Limerick Chess Club AGM was held on Sunday, 20th December 2020 at 7.30-9 pm. via Zoom meeting
Present
There were 10 members in attendance: Ray O’Brien (President), Niall McDonnell (Chairperson), Neal Kirby (Secretary), Laurent Talazac (Asst Secretary), Ted Jennings, Phillip Foenander, Denislav Chavdarov, Uwe Walschus, Margaret and James Naughton. Absent with apologies – John Cassidy, Paul Carey. Eamon Canning could not attend but wanted to be included in games in 2021.
The AGM 2020 meeting was declared open by Niall McDonnell.
Minutes of AGM 2019 were taken as read.
The Secretary’s Report for the season 2019-20 was read by Neal Kirby (available separately).
Treasurer’s report: Noel Keating was not in attendance and nobody was in contact with him. With a balance of €500 last year, the club took in €2,120 in membership fees. Expenditure was €1,800, leaving a balance of approximately €800. Secretary Neal Kirby took an action to follow up with Noel Keating to complete the Treasurer’s report.
PRO report: Tara McElwain (and Colm) left Limerick during the year and now live in Mullingar.
Motions discussed
- 1) Corona Cup 2 proposed. Ray O’Brien introduced the Corona Cup 2. He spoke about accommodating younger members and suggested that the weekly game be open (it can be played on any night of the week) for junior players who need to accommodate school commitments, but to ensure their game gets played in that week. Uwe Walschus suggested opening the competition to Munster players and changing the name of the competition to something more positive. Neal Kirby and Ted Jennings expressed a need to maintain the identity of the Limerick Chess Club. It was suggested to maintain the club competition and have a separate competition for Munster players. Ray O’Brien said there was an overhead with lichess maintaining the Swiss tournament. Decisions: the competition will remain as a Limerick Chess Club competition and will be renamed the ‘Limerick Online Championship’. It will commence on 14 January 2021. Ray O’Brien will talk to John Cassidy (Munster Chess) about a separate Munster competition and get some help to support that.
- 2) Should the club ask for a membership fee this year? Ted Jennings (as one of the Tennis Club Pavilion members) questioned whether the club needs to pay the Limerick Lawn Tennis Club this year. Neal Kirby said that he had been talking to John Cassidy, who let the Tennis Club know that the club would not be returning because of Covid-19. John was to let the club know if the Tennis Club required anything to retain the club’s night; as yet nothing had come back. Decisions: Neal Kirby took an action to check with John Cassidy whether the Tennis Club required some donation this year. A voluntary membership fee of €20 for the year (until the 2021 AGM) was agreed. Those participating in the Limerick Online Championship should pay this membership, as prizes will be provided at a later date. Neal Kirby took the action to email the membership and provide an IBAN for online transfer.
- 3) How does the club get back to over-the-board (OTB) competition? Denislav Chavdarov suggested allowing people who have been vaccinated to play OTB. A suggestion was made that the club could run competitions as the Irish Championships were done in 2020, which could lead to added expense. Decision: it was agreed to meet closer to the time to decide how to return.
Nomination and election of Club officers
President – Ray O’Brien
Chairperson – Niall McDonnell (proposed by Ted Jennings, seconded by Phillip Foenander)
Secretary – Neal Kirby (proposed by Phillip Foenander, seconded by Ray O’Brien)
Assistant Secretary – Laurent Talazac (proposed by Neal Kirby, seconded by Ted Jennings)
Treasurer – Niall McDonnell (proposed by Neal Kirby, seconded by Phillip Foenander)
Assistant Treasurer – Phillip Foenander (proposed by Neal Kirby, seconded by Ted Jennings)
PRO – Uwe Walschus (proposed by Phillip Foenander, seconded by Neal Kirby)
Munster A Team Captain – Ray O’Brien (proposed by Neal Kirby, seconded by Ted Jennings)
Munster B Team Captain – Phillip Foenander (seconded by Uwe Walschus)
Any other business
- 1) Uwe Walschus questioned the status of the club’s book donation: 197 books were donated by an American in April 2018 and are currently stored in Niall McDonnell’s garage. According to Phillip Foenander some books are currently out on loan but are recorded in a loan book. Suggestions: Phillip Foenander will check whether the books have a financial value (for example vintage value) and share the current list of books with the membership; Ted Jennings, Phillip Foenander and Uwe Walschus expressed an interest in purchasing some of the books; Neal Kirby took an action to source a storage unit (on wheels) for storing club equipment and the books; Niall McDonnell suggested that the unit (or units) should fit into the boot of a car.
- 2) Phillip Foenander noted that it will be Limerick Chess Club’s 100th anniversary in 2026 (5 years from then). Suggestions: organise a special chess club tournament; Ted Jennings suggested a booklet similar to the Bunratty booklet and took the action to talk to Gerry Graham, who may have some historical information on the club (Paul Carey or Tony Foley might also be able to help); Niall McDonnell said the club should perhaps look to raise some funds over the coming years to support this event; Phillip Foenander suggested the website ‘Irish Chess History’, which may have some information.
The meeting was closed at 8.45 pm by club Chairman Niall McDonnell.
Source: Limerick Chess Club archive.