Ag. Item 17C - New Business - Public Relations Coordinator

This topic has been started to be discussed under the thread of FIDE Representative. It seems important enough that I am authorizing it as a new business item.

Here is the filed motion on the new proposed Executive position of Public Relations Coordinator - this motion is for discussion only, and will not be voted on at this meeting:

Motion # 3 - Amending Bylaw 3, Duties of Officers – Public Relations Coordinator

Revision # 1, April 8, 2010

Moved: Robert Armstrong Seconded: Michael von Keitz

1. That there be added to Bylaw 2, section 10, after the words “ FIDE Representative “, the words “ Public Relations Coordinator “, and that the number “ seven “ be changed “ eight “ ( or “ nine “ if a Tournament Coordinator position is also added ); and

2. That there be added to Bylaw 3 , Duties of Officers, a new Section 8C dealing with “ Public Relations Coordinator “, as follows:

“ 8C Public Relations Coordinator

8C. The Public Relations Coordinator will be responsible for promoting the image of the CFC and for promoting chess generally to the public. As such the Public Relations Coordinator will, among other things:

- work with chess clubs and organizers across Canada to raise the profile of the CFC and chess
generally;
- work with the editor of the Canadian Chess News E-newsletter to develop content that is club specific;
- work with the Canadian Chess News editor and celebrity chess commentators to develop paid content that raises the profile of the e-newsletter and the CFC and chess generally.
- deal with mainstream media to promote significant chess news, such as Canadian Chess Champions, a new Canadian GM, major tournaments like the Can. Closed, Canadian Open, Can. Women’s Closed, CYCC, etc., the various benefits accruing from playing chess and other positive aspects of the chess culture.
.
Commentary:

This position is a valuable addition to the Executive.
The new position must now be made an officer of the CFC, and a member of the Board of Directors, by inserting it in the current Bylaw 2, section 10:

" Bylaw # 2

10. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Assembly and shall be constituted by seven persons, namely, the President, Vice-President, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, FIDE Representative and Rating Auditor ( note that this seems to be an update that has been missed - the youth coordinator has now replaced the rating auditor on the Executive ) "

We think this position is essential to CFC projecting a favourable public image and meeting its objective of “ chess promotion “.The section highlights the duties of this officer as both improving the “ image of the CFC “ ; and equally doing “ chess promotion”. The CFC needs to improve as well its media relations in relation to chess promotion. So a separate duty has been specified to show that this office will deal with chess promotion in the mainstream media.

The issue raised on the thread it was being discussed under was that this position should only become a non-Executive officer position ( the current non-executive officer positions are: Masters' Representative, Women's Coordinator, and Rating Auditor ). The counter argument is that the position is so important, that it requires the weight of being on the Executive.

Any further comments?

Bob

Hal Bond ( Past President ), Chris Mallon ( Past President ), Les Bunning ( Past President ) and Governor Gordon Ritchie have all indicated they do not support the Tournament Coordinator and Public Relations Coordinator going onto the Executive. I consider this significant opposition.

The alternative is that this position becomes a non-executive officer position under Bylaw # 2, section 18:

Bylaw # 2

18. OFFICERS

The Officers of the Federation shall be

the members of the Board of Directors;

the Masters Representative;

the Women’s Co-ordinator;

the Junior Co-ordinator ( note - by motion, the position of the rating auditor and junior coordinator ( properly called now the Youth Coordinator ) were switched - so the Youth Coordinator is now on the Board of Directors/Executive, and the rating auditor is now a non-Executive officer );

the Executive Director; and

any other general Officer who may be elected at the annual meeting of the Assembly or appointed as an Officer from the Assembly by the Board of Directors between the annual meeting at the Assembly. Upon the vacation from office of any officer between the annual meeting the President may fill the vacancy for the rest of the term by way of appointment.


I and my seconder, Michael von Keitz, will review our position on this motion, and advise shortly.

Bob

It is perhaps important to note that one governor, in another thread, has posted that for one year a while ago, one of the non-executive officers, the Master's Representative, was brought onto the Executive, when there was no " Past President " serving, to maintain the odd number of executive positions ( it may have been for more than one year ). It is this governor's opinion that the new Executive provided substantial benefit to the Executive.

This may be important to consider, in deciding if the Tournament Coordinator and Public Relations Coordinator, should be non-Executive officers, or Executive Officers.

Bob

Michael von Keitz ( seconder ) and I ( mover ) of the motion above on Public Relations Coordinator. have reviewed our motion in light of significant opinions that the Executive should not be expanded by adding this position. We now agree with this.

We are therefore notifying the Secretary that we will be withdrawing from the motion as mover/seconder. The Chair, Eric, can then rule on what should then be done with the motion.

However we still feel the position of Public Relations Coordinator is still very important. So we will bring a new motion to amend Bylaw #2, section 18, to make it a new non-Executive Officer position.

Bob

The main objection was that the current Executive should not be expanded by the addition of this position. The position could alternatively become a non-Executive Officer position. The Mover/Seconder agreed to withdraw from the motion in the light of this valid argument.

Is this summary generally satisfactory?

Bob