Resolutions Passed by the Executive Board 2009

BEIJING, 12 OCTOBER 2008

1. Present Richard Beckwith (ACF, Vice-President), Patricia Breen (IDA), Daniele Burte (Italy), Ian Caws (EDA, Treasurer), Mirko de Grandis, Joan Caws, Hugh Devlin (NWDF, President), Hoja Durdyev (Turkmenistan), Mustafa Durdyev, Shane McCosker, Mirko Mancini, Donald Oliphant (SDA), Garrett Owens, Faleo Paolo, Ingo Zachos (Germany).

2. Apologies for Absence Sean Phillips (IDA, Competition Director), John Reade (Secretary), Colin Webster (South Africa).

3. President�s Welcome Hugh Devlin opened the meeting at 9 pm. There were 8 representatives present from 11 affiliated organisations so the meeting was quorate.

4. Minutes of General Assembly 2006 Were read and approved.

5. Matters Arising Janet Mortimer was asked to become PRO but she declined.

6. Secretary�s Report John Reade reported as follows. (Read by Ian Caws.)

(i) GAYP Challenge Match 2008 This was played between Lubablo Kondlo (South Africa) and Ronald King (Barbados) at Medina OH during the week beginning 8 September. Ronald King won 1-0-23 so remains World GAYP Champion.

(ii) Women�s GAYP Challenge Match 2008 Between Janet Mortimer (New Zealand) and Amangul Durdyeva (Turkmenistan) will be played in Turkmenistan. The date has not been fixed yet.

(iii) 3-Move Qualifying Tournament 2008 The WMSG Checkers Tournament at Beijing from 13 to 17 October has been nominated by the WCDF as the 3-Move Qualifying Tournament 2008. If Alex Moiseyev wins this tournament the runner up will be the 3-Move Challenger 2009. If Amangul Durdyeva is the highest placed woman then the next highest placed woman will be the 3-Move Women�s Challenger 2009.

(iv) Events 2009 There will be 3 WCDF events in 2009, namely, the GAYP Qualifying Tournament, and the Men�s and Women�s 3-Move Challenge Matches. Bids are invited to host these events. The closing date for bids is 1 December 2008.

7. Treasurer�s Report Ian Caws reported as follows.

(i) Opening balance at 25 October 2007 was £2,088.58. Income was £340.71 with expenditure being £94.20. Balance at 30 September 2008 is £2,335.09.

(ii) The ACF are holding US$1,000 on behalf of the WCDF.

(iii) We are awaiting a small legacy from the estate of the late Gene Lindsay.

Donald Oliphant requested that future balance sheets should show details of the entries involved in the monies held on behalf of the WCDF by the ACF Treasurer. Approved.

8. President�s Report Hugh Devlin reported as follows.

Hugh reported that it gave him great pleasure to be presiding over this GA meeting in Beijing where the 1st World Mind Sports Games were ongoing, and where the checkers event had 42 entries representing 19 countries. He wished to extend the WCDF�s thanks to Henri Macaux, Johan Bastiaannet, and Bat-Erdene Chimeddorj from the FMJD for the tremendous preparatory work they did to ensure the arrangements and facilities were in place for our competition, and to the Chinese authorities for hosting this great event. This was a great opportunity to forge new relationships, strengthen existent links, share ideas, and recognise the challenges ahead.

Hugh thanked the Executive Board members for their contributions over the past year. In particular he thanked John Reade for his enormous contribution in handling the huge workload of correspondence between the IMSA, FMJD, WCDF and the competitors for this event. Richard Beckwith and Ian Caws had represented the WCDF at three European meetings with the FMJD. He expressed his condolences to Sean Phillips on the recent death of his mother. Hugh also recognised the contributions of various other individuals like Ingo Zachos and Igor Keder for their work on the ratings listing and WCDF website. He thanked the rules committee for their work in revising the rules for the game of draughts. These were Hugh Devlin (Chairman), John Reade, Ian Caws, Alex Moiseyev, Alan Millhone, Richard Beckwith, and Jim Somers. He related that this was a major step forward and all organisations worldwide should now be adopting these rules as standard.

Hugh stated that over the past few years there has been a focus placed on a number of issues that require attention. These included establishing the WCDF website, the ratings committee and listings, updating the statutes, and recently revising the rules of the game. Much work remained to be done and it would take a combined effort of a large number of people to continue this work. He asked that everyone present should consider contributing in some way. The immediate challenge and focus for the upcoming year should be on developing a more professional approach to promoting the game. He felt the WCDF website was an under used facility that could be built upon to help accomplish this. There was a need for greater information about historical background, events, players, results, etc. It should be a resource for anyone promoting the game whereby they can have access to up-to-date and relevant information. There was also a need to investigate the use of electronic methods via the internet, and the need to purchase electronic boards for use at World Title matches, major events, etc. Hugh concluded by thanking everyone for their contribution in making the WCDF a success.

9. Resolutions Approved as listed.

Hugh Devlin noted that there was a resolution passed by the Executive Board in June that was overlooked in the agenda, namely, that the deadline for the Ladies� World GAYP Match 2008 between Amangul Durdyeva and Janet Mortimer be extended to 1 June 2009. Approved.

10. Proposal (John Reade, Ian Caws) That Ingo Zachos be appointed Publicity Officer. Deferred to Election of Officers.

11. Election of Officers It was proposed (Hugh Devlin, Ian Caws) that all existing officers be re-elected, and that Ingo Zachos be appointed Publicity Officer. Carried.

12. General Assembly 2009 Date and venue to be arranged.

13. Other Business It was proposed (Ingo Zachos, Donald Oliphant) that 25 sets of boards and pieces be purchased. Carried.

14. End of Meeting Hugh Devlin closed the meeting at 11 pm.

John Reade, Secretary WCDF. (29 October 2008)