Club Memberships

[Jim Webster]

During a check of my club's membership status in preparation for the AGM I now have some concerns which I find disturbing.

As of today's date, the list of member clubs has only 8 clubs listed.  Last year the number of clubs was 35 and this is a shortfall of 27 clubs and with projected an income loss of £1215. This should surely be a matter of concern. 

It is extremely disappointing that so many clubs have, to date, not renewed their club membership for the current season.

It should also be pointed out that any club now renewing their membership, and their designated delegate, are now excluded for voting at the upcoming AGM under article 5.3 (i) of the constitution.

Have clubs been individually notified or has the notice post on the website, dated 6 October, been the sole source of notification?

[Ianbrownlee]

yes this is quite disturbing and possibly we can get some clarification at the AGM. I am aware of some communication issues between member clubs and Chess Scotland. I know of some cases where clubs have changed officials as well so maybe we should look at better forms of communications and/or some good PR work to re-establish or imporve communication

[Robert Lothian]

I checked with Bon Accord's treasurer and he informs me that we have paid and the cheque has been cashed.
We are not one of the 8 clubs listed as members, so something has gone wrong somewhere.

[David Deary]

The level of disinformation on here is staggering. Nothing has gone wrong.

I refer you to this article:
https://www.chessscotland.com/news/chess...processing

The Membership Secretary hasn't been in the country and only returned on Sunday.
The website will be updateed in due course.

Find something else to be outraged about.

Edit to add:
23 Clubs have renewed from what I can see. Others may well have done so if they have sent a cheque to the Membership Secretary.
All current members clubs were contacted by email and invoiced via Stripe. It was also advertised on the website. If an individual club is concerned wrt. their status they can contact myself or the membership secretary as per standard practice.

[Robert Lothian]

Thank you for the clarification, David. I was fairly sure that the thing that had 'gone wrong' was simply that the web page wasn't up to date, but it's good to know that there hasn't been a mass defection of clubs from the association.

[KMcGeoch]

Being realistic I would say the following two points apply.

1. Since clubs have a deadline of 31st December 2025 to pay then it's quite likely that some clubs tend to leave it to the last minute. So a comparison of last year's club memberships to this year's is like comparing congress entries a month before the event and seeing far less people have entered than in the previous year.
2. While my club I don't think even used our vote it is within the 8 to pay early. If it's considered that important then presumably the remedy is to make a motion proposing that clubs eligible to vote are clubs that either were members last year and/or have become members this year. This would mean clubs that pay at the last minute aren't disenfranchised of their vote.

I think this anomaly occurs since membership deadline for clubs is after the AGM. However I think few clubs would be keen on deadline being brought forward 8 weeks since I know of at least one club that forgot to pay and then had issues getting club games graded as membership benefits no longer applied so it was billed on a per game basis if wanting it graded. Tighter deadlines means more clubs are likely to forget especially if office bearers change and CS has old contact details.

[Ianbrownlee]

Hi David
Stepps paid their CS membership on October 8th, two weeks before the membership secretary left but I appreciate the hard work the membership does and understand the delay. Whilst we are on the subject the membership secretary was informed in 2024 by Wille Hulme that I am the Stepps secretary but my contact details have never been updated, can you sort that out as well please as a favour to me. We do get a response from our own website so we at Stepps appreciate the importance of this

[Jim Webster]

David

You posted that earlier posts contained disinformation - I must challenge this

1. The website contains only 8 clubs listed and still does -  fact
2. The constitution reference is valid and accurate -  fact

There is no outraged, simply stated the facts above and asking realistic concerns based on the available data. Expressing opinions is not disinformation nor is an outrage

How is this disinformation when using publicly available data and expressing an opinion?

I it indeed fortunate, and welcome news, that so many clubs have renewed the CS Memberships and await the updated list in due time.

I note that the Membership Secretary has indeed individual membership list was updated on 4 November.

[David Deary]

Thank you for the clarification, David. I was fairly sure that the thing that had 'gone wrong' was simply that the web page wasn't up to date, but it's good to know that there hasn't been a mass defection of clubs from the association.

Robert, my reply was not in reference to yourself directly but other posters who are mischief making. I was at a fireworks display and a CS member had brought this thread to my attention so I typed out the message on my phone very quickly so as to reassure. If it appeared curt that was why, apologies for that.

David

You posted that earlier posts contained disinformation - I must challenge this

1. The website contains only 8 clubs listed and still does -  fact
2. The constitution reference is valid and accurate -  fact

There is no outraged, simply stated the facts above and asking realistic concerns based on the available data. Expressing opinions is not disinformation nor is an outrage

How is this disinformation when using publicly available data and expressing an opinion?

I it indeed fortunate, and welcome news, that so many clubs have renewed the CS Memberships and await the updated list in due time.

I note that the Membership Secretary has indeed individual membership list was updated on 4 November.

Jim,

Stating that something is disturbing or a matter of concern or that there is a projected loss of £1,215 is not factual.

The news article I linked to on the website is also publicly available information. I don't think its a stretch to read both and make the connection.

I should also point out that you (and any member) can contact myself or the membership secretary to ask the question. Posting on the forum in this manner should really be a last resort not the first to seek clarification when you think may be an issue (especially true when there is no issue as in this case).

Hi David
Stepps paid their CS membership on October 8th, two weeks before the membership secretary left but I appreciate the hard work the membership does and understand the delay. Whilst we are on the subject the membership secretary was informed in 2024 by Wille Hulme that I am the Stepps secretary but my contact details have never been updated, can you sort that out as well please as a favour to me. We do get a response from our own website so we at Stepps appreciate the importance of this

Ian, I will pass this to the membership secretary wrt. contact details.

---

Thank you for the clarification, David. I was fairly sure that the thing that had 'gone wrong' was simply that the web page wasn't up to date, but it's good to know that there hasn't been a mass defection of clubs from the association.

Robert, my reply was not in reference to yourself directly but other posters who are mischief making. I was at a fireworks display and a CS member had brought this thread to my attention so I typed out the message on my phone very quickly so as to reassure. If it appeared curt that was why, apologies for that.

David

You posted that earlier posts contained disinformation - I must challenge this

1. The website contains only 8 clubs listed and still does -  fact
2. The constitution reference is valid and accurate -  fact

There is no outraged, simply stated the facts above and asking realistic concerns based on the available data. Expressing opinions is not disinformation nor is an outrage

How is this disinformation when using publicly available data and expressing an opinion?

I it indeed fortunate, and welcome news, that so many clubs have renewed the CS Memberships and await the updated list in due time.

I note that the Membership Secretary has indeed individual membership list was updated on 4 November.

Jim,

Stating that something is disturbing or a matter of concern or that there is a projected loss of £1,215 is not factual.

The news article I linked to on the website is also publicly available information. I don't think its a stretch to read both and make the connection.

I should also point out that you (and any member) can contact myself or the membership secretary to ask the question. Posting on the forum in this manner should really be a last resort not the first to seek clarification when you think there may be an issue (especially true when there is no issue as in this case).

Hi David
Stepps paid their CS membership on October 8th, two weeks before the membership secretary left  but I appreciate the hard work the membership does and understand the delay. Whilst we are on the subject the membership secretary was informed in 2024 by Wille Hulme that I am the  Stepps secretary but my contact details have never been updated, can you sort that out as well please as a favour to me. We do get a response from our own website so we at Stepps appreciate the importance of this

Ian, I will pass this to the membership secretary wrt. contact details.