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Meeting at
Philadelphia - Spring 2003 |
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The Playing facilities at the Philadelphia Marriott
were excellent, even though the cost of the hotel room and parking was
costly. Excellent Hospitality was offered each evening by the Volunteers.
Rumor was that $150,000 was spent for food and entertainment. The final table count was close to 11,000—slightly higher than predicted. Candace Fowler Griffey and her partner won the Women’s Pair NABC event and Jeff Meckstroth’s team won the Vanderbilt competition. Please check the Unit 128 website for full details and pictures. www.FloridaUnit128.org . The following is a recap of business conducted at the National board meeting: Approval of Appointments The following appointments were approved: Hall of Fame Committee: Richard Freeman and Judy Kay for a three-year term. Cecil Cook was appointed to a one-year term as chairman of the committee. Bylaws Committee: Nadine Wood, Sue Himel, Harriette Buckman, Georgia Heth, Linda Mamula, Gary Glaiss, Jim Miller Competition & Conventions Committee: Steve Beatty (Chairman), Jeff Meckstroth, Bart Bramley, Bob Hamman, Chip Martel and Peggy Sutherlin Election of ACBL Treasurer Jerry Fleming, from Los Alamos, New Mexico was elected for a one-year term beginning May 1, 2003. World Junior Individual Bridge Championship The ACBL Board of Directors approves a World Junior Individual Championship to be held every other year (in even years starting in 2004) in North America at the site of the Summer NABC. The World Junior Individual will begin with a short opening ceremony on the Wednesday evening preceding the final weekend at the site of the Summer NABC. There will be four sessions. The closing ceremony, dinner, and prize giving will be Friday evening. This will be a World Bridge Federation Event. The ACBL Junior Fund will underwrite the following expenses not to exceed $4900. Tournament Director Education Status Report Management’s tournament director education status report is received. A report on the 2002 Tournament Director training, evaluation, and financial disbursements will be submitted to the Tournament Committee not later Than April 1, 2003. A complete training and evaluation program will be submitted to the Tournament Committee as a Management agenda item in Long Beach at the 2003 Summer NABC. Platinum Masterpoints A new pigment – platinum – of masterpoints is established to recognize those points currently considered for the player of the year award (NABC+ events). These events include Nationally-rated events held at NABCs which have no upper masterpoint limit nor an upper age limit (i.e. junior or youth events). Hard Copy Distribution of Materials for Volunteers Volunteer officials who need copies of various ACBL Rules and Regulations will be notified by ACBL that they may request one copy of the necessary documents, free of charge, once each year. The communication should include a description of all appropriate documents for the particular official, a statement of which documents have changed in the last twelve months, and a postage free reply card that request the appropriate documents from ACBL. Note: These are the officials and documents that are referred to above. Document/ Distribution list Handbook of Rules & Regulations/ All unit secretaries, all district presidents Code of Disciplinary Regulations/ All unit and district disciplinary chairs and district appellate chairs (or to the Unit and/or district president when no Official is named). All Unit and District Recorders Handbook for Appeals Committees/All unit and district appeals chairs, (or to The unit and/or district president when No official is named) Recorder Regulations and Procedures/ All Unit and District Recorders & a copy of a Player Memo Form Effective date: As soon as can be implemented by Management Eligibility to Play at NABCs In order to participate in an NABC+ event, a person must be an ACBL member whose service fee or dues is current. I was very much in favor of this decision by the board. With the declining number who are joining ACBL, we may in the near future address the issue of requiring membership to play in Regionally rated events as well. It seems unfair to me that the dues paid by ACBL members are used to underwrite the game for all participants. Marketing A new marketing initiative for 2003 was presented with the hopes of increasing ACBL membership. This concept is an incentive based program to entice UNITS to solicit ACBL members and receive rebate money payable to the Unit for this increase in membership. I have been wrong many times, but I do not think a program directed at Units will be successful. The individual Clubs are the source of new members—they have the daily contact with the newcomers to the game—not the Units. I am hopeful that a program will be presented at the Summer NABC targeting participating by the local clubs. Committee Reports: The Committee to Address Relaxed Rules at Local Clubs met and will give a report to the Board at the Summer NABC. The Committee to Study additional Regional Tournaments met and will give a report to the Board at the Summer NABC. Please contact me if you have any questions or opinions that you wish to
share: Shirley Seals |