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ACES, PLACES, and FACES |
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PUBLICATION
OF THE FRESNO UNIT OF THE
AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE |
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| Volume
LVIII
No 12 December 2006 SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR HOME PAGE |
EDITOR:
RICHARD MEFFLEY bridgefresno@hotmail.com
(please e-mail to get on e-mail list) |
| UNIT CHRISTMAS PARTY
DECEMBER 3 UNIT BOARD ELECTION and DISTRICT AFFILIATION VOTE Sunday December 3 is the annual meeting and Christmas party. The unit board will provide the refreshments for the party. Our board members have in the past provided quite a feast for everyone to enjoy. Come early and enjoy the party. We will also have the required, but short, annual meeting, which includes a summary of the years events, and a few awards. The balloting will be completed at the meeting; please be sure to vote either before the December 3 or at the annual meeting. The event will conclude with a Unit Championship game. We have scheduled a 299er section and an open section for that day. The ballot for the unit board of directors for 2007-2008 is included with this month's newsletter. The unit board consists of 11 members, with five or six elected each year for a two-year term. We have requested nominations in this newsletter, and our nomination committee has chosen five members to run for the five open positions. All members who accepted nomination and were nominated by the committee or by any member are included on the ballot. The nominees are Dora Gostanian, Dave Shuster, John Oakshott, Anita Penny, and Bert Rettner. Dave Shuster is an incumbent. Anita Penny is a former board member and former officer of District 22. Dora Gostanian has served as co-chairman of the hospitality committee for our sectionals for the last two years. Bert Rettner and John Oakshott have not served on the unit board before. Our thanks go to retiring board members, treasurer John Renna, vice-president and tournament chairman Rick Betcher, Paul Messner, and hospitality co-chairman Judy Nicholson. The ballot also includes a decision which we have discussed during the year - whether we should stay in District 22, or move to District 21. Currently we are the northernmost unit in District 22. Our neighbor to the north, the Merced-Turlock unit was previously a member of District 22, but moved to District 21 a few years ago. District 22 includes all of California to the south, except Los Angeles county. District 21 includes the Bay Area, Sacramento area, Monterey, and the units between those areas and Fresno. |
UNIT UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR with tournament links California and nearby tournaments Bay Area TournamentsAll tournaments PLACES and FACES Jay Roll and Larry Cavanaugh won the Ridgecrest sectional Swiss Teams, plus finished in the overalls in most of the events. At the Las Vegas sectional, Rose Boot was second in the KO teams and fourth in the evening Swiss teams. Judy Zimmerer won the consolation Bracket 2 KO. Sympathy is extended to the family of Ruth Wolcott. Ruth was always someone you could count on to help you out. She was one of the helpers for our first afternoon EZBridge lessons and continued to care for the group. She will be missed. Our sympathy goes to Jim Tritt and his family. Jim's mother Betty Tritt recently passed away. Betty moved to Fresno several years ago. She was a Life Master and played in our club while she was here. Welcome to new member Pat Alviso. |
| DISTRICT 21/DISTRICT 22 Each district holds four regionals per year. Players can play in regionals no matter which district they live in. District 22 generally has one regional in Palm Springs, one in Orange county, one in San Diego, and one in another location. District 21 usually has one in Monterey, one in Sacramento, one in Santa Clara, and another in the Bay Area. Holding a regional in Fresno enables local players to win gold points without much travel cost. District 22 has sponsored regionals in Fresno in the past, but not for six years because we have not been able to secure a good location at a good price. The main requirements are a hotel with about 10,000 square feet of playing area. The last regional we had was at the Airport Holiday Inn, which proved to have inadequate playing space. Previously we were at the downtown Hilton, closed for several years, at the Holiday Inn downtown (now the Radisson), and the long closed Hacienda hotel. We have been unable to negotiate a suitable deal with a local hotel in the last few years. The District 22 board has stated it will hold a regional in Fresno if there is a good location. We have not had discussions with District 21 concerning regionals in Fresno, so we cannot tell whether there would be a regional in Fresno if we changed districts. District 22 now holds GNT finals over two days for all flights at the San Diego regional at Easter