European Go Federation Annual General Meeting Held on 26 July 2002 in Zagreb Present: President - Tony Atkins Secretary - Matti Siivola Treasurer - Hans Kostka Vice-Presidents - Oleg Gavrilov & Zoran Mutabzija Auditors - Peter Zandveld & T.Mark Hall EGCC - William Wandel 26 Member Countries: Armenia - Victor Zilberberg Austria - Alfred Effenberg Belgium - Giani Della Giovanna (arrived late) Belo-Russia - Mikhail Kouznetsov Croatia - Zoran Mutabzija Czechia - Jana Hricova Denmark - Torben Pedersen Finland - Jaakko Virtanen France - Frederic Renaud Germany - Michael Marz & Thomas Erker Hungary - Tibor Rapai Ireland - John Gibson Italy - Gionata Soletti & Fernando Fernandez Lithuania - Olaf Martens Netherlands - Jan van Rongen Norway - Paul Sannes Poland - Roman Pszonka Romania - Valentin Urziceanu Russia - Victor Bogdanov Slovakia - Jan Milian & Martin Strelka Slovenia - Peter Gaspari & Leon Matoh Spain - Marc Gonzalez Carnicer Sweden - Henric Bergsaker Switzerland - Neil Mitchison United Kingdom - Steve Bailey Ukraine - Arkadiy Bogatskiy 6 countries were not present: Luxembourg, Turkey, Israel, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Bosnia The meeting was opened at 18:04 1. Accepting the Agenda The executive presented its view that the Swedish proposal was not admissible, mainly because it imposed actions on a non-EGF body. This caused so much discussion, that in order to proceed, it was decided the question of admissibility would be decided later prior to the proposal. The Executive suggested a different agenda, without the Swedish motion. There was a vote on this and the original agenda, including the Swedish motion, was accepted by 16-7. 2. The Minutes of AGM 2001 The revised minutes, issued in May, were unclear as to whether the extra Representatives from countries were second delegates or only observers (each country is allowed two delegates. The reference to Turkey and "2002" was corrected to "2001". in favour 20 abstaining 1 accepted 3. Admission of New Members No new countries had applied. There are two groups of players in Bulgaria and Go activity in Azerbaijan. Unfortunately the main organiser in Latvia had died. 4. Reports The President's previously circulated report was accepted. It described the role of the president in connection with other international bodies, successful tournaments (such as Toyota-Denso Oza), continued sponsorship (such as Ing), future plans and tasks completed (such as members contact list). The brief Secretary's report describing his activities in connection with tournaments, the Toyota Tour and the AGM was accepted. Treasurer's report caused discussion mainly because of the late release giving insufficient time for study. It reported that the number of bank accounts had been cut from 6 to 3, that investments were still healthy and queried how best to use these funds so promote Go activity. The Financial statement by Ing Treasurer had already been circulated. 5. Report of the Auditors Peter Zandveld reported on behalf of the auditors that they were largely happy with EGF finances, except the following things should have be done: Checking the Ing Fund (for example equipment stocks); Checking Finances of the Ing Cup 2002; Checking accounts of Fujitsu finals and training (run by Jan van Frankenhuysen); Checking Toyota-Denso accounts by EGCC supervisor (surplus passed to EGF); A consolidated balance should be done and it was decided that this should be done by 15.9.2002. Also it was stated more money should be spent on Go. 6. Reports of Commissions Rules and Ratings reported that various documents on rules have been produced but are still with the commission. Constitution Report to be considered under item 16. Reports from others (Tournaments, Internet, Promotion, Education, Appeals, Finance) had not been received. 7. Elections A break was held in order to check the voting rights, as for example France claimed to have paid but this was not received. Denmark paid the membership fee during the meeting and after a debate was allowed to vote. Nomination for Spain had not arrived. Sweden claimed that the nomination had been sent by email and Spain was allowed to vote. (The nomination was received in November 2002.) The Auditors recommended that for the next time the treasurer will verify in advance the members who have paid the membership fee. The Secretary will check that the persons representing a country are entitled to do so. If a country is entitled to vote and it has a recognised representative he will given a name plate which will be shown when voting. President: Tony Atkins, elected Secretary: Matti Siivola, elected (Jan van Rongen withdrew his nomination) Treasurer: Hans Kostka, elected Vice presidents: Oleg Gavrilov, 15 votes, elected Marc Gonzalez-Carnicer, 15 votes, elected Zoran Mutabzija, 14 votes, not elected Auditors: T.Mark Hall and Peter Zandveld were elected (Fred Renaud will assist). 8. Other appointments Thomas Pfaff was elected as the second investment manager. Ing Treasurer remained Stefan Hruschka. IGF directors are to remain as Erik Puyt and Zoran Mutabzija (Tony Atkins no longer to replace Erik, as decided at 2001 AGM). Sweden pointed out that our IGF directors did represent the EGF and therefore should report back to the EGF. EGCC supervisory board (rep for Western Europe): Gionata Soletti withdrew his nomination so Jean Ganeval was elected. 