Congratulations to our District President, Jeff Overby, who was re-appointed to the ACBL Disciplinary Committee for another three year term.

As Chair of the Marketing Committee, our goals are

(1)     Make bridge a better product and make new members feel welcome

(2)     Provide help to our local clubs, which are the sales force of bridge

(3)     Support teachers and be a constant source of assistance in their professional life

(4)     Increase ACBL Membership – define our exact market

You can all help with your comments and suggestions.  How do we keep

people coming back to play this game that we love?   What incentives would you suggest to the Marketing Committee?  Our retention factor has been good but we need more new players.  Would you like to have a “Mentor” come to your club

and give suggestions on how to run a more successful club?  We all know that Club Owners, Managers, and Teachers are the main source of ACBL membership.

District 9 was the leader in taking advantage of the Cooperative Advertising Program in 2006.  $20,211 was paid to clubs who availed themselves of this advertising program.

Motion was passed to rescind a policy which required Hard Copy Materials to be sent to Volunteers.  In the future, Electronic Business Methods will be implemented.  However, you can still contact ACBL and request particular documents to be sent to you in hard copy.

ACBL will establish a non-profit tax-exempt (501©3) foundation for the purpose of:

(a)    Acquiring, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting objects and materials related to bridge

(b)    Identifying and recognizing those who have made significant contributions to bridge

(c)     Serving as the North American repository for objects and materials related to bridge

(d)    Engaging in fund-raising activities to support the above purposes

The bylaws committee, in conjunction with League Counsel, will draft and prepare the foundation’s bylaws and incorporation documents.

Motion failed to designate May as Educational Foundation month.  If passed,

any and all ACBL sanctioned sessions held at clubs would be held as Educational Foundation games, except during February, April and September which are reserved for Junior Fund, Charity Fund and International Fund games respectively.

GNT Eligibility was amended as follows:

(1)     “Snowbirds”.  Any member with seasonal residences who spends more than half of the GNT qualifying period (considered to be September 1 – February 28) in a District other than the District of their principal physical residence may play in the district of seasonal residence.  If they choose to do so, they must play in that District’s district finals to be eligible to play in the national finals and are not eligible to be augmented to or otherwise added to a team from the District of their principal residence.

(2)     Players who live near District borders and who are members of a Unit in a District in which they do not reside, may seek permission to play in the District in which they have a Unit membership.

(3)     Players with multiple domiciles should apply to the Credentials Committee for a one-time choice of District in which they wish to play.  Players may be asked to document their time in each of their residences.

NAP Reimbursement

A.  A fixed amount prize will be awarded in all flights as follows:

(1)     In Districts with three qualifiers, the 1^st place qualifers will receive $700 per person and the 2^nd place qualifers will receive $300 per person.  The 3^rd place qualifers will be invited to partipate in the National level finals, but not receive any prize.

(2)     In Districts with four qualifiers, the 1^st and 2^nd place qualifers will receive $700 per person and the 3^rd place qualifers will receive $300 per person.  The 4^th place qualifers will be invited to participate in the National level finals, but not receive any prize.

(3)     Invited defenders will receive $700 per person.

(4)     No individual may collect two concurrent prizes.

B.   The monetary award will be available on site.  Qualifers must play in the        

       National level event until eliminated to receive the award.

C.   There will be no entry fee for the National level of the event.

Change to Regional Event Scheduling

A Regional may not be more than six and a half (6.5) days in duration.

In addition to this, a one session event that is run for either the ACBL Charity Foundation, the ACBL Educational Foundation, the Junior Fund, or the International Fund may be scheduled the afternoon before the start of a 6.5 day Regional.  The current formulas will be used to determine the minimum monetary contribution for these games.

NABCs, National Events, are very exciting.  Have you looked at the schedule for the next few years?  Nashville - Summer 2007, San Francisco - Fall 2007, Detroit - Spring 2008, Las Vegas - Summer 2008, Boston -Fall 2008.  Pick one and start making plans now to attend. 

 
Thank you all again for allowing me to serve you, and our District, on the National board.  I travel with a laptop so it is very easy to contact me by e-mail, telephone, or FAX.  I always welcome your comments.

Shirley Seals