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REPORT ON THE 10TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE WORLD PUZZLE FEDERATION
Minsk, Belarus, October 28-29, 2008
The meeting was called to order by chairman Vítezslav Koudelka (Czech Republic) on October 28 at 15:30. Other board members present were Peter Ritmeester, general secretary (Netherlands); Will Shortz, treasurer (USA); and Valter Kvalic (Croatia).
The WPF member countries present for all or part of the congress were Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, and United States. Belgium, China, Denmark, France, and Italy were represented by proxy. The meeting was held in three sessions over two days.
Vítezslav opened the meeting by welcoming the participants. The delegates introduced themselves and identified the organizations they represent.
The agenda for the meeting as presented by the board was approved.
Will made a correction in the minutes of the 9th General Assembly of the WPF, as printed in the World Puzzle Newsletter #13. Under “Reports,” item “c,” it should be said that the WPF ended the previous year with €25,835.95. With this correction, the minutes were accepted.
Reports
a) Peter discussed the reasons for the board’s emergency decision to move the 2008 WPC from Vilnius, Lithuania, to Minsk, Belarus. He stressed the need in future years for potential WPC organizers to be supported by a team of helpers, both puzzlemakers and otherwise, rather than for all the work to be done by one individual. (Additional background on the board’s decision appears in the newsletter, pages 14-15.)
b) Peter handed out a report on the WPF finances. The WPF has a balance of €23,430.40, with an additional €5,504.10 in the office account.
c) Vitezslav announced that the dues for 2009-10 would again be €250 per country. As always, members from wealthier countries are encouraged to pay more.
d) Will made two corrections to Newsletter #13. In the Editor’s Message, page 3, it is incorrectly stated that the WPF board determined the site of the 2009 WPC (in Antalya, Turkey); it was the WPF members who did so, by a vote conducted by email in June. Also, he said the report on the 16th WPC (page 4, column 3) contains an incorrect list of the top teams at the championship; the correct list appears on pages 21-22.
Valter was thanked for his work in editing the newsletter. He offered to edit it again for 2008-09 and requested contributions from members.
Combining the WPC and WSC
Vitezslav reopened the discussion, held over from 2007, about combining the World Puzzle Championship and World Sudoku Championship beginning in 2011.
The board presented the following options: a) keep the status quo, with two separate WPF events each year; b) have one WPF event a year, alternating WPC and WSC; c) have one WPF event a year, combining the WPC and WSC; or d) retain two WPF events each year, but with the WSC always being held in the same location.
After much discussion the vote was: a — 1, b — 0, c — 11, d — 4. Thus, starting in 2011 the WPC and WSC will be combined.
Website redesign
Peter reported requests from several members that the WPF website should be redesigned, with more puzzle content and more puzzle news from around the world. He said, however, he doesn’t have the time to do this large amount of work himself. The board asked for volunteers and said the position could include a modest stipend.
Will outlined the requirements of a WPF webmaster: The person should have a good knowledge of the WPC and puzzles in general; sufficient time to maintain the site; fluency in English; and the necessary technical expertise.
Jacek Szczap (Poland) proposed that the WPF website should include online puzzle competitions in order to spur interest in the organization. Others felt the site should be mainly informational in nature.
After discussions overnight, WPC competitor Wei-Hwa Huang (USA) volunteered for the position, and his offer was accepted.
WPF Statutes/Regulations
György Istvan (Hungary) distributed a sheet listing, among other things, ways the WPF statutes and regulations are either out-of-date or incomplete. For example, regulation 3.2 says the WPC participation fee should be not more than US$400, whereas the fee for all recent WPC’s has been €400 (slightly more than $400). Also, there is no provision for voting by email, which the WPF did in June. And many more similar problems.
A committee of three — György, Peter, and Will — was appointed to study the statutes and regulations and propose changes.
WPC Rules and Procedures
Vítezslav announced that the WPF still needs to prepare guidelines and rules for organizing and running a WPC. A committee of five — Vitezslav, Jacek, Blanka Lehotská (Slovakia), Kamer Alyanakyan (Turkey), and Nick Baxter (USA) — was appointed to draft a proposal. It was suggested that they divide up the work in order to speed progress. Vitezslav proposed a deadline of February 28, 2009, for a first draft, to be discussed informally next April at the WSC in Zilina, Slovakia.
French Membership
Vitezslav reported that the WPF membership of Keesing, in France, was being challenged by a second organization, the Federation Française des Jeux Mathematiques et Logiques.
The WPF rules state that if two competing groups cannot agree to cooperate, the WPF will decide by vote which one would best further the WPF’s interests in that country.
After overnight discussions, Keesing and the Federation Française des Jeux Mathematiques et Logiques agreed to cooperate after all, so no vote was necessary.
2008 WPC Losses
Vitezslav and Valter reported, after meeting with Vladimir Portugalov and a representative of Trans Aero, the company handling the business arrangements for the 2008 WPC, that Vladimir might personally lose up to €6,000 (exact amount not yet known) in hosting the event. The expected loss was due to the sudden decline of the value of the euro versus the Belarusian ruble since the contracts were signed, the absence of hoped-for sponsorship, and other reasons.
Usually hosts are responsible for any such loss. In this case, though — since Vladimir assumed the hosting assignment with only four months’ notice — many members felt his personal loss should be reimbursed.
Nick Baxter (USA) proposed that the WPF empower the board to examine the books and reimburse Vladimir up to €6,000 for any loss he personally incurred in hosting the WPC. The proposal was passed unanimously.
Election of Board Members
Five people — Blanka Lehotská (Slovakia), Jacek Szczap (Poland), Kamer Alyanakyan (Turkey), Peter Ritmeester (Netherlands), and Vitezslav Koudelka (Czech Republic) — were nominated to fill the three open positions on the WPF board. Two of the positions were for three years. The third position was for one year, to complete the unexpired term of Hendrik Hardeman (India), who had stepped down.
For the first position the vote was as follows: Vitezslav — 9, Peter — 5, Blanka — 2, Jacek — 1. So Vitezslav was reelected to a three-year term.
For the second position: Peter — 12, Blanka — 4, Jacek — 1. So Peter was reelected to a three-year term.
For the third position the vote was: Blanka — 7, Kamer — 7, Jacek — 3. After eliminating the lowest vote-getter, a second vote was held: Kamer — 10, Blanka — 8. Thus, Kamer was elected to fill out Hendrik’s unexpired term.
Will commended all the candidates and expressed the wish that those who weren’t elected stay involved and keep contributing their ideas to the WPF.
Site Selection for the 2010 WPC
Vítezslav reported two offers to host the 2010 WPC — Poland and Serbia.
Jacek Szczap, representing the Sfinks club, made the presentation for Poland. On behalf of Zoran Tanasic (Serbia), who could not be present, Valter presented the Serbian bid.
After discussion, members voted. The first two ballots were tied. On the third ballot Poland was selected 12-10.
Site Selection for the 2010 WSC
Vítezslav reported only one offer to host the 2010 WSC — in Philadelphia, USA. Will and Nick made a presentation. The offer was accepted unanimously.
Statements from the 2009 WPC and WSC Organizers
Jan Farkas and Blanka Lehotská announced details of the 4th WSC, to be held April 23-27 in Zilina, Slovakia. It will include an optional two-day sightseeing trip before the championship. Each country will be permitted up to six competitors, with three people on a team.
Kamer made a slide presentation regarding the 18th WPC, to be held in October or November 2009 in Antalya, Turkey.
Closing
The members thanked Vladimir Portugalov for a superb WPC, which he organized under difficult circumstances.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned on October 29 at 19:05.
—Will Shortz
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