9. Budget The budget had been circulated previously. It was pointed out the income Investment shown was lower than expected but all that was needed to meet the budget. in favour 21 against 1 accepted 10. New commissions Youth commission - a new commission was agreed to take on youth roles previously in the Education Commission. The existing commissions were to be reappointed by executive. 11. Future European Go Congresses Guidelines - Gionata Soletti had produced a first draft. The next draft should include more about congress philosophy, budgets and agreements. It is planned to incorporate them in the draft EGC Organiser's Handbook. 2003 St Petersburg - obtaining Visas and costs of attending were explained 2004 Tuchola, Poland - cheap cost accommodation was announced 2005 Prague, near lake - university or hotel accommodation available 2006 Italy, near sea or in hills, 30 km from Rome. The same team as 1996 is expected to be involved. Sweden asked why so much time was needed to set up an congress in Italy as no booking yet made and no detailed plan provided as agreed in 1999; was it just that they liked even numbers (40th then 50th Congress)? Gionata Soletti replied that much work had been done in that time and undertook to provide details to executive on his alternatives well before the next AGM. 2007 Sweden, France, and Austria asked for the Congress. This will be decided later. 12. Toyota Tour It was announced that PandaNet have become a joint sponsor of the Tour. Details of this were to be sent to organisers shortly. A review of Tournament categories had taken place. Proposal Russia 1: The review also found to raise Moscow in category to B. Passed. Proposal Italy 2: Moving the finals to a different event each year seemed too difficult, but an system of alternating between two venues was possible. Motion withdrawn. 13. Pair Go System The system proposed by executive had been circulated, but amendments from UK Improving it had not been circulated in time for study. Motion withdrawn in favour of a new German replacement proposal, based on points for membership size and place in the European Pairs, to be debated during autumn for a postal vote. 14. The Tournament Calendar The Youth Championship in Cannes would be in February 2003. The rest was accepted. A spreadsheet of events running up to 2006 has been created to make selection of Fujitsu Qualifiers easier. 15. Representation outside Europe World Pair Go representatives: the list had been already selected as UK, FR, DE, RU, CH, NO, RO, SI, DK. Team captain WAGC: Croatia to choose someone who helped the congress. Pair Go: France to choose someone from EPGC 2002 team. Proposal Russia 2 was to set up a formal system for selecting players for Professional events in the orient. It suggested various ways it could be done. The executive had intended to do this based on a new European Masters, as mandated in 1999. However the European Masters 2002, planned for the Congress second week, was cancelled as nobody was able to play and the meeting thought the executive's scheme was a bad idea, and the Russia 2 motion was withdrawn. 16. Report on Constitution Investigation The previously circulated Constitution Report was accepted; motion Italy 3 to adopt the Chess constitution was withdrawn. 17. Items requested by member Federations French proposal: to have the complete members list members of national Associations published, goes against data protection in many countries. As France only wished to have a complete list of members for the executive verification, the motion was amended to just that. In favour 17 against 3 abstentions 2 accepted. Italian Proposal 1 to adopt more stringent backing up of all correspondence with executive and commissions and to copy mail to a relevant member was accepted. Italian Proposal 4a to place minutes of AGM (and past AGMs) on the web was accepted. Italian Proposal 4b to tape the meeting was covered by the experiment of that meeting being taken on video tape. The Swedish proposal called for the FIGG and AGI to work together in the selection of national representatives to tournaments and for the EGF to only accept nominations if made together, and that the EGF should advise the IGF to act in the same way for IGF events. Admissibility yes 12 no 10 the proposal will be handled (treasurer left 23:50) Henric Bergsaker explained the proposal was essentially the same as a proposal made by the FIGG in 1999. He gave 3 advantages: it stops people being left out, forces the two sides to work together, and creates an incentive to solve the rift long term. He suggested running the system for three years, and pointed out it did not set a precedent as new disputes were covered by the appeals procedure. Vote for the proposal in favour 11 against 9 abstentions 3 absent 2 accepted Italian Proposal 5 called for a sanction against the Swedish Federation to be decided and voted on. Henric Bergsaker as Secretary of Swedish Go Association had urged the FIGG to state precisely which false and damaging statements they were basing their accusations on. They had selected 4 or 5 statements of which he could demonstrate the truth. Henric apologised if he had insulted anyone unintentionally and invited the FIGG to apologise for their insults. The motion was amended to "The Swedish Go Association should desist from Making insulting remarks against the FIGG, otherwise sanctions may be applied for". In favour 0 abstentions 1 against 12 (absent 13) not accepted 18. Any other business Zoran Mutabzija was thanked for the Congress. Italy wanted to know official address of the EGF (in case of legal action over the alleged sanctions imposed by the Swedish Proposal). Meeting was closed 0:30.