time. It has previously been held over two days at various sites throughout the district. Club qualifying is required. Attendance has been 8 or fewer teams in each flight, with only two or three in flight A. District 21 does not require club qualifying. The open flight and Flight A (under 5000 mp) both play 64 board matches, so two weekends are required. The flights play on different weekends, so it is possible to play in more than one event. Flights B and C (under 2000 mp and NonLM under 500 mp) play 32 board matches, so the event is held during one weekend. Last year the attendance in the D21 GNT in Open, A, B, and C was 15, 8, 13, and 5 teams. These differences may be important to those who wish to play in GNT and NAP events. District 21 events are significantly closer to home. In the lower flights, the events are about the same. In the higher flights, the events last much longer in District 21. It's hard to judge which district offers better competition. District 22 is divided into four areas, each of which has two representatives on the District board. The district board consists of those eight representatives, plus the ACBL board member from District 22. Those nine members make the policies for District 22. Because Fresno is one of the larger units in its area, we have, except for two years, always had a member on the District board. The District 21 board consists of two members from each unit, or over thirty members. Meetings are held at the regionals. District 21 has an executive committee of eight menbers plus the ACBL board member, who handle much of the District's business.  |
CLUB NEWS The Christmas season is coming soon. Join us for festivities in the 750 games on December 12 and 14. The unit party is Sunday December 3. The Friday night party is December 22. Mary Lou's Christmas pot luck is Monday December 18. The Oakhurst Bridge Club will have a Christmas party as well - check with Paul Mertens for the date and time. Top winners in Madera for October were again Larry and Gay Slates, followed by Everett Bondeson and Bob Mortimer. Denny Green still leads for 2006, with Morgan Johnson and Larry and Gay Slates right behind. Top master point winner for October at the Fresno Bridge Club was Bert Rettner, followed by Monique Irion and Barbara Thacker. nda Cardella. Wanda Cardella holds her lead for 2006, trailed by Steve Sharp and Anita Penny. Al Crane was the top 99er master point winner for October, followed by George Efthemon and Sue Gearhart. For players with under 100 master points, Roberta Beam still leads for 2006, with George Eftemon and Sue Gearhart close behind. Wow! It looks like all the club directors are getting their results on line in November. Check our website listed at the top of the newsletter. Click on game recaps under Current Issues in the middle of the page. Find your game in the calendar. We hope it's posted! LETTERS While standing in line waiting to pay my entry fee, I was talking to another player. One of the big point men came up and started talking to her. He said that she should play on the "other side," that you won't learn anything playing with the 299ers. There have been very few times that I have played on that side of the room that a team has acknowledged that me or my partner are even at the table let alone offering constructive comments on our play. I don't look forward to winning more than 299 points or being classified as a life master. I played at San Joaquin Country Club with a group of women from Dinuba, Reedley, and Visalia. The Fresno sectional was discussed. I was embarrassed as I was informed that, as A players, they were not warmly welcomed at the tables. This has happened before with Fresno players not introducing themselves or greeting them as they came to the various tables. They felt the atmosphere was very cold and they were considering not attending the Fresno sectionals again. We have been asked as B and C players to please support our sectional so that it may continue. I feel the club should make a very big effort to be courteous, warm and overly friendly to welcome all those who come to enjoy their day and support the Fresno club. It is unfortunate that we continue to have a reputation for unfriendliness. Greeting people or introducing yourself is one easy way to make each round friendly. If the ACBL president can introduce himself every round, certainly we can, too. We don't believe that there is a bridge etiquette book that says who is to start the greeting - anyone at the table can, and we hope one of the players at the table does. A smile helps, too. We heard a few reports of rude behavior at the tournament. Our director reminded everyone at the beginning of each session that zero tolerance was in effect, smiles on, cell phones off. If you observe rudeness, please do not hold it in until you can discuss it with your mentor later. Call the director, and let him stop the rudeness. He will. This also applies to club games. A few years ago all of the directors agreed that they would enforce zero tolerance. If rudeness is observed, call the director to get it stopped. That's the director's job. Long ago most clubs had mainly all open games. Old timers will tell you how they learned by playing against the better players. This is true because you have to play better and think harder to beat the better players, not because the better players are offering helpful comments. It also helps to observe how better players are playing the hands and occasionally getting an extra trick. Those who want comments will ask. If no one asks for your instructive comments, please do not offer them |
