In the vote for NSWCA President, Peter Parr brought with him a bunch of followers ... and successfully defeated Bill Gletsos 17-11.

Regardless of whether Bill or Peter won the fact is an association of something like 600 members were represented at the AGM by around 5% of total membership. Thus the majority of voters didn't even bother to turn up to the AGM!*

Congratulations Peter. A safe pair of hands was just what the NSWCA needed.

The word you are looking for is 'congratulations' Barry (instead of humbugging Peter's fine achievement).

Clearly the NSWCA delegates thought it was time for change, and I trust that a majority of NSWCA Members concur with that sentiment.

I was unaware until the day before the AGM that Peter was intending to run and made no attempt to stack the meeting.

I was unaware until the day before the AGM that Peter was intending to run and made no attempt to stack the meeting.
Parr apparently emailed people prior to the AGM asking them to turn up and vote for him yet even after signing up 5 mates on the day his effort only got him 17 votes.

Perhaps not this year, however, I remember a few years ago when you swindled Peter out of the position by telling him you wouldn't run for it again, and then on the day of the AGM you changed your mind and used a technicality in the membership rules to preclude Peter and Lyons from even running for the positions.

You are a real piece of work. After your dirty politics to stuff Jason Lyons, you should just take it on the chin. Now go lick your wounds. Woof.

If they interpreted that as I wasnt going to stand then that was their problem.

The only thing that stopped Lyons being able to stand for a position at the AGM was Lyons own ineptness in not joining the NSWCA prior to the start of the AGM.

Name one other person who will back you on your version of that fact.

They did not misinterpret what you said at all. The truth is you told them you would do one thing and then did another.

Ah, but you knew that Lyons had forgotten to sign a membership form before 10:00 am and you deliberately did not remind him.

That is why at 10:01 am you said "[That's it, Jason can't run. Let's start the meeting.]"

As for reminding Lyons to submit a membership form, it wasnt my responsibility to hold his hand.

This is totally untrue.
I was ourside the meeting room before it started at 2.30pm with Parr.
Peter Cassettari came out to get me to start the meeting so I entered the room at 2.33pm and declared the meeting open.
Parr interrupted me and made some comments. I checked with Norm Greenwood & Peter Cassettari if Lyons was a member and they informed me he was not and I told Parr that as the meeting had started it was too late for Lyons to join.

Since you knew that JL was not yet signed and was going to run, you had the ethical responsibility as the NSWCA President to ensure that members at the AGM received the choice that they believed they would be given. You chose the the ignoble road, the shabby course, the way of a political miscreant.

10:00, 10:01 or 2:30, 2:33. So what? Same misdeed frame shifted a few hours.

And you had the hide to pretend to not have known that JL was yet not signed, and therefore had to ask NG and PC. It is beyond the pale. Why would you even ask such a question if the prospect was not already in your head. Despicable..

They did not misinterpret what you said at all. The truth is you told them you would do one thing and then did another.

As for reminding Lyons to submit a membership form, it wasnt my responsibility to hold his hand.

And you had the hide to pretend to not have known that JL was yet not signed, and therefore had to ask NG and PC. It is beyond the pale. Why would you even ask such a question if the prospect was not already in your head?

This is the first written Presidential report for the AGM for a number of years.

The NSWCA lost the Grand Old Man of Australian Chess 91 – year-old former NSW Champion Lloyd Fell who died in May 2010 after 65 years of chess. His funeral was well attended with wreaths from NSWCA and ACF. Former NSWCA Secretary Ernest Dorn died in November 2010. Overseas we lost ex-World Champion Smyslov,Hon FIDE President Campomanes and 99 –year-old GM Lilienthal.

Registrar Peter Cassettari gives the NSWCA Membership report at 197 full members,plus registered players at 120,country members 148, life 15,new 38,pensioner 48,student 17,unemployed 5. Total is 587 players and 17 clubs. – similar to last year. The Association earned a surplus of $ 4 2 5 1 for the 2010 year and remains in a very healthy financial position. A detailed three page financial report prepared by the long standing treasurer Norm Greenwood is presented to the AGM today as well as the independent report of the NSWCA Auditor Ross Hamilton.

