District 17 BRIDGE BUZZ
September 2020
|
|
|
The Buzz is delivered to you the months the ScoreCard is not published. It focuses on ACBL District 17 and national news, online events and provides you with links to access the details.
with feedback and content suggestions.
|
|
D17 NATIONAL DIRECTOR REPORT |
|
Greetings!
During these unprecedented times, the ACBL Board of Directors, committees and task forces continue to meet regularly through conference calls, GoToMeeting and Zoom. In addition to meetings held in July, the ACBL Board of Directors met virtually in August.
Board Reorganization
The reorganization plan to reduce the size of the ACBL Board of Directors from 25 to 13 by 2024 is now official. After a failed attempt to pass the plan to reorganize in the fall of 2019, the ACBL Board of Governors requested a reconsideration of the vote and the motion. The plan was reworked and presented twice -- once in March of 2020 with a favorable vote of 20/4/1 and again in July 2020 where it passed 18/7. The Board of Governors approved the plan. I voted in favor to reorganize.
It is important to note that all 25 districts will remain intact. District-related functions and events, district treasuries, and NAPs and GNTs will not be affected. However, for the purposes of electing members to the Board of Directors, several districts will be geographically aligned. Of the 25 districts, District 17 along with District 8 and District 6 will stand alone. District 17 will become Region 10. The election for the D17 Regional Director will be held in 2022.
Transition Task Force
Crucial to the reorganization was the creation of a transition task force which has been actively recommending what non-core functions of the ACBL Board of Directors can be moved to other ACBL decision-making bodies. Four motions were presented and were unanimously approved by the board, transferring the following duties to management:
- Approving exceptions to eligibility in GNT and NAP.
- Approving requests for transfers of fewer than 100 members between units and/or districts.
- Responsibility for the honorary member selection process.
- Responsibility for meeting minutes.
Masterpoint Committee
A new masterpoint calculation unanimously passed its first reading. This method takes the strength of field into account when determining the number of masterpoints to be awarded. Gold rush events will receive slightly more masterpoints while the difference in points in other events will change only by a small percentage.
Appeals & Charges Committee
The ACBL Board of Directors approved a rewrite of the Code of Disciplinary Regulations that will simplify the code for the use of district disciplinary bodies.
|
|
AUGUST BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS |
|
Concerns over online cheating continue to rise. "If you see something, say something," states Robb Gordon, ACBL National Recorder. "Do not say it in public or accuse somebody. Fill out a Player Memo with the BBO User ID of the suspected cheater, include a description of what concerns you and (ideally) full information about which game this occurred. I guarantee that we will investigate."
The first cases of online cheating were resolved in May and resulted in the suspension of six members for various terms. The Appeals & Charges Committee presented its report in August.
|
|
Protocols for Online Play
Item 20S3-01, Appendix O Conditions of Contest for Online Play, deferred from a special meeting held in June, was unanimously approved by the board.
|
|
Masterpoint Awards: Online versus face to face |
|
|
|
A motion (Item 20S3-02) to reduce masterpoint awards to reflect non-face-to-face play has passed its first reading after being deferred from a special board meeting held in June. Motion carried: 24/1/0. I voted in favor of the motion. |
|
Online Task Force Report
The Online Task Force, headed by Jay Whipple, presented its report. The report, along with recommendations from committees, will form the basis for a proposal which management will submit to the ACBL Board of Directors in September. Further discussions and refinements will occur.
|
|
I am looking forward to resuming face-to-face play. Until then, I hope online bridge brings you joy, a connection with community and that you are earning lots of masterpoints!
As always, I am here to answer your questions and to address your concerns.
|
|
Take care and stay safe,
Cindy Shoemaker
ACBL National Board Representative
1-719-337-6258
|
|
VIRTUAL VACATION ONLINE
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
|
|
|
|
Over 28,271.74 gold and red masterpoints were earned by 9,745 participants during the ACBL's third regionally-rated online event. The Virtual Vacation tournament, held Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30 offered both one- and two-session pair events for players of all levels. Video mini-lessons (30 minutes or less) by top bridge celebrities were posted daily. Daily Bulletins were posted to BridgeFeed.
|
|
D17 ELECTION RESULTS ARE IN!
