YOUR FEDERATION NEEDS YOU!
- Andrew Farthing, Chief Executive
The ECF relies on the support of the many individuals, over 50 in all, who generously offer their time and energy to the cause of helping English chess. The Federation literally could not survive without its volunteers, and I should like to take this opportunity to record my sincere gratitude for their amazing efforts.
Although we are blessed with many volunteers already, some gaps remain. We have a number of positions vacant, and we urgently need to fill them with suitable volunteers:
Manager of Information & Communication Technology – This requires an IT-literate individual who can give support to the ECF Office from time to time on IT issues and give the Board guidance on decisions in the area of IT development. The role need not be very time-consuming most of the time, but occasionally issues will arise which need the Manager’ s involvement. Ideally – but not necessarily – it would be someone for whom travelling to the office in Battle( Sussex) would not be too onerous. Reports to the Chief Executive.
Strategic Planning Officer( SPO) – Modesty forbids me from commenting on the excellence of the previous incumbent! Suffice it to say that I would prefer not to have to combine the strategic planning work with my responsibilities as Chief Executive. The tasks of the SPO are to draft an annual Business Plan, Long- Term Strategic Plan and Achievement Report. In practice, when I carried out the role, I had an open invitation to attend Board and Council meetings as part of the process of understanding what the Federation was trying to achieve and the issues confronting it. It was excellent preparation for my current role. If you have an interest in shaping the future of
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English chess and can produce clear, well thought-out documents, this may be the role for you. Reports to the Chief Executive.
Minutes Secretary – This person needs to attend Board and Council meetings and produce accurate Minutes within a reasonable timescale( say, a week). In practice, this means travelling to London, Birmingham and venues in between about half a dozen times a year. The ECF pays for outof-pocket expenses and offers a modest honorarium per set of minutes produced of £ 50(£ 70 for Council meetings). As well as being an essential function, this role offers the candidate the chance to see the Board and Council in action and for some it might be a useful way of deciding whether to seek further involvement, e. g. as a director. Reports to the Non- Executive Chairman.
Manager of
Congress Chess – Something of an empty canvas and, therefore, a great opportunity for someone with the right vision. This role is currently only vaguely defined, so the scope is there for it to be shaped in all sorts of ways. Underpinning it is the wish to support English congress chess, in whatever ways the ECF can usefully contribute. Reports to the Director of Home Chess.
As well as these, we are seeking a Chairman of the Finance Committee( the financial watchdog for the ECF) and a Direct Members’ Representative to be a voice for Basic and Basic Junior members.
Volunteering can be intensely rewarding. If you would like to join the throng of those giving their time in support of English chess, please contact the office in the usual way or get in touch with me direct by e-mail( chief. executive @ englishchess. org. uk) or phone( 01905 358949).