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Bob Armstrong
04-10-2009, 12:28 PM
Today, April 10, Governor Patrick McDonald filed 2 motions for governor reduction, on behalf of the CFC Constitutional Coalition ( about 40 CFC members ) :

To: Lyle Craver, CFC Secretary
From: Governor Patrick McDonald (and Governor Paul Leblanc)
Re: 2 motions on Governor Reduction

Hi Lyle:

Attached please find 2 motions + commentaries on Governor Reduction:

Motion # 1: – reducing provincial representation governors;

Motion # 2: – reducing past president governors (including Life Governors).

(please re-number them to fit in the format required for motions to be considered)

I am filing these motions on behalf of a CFC members group called the CFC Constitutional Coalition (numbering about 40 members).

I note that under Bylaw # 3, section 3, these two motions are considered “constitutional” amendments. I would request therefore that they proceed in the GL’s in the normal way, but when they are to come to a vote, they be referred to the upcoming July CFC AGM in Edmonton (since it is easier to get constitutional amendments passed in an AGM).

If there are any questions, or if I have to do anything further, please let me know.

Thank You,

Patrick McDonald IA
Youth Coordinator - Ontario Chess Association
patrick@psmcd.net

Here is the first full motion/commentary ( the Motion # 2 will be in the thread below ):

2 Motions to the CFC Governors on CFC Governor Reduction

( Submitted by the movers/seconders to the CFC Executive/Governors on behalf of the CFC Constitutional Coalition, a grassroots’ group of almost 40 CFC members/former members, commentary prepared by Bob Armstrong, Coalition Coordinator, CFC Life Member; Coalition members/supporters of these motions are named below ):

Motion # 1: Moved: Governor Patrick McDonald; Seconded: Governor Paul Leblanc

Numbers of Governors for Each Province: this subsection of section 1 of By-law # 2, shall be amended by deleting in both places the word “ fifty “ and substituting for it the words “ one hundred “.

Commentary:

The current subsection of section 1 of By-law # 2 dealing with “ Numbers of Governors for Each Province “ is: .

Provincial/Territorial Governors: BY-LAW NUMBER TWO OF THE CHESS FEDERATION OF CANADA
1. ASSEMBLY OF GOVERNORS….NUMBERS OF GOVERNORS FOR EACH PROVINCE

Each provincial association shall be entitled to elect or appoint a number of Governors as follows:

For the first fifty or part thereof of ordinary per capita fee payments, and number of life memberships combined, one Governor shall be allotted and for each subsequent fifty or part thereof one additional governor shall be allotted.

By this motion, the number of Provincial/Territorial Governors shall roughly be reduced by 50%. This would mean that the number of governors for a province/territory will be one for every 100 members ( or part thereof ), instead of 50 members. We set out below a rough estimate of what that would mean, based on the number of 2008-9 Governors:

Provincial/Territorial Governors:
...........Current.......................Proposed
A - B.C. - 5..............................3
B - Alta. - 5..............................3
C - Sask. - 1..............................1
D - Man. - 2..............................1
E - Ont. - 17..............................9
F - Que. - 2..............................1
G - N.B. - 2...............................1
H - P.E.I. -1...............................1
I - N.S. - 2................................1
J - Nfld. & Lab. – 1.......................1
K - no reps from ( 3 vacancies )...same
the 3 territories
Total -38 ( and three vacancies )...22 ( and three vacancies )

Our first concern is “ administrative “. There are 61 governors for about 1400 adult members. This works out to about a governor for every 23 adult members. Where do you get these kinds of representation figures in real life organizations?? This is bureaucratic overkill. And it makes decision-making difficult when there are so many voters to communicate with and get to vote. Getting quorums becomes a problem with such a large body of deciders. It makes constitutional amendments outside of the AGM almost impossible. Today’s business models tend to be lean and mean – smaller groups that can make decisions quickly – our system is cumbersome to say the least. Surely the system needs at least to be somewhat leaner.
Reducing provincial governor representation by half would greatly assist decision-making by the CFC. A smaller decision-making body in this aspect would help streamline the organization and make decision-making much more effective.

