District 9 Update

Shirley Seals - District 9 Director -  Shirley SealsFL@aol.com

September/October 2008 SUNSHINE BRIDGE NEWS

LAS VEGAS NABC – NATIONAL BOARD MEETING – JULY 2008

• The Board voted to keep the ACBL Headquarters in Memphis.

Management will begin a search for a new location in this city.

• Life Master requirement will change on January 1, 2010

The requirements for Life Master are modified to include earning 500

Points, of which 250 must be pigmented as follows:

     50 must be gold or platinum

     50 must be red, gold or platinum

     75 must be silver

     75 must be black

These requirements DO NOT APPLY to people who are ACBL members

as of December 31, 2009 and maintain continuous membership in the ACBL until they achieve Life Master status.  These players will attain Life Master status upon earning 300 points, of which 150 must be pigmented

as follows:

     25 must be gold

     25 must be red or gold

     50 must be silver

     50 must be black

    (the rules in effect July 1, 2008)

For Members achieving Life Master under the modified rules, the rank of

Bronze Life Master is abolished.  For these members, a new rank of Advanced NABC Master is created.  The requirements for this rank are 300

Masterpoints, of which must be pigmented as follows:

     25 must be gold or platinum

     25 must be red, gold or platinum

     50 must be silver

     50 must be black

     (these are requirements for Life Master in effect July 1, 2008)

• A scheduled STaC session may be held in lieu of an ACBL-wide special event.

• Motion to allow ACBL Tournament Director to hear and rule upon all bridge appeals filed in NABC + events was defeated.  These appeals will continue to be heard by a panel of bridge professionals/experts.

• The 2008 upward trend in Membership continued in June.  12,000 New Members are predicted for the year.

• Clubs who hold special games with additional fees and masterpoints have increased 30% and online tables have increased 44%.  Overall, club tables continue to be impressive.

• A new Unit was formed in District 7 that will encompass Glynn County in Southeastern Georgia.

• The Marketing Committee has asked Management to compile a series of bridge lessons for Beginners for distribution to weekly and college newspapers who do not carried a syndicated bridge column.  These lessons/bridge hands will be sent to Unit Presidents with the hope that they will be sent to clubs for distribution to these newspapers with a local contact phone number.

By the time you read this, I will have had the surgery for Total Replacement of my Right Knee.  I am happy to tell you the Total Knee Replacement of the Left Knee was a big success.  Thank you for all of your good wishes and concern.  I look forward to seeing all of you at the bridge table very soon…with two new titanium knees.

   Shirley Seals