Minutes of 2023 AGM

Att: Martin H (chair), Dave L (mins), George P (treasurer), Amar, Steve Bracey, David A. Peter, John, Ben, Martin P, David M, Chris, Kevin, Richard, Gary, Mike A. Apologies from Andy, Brian, Hubert, Tim, Ken and Stephan.

Minutes of last year's meeting were summarised.
Arising: None.
Treasurer's report:  We transferred from HSBC to Natwest and saved money by doing so owing to their free banking.
Around 20 members represents a recovery from the pandemic and a foundation for the future.
We have over £500 in the bank and slightly more than last year. We're good for equipment: just need another 1000 scoresheets. Martin and Peter will sort that.

Captain's reports: Sheffield A (Martin H) won the last four after a slow start and came third; given the strength of Nomads especially, this was about as good as could be hoped. Dave Ashcroft 6.5/9, Mike Smith 4/6 including a win over Sam Milson (2174); Tim 6/10.
Derby and District was won +9 = 3 - 0; Hubert 4.5/5, Peter over 50%; best win was 3.5-0.5 v Breadsall.
Summer League: also won. 9 players appeared, with the memorable moment being an amazing miniature by Peter v our old friend Daniel Sullivan.
In total, we played 34 matches and lost only 4, 3 of those to Nomads, who field all manner of 2300 and 2200+ players.
Best performance in Derbyshire was probably Martin P's 8.5/10 - for Rolls Royce!

B team: Brian's policy was to use as many players as possible. 13 people got us to 4th out of 8, a plus record. George 10/14.
Summer League was a big ask for our team, playing a division above the ideal. Standouts were two drawn matches v SASCA, wins by Tim v Miles Edwards-Wright (2045); George v Tom Wills (2074) and Kevin v another old buddy, Steve Gibbs (1752). Amar and George both made 3/5.

C Team: Richard describes a slow start, lots of new players, and a fine run-in to finish second. An amazing season to give confidence for the future. We won't look for promotion because B team would be in the same division.

Next Year: we will again put in 3 teams in Sheffield; one in the Richardson; 1 in the Derby & District and - revival - a second D&D team

Officers:  Andy Mort as President. Secretary Dave Latham. Treasurer: George Peters. Martin Howard will captain in Sheffield (A and Richardson); Brian Crofts (B); Richard Dawson (C) and we congratulated him on a really splendid job.  D&D teams: A team Martin Howard, B team George Lovell.  Webmaster :  Ben with an offer of help from David M.

Rapid Play Tournament: we aim for 21 09 23, internal event.

Annual Subscription: unchanged at £10, free for juniors and life members. Note that people playing for our teams need ECF membership after 3 appearances; silver is free for under 18s in their first year, £6 in the second year if still under 18.

Centenary:  A letter to the Derbyshire Times in Sept 1924 jump started our club. We should at least raise publicity for Sept 2024; Martin H urged us to look at the example of Brent, who have a thriving inter-schools competition; several local schools do have chess clubs. John said there was plenty going on in Dronfield and lots of enthusiasm on line.  We should keep an eye on the government offer of funding for chess. Note, however,  that people hoping to work with schools have a lot of legal hoops to go through.
We hope also to run a MIKE JOHNSON memorial tournament.

Sheffield AGM: unfortunately, Martin H and Dave L can't attend. We decided as a club to support, nem con, the proposals to introduce increments - "the way chess is going" (Peter).

Meeting closed 20 45.