OUTCOME
Brisbane Chess Club Special General Meeting
Held to Decide its Policy on CAQ Membership for BCC Tournaments
Thursday July 26 2007 8.00pm

Meeting Opened 8.08pm
Present: Howard Duggan, Patrick Byrom, Garvin Gray, John Guest and George Lester; Roy Cristuta (observer)

Howard Duggan took a straw poll to find out if everyone was in favour of an immediate vote. As all were in favour, the following motion was put to the meeting. A non-member of the CAQ can only play in one ACF (Australian Chess Federation) rated event at the Brisbane Chess Club each year.

Moved: Howard Duggan, Seconded: Garvin Gray Motion Carried 4-1.

Meeting Closed 8.10pm

ORIGINAL NOTICE
Brisbane Chess Club Special General Meeting
Thursday July 26 2007 8.00pm To Decide its Policy on CAQ Membership for BCC Tournaments

Introduction
The Chess Association of Queensland (CAQ) is the state body which controls chess in Qld. The Brisbane Chess Club (BCC) is affiliated to the CAQ, and submits its tournaments to the CAQ for rating. There is an administration fee charged by the CAQ for rating events, and all players are required (in theory) to be members of the CAQ.

However, it is not currently compulsory for players in BCC tournaments to be members of the Chess Association of Qld. Although most players are CAQ members. And non-members are offered the opportunity to join the CAQ, which they almost always do.

If a player does not join the CAQ, then they are removed from the tournament results before the event is submitted for rating, and replaced with a bye, so their results are not rated. The opponent of the non-member also misses out on a rated game. This procedure has operated since the compulsory membership was introduced, in 2003.

It has recently been proposed to change this procedure, and the suggested changes are outlined below, together with an argument for the current system. A Special General Meeting will be held to discuss this on July 26 (the week after the conclusion of the Rapid Championship) at 8.00pm. Everybody is welcome to attend, but only BCC members can vote at the meeting.

Proposed Change
A non-member of the CAQ , or other state/territory association, can only play in one ACF (Australian Chess Federation) rated event at the Brisbane Chess Club each year.

Argument for the Current System
The Brisbane Chess Club has been a strong supporter of the CAQ since the new fee system was introduced. We are one of the major financial contributors to the CAQ, and have been for many years. However, as President, I feel that I have a duty to place the needs of the Brisbane Club ahead of the needs of the CAQ. Because it is not compulsory for every player in our tournaments to join the CAQ, our events have been larger than otherwise, and more money has thus been generated for the club. Therefore, I feel that the current system should continue.
--- Patrick Byrom (BCC President)

Argument for the Change
1) This is financially unfair to those that are CAQ members
2) That the BCC should insist that players be CAQ members.
3) Opponents should not be placed in a position where they have to complain about the non-rating of the game and/or suffer the fall-out.
4) That the counter position that 'by insisting on CAQ membership, the club may lose a player (and his associated night fees)' is of a lesser consideration.
--- Howard Duggan (BCC VP) and Garvin Gray (BCC DOP)