Our second concern is “ qualitative “ - that over the years, we have seen exceptionally low participation by governors in voting, and in participating in CFC affairs in various ways. For example, CFC motion 2009-06, voted on by e-mail in December 2008, had only 15 governors voting out of a total of 61 – this is an abysmal participation rate of 25% ! Motions 2009 -5, 7, and 8 did a bit better, with an average of 28 governors voting, but even then we are still at a less than 50% participation rate ( only 46 % ). We feel that this impairs the effectiveness of the organization, and demoralizes those who do participate.

One of the problems is that the provincial associations have trouble recruiting sufficient good candidates for the high number of current governor positions. Simply put, there are not enough good people to go around. Consequently, in an attempt to fill the seats, the provinces drag members in who have little commitment to working for the organization, though they may agree to have their names put forward, to be cooperative. But they have no intention of participating. If the number of positions was reduced by 50%, the provinces would have a chance of filling the lower number of places with good candidates.

Our governor structure has great merit – it is democratic and representative. But decision-making needs to be streamlined.

Motion # 2 is in the reply post below.

Bob

Bob Armstrong
04-10-2009, 12:36 PM
Motion # 2 :Moved: Governor Patrick McDonald; Seconded: Governor Paul Leblanc
.
Governors-at-Large – Past CFC Presidents: Section 6 of By-law # 2 is amended by deleting

“ the past Presidents of the Federation who have served as President for at least two full terms. A term is that period between one annual meeting and the next.”

and deleting

“ the past Presidents who have been granted the life title of Governor at Large as at September 1994. “

There shall be added after the words “ five years “ in the remaining section, the sentence “ A term is that period between one annual meeting and the next.”

Commentary:

The current appointment of past CFC Presidents under the CFC Handbook is under section 6 of Bylaw 2, which states:

" 6.GOVERNORS AT LARGE

The following persons shall be known as Governors at large:

the past Presidents of the Federation who have served as President for at least two full terms. A term is that period between one annual meeting and the next.

the past Presidents of the Federation who have served as President for at least one full term in the immediately preceding five years.
.
.
the past Presidents who have been granted the life title of Governor at Large as at September 1994. "

The new revised section will now read ( as to the part referring to former Presidents ):

" 6. GOVERNORS AT LARGE

The following persons shall be known as Governors at large:…

the past Presidents of the Federation who have served as President for at least one full term in the immediately preceding five years. A term is that period between one annual meeting and the next. “.


Given the 50% reduction of democratically elected governors under motion # 1, the number of past president governors should also be reduced by 50%, to avoid increasing the influence of the non-elected governors. The balance between elected and unelected governors must be maintained. As well, it is felt that it is undemocratic for CFC to have “ Life “ governors.
Thus this motion will eliminate all life governor presidents ( appointed on and before September 1994 ), and any past president who was elected more than five years ago.

We do recognize the loss of experience in the Assembly our motion will cause, and the contributions life governors have made, but we have kept on the past presidents from the last 5 years. These are the presidents that have the most claim on some type of “ recently elected “ factor. And they are the most current past presidents, and so have been dealing with the newest issues facing the organization. As well, earlier past presidents can always run again for provincial governor if they want to stay active. Also, they can easily let it be known that they are more than ready to give advice when asked, or to serve as member volunteers on committees, etc.
Currently there are 10 ( one apparently has asked to be removed but that hasn’t been done yet ) past president governors ( some life governors ) under this section.

