!

[Steve Douglas]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

Hi Steve,

I did see a lawyer on getting a National charitable status. Essentially (if my memory is still good)...we would have to wind down the CMA and re-incorporate Nationally as a charity. All I remember is that is was very complicated and there were no guarantees. Gary Gladstone (AN AWESOME GUY!) has been very helpful (and patient with me! :) on this matter.

Larry

Hi Larry:

I totally agree that Gary Gladstone is a great guy and definitely knows what he's talking about with respect to this issue. (Thus you should stop reading now.)

I wasn't sure whether CMA was a charity (or associated with one) or not. It does get complicated. Typically you have to keep two sets of books: one for the charity and one for the operating side of the organization. Money is received by the charity in the form of donations (with appropriate tax receipts) and it has to be dispensed for the stated purpose of the charity (for example the Canadian Cancer Society cannot decide it is going to spend all of its donations saving dolphins). Where the money goes has to be tracked and it does have to be demonstrated that it was spent in accordance with the mandate of the charity.

The separation of the books is important (otherwise you're not a charity but just another corporation), and as I said, be careful about saving dolphins (or sending "observers" to sunny climes to "study" the dolphins). I'm sure once you're up and going as an organization, doing a conversion to a charity would be difficult from an accounting and "corporate entity" standpoint, but not impossible.

I have little doubt that the CFC lots its charitable status because it couldn't demonstrate it was really a charity any more, particularly with "education" being its mandate.

Targeted donations are a big no-no, but there are *some* ways around them. For example, if the CFC (operating as a charity) were to state that it needed to raise money to fund an Olympic team, I could give a donation for this "targeted purpose" and they would issue me a tax receipt. If I said the money was *only* to be used for the Olympic team, I would probably still get the receipt assuming that they completely intended to send a team. If I further stipulated that they must include my son William on the team (CMA rating around 500) they would (or should) tell me to get lost.

Carrying the previous example back to this thread: If the CFC had never even thought about funding an Olympic team and I suddenly said "Hey guys, I'll give you a donation if you send a team", I would expect them to properly consider it and then make up their minds. If I said "Hey guys, I'll make a donation if you fund a team of 1 and my kid is on it", I would expect them to tell me to take a hike.

Steve

P.S. I don't know all the history of the politics that have gone on over the years. What I do know is that I wish the CMA had been around when I was in my early teens. You guys have been great for my kids learning chess and the sheer number of kids tournaments that exist in Toronto is testament to that.

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

Edit: I put that "in Canada" part at first, but then I wondered: if I wanted to play in a tournament in Europe (say), is it required that I be a member of my home federation?? Is that a FIDE requirement?

I believe that it is a requirement though if someone has a FIDE number already they probably don't check for CFC membership. The CFC office routinely gets requests for FIDE numbers for people who we have never heard of, or haven't heard from for a number of years. They do have to become CFC members before we jump through the hoops and issue the required number.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

Brad, with all due respect, I think you have misconstrued what the auditor has told you.

In this scenario, a tax receipt can be issued, but it is because Phil has issued a cheque to the CFC, not because he has expense receipts for FIDE meeting.

To clarify, break it down into 2 transactions:

Phil has $XXX in expenses to FIDE meeting: CFC pays Phil $XXX to reimburse him.
Phil gives CFC cheque for $YYY: CFC gives Phil tax receipt for $YYY.

If perhaps $XXX = $YYY, that is irrelevant.

I'd never heard this explanation before. I'm disappointed.

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

When the government auditor spent that day with us at the CFC, I also discovered that there was a correct and legal way to issue tax receipts for expenses. The matter involved Phil Haley, our FIDE Representative at the time. What Phil had to do to receive a tax receipt for expenses to a FIDE meeting was simple. He had to submit to the CFC receipts of all of his expenses, and a cheque made out to the CFC in the amount of those expenses. The CFC was then able to issue him back a cheque in the amount of those expenses, along with a tax receipt.

Brad, with all due respect, I think you have misconstrued what the auditor has told you.

In this scenario, a tax receipt can be issued, but it is because Phil has issued a cheque to the CFC, not because he has expense receipts for FIDE meeting.

To clarify, break it down into 2 transactions:

Phil has $XXX in expenses to FIDE meeting: CFC pays Phil $XXX to reimburse him.
Phil gives CFC cheque for $YYY: CFC gives Phil tax receipt for $YYY.

If perhaps $XXX = $YYY, that is irrelevant.

[Caesar Posylek]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

This seems to be completely at odds with information earlier that you can not issue tax receipts that are "directed" at an individual?

Gents; With the last answers, we are getting a little bit close to the one of the crucial questions, aren't we? It seems that some of the things are not that complicated.

[Fred Harvey]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

When the government auditor spent that day with us at the CFC, I also discovered that there was a correct and legal way to issue tax receipts for expenses. The matter involved Phil Haley, our FIDE Representative at the time. What Phil had to do to receive a tax receipt for expenses to a FIDE meeting was simple. He had to submit to the CFC receipts of all of his expenses, and a cheque made out to the CFC in the amount of those expenses. The CFC was then able to issue him back a cheque in the amount of those expenses, along with a tax receipt.

This seems to be completely at odds with information earlier that you can not issue tax receipts that are "directed" at an individual?

[Brad Thomson]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

When the government auditor spent that day with us at the CFC, I also discovered that there was a correct and legal way to issue tax receipts for expenses. The matter involved Phil Haley, our FIDE Representative at the time. What Phil had to do to receive a tax receipt for expenses to a FIDE meeting was simple. He had to submit to the CFC receipts of all of his expenses, and a cheque made out to the CFC in the amount of those expenses. The CFC was then able to issue him back a cheque in the amount of those expenses, along with a tax receipt.

[Fred Harvey]

Re: Anton Kovalyov in an article on "Spraggett on Chess" website

ten characters :)