Administrator
An Executive Vote, you say?Originally Posted by Vladimir Drkulec
I have questions also. Yes or no will do, we don't need entire paragraphs to answer, although if you want to include the tally that would be fine too.
1. Did the Executive have a vote about what to do about replacing Hal, or did you bypass them and go straight to a (completely unscientific and nonbinding) public poll about it?
2. Did the Executive vote to approve the agenda for this meeting before you sent it out?
Christopher Mallon
FIDE Arbiter
CFC Voting Member
Is there any hope you could be more presidential and stop pushing "your" guy?
The Voting Members deserve an unbiased environment for this election meeting.
Just my 2c, and respectfully.
CFC Secretary
As another Executive member I fully agree with how Fred has described things.
This matter has been very very badly handled since Hal's resignation and before and I want to reiterate that:
- our bylaws say very clearly how a resigned director is to be replaced and that the method chosen does not follow those
- that mid-term resignations of executive members is extremely infrequent in CFC recent history
- our bylaws are NOT nearly as accessible to the VMs and the public as they ought to be and providing this accessibility should be an action item on the very next update to the CFC website and that this inaccessibility has contributed to why a special meeting was thought necessary
- this whole thread has been copied from the public areas of our forum and are NOT all posted here afresh in the first 3 hours of this meeting (which I confess REALLY made me wonder)
- in the copied thread there were postings from non VMs and it appeared to me that they had actually posted here rather than being COPIED here. These non-VM individuals are completely innocent of any breach.
- however when I saw their "postings" it appeared they had gained improper access to the forum which is a VERY big deal since anybody who has POSTING access in the meeting has VOTING access in the meeting and we definitely do not want that to happen
- I know who did the copying and while I won't publicly embarrass him / her have admonished them never ever to copy a public forum thread into a VM thread again. In other words giving them the proverbial "wet noodle"
- if nothing else, this whole affair demonstrates (1) why we need to faithfully follow our own rules (2) why these rules need to be freely accessible to all so they are clearly understood by all members (3) why you DON'T copy threads from area to area without a very good reason and the unintended consequences that can follow when you do.
- lastly I am not the first CFC Secretary nor will be the last but I want to say clearly that in this online era VM security and the protection of our posting and voting system is a very very high priority and anyone contemplating seeking the role REALLY needs to understand this. If it's NOT a high priority for you then maybe CFC Secretary isn't the position you should seek.
CFC Voting Member
CFC FIDE Representative: Aris Marghetis endorses Victor Plotkin
Dear Canadian chess family, like most of you, I am a chess person for life. I deeply believe chess is a wonderful unique activity that transcends so many possible divisions in life. A 5-year-old can play a 95-year-old; where it doesn't matter at all what's their size, gender, ethnicity, religion, nation, etc.
Chess is so special!
And that's why I have chosen to serve the game to the best of my abilities, mostly as an Arbiter, but also as a teacher, especially of complete beginners. I love starting families off on a lifetime of chess!
My use of the phrase "to serve" is very intentional. I feel deeply we should all strive to do what is genuinely best for the game of chess, from fundamental grass roots all the way to CFC and FIDE.
So, when Hal Bond resigned as CFC FIDE Representative, I was moved by proposals that I continue serving, as the next CFC FIDE Representative. With my long spectrum of experiences across Canada, the United States, and FIDE; it looked like a great fit for everyone. I was very excited to get started!
Unfortunately, during this pandemic, especially since Christmas, our family has been shocked by a mean series of deaths, strokes / heart attacks, and other hospitalizations. I respectfully withdraw.
That leaves two candidates, Victor Plotkin and Vadim Tsypin. Both men are very intelligent, very industrious; and each in his own way, very successful. There are differences, none more obvious than Vadim's current position on the FIDE Management Board. Even before "conflict of interest".
Please consider the following analysis.
Decades ago, John Prentice honourably represented Canada within FIDE leadership. For the first time since then, we have a Canadian within FIDE management. This is a very good thing. Then the question we should ask ourselves is a strategic one. Given that Vadim already is where he is, then between Vadim and Victor, who would be the better choice as CFC FIDE Representative? Another way of phrasing this is: who would not be the lesser candidate? Here is my strategic thinking:
1) Vadim has been on the FIDE Management Board since 2018. During that time, Vadim has maintained a very close relationship with CFC President Vlad Drkulec. Could that get any better with Vadim as CFC FIDE Representative? Despite the flowery words and some adamant posts, the answer is: of course not. All it would do is to erode Vadim's influence within FIDE leadership. The new danger is that whenever Vadim speaks at the FIDE level, sometimes people will understandably wonder whether Vadim is wearing his FIDE management hat or one of his CFC hats. Why risk that?!