Vincent Suttor won the NSW Championship in Dec 2009 after winning the 2009 City of Sydney earlier in the year but has not played again since Dec 2009. The NSWCA Country teams was in Gosford Dec 2009. The Australian Championships at Norths was a great success in January attracting 187 players in 4 divisions. GM Zhao (NSW) was first with 10/11. A higher percentage winning score only occurred three times before each more than 50 years ago. Xie (NSW) was second scoring his second GM norm and Smirnov(NSW) scored his second IM norm. Only 2 of the 11 teenagers scored above 50% whereas all five former Australian Champions aged over 45 scored over 50%. 88 played in the lightning. The January weekender was also held at Norths. The new NSWCA website was launched by Webmaster Quentin Reitmans in Feb 2010. Gary McNamara won the 28 player City of Sydney 2010 title. There were 24 teams competing on 4 boards from 6 clubs in the NSWCA Grade Matches,similar to last year. (97 teams of 5 players per team from over 30 clubs competed in 1975!) . The St.George v Norths matches regularly attract 100 players. Xie(NSW) scored his third and final GM norm at the Doeberl Cup in Canberra at Easter .

The privately organised Parramatta Chess Festival was under threat of cancellation by the organiser if considerable funds were not received by him by a certain date. A large amount was generously donated from various sources and a few days before the threatened cancellation the NSWCA donated a considerable sum as did GM Murray Chandler. This occurred well before I became President in November 2009. I have always been of the view that if considerable funds of NSWCA money is being considered for any non NSWCA event the members should all be given due notice for consideration of the intention of such expenditure at an NSWCA AGM or NSWCA extra-ordinary general meeting. The self budget included a substantial personal payment to himself the organiser. The event attracted a strong overseas field and youngsters from Sydney and Canberra but unfortunately no Australian player achieved a GM or IM norm – the main target of the event. The Festival organiser Brian Jones decided not to proceed with the event in 2011. The NSWCA Council in 2010 decided that it was in the community interest to organise the Parramatta Chess Festival in 2011 with no threat of cancellation. The format of the Festival would be determined according to NSWCA Council decision with details being finalised at the Dec 17th 2010 NSWCA Council meeting – a possibility might be an Australian Rapid Play Championship on the Tuesday(subject to ACF approval – note it was cancelled by ACF in January 2011 as the 150+player event would have clashed with a ten person ACF meeting in the 500 seat venue).

The NSWCA June weekender attracted a record entry of 148 players at Parramatta RSL with a prize fund in excess of $9000. An increased prize fund to $10,000 is envisaged for 2011. FIDE Master Brett Tindall won the 38 player NSW State Championship scoring 7.5/9. Our special thanks to our sponsor Integra Water for each of these two events. The October weekender at Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club had 63 players. A number of other events were held by NSWCA throughout the year including NSW rapid,Teams Lightning,NSW Lightning etc. I recommend digital clocks with increments be used whenever possible in particular lightning chess (3mins + 2 secs move as in Nov 2010 World Blitz in Moscow) to considerably reduce disputes. Each club also had their own calendars of events. The Australian Open starts 2 Jan 2011 at Norths (thanks to Norths Committee including Paul Glissan,Norm Greenwood and Peter Abbott). NSW has for a number of consecutive years organised the national championships – all other states should take note and put in their bids as it should rotate around all Australian States and Territories.

One NSWCA Club started a FIDE rated event with some games played in advance before the event was even registered by FIDE. Clearly this is a breach of FIDE regulations. The strong view expressed at a NSWCA Council meeting that a FIDE event held at a NSW Club had nothing to with the NSWCA was discussed. The NSWCA Constitution states “ to encourage,promote,maintain and control the playing of chess in the State of NSW”. The NSWCA Council agreed in accordance with its constitution that FIDE rated events in NSW were the concern of NSWCA and any games played in advance in a proposed FIDE rated event which had not been registered with FIDE were invalid and cancelled by NSWCA. Strong action should have been taken five years ago by NSWCA in another FIDE rated event.

