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Meeting at 2003
Fall NABC - Phoenix |
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MINUTES OF THE PHOENIX NATIONAL BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 22 – 26, 2002 The complete minutes of the National board meeting will be appearing on the ACBL website as soon as they are officially approved. The following are items that I think will be of interest to all of us in District 9. Jeff Overby is hereby certified as having been duly elected as First Alternate to the Board of Directors of the American Contract Bridge League for a three year term, January 1, 2003 through December 31. 2005. Muriel Altus was elected as Second Alternate for the same three year term. Representative to the World Bridge Federation: Item 023-191 Joan Gerard and Jim Kirkham were elected as ACBL representative to the World Bridge Federation for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. Honorary Member of the Year Item 023-194 Frank (Nick) Nickell appointed as the 2003 ACBL Honorary Member of the Year. ACBL Masterpoint Regulations (Second Reading) Item 023-195 Changes were approved to become effective January 1, 2003. Charity Foundation Membership Meeting: The National Hospice Foundation will be the 2003 Charity of the Year. ACBL Bylaws Committee Item 023-36 The ACBL Board of Directors will establish a permanent bylaws Committee. The purpose of this committee is to review the ACBL Bylaws as need and suggest appropriate revisions. ACBL Mailing Lists Effective immediately, the policy regarding lists, mailing labels, and discs shall be as follows: LISTS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE: 3. Unit/District Board His/Her Unit or District Directors Board Members names and addresses 5. Unit Membership Chairman Unit Members names, addresses and masterpoints (Once a year) 6. Club Managers Unit Members names, addresses, and masterpoints (Once a year, upon request, for local units) 7. Unit, District or Conference Publication Names and addresses of all members receiving publication* *Must be published at least twice a year, and all incidental costs (postage, materials) wil be the responsibility of the user. I was very happy to see the board unanimously vote in favor this changed policy. Convention Card Laws Item 022-145 The Board of Directors recommends that the ACBL Laws Commission give sponsoring organizations more latitude in deciding their own rules. Our specific interest is for allowing players at clubs to refer to their convention card. Keep in mind that this is a recommendation to the Laws Commission. I would certainly like for clubs to consider this relaxed rule, if approved by the commission. School Lesson Membership Item 023-156 ACBL will offer a School Lesson Membership (current price of $5.00 for first time members) to students under the age of 19 who are graduates of, or enrolled in, a School Bridge Lesson Series program funded by the ACBL and/or the ACBL Educational Foundation. NAP and GNT EVENTS item 023-105 The ACBL President shall designate a committee which should include Board of Directors’ members, Board of Governors’ members and Management. The function of this committee is to evaluate the NAP and GNT events and determine what, if any, changes shall be made to bring them, or their replacement events, back to what was originally intended. The Committee shall have a preliminary report with some potential ideas available for the Board of Directors to review and comment on at the Summer 2003 meetings and shall have a report, including proposals, available for the Fall 2003 Agenda. Those of you who are members of the Board of Governors are urged to let your wishes be known regarding the NAP and GNT events. I am strongly in favor or keeping these two events—since the NAP recognizes players in the A, B, and C flights for their achievements in winning the District finals—plus a free trip to the Nationals to compete with all other District finalist. In District 9, the winning GNT teams in the A, B, and C flights are subsidized with Districts funds to attend the Nationals to compete with other winners. North American Pairs Event Item 023-106 The proposal of creating a new flight of 2000 – 5000 masterpoints is referred to committee established by resolution023-105 above. I was the co-sponsor of this motion since I feel the creation of a new flight will give players who are not in the Pro flight, a chance to compete on a fair basis. There is definitely a need for a fourth flight in the NAP—as in the GNT event. Here again, I would urge you to contact the Board of Director members and those on the Board of Governors and strongly support this motion. Table Rulings by TDs – (Reconsideration of Item 022-147) Item 023-117 Item 022-147 Is amended as follows: This item will be reconsidered upon recommendation of Management to the Board of Directors. Such recommendation will include confirmation that the Tournament Directors are ready to accept full responsibility for all rulings as proposed in the motion. The Tournament Director Education and Training Committee (a Management committee to be appointed by management to include members of the Board of Directors) will serve as a focal point for input, suggestions, complaints, and information connected with this program. When Management determines that sufficient progress has been made in TD training and performance, they may recommend establishment of a new trial implementation date. Such implementation is subject to Board of Directors approval. Handicap Requirements Item 023-118 All Host facilities for North American Bridge Championships held in the United States must adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, accessible transportation at rates commensurate with standard shuttle or taxi fares should be made know. AMENDMENT OF REGIONAL TOURNAMENT ALLOCATIONS Item 023-129 DISTRICT 9 IS GRANTED ONE ADDITONAL REGIONAL SANCTION EACH YEAR FOR THE YEARS OF 2004 AND 2005. A Regional Allocation Committee will be appointed to review a proposal to change the membership numbers required for additional Regionals as well as the entire Regional Tournament Allocation Regulations and report recommended changes, if any, at the Summer 2003 meeting. I am very pleased with the Board’s decision to allow District 9 to have one additional Regional. This Regional will allow us to designate Orlando as the January Regional each year except when the Nationals are held in November prior to the January Regional. The new Regional will allow new Regionals to be held in Sarasota and Palm Beach County—and keep a Regional in the Panhandle area of Florida every other year. I have been notified that I have been appointed as one of the Regional Allocation Committee members to review the entire Regional allocation system. ALSO, it is nice to report that not only will Orlando be the site of the 2004 Nationals but the 2010 Nationals as well. The tournament will be held both years at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Election of Treasurer – ACBL Jerry Fleming from New Mexico was elected. He will do a fine job. Please contact me if you have any questions or opinions that you wish to
share: Shirley Seals |