2) The counter-argument that Vadim can "get things done" better than before just doesn't add up. Vadim has already been there since 2018, always with a very tight relationship with Vlad, so how would it suddenly get better for the CFC? So there's a potential downside, but no potential upside.
3) Every organization has a leadership pyramid. The FIDE Management Board is up there in the FIDE leadership pyramid. Further down, but quite importantly, the Zonal Presidents and national delegates to FIDE are also part of the FIDE leadership pyramid. We have a unique opportunity to double how many Canadians in this conversation. Why in the world wouldn't we take advantage?!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have discussed my concerns with both Vadim and Vlad, who has apparently decided to support Vadim. I have clearly expressed my profound disappointment over the strategic mistake of installing Vadim as CFC FIDE Representative. Now I make my case to you.
Victor Plotkin is a man of integrity, and is stepping up to serve chess, with no expected reward other than just that, serving chess, for both CFC and FIDE. At the upcoming February 2021 special meeting, I heartily encourage you to vote for Victor Plotkin as our next CFC FIDE Representative.
If you want to chat before voting, I'll make time for you. If you Skype, my Name is "arismarghetis".
Thank you, best regards, Aris Marghetis.
CFC Voting Member
For the record --- does this thread from the public environment becomes the special meeting record? Wow....
.*-1
CFC Voting Member
[QUOTE=Lyle Craver;36636]- our bylaws say very clearly how a resigned director is to be replaced and that the method chosen does not follow those
Lyle,
1. Why did this happen, and who's fault was it?
2. Maybe in such circumstances, another option is to cancel improper elections and follow the bylaws?
CFC Voting Member
Aris, thank you for your post. Totally agree with you that "Victor Plotkin is a man of integrity, and is stepping up to serve chess, with no expected reward other than just that, serving chess, for both CFC and FIDE."
Now let me address some of your main statements:
"Vadim has been on the FIDE Management Board since 2018. During that time, Vadim has maintained a very close relationship with CFC President Vlad Drkulec. Could that get any better with Vadim as CFC FIDE Representative? "Despite the flowery words and some adamant posts, the answer is: of course not. All it would do is to erode Vadim's influence within FIDE leadership. The new danger is that whenever Vadim speaks at the FIDE level, sometimes people will understandably wonder whether Vadim is wearing his FIDE management hat or one of his CFC hats. Why risk that?!"
According to you since 2018 Vadim is on the FIDE's Management Board while maintaining a very close relationship with CFC President Vlad Drkulec. In my opinion that makes Vadim highly effective on any and all Canadian related issues. In fact what makes you think that "Could that get any better with Vadim as CFC FIDE Representative? Despite the flowery words and some adamant posts, the answer is: of course not."? Don't get it at all. "The new danger is that whenever Vadim speaks at the FIDE level, sometimes people will understandably wonder whether Vadim is wearing his FIDE management hat or one of his CFC hats. Why risk that?!" Really! Can't think of a single issue where Vadim would had to abstain because of your implied conflict of interest. In fact CFC would gain tremendously from Vadim's senior position in both CFC and FIDE because things would've moved expeditiously and effectively. Let's imagine that Victor Plotkin is elected and is trying to help solving a "Canadian" related issue: he's just one of about almost 200 representatives and now, especially in the pandemic time, I fail to see how anybody could be even nearly as effective as Vadim.
Your example of the leadership pyramid explicitly pictures that while CFC has already somebody almost at the very top! And you are proposing CFC to reject him! By installing someone at the much lower level betting then two is better than one! Of course not. Victor himself has admitted that he needs a training on the job. How would Victor even technically achieved that training during the pandemic time? And how much time that training would require? With Vadim's help? And without one?
I'm trying very hard to see viable solution to this situation. Without tribalism issues everything is rather simple. Nevertheless I hope for an intelligent decision!
Sasha Starr, VM
Last edited by Sasha Starr; 02-21-2021 at 04:48 PM.
Rook
You need the CFC permission to occupy an elected position within FIDE. Such permission is not required for Non-Elected Commissions, except for the chairman. Furthermore, ounce named, the CFC does not have the Authority to dismiss a Non-Elected Commission member (see 1.4.7). The normal procedure is the appointment of the Chairmen by the FIDE President followed by the appointment of the members chosen by the Chairmen.