Last week a leading player tied for first in an ACF Grand Prix weekender in Canberra scoring 3/3 followed by two half-point byes and two wins. This should never be permitted in any NSWCA ACF Grand Prix event. The allocation of two-half points by avoiding playing two-strong opponents should never be permitted. It is grossly unfair to other leading competitors who play all 7 games in two days.
Australia seeded 49th finished 55th in the Open Olympiad in Siberia. The four NSW players Zhao,Xie,Dekic(W) and Reid(W) each received $250 from NSWCA towards their expenses (Sydney/Dubai/Sydney). Phil Viner(NSW) was despatched to Siberia as FIDE Delegate for Australia for the all important FIDE Presidential Election. Kasparov singled out Papua New Guinea for adverse comment in regard to their decision making process. Many NSW players also competed in overseas events including World Youth(Greece),World Seniors(Italy),Malaysia,UAE etc. Australia is ranked 56th based on our top 10 active players. The Oceania sub-zone (the world’s weakest zone) was created after conflict with our Asian neighbours which is long forgotten by them. Australia should be negotiating to return to the Asian 3.3 zone instead of searching for more small islands in the Pacific Ocean to compete against to pick up even more international titles with well below par performances.
The ACF should ensure that all funds allocated to Oceania from the FIDE CACDEC Fund (for developing countries $ 300,000 US world wide in 2010) are properly accounted for via the ACF Bank Account. The ACF should also ensure that the $16,000 plus annual sponsorship generously donated by Dato Tan to the ACF as well as the substantial entry fees goes through the ACF Bank account (and accounts independently audited by ACF) and the ACF corresponds with Dato Tan on all matters relating to the ACF Grand Prix. FIDE General Secretary Ignatius Leong (Singapore) and FIDE Commercial director Geoffrey Borg(Malta) gave a FIDE presentation at Norths. Australia was described as backward with no national accreditation of teachers/trainers. There are over 20,000 accredited teachers/trainers in Turkey. For some years NSW chess suppliers have been taking entries for NSW Tournaments. I was very surprised to find out that although I had always charged the NSWCA 3% for credit card transaction another supplier insists on a 7.5% charge. This is in my view totally unacceptable. As President for the last 12 months I said nothing but 50 entries at $100 by credit card at 7.5% is $375. I suggest the incoming NSWCA Council sets a figure (3-4%)in Dec 2010. Losing 7.5% in entry fees for high credit card fees charged by chess suppliers should not be acceptable after 1 Jan 2011. It is also not acceptable that chess suppliers are not treated equally by NSWCA in this matter.



I would like to thank all members of the council elected at the AGM last year. Bill Gletsos(Vice-President) as always fully involved in all matters of chess administration unlike his predecessor. Norm Greenwood(Treasurer) for over 15 years who keeps our books in excellent order over so many years. Members younger than Norm please help when he carries lots of equipment to different locations. Tom Accola (Secretary) does a lot of work with agendas,minutes of meetings,collating and mailing thousands of letters sent to members etc. Peter Cassettari who for countless years has been NSWCA registrar – members please spell your own name the same way every time- one long standing member has aged 14 years in the last 12 months(he discovered his birth date was 14 years earlier)! Each of these four councillors and myself attended every meeting in the last 12 months. Barry Cox processed the ratings data for the full year even though he moved to Adelaide some months ago. Quentin Reitmans was elected at a council meeting and has done a tremendous job in bringing the NSWCA website out of the 1970’s into the second decade of the 21st century. His expertise and website design will be used by NSWCA webmasters in the years ahead. Lou Damaschino has had a tough job as tournaments officer in his first year on council. Lou helped design entry forms and liaised with Parramatta Council and Parramatta Chess Club for the 2011 Parramatta Chess Festival etc. Laura Moylan(Communications Officer) sent numerous emails throughout the year to members with details of all club events etc. Shane Burgess (club liaison) resigned from Council some months ago but remains in administration after being elected President of the all important Parramatta Chess Club. Keith Farrell of Gosford continues working as NSWCA Country rep and travels a long distance to attend meetings. Brett Tindall is busy running the Sydney Chess Academy seven days a week teaching thousands of children. He is always helping the NSWCA and provides a much needed central venue for some NSWCA major tournaments and council meetings. Richard Gastineau-Hills,elected as NSW Junior League rep, is a tireless worker for chess for many years. Over 8000 juniors compete in NSW inter-school matches and Richard does a lot of that work. Thanks also to our long –time auditor Ross Hamilton. It was a quiet year for the NSWCA Appeals Committee. I arranged with Quentin Reitmans to update the NSWCA Personalia page in Nov 2010 (all states and ACF should have one listing all Honours by the Queen, GM and IM norms,all titles,arbiters etc in each state) and the NSWCA roll of honour was also updated in Nov 2010.

