DISTRICT 9 UPDATE  BY  SHIRLEY SEALS    ShirleySealsFl@aol.com

 

As I write my article, snow is falling outside my window here in Denver.  More than ever I appreciate Florida and our good weather…most of the time.

 

As a Trustee and Treasurer of the ACBL Charity Foundation, I want to thank all of you who participated in Charity Games throughout the year.  In the first nine months of 2005, the Charity Foundation received $46,000 more funds from club games than in the first nine months of 2004.  The Charity Foundation gives $100,000 each year to Districts to donate on a local level, plus other smaller charity requests.

 

Except for Charity Events or Events limited to players with fewer than 20 masterpoints:

A.     For all Sectionals beginning after July 1, 2006, sponsoring organizations shall charge an additional fee of at least $1.00 per person for non-members and non-service fee paying Life Masters.

 

B.  For all Regionals beginning after July 1, 2006, the sponsoring organization shall charge an additional fee of at least $2.00 per person per session for non-members and non-service fee paying Life Masters.

 

The motion to hold a World Junior Camp in Nashville, Tennessee in 2007 was deferred to the NABC Boarding Meeting in Dallas in the Spring of 2006.  It was the consensus of the board that a Junior Camp must be run under the total direction and control of ACBL. 

 

The Simpson Consulting Company is in their second year of marketing and promoting bridge awareness to Juniors.  The new website for Juniors is operating….please take time to check out www.BridgeisCool.com.

A link to this website can be found on the District 9 website.

 

Management will implement an amnesty program beginning January 1, 2006 and ending June 30, 2006.  Upon payment of the membership dues/service fees, people whose membership had lapsed shall be credited with all masterpoints, which were earned during the lapsed membership period.

This is a great opportunity for those who have let their membership in ACBL lapse.  By rejoining ACBL, all of their masterpoints earned during the lapse period will be awarded with no additional cost.

 

The Finance Committee, of which I am a member, was faced with a formidable task of putting together a balanced budget for the year 2006.

The hurricane disasters throughout the current year presented a tremendous deficit in income to ACBL.  The Board voted to approve the following increases:

 

Rating Point game Fee increase from $.65 to $.74 (effective 4/1/06)

This is the first increase in Game Fees in the past four years.

STaC fee increase from $2.42 to $3.04  (effective 1/1/06)

This is the first increase in STaC fees in the past five years.

NABC Entry Fees increased $1.50/person per session

 

Thank you for allowing me to represent you on the National Board. I always have the best interest of my District forefront when attending these board meetings.

Please let me know your concerns and how I can better serve you and bridge in Florida.

 

Check our District 9 website for all the current information on tournaments and other events of interest.   www.District9acbl.org