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July 5, 2012.
To: Michael Von Keitz, President, Chess Federation of Canada
From: Frank Dixon, CFC member, organizer, arbiter, member historians' group, former CFC Governor
Ref: Questions on non-Governor participation in 2012 CFC on-line AGM
Hello Michael,
I hope you are doing well, and are enjoying your summer! :)
I heard recently that the 2012 Annual General Meeting for the Chess Federation of Canada will be held on-line. This information came through discusssion on the chesstalk.com message board, and derived from a thread not directly connected to this particular topic. The poster, Bob Armstrong, stated that the 2012 AGM of the Ontario Chess Association had been held in an on-line format, and that this proved the catalyst for the CFC's decision. This was news to me.
I had been planning to travel from my home in Kingston, Ontario, to Victoria, site of the 2012 Canadian Open, mostly for other matters, as part of a holiday in western Canada, but really hoped to participate in the AGM, which has been traditionally held in conjunction with the Canadian Open, set to beg in Victoria this coming Sunday, July 8th. This will now be impossible, for me and others. Accordingly, I have modified my travel plans, and now may travel west later in the summer.
I have three very important questions:
1) Will this online hosting of the CFC's AGM now become an annual tradition, replacing the in-person meetings of the past, or will a decision on this question be deferred until after the meeting itself?
2) What, if any, specific provisions have been made to allow CFC members who are not Governors to participate in the AGM? In the past, this was allowed, pending recognition of the individual member by the Chair, usually the CFC President (if present), or his delegated substitute.
3) What are the format details of upcoming AGM, and can an agenda be viewed on-line?
I am concerned over the shortness of time between this announcement and the AGM itself. It is important to note that the Ontario Open for 2012 was held in Thunder Bay, a remote location from southern Ontario. Was this the essential reason for the switch to an on-line format for the AGM? Also, Victoria, site of the 2012 Canadian Open, is also a long distance away from central Canada, home of the vast majority of CFC Governors. Was this the reason for the change in format?
I first met you in person at the AGM of the CFC in July, 2007, in Ottawa. I remember the occasion well, since I gave you a quick briefing on the post-secondary chess file, with which I had played a significant role for the previous five years. Personal networking was possible, and allowed our very useful exchange and many dozens of others. At that meeting, I made many important points from the floor, as a non-Governor, which influenced the ongoing debate. As did several other non-Governors.
I have several significant items related to Canadian chess development which I have prepared, and planned to bring these to the 2012 AGM. Having first joined the CFC in in 1973, nearly 40 years ago, and having made many contributions to Canadian chess as a player, writer, editor, historian, organizer, arbiter, coach, and Governor, during that period, I believe my voice should be respected and heard at this time. No doubt, there are other people across Canada who feel the same way. I feel that the 2012 AGM will be weaker and less effective should our voices be shut out at this time.
I am counting on you to show strong leadership on these important questions, and to find and implement a user-friendly method to allow me and other interested CFC members to participate in the 2012 CFC AGM.
I will await your prompt reply, as time is short. Posting on this board will be sufficient, although you may also send me a personal email, if you wish. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Dixon
Kingston, ONT.
To: Michael Von Keitz, President, Chess Federation of Canada
From: Frank Dixon, CFC member, organizer, arbiter, member historians' group, former CFC Governor
Ref: Questions on non-Governor participation in 2012 CFC on-line AGM
Hello Michael,
I hope you are doing well, and are enjoying your summer! :)
I heard recently that the 2012 Annual General Meeting for the Chess Federation of Canada will be held on-line. This information came through discusssion on the chesstalk.com message board, and derived from a thread not directly connected to this particular topic. The poster, Bob Armstrong, stated that the 2012 AGM of the Ontario Chess Association had been held in an on-line format, and that this proved the catalyst for the CFC's decision. This was news to me.
I had been planning to travel from my home in Kingston, Ontario, to Victoria, site of the 2012 Canadian Open, mostly for other matters, as part of a holiday in western Canada, but really hoped to participate in the AGM, which has been traditionally held in conjunction with the Canadian Open, set to beg in Victoria this coming Sunday, July 8th. This will now be impossible, for me and others. Accordingly, I have modified my travel plans, and now may travel west later in the summer.
I have three very important questions:
1) Will this online hosting of the CFC's AGM now become an annual tradition, replacing the in-person meetings of the past, or will a decision on this question be deferred until after the meeting itself?
2) What, if any, specific provisions have been made to allow CFC members who are not Governors to participate in the AGM? In the past, this was allowed, pending recognition of the individual member by the Chair, usually the CFC President (if present), or his delegated substitute.
3) What are the format details of upcoming AGM, and can an agenda be viewed on-line?
I am concerned over the shortness of time between this announcement and the AGM itself. It is important to note that the Ontario Open for 2012 was held in Thunder Bay, a remote location from southern Ontario. Was this the essential reason for the switch to an on-line format for the AGM? Also, Victoria, site of the 2012 Canadian Open, is also a long distance away from central Canada, home of the vast majority of CFC Governors. Was this the reason for the change in format?
I first met you in person at the AGM of the CFC in July, 2007, in Ottawa. I remember the occasion well, since I gave you a quick briefing on the post-secondary chess file, with which I had played a significant role for the previous five years. Personal networking was possible, and allowed our very useful exchange and many dozens of others. At that meeting, I made many important points from the floor, as a non-Governor, which influenced the ongoing debate. As did several other non-Governors.
I have several significant items related to Canadian chess development which I have prepared, and planned to bring these to the 2012 AGM. Having first joined the CFC in in 1973, nearly 40 years ago, and having made many contributions to Canadian chess as a player, writer, editor, historian, organizer, arbiter, coach, and Governor, during that period, I believe my voice should be respected and heard at this time. No doubt, there are other people across Canada who feel the same way. I feel that the 2012 AGM will be weaker and less effective should our voices be shut out at this time.
I am counting on you to show strong leadership on these important questions, and to find and implement a user-friendly method to allow me and other interested CFC members to participate in the 2012 CFC AGM.
I will await your prompt reply, as time is short. Posting on this board will be sufficient, although you may also send me a personal email, if you wish. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Dixon
Kingston, ONT.
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