MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2003 JAY BAUM, CEO, ACBL
MEMBERSHIP:
Our numbers for September 30th gave Headquarters a reason to celebrate. We have overtaken last years numbers and “crossed the line” into a plus position vs. 2002. YTD we are showing +597 members.
MARKETING:
We have hired an exceptionally qualified marketing representative to assist day-to-day advertising, media and other marketing responsibilities. Tawnie Fite joins the ACBL October 13th and will be of great value in assuming some of the project management tasks required by the initiatives of the marketing department and management.
WEB SITE DEVELOPMENT:
Completion of the web site architecture plan and content outline involves nearly every department manager at the ACBL, with extensive amounts of time in researching and preparing web-appropriate learning materials by both ACBL management and the Oden Marketing team.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT:
A new member benefit will be introduced in November: a 15% percent discount card for Copy/Max. The discount may be used at any of the 1,000 Copy/Max stores in the United States or online for members in Canada and other areas without a store. We expect this tangible, cost-saving benefit to be well received especially by clubs, teachers and tournament managers producing brochures and fliers.
PROMOTION:
Our first venture in taking the ACBL out to the public generated enormous interest by the participants of the AARP Convention in Chicago last month. We distributed 3,000 Learn to Play Bridge CDs, along with magazines and other promotional items. While we cannot equate these convention activities to specific membership goals, we believe the experience justifies continued efforts to bring visibility to bridge to this audience.
CLUBS:
Club Officials and Teacher Survey has been completed. To see the entire survey with verbatim answers you may go to:
Login: ACBL
Password: Report
The response rate of 41% was great and we will be able to take the information and use it to the benefit of our #1 supporters and ambassadors.
Club renewal for 2004 have been mailed to each club along with an application for One, Two or Three Star Club status and the Jane Johnson Club of the year nomination information. Please encourage the clubs in your District to participate. The application can be viewed on-line at:
http://www.acbl.org/misc/123starclubs.pdf
Units:
In October Units are being sent (via e-mail to each Unit Electronic Contact) their
Annual unit roster of members, the third quarter QUIP report, the Mini
McKenney and Ace of Clubs quarterly update, reimbursement report and a
list of unpaid Life Masters with no activity for two + years who were transferred
to the holding Unit 777. We are also informing the Units that the sanctioning of Unit Championship
and Unit Charity games is to be done with the on-line application now available
and we are not mailing hard copy forms to the Unit Secretaries.
EDUCATION:
School Lesson plans:
A new set of lesson plans for schools is now available for a free download at the ACBL School site. This is an excellent new product for our teachers with school programs. The material is aimed at teaching Bridge to a target age group of children 11 to 13.
TOURNAMENT:
ACBL On-line/Ebridge. Tables for 2003 have reached 95,972 through September vs 110,140 total in 2002.
Our ACBL On-line ‘partner’ is in the process of forming a ladder team tournament. Entries are open. While the league format had been mildly successful during the past year, it was an administrative nightmare. Ladders, one very successful on other sites, seem to be a natural extension of the Social Room. The team format is self regulating. No masterpoints will be awarded.
OTHER ITEMS:
US Playing Cards has approved a partial sponsorship ($3500) for the World Youth Bridge Championship, which will be held in New York next summer.
We expect to be selling memberships (and magazines) on Amazon.com in the near future. You will be updated when this is finalized.