Reminder: MSSA elections

Only you can make the change you want to see!

Mind Sports South Africa's elections are fast approaching.

All Registered Players are reminded that any such player may stand for the elections as long as:

• A member club nominates the Registered Player on the prescribed form, and
• The Nomination Form has been submitted to MSSA on or before 1 November 2016, and
• The Registered Player is fully-paid-up for the 2015/2016 year as at the date of nomination, and
• The club nominating the Registered Player has paid its affiliation fees on or before 1 November 2016.

The positions up for election are (3 year terms):

1. President
2. 1st  Vice-President (in charge  of development)
3. 2nd vice-president (in charge of umpiring)
4. Board gaming representative
5. Card gaming representative
6. eSports representative
7. National  Schools Director
8. Women's desk
9. Legal adviser
10. Representative for gamers who are differently abled
11. General Secretary

Positions not eligible for election in 2016 are:

1. 3rd Vice President (in charge of events)
2. Figure gaming representative
3. Player's representative

The following Provincial Directorships are also available (2 year terms):

1. Eastern Cape
2. Free State
3. Gauteng
4. KwaZulu Natal
5. Limpopo
6. Northern Cape
7. North West
8. Western Cape

All the following 56 Regional Directorships are also available for election (1 year term).

Thus the 2016 elections will be more than interesting.

Never before have so many positions become available at the same time.

There is no doubt that the committee has worked well over  the past number of years, and it will indeed be interesting to again see democracy at work.

Quite a few posts up for election at MSSA's 2016 Annual General Meeting

Simphiwe Maphumulo - MSSA's President since December 2013

There is no doubt that the 2016 MSSA Annual General Meeting to be held in December 2016 will be an exciting affair.

Not only will there be some important proposed changes to the Constitution apropos ensuring gender equity, but a number of the positions on the Management Board will be up for grabs.

The positions up for  election are:

1. President
2. 1st  Vice-President (in charge  of development)
3. 2nd vice-president (in charge of umpiring)
4. Board gaming representative
5. Card gaming representative
6. eSports representative
7. National  Schools Director
8. Women's desk
9. Legal adviser
10. Representative for gamers who are differently abled
11. General Secretary

Positions not eligible for election in 2016 are:

1. 3rd Vice President (in charge of events)
2. Figure gaming representative
3. Player's representative

Thus the 2016 elections will be more than interesting.

Never before have so many positions become available at the same time.

There is no doubt that the committee has worked well over  the past number of years, and it will indeed be interesting to again see democracy at work.

As it can be  seen from the above, MSSA does not hold truck with 'succession plans', but instead trusts entirely on its membership applying its mind and electing the right people to further promote gaming in South Africa.

Who will go, and who will stay, that is indeed the question.

Question just in....

How is this for a  recent question?

"I  really want to play for the national  team. I realise that it  is my only chance to go overseas and be noticed. Unfortunately my team owner (redacted) has signed a contract with its sponsors that forbids me and all other team members to play for a team  that is not sponsored by that  sponsor. The team owner also refuses to allow the team to take part in MSSA events".

Well, this  is a very complex legal  issue.

If the team owner has signed a contract with  the team's sponsors that  the team members may only play for a team sponsored by such sponsor, then, short of resigning from such team, the player concerned will not be able to play for the national team  if such sponsor does not also sponsor the national team as well.

Also, if the team owner does not want his team to participate in MSSA events, that is his  choice entirely.

However, why anyone would play for such a team is beyond me as the players will be forfeiting many opportunities and limiting their own futures.

Players need to look at their opportunities in both the short-term and the long-term.

However, it must be noted that  a team that is 'owned' by any one individual would not be able to affiliate to MSSA.

MSSA is a non-profit organisation, and only other non-profit organisations may affiliate to MSSA.

Of course is a player is playing for an organisation that  is other than a non-profit  organisation, it could also then be argued that the player is employed by such owner/company. It such a case the Basic Employment Act would apply and the players would be entitled to all sorts of benefits -- including a salary.

Happy 2016!