| WINNERS CIRCLE
October 15, 2006 - November 13, 2006 Fall Sectional Recaps Fall Sectional Overall Results UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP 1A Curtis Reeves - Gerard Laquerriere 2A Anita Penny - Bert Rettner 3A1B Hugh Miller - Barbara Thacker 2B David Shuster - Mark Stern 3B1C D Zody - Sandra Zovod 2C Judy Jessick - George Akel 1AB Jill Wood - Bill Wood 2A Della Schnell - John Schnell 3A2B M Mahaffey - Pat Delamontanya UNIT 299ER CHAMPIONSHIP ½A Howard Reed - Pat Simpson 1/2A1B William Coit - Marilyn Bokemeier 3A Al Crane - Sandy Richardson 2B John McGregor - Patrick Carroll NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS 1A Richard Meffley - James Tritt 2A Robert Durbrow - Shirley Blum 3A Jay Roll - Gerard Laquerriere 1B Paul Schommer - Robert Rouch Jr 2B William Glass - Bert Rettner 3B Andi Sigmund - Patricia Delamontanya CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Bert Rettner - William Glass 2 John Schnell - Della Schnell MADERA CHARITY 1AB Pearl McGinnis - Ruth Rowe 2A Judy Hecht - Denny Green 3A Everett Bondeson - Bob Mortimer 2B Dan Cartago - Dave Pfister SWISS TEAM CLUB APPRECIATION 1A Jay Roll - Shirley Blum - Richard Meffley - Suzanne Cederborg - Warren Cederborg 2A Gerard Laquerriere - Larry Cavanaugh - Bert Rettner - Curtis Reeves 3A1B James Sweet - Barbara Thacker - Jean Kesler - Ruth Christensen 2/4B Al Crane - Martha Franks - Martha Waller - Laura Neville 2/4B1/2C Annie Chiljian - Ginger Zumwalt - Pat Simpson - Barbara Taniguchi 2/4B1/2C Donald McCartin - Michael Molinari - Claire Molnar - Opal Chris Purves CLUB APPRECIATION 1/2A M Irion - Margaret Mahaffey 1/2A1B David Zealear - Diane Zealear 3A Anita Penny - Mary Lloyd 2B Carol Rodder - Margaret Seibert 1AB Laura Da Costa - Jill Wood 2AB Laura Neville - Jackie Noblat 3A Jane McCoy - Jim McKoane 3B Alan Hakes - Doris Frazer 1C Judy Nicholson - Dora Gostanian 2C Paul Boyd - Suzanne Graham 1 Gerard Laquerriere - Jay Roll 2 Mark Stern - Naguib Abdallah 1A Jay Roll - Jill Wood 2A Bert Rettner - Larry Cavanaugh 3A M Mahaffey - Carolyn Lofton 1B Jackie Noblat - Laura Neville 2B Villa Vejvoda - Bob Loudrmilk 3B Mary Lloyd - Dorothy Soles 1C Annie Chiljian - Olivia Stockton 2C Pauline Haase - Augie Paolercio 3C Mary Jo Davila - Dolores Parada |
MADERA CLUB APPRECIATION 1 Gay & Larry Slates 2 Everett Bondeson - Bob Mortimer 3 Judy Hecht - Virginia Hailey 750 CLUB APPRECIATION 1AB Kathleen Coit - Ina Yssels 2A Carol Miller - Vivian Betcher 3A2B George Efthemon - Alan Button BA1C Sue Gearhart - Dolores Beebe 2C John Oakshott - PeggyA Oakshott 3C Nadine Nemechek - Donna Berman 299ER CLUB APPRECIATION 1A Al Crane - Sandy Richardson 2A1BC William Coit - Marilyn Bokemeier 3A2BC John McGregor - Patrick Carroll 3/4B Mary Ann Clark - Beverly Little 3/4B Peter Fashing - David Brandl 750 CHAMPIONSHIP 1AB Howard Reed - Pat Simpson 2A Sydney Bluestone - William McCormick, Jr. 3A Paul Messner - Mary Jo Davila 2B Ina Yssels - Dolores Beebe 3B Susan Vildosola - Peter Weber 1C Marlene Frazier - Viola Berg 2C Angelina Heisdorf - Linda Sims 3C Sue Gearhart - Don Winton OAKHURST WINNERS Claire Molnar- Karen McCartin Wally Cucura- Paul Mertens Burke Zane- Mary-Gene Kriieghoff Karen McCartin- Paul Mertens Mike Molinari- Don McCartin Claire Molnar- Karen McCartin Burke Zane- Al Crane SPECIAL Belva Quattrin - Anita Penny Monique Irion - Bert Rettner Larry Cavanaugh - William Glass William Glass - Larry Cavanaugh David Zealear - Diane Zealear Della Schnell - Verlee O'Neill Kazue Iwatsubo - Monique Irion Jay Roll - Gerard Laquerriere Doris Frazer - Alan Hakes Wanda Cardella - Gerard Laquerriere Rick Betcher - Vivian Betcher[B] Vivian Betcher - Deni Glenn Boeve[B] Rose Boot - Kim Morris[B] Dolores Parada - Donny Graham[B] David Zealear - Diane Zealear[B] Diana Papazian - Margaret Giragosian[B] Muriel Trantham - Margaret Seibert[B] Margaret Seibert - Muriel Trantham[B] Howard Reed - Pat Simpson[C] Martha Waller - Donny Graham[C] Cynthia Dixon - Ted Macaulay[C] Mary Lloyd - Carol Miller[C] 750 SPECIAL John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott CJ McPike - Paul Messner Carol Miller - Pat Simpson John Peckler - Bill Frampton[B] Steve Sharp - Vivian Betcher CJ McPike - Annie Chiljian[B] Marlene McCready - Elaine J. Smith[C] Marlene Robinson - Marlene Frazier[C] 299ER SPECIAL Patrick Carroll - E. Ronn Heiner John Renna - Tina Renna |