CFC President
At various times the executive put forward several measures including one that would have split the job of FIDE rep between Hal Bond and Aris Marghetis and required a change of bylaw without explicitly changing the bylaw. This could not be done without going to the voting members for approval.
Under the old handbook this would be my decision as president.
Under the NFP act this could be a decision for either the board or the voting members. If three voting members asked for a meeting I would have the power to stonewall them for up to 150 days or until the AGM but my practice has been to be as democratic as I could be and allow and expedite such meetings and measures to proceed as if sanctioned by a member of the executive. This was not an option if the FIDE rep job was split up as it required a bylaw change and thus would have to be approved by the voting members at the meeting already scheduled for April.
I contacted various voting members and asked them what they thought of it probably starting with Nikolay Noritsyn. I was contacted by many more voting members including Michael Barron and Ian Findlay. I asked them what they thought and most were in favour of putting it to the voting members. Five percent of the voting members can call a meeting and I had more than five percent of the voting members asking for a meeting.
CFC Voting Member
Dear Victor,
Thank you for questions on substance. It is a pleasure for me to answer them although I am puzzled why didn’t you address those directly to my dear wife who is her own person. Women are not considered “appendages” to their husbands anymore, right?
My spouse Diana Tsypina is an accomplished professional and entrepreneur. She holds Master of Sciences degree in Computer Science and worked with distinction for several decades in Canada in the leading Crown corporations and Information Technology companies. Diana is also a business owner and has significant investment income.
Like many of our colleagues, Diana Tsypina started her successful career as a chess arbiter by leveraging her professional qualifications to master the tournament management software such as Siwss Sys, Vega, and Swiss Manager. By working hard at the scholastic, youth, and national events, she rose through the ranks and distinguished herself:
• First, by becoming the first female FIDE Arbiter in Canada (title awarded at 89th FIDE Congress 2018, 26 Sep - 6 Oct, Batumi, Georgia),
• Then, by becoming the only active female International Arbiter in Canada (after late Evelyn Stringer , b. 1928) (title awarded at 3rd quarter PB 2019, 7-8 September, Budapest, HUN).
Diana and I extremely happy that, due to great efforts of Ontario organizers to promote gender equity in chess, two distinguished ladies, Corinna Wan and Karen Wan (titles awarded at 2020 2nd FIDE Council meeting). Congratulations again, Corinna and Karen! The IA Norms are awaiting you and all the bright hard-working Canadian arbiters in the international events that we will be able to bring to Canada together after this election.
Her background and advanced skills in mathematics and computer science brought Diana Tsypina into a rarified circle of the world’s topmost authorities in Swiss pairing implementation algorithms. Since 2018, she is a ranking member of the FIDE Systems of Pairings and Programs Commission (SPP), contributing a lot to the advances of tournament software, including online platforms, worldwide.
https://spp.fide.com/2019/10/23/spp-meeting/
A lifetime CFC and FQE member, Diana Tsypina served with distinction, including as Chief Arbiter or Deputy Chief Arbiter, in several dozen World, Continental and National events, as well as in huge international festivals in Europe and the marquee norm events in Canada and the USA. Some of you, honourable Voting Members, took part in such events as the 2018 edition of the Canadian Youth Chess Championship / Canadian Open in Quebec and the 2019 edition in Saskatchewan, of the GM Norm event at the famous Max Dlugy’s Academy in New York.
Diana’s official FIDE card can be accessed here:
https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2631717
Diana Tsypina submitted a routine category upgrade application to FIDE for CFC’s acknowledgment in December 2020. It was later established that this application met or exceeded all legal requirements codified in the FIDE Handbook B06, Annex 2, "Regulations for the classification of the chess arbiters".
Yet, for unknown reasons, Diana was viciously attacked by a member of the CFC Executive who suddenly decided to play a role of a self-proclaimed gatekeeper for Canadians’ advance through FIDE – a role that the CFC Exec didn’t entrust him with.
“The Board of Directors of the Chess Federation of Canada overwhelmingly voted to support Mrs. Tsypina's application despite the objections of our delegate who ultimately resigned because the board disagreed with [the delegate’s] interpretation of our role in this process.”
The application has been properly processed by FIDE. Diana decided not to reply to the former delegate’s unfounded statements – she has a business to run and politics is not her style.
Now, some VMs has upped the ante and stepped into the public realm to attack my wife’s and my reputation and our good names. By repeating hearsay, and quoting in public, materially unfounded and patently false allegations, they put their own reputations in question.
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