Want to turn people on to the ACBL? Order extra, old copies of The Bridge Bulletin magazine to display in your clubs by contacting Sharon Baldwin in the Editorial Department at 901-332-5586, ext. 1281 or via e-mail at Sharon.Baldwin@acbl.org.
Get Caught NAPping! Watch your mail in March for materials for the new and improved 2004 – 2005 North American Pairs! The ACBL has reduced the club level sanction fee to only $4 U.S. per table – down from $7. And new Conditions of contest make the event more accessible for all. Let’s make the 2004 – 2005 NAP the best ever! For more information on the North American Pairs, go to Information then Special Events at the www.acbl.org.
Club tip of the month submitted by Glenn Van Denburg of Modesto, California
Encourage members to give their used Bridge Bulletin magazines to your club after removing the partial page that indicates their masterpoint totals. As a club manager you can then affix a personal label (sample below) over the mailing label and distribute the bulletins to professional offices, beauty salons, clinics, etc. Great way to advertise bridge, the ACBL, and your club.
FREE! TAKE ME HOME!
Compliments of the (Your Club Name Here) and the American
Contract Bridge League. For information about the game of bridge,
Lessons and bridge games, call (Your Club Contact Info here.)
THE PHONE IS YOUR SALES REP
When someone calls your club with inquiries, recognize that you have a HOT PROSPECT on the line and follow these basic suggestions:
· Invite them to the Club
· Introduce them to other players
· Encourage them to kibitz
· Help them find a partner
· Give them a free play for their first visit
· Ask if they would like to have the Club’s website address
· Get their name and phone number & follow up with a call to invite them to an upcoming club event
The club’s greeting should be recorded by someone who has clear enunciation, a friendly tone, and whose voice is age-neutral. The greeting itself should say something along the lines of “This is the Bridge Club”. We have eight games a week and occasional lessons. New and experienced players are welcome. Please leave a message and someone will call you back.” And Most Important—do call them back.
Many of the game’s newer players are approaching retirement age. Often the Internet is not the first resource for this age group – the telephone is. Be sure the club is in the Yellow Pages under Bridge Clubs.
The date for the ACBL Instant
Gold Matchpoint Game is Thursday, September 9, 2004. Please don’t be deterred if your club is not sanctioned for a
Thursday evening – you may still hold this exciting game. Just contact your Unit Secretary to obtain
Unit approval.
This year, the ACBL will be going all out to promote the 2004 – 2005 North American Pairs (NAP) event. Therefore, we will be sending EVERY club a NAP Packet.
This prestigious ‘grassroots” event starts in June 2004 and concludes in a final held in conjunction with Spring 2005 North American Bridge Championships.
(Pittsburgh NABC). NAP club level qualifying will be during the months of June, July and August.
This event is very popular with the players as the club awards contain a percentage of Red Points. The ACBL issues all masterpoints. Qualifiers from the club stages will advance to the district final. The winner of the district will receive a subsidy to attend the NABC in Pittsburgh, Pa., a very honorable prize.
This year the ACBL Board of Directors have approved the following changes:
· At the club level, sanction fees have been reduced form $7 (US) to $4 (US) per table.
· At the Unit level, any player who qualified in any club may play with any
Other qualified player in any unit in their district. Both players must be
Members of a Unit in the district.
* At the club level, each club may hold TWO NAP qualifying games instead .
of one per sanctioned session.
At the Unit level, if unit finals are not held in the district, the district may hold a multi-unit site unit final prior to the district final.
All NAP packets will be mailed out in March. Please read all instructions and Conditions of Contest carefully. Your NAP packet will include an 11 X 17 poster, Special Events Manual and other exciting information. Please display your poster in the playing area in advance for your players to make their plans to attend all games.
Should you have questions and
problems regarding the ACBLscore computer software, feel free to contact Dave
Smith via e-mail at ACBLscore@acbl.org
or by phone at 901-332-5586, extension 1336. You may also visit our website www.acbl.org by clicking information and then
ACBLscore to find Frequently Asked ACBLscore Questions.
In an effort to keep bridge alive and strong, the ACBL is committing itself to helping you help our great game.
Efforts include the new Marketing Matters e-newsletter--- a new section on the latest marketing efforts, news, tips for clubs and teachers, articles, programs and much more.
Please encourage all club managers to register your e-mail address with us so you can receive this informative e-newsletter by contacting Patsy Edwards in the Club and Member Services Department at 901-332-5586, Extension 1211 or via e-mail at Patsy.Edwards@acbl.org.