The NSWCA with its 587 players in 2010 has once again relied largely on the same few administrators at both club and state level. Even if only 2% more of players helped the game of chess would be much better off. I first joined the NSWCA Council 42 years ago as NSW State Champion with many more administrators (largely aged 20-35). The 2010 AGM like any organisation needs new enthusiastic members with new ideas to join the experienced team in the administration.
Currently 75% of the NSWCA executive are also the ACF executive – not at all in accordance with Australian democracy. NSWCA should be negotiating our high fees to ACF but does not due to a serious conflict of interests.

In ACF newsletter 09/09A of 8 September 2009 I proposed an ACF Membership scheme based on the NSWCA membership structure (it is still valid). I could not understand why all the state associations between them were donating a lot of their income to the ACF building up the ACF Bank balance to over $ 8 0, 0 0 0. The ACF Bank balance is now about $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . The ACF derives all its income from fees from the state associations as the ACF itself does not organise any games – it delegates to states. My proposal included a proposal that the ACF should not receive $ 1 4 4 5 6 – 4 0c and the state associations $ 0 for ACF ratings in one year(NSWCA actually loses money if less than 100% club rating fees are not received by NSWCA). States do all the work organising everything and ACF pockets 60 cents per game every game in every state. I would suggest that state associations consider the proposition that the ACF does not require such a high income from the states in future years – it has no plans for its $100,000. All ACF fees are negotiable with state associations at the national conference.

I was encouraged to run for NSWCA President again last year by numerous players who had expressed their discontent with the Glicko rating system. Some inactive players joined the NSWCA as I had guaranteed I would do what I could for Australia to use an Elo based rating system as used by FIDE and its 160 member Federations with similar rating systems adopted by all national Federations. Glicko is much too volatile. Very active NSWCA players have lost 100+ rating points in a 7 round weekender and will never compete in such an event again – the loss would be about 40 (quite acceptable)on an Elo based scale. Juniors rated about 800 often beat active adults about 1400 but instead of losing 15 rating points(under Elo) they lose far more under Glicko. Many adults have dropped out of events when they are Glicko’d ( but many juniors have replaced them). I know from personal experience (1956-1960) some adults did not like playing young juniors but these days it is much more common but Glicko drives them away. Kids in Victoria have many thousands of their games rated for free (saving $14456-40 annually) and any kid can check their progress on the computer with colour graphics and details of rating progress for every game (similar graphics and info as FIDE under Elo) . These FIDE and Chess Kids graphics are not available under our Glicko system.

It is interesting to note that of the 123 692 FIDE rated players over the last 38 years that 76 526 ( 6 2 % ) are active but of all Australian ACF rated players over the same period well under 1 0 % are active – due largely to the Glicko Rating System.

Our target must be to get back as many as possible of the over 90% (the silent majority)of all ACF rated players. FIDE,USCF,England,Germany and all countries simply pick up the last rating and carries on – a policy discussed by numerous experts in FIDE including eminent Dr John Nunn and accepted world-wide. Australia is the only country in the world where you can lose well over 100 points in one game or over 400 rating points with a modest weekender result. Under Glicko if two players both rated 1800 (one active,one inactive) play a weekender with exactly the same result and the active player drops from 1800 to 1700 and the inactive player drops from 1800 to 1400 you lose that player for ever. This has happened numerous times. Nearly every day for the last few years I hear complaints about the Glicko rating system (most are much higher on Elo than Glicko). Despite our principles of democracy the ACF Ratings Officer has rejected any review of the Glicko rating system. I estimate over 80 % of players including NSWCA councillors are in favour of a review. Personally I am certain we have literally lost hundreds of ACF players who are inactive due to the rating system.

I regret I need a break from chess administration and will not be standing for a position on the NSWCA Council at the AGM. My 30% off everything closing down sale of Chess Discount Sales after 38 years will keep me very busy in the months ahead. I will of course be available for consultation on any chess matter as I have been since learning the great game six decades ago.

Peter Parr (President NSWCA)