Austin Lockwood Thursday, November 30, 2023
A number of rumours are currently circulating about the WCCF affiliated organisation, the British Correspondence Chess Association (BCCA), and we have received a number of enquiries from concerned WCCF members who have had their membership renewals inexplicably refused by BCCA.
Unfortunately, there is a disturbing lack of transparency from BCCA; their secure website has been unavailable for several months, and all requests for further information have been declined. We do, however, know that members were disenfranchised from the recent AGM by having their membership renewals refused by the BCCA executive in the months leading to the AGM. WCCF seriously questions this approach to democracy, and there is a proposal at our forthcoming AGM to expel BCCA as an affiliated member organisation. WCCF expects a much higher standard of democracy and transparency from our affiliated organisations, and we do not wish to be associated with an organisation embroiled in potential legal challenges.
However, this expulsion may be purely symbolic; following a recent announcement by EFCC, the most likely scenario appears to be the dissolution of BCCA as a British CC organisation after over 100 years of activity and "amalgamation" into EFCC.
WCCF will continue to monitor the situation closely and represent the interests of Welsh players where necessary; if BCCA has indeed dissolved or amalgamated with EFCC, we will provide alternative international playing opportunities for all affected players, and rigorously defend our players in any appeals to ICCF against withdrawn qualifications for successor events.
Furthermore, under Article 13 of the ICCF Statutes, WCCF will not permit the use of the word "British" in the name, titles, or tournaments of any successor organisation not willing to meet our standards of affiliation.
On behalf of the WCCF Executive Committee