BY BILL PHILLIPS
ELECTION SECRETARY
|
|
 |
District 17 recently completed the annual election cycle for representatives to the D17 Board of Directors. Terms of office run for three years.
Lakin Hines was re-elected to represent Mesa, AZ (Unit 351). Lakin's new term carries through the end of 2023.
Steve Nordberg was re-elected to represent Southern New Mexico at large and El Paso, TX (Units 159, 376, 380, 383 and 388). His new term runs through 2023.
The board welcomes a new member, Sharon Smith, who will represent Colorado at large and Wyoming (Units 359, 360, 363, 364, 367, 421 and 422).
|
Lakin Hines retired in 2015 from Ameritas Life Insurance in Lincoln, Nebraska where he worked in the computer department writing DOS code to automate file transfers.
Before working with computers, Lakin managed hotels in Omaha, Nebraska and in Vail, Colorado. He started playing bridge while going to school in Omaha and learned a lot more about duplicate in Vail. He became a life master in 1989 while living in Lincoln. After retiring from Ameritas, Lakin and his wife moved to Arizona and now live in Sun Lakes.
Lakin enjoys golf and playing trivia games at the local restaurants in Sun Lakes.
|
|
|
|
Steve Nordberg is the D17 grant program chairperson. Units use grant program funding to fuel beginner bridge and membership building initiatives. Steve is also a certified bridge teacher and a certified bridge director.
Growing up in Duluth, Minnesota, meant lots of snow and lots of card playing.
|
Sharon Smith, brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to duplicate bridge, supports the players and enhances her bridge community.
Sharon moved to Steamboat Springs, CO in 1994 and helped Elaine Gilbertson restart a local bridge club. Soon she became active in local club operations as a director. In 2018, Sharon organized a highly successful 18 table Learn Bridge in a Day class held at a community center. She is also developing online bridge classes through a local college.
|
Your District 17 Board of Directors
is comprised of 10 elected members plus Cindy Shoemaker, D17 Representative
to the ACBL Board of Directors, who serves as ex officio with voting rights.
Continuing through 2021 are John Grossmann, president, JoAnne Lowe, Felicity Moore, secretary and Jennifer O'Neill, treasurer. Continuing through 2022 are Elizabeth Hamilton, Steve Reynolds, vice president and Bill Phillips, election secretary.
|
|
|
|
A MENTOR WORTH HER WEIGHT IN GOLD |
|
Finding a mentor who will stick with you, improve your bridge experience and your game is priceless. It happened to Loren Moore, Las Vegas Unit 373, who re-entered the game 2.5 years ago after a 30 plus year hiatus.
While playing face-to-face bridge, Loren was introduced to Susan Chook of Henderson, Las Vegas. As an intermediate player, Susan was hesitant to take on the role of mentor, but she saw something in Loren and took a chance.
“Susan has the patience of the Rock of Gibraltar,” says Moore. “I once told her that I wouldn’t blame her if she pulled out a club and hit me with it and then used a spade to bury me. But, no. She just pulls out hearts and rewards with diamonds.”
|
|
During the pandemic, Susan and Loren regularly participate in virtual club games and ACBL tournaments.
On August 27, Susan and Loren played in the Golden Sands Super Gold Rush pairs event held during the ACBL Virtual Vacation Regionally-Rated Tournament. They had a 66.6 percent game and earned 1.74 gold.
This gave Susan the gold she needed to become a life master!
Loren recently became an NABC master and has earned over 200 masterpoints.
|
“I really enjoy online bridge,” says Moore. “I don’t have to fight the traffic and I am earning points faster than I would during face-to-face play.”
We cannot predict the end of the pandemic, but it is safe to say that the Chook/Moore partnership is here to stay.
|
|
For more information on District 17 activities go to d17acbl.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