The potential number of such governors-at-large could be reduced to the most recent 5 presidents ( and Life Governors eliminated ), by deleting the 2 of three categories identified in the motion:

“ the past Presidents of the Federation who have served as President for at least two full terms “

and

“the past Presidents who have been granted the life title of Governor at Large as at September 1994. “


NOTES:

1. “ Constitutional Amendments “: These amendments are considered “ constitutional amendments “ under Bylaw # 3 of the CFC, section 3, which is:

BY-LAW NUMBER THREE OF THE CHESS FEDERATION OF CANADA
ANNUAL MEETING AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
1. ….
2. All matters to be decided by the Assembly, shall be decided by a majority vote, save as hereinafter provided.
3. Any amendment or revision of these By-Laws; any matter pertaining to any international agreement between the Federation and any international or foreign Chess Federation or Association; and any matter pertaining to the payment of dues to the Fιdιration International des Echecs may be made,
(a) at any Annual Meeting of the Assembly, providing that a notice of intention to submit such matter to a vote has been received by the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the date of such Annual Meeting and has been transmitted by the Secretary to each Governor at least 14 days prior to the date of such Annual Meeting and that any resolution pertaining to such matter shall be approved by at least a two-thirds majority of the votes of those present and entitled to vote, including proxy votes.
(b) at any time through a mail vote of Assembly, providing that the exact wording of such proposed amendments or revision, or of the resolution to be passed by the Board through mail vote is submitted to each Governor at least fourteen days before the expiry of the time limit specified by the President for the receipt of the votes by the Secretary, and that at least one-half of the number of votes eligible to be cast has been received by the Secretary, and there is a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast in favour of the proposed amendment or revision or resolution.

2. The CFC Member Vote for CFC Governor: The CFC Handbook has a modified system of “ One member – one vote “ :

CFC Bylaw 1

ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP

5. Any person, ordinarily resident in Canada, may become an Ordinary Member of the Federation, for the then-current fiscal year, upon payment of the Membership per Capita Fee, directly to the Federation, or through his Provincial Organization. Every Ordinary or Life Member has a right to vote on the appointment or election of the Governor or Governors who will represent his Provincial Organization. Every Ordinary or Life Member has a right to vote on the appointment or election of the Governor or Governors who will represent his Provincial Organization at the assembly of Governors but shall not be entitled to vote under any other circumstances unless specifically provided in these by-laws.

CFC Rules and Regulations, Article 1

SELECTION OF GOVERNORS BY PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATION

9. As soon as possible after the receipt by a Provincial Organization of the aforementioned Certificate, such body will convene a meeting of its Federation Members for the purpose of electing its necessary number of nominees for the Board for the ensuing term.

3. The current number of Governors-at-Large are:

A - Executive - 7
B – Non-Executive Officers - Masters' Representative and Women's Coordinator - 2
C - Representative of Chess Foundation of Canada, and, Canadian Correspondence Chess Association - 2
D - Canadian Champion and Runner-Up - 2
E – Former CFC Presidents ( some Life Governors ) – 10 ( as now shown on the CFC website ); almost equal the votes of the other Governors-at-Large )

Total – 23

4. Some positive governor comments:

A ) Both Motions:

- “ the motions make sense “ – Governor Mark Dutton ( though for other reasons he declined to move the motions )

B) Motion # 1:

“ I can support that “ – Governor Maurice Smith ( though for other reasons, he declined to move the motion )

“ I would likely support [ motion # 1 ] “ – Governor Phil Haley ( though for other reasons he declined to second the motion at the time asked )

Bob

Bob Armstrong
04-10-2009, 05:57 PM
The CFC Constitutional Coalition would like to remind all governors in favour of these 2 motions, that they are considered " constitutional " amendments, and so we need to get 2/3 of the votes cast at the AGM. If you favour the motions, but are not going to be attending the CFC AGM in July in Edmonton, then your PROXY becomes critical. You can specifically instruct whomever is going to hold your proxy, to vote IN FAVOUR of these two motions.

When the time comes, and the AGM package is sent out to you, please take the time to complete your proxy form.

If you would like to give it to a governor attending who is in favour of the motion as well, contact me ( bobarm@sympatico.ca ), and we will try to get you the name of an attending governor who still has space to hold another proxy.

Bob