Situations now vacant

"How time flies! It might seem only yesterday that I took over the role of Sussex Grader, but it was actually 14 years ago. Since then I have taken on a number of other roles for the County, the Mid Sussex League, the SCCU and the ECF. Some of these have since been picked up by other very capable hands, but I have still found the remaining tasks to be quite time consuming when all taken together. For various reasons I have had to conclude that I can no longer find the time to fulfil these tasks adequately. Other personal commitments have increased, whilst various projects I have in hand have only progressed very slowly. However, the major reason I need to rearrange my priorities now is that I became a grandparent earlier this year and am taking on significant child minding responsibilities that will occupy about half my time. I am therefore asking that someone else (or preferably a number of others to spread the load) takes on these various tasks, as outlined below:

• Sussex Grader

  I will plan on keeping this going through the January and July 2020 grading lists, although if someone would like to step in sooner, that would be fine. There are changes afoot with grading, including the intention of the ECF to move to monthly grading lists. However, there are also plans to make the whole process rather more automated so long as clubs and event organisers adopt a recognised league / event management system, either the ECF's own one or another compatible one. This may result in the need for a local grader diminishing greatly or disappearing completely, but someone needs to be appointed to keep things going for the time being.

• Sussex CCA delegate to the Southern Counties Chess Union (SCCU)

  Whilst there can be correspondence going on all the time, this role primarily involves attending 3 meetings a year, held somewhere in the London area. These are an AGM in the summer (usually in July) and Executive Committee meetings (of which the County delegate is a member) twice a year, preceding ECF Council meetings. There are also opportunities to take on various officer roles within the SCCU itself. It is my intention not to stand for this post at the SCCA AGM next summer. Consequently, it would be beneficial if someone else could pick up this task starting from the SCCU AGM, or at the latest at the Executive Committee meeting that will take place in the autumn.

• Sussex delegate to the ECF Council

  (I have also been representing the Mid Sussex League and the Crowborough Congress.) The ECF is established as a company and Council is akin to its shareholders, whose functions include the election of the ECF Board and approving budgets. Council normally only meets twice a year; a Finance Council meeting in the spring and an AGM in the autumn. Meetings alternate between London and Birmingham. As with the SCCU delegate role, I do not intend standing again at the 2020 SCCA AGM, although I shall attend Council meetings up till and including the 2020 AGM, at which point my current term as a non-executive director of the ECF expires and I'm not intending seeking a further term. It would be beneficial for someone else to attend the AGM as the Sussex delegate, but only essential from the 2021 Finance Council if we are still to be represented.

"I've enjoyed taking on these tasks, but as explained, I really must now move on and hand over to others. Whilst these tasks may seem suited to a retiree with a bit of time on their hands, there would certainly be merit in getting younger blood involved. Anyone who considers they might be able to help is welcome to contact me to discuss these roles in greater detail."

Regards

Julie