American Contract Bridge League Unit 522 – Fresno, Inc.

A Non-profit Corporation Serving Fresno, Madera and Mariposa Counties

2415 East Clinton Avenue, Fresno, California 93703

March 4, 2007

DIRECTORS PRESENT: Richard Meffley, David Shuster, Mary Lou DaCosta, Paul Boyd, Kay Chrisman, Dora Gostanian, John Oakshott, Bert Rettner, Antia Penny

DIRECTORS NOT PRESENT: Margaret Mahaffey

RICHARD MEFFLEY called the meeting to order at 4:50 p. m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the February 6, 2007 meeting of the Board were unanimously approved as read.

TREASURER REPORT:

• Paul Boyd reported that the signature cards for the Bank accounts have been signed and filed Washington Mutual.
• Quick Book financial software has been installed and financial data is currently being inputted. As this step is incomplete, no financial reports are available at this time.
• Gross Income for the Winter Sectional is $1,409.16 after expenses for food supplies, kitchen help and ACBL fees. Yet to be determined are the table fees to be paid to the club.

SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE:

· Denver Butler, from Grubb & Ellis Commercial Real Estate, furnished the Board with site plans and floor plans for the property located at 2515 W. Shaw. Most Board members have already driven the property and looked at the outside of the building and agreed that this site would be within our price range and certainly serve our needs. Mary Jo Davila stated that she counted the availably parking adjacent to the building to be at one hundred (100) with more available in the close vicinity. A request to view the interior of the building was requested by all Directors and the date and time was set as 10:00 a. m. Wednesday morning, March 14, 2007.

· There was much discussion as to the affordability of the site and recommendations were made as to fund raising activities.

· The Board agreed to continue further discussions after viewing the interior of the building .

EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

Byron Steinert reported as the committee chairman.

· Advertising for the Beginning Bridge lessons is set to run in the Senior Living and the Local & State sections of the Fresno Bee for three consecutive weeks.

· Flyers are being printed and all members will be asked to distribute them throughout the community.

· It was agreed that any member who recruits a player for the first series of Beginning Bridge lessons will be given one free play at a Unit game for each paid recruit.

March 4, 2007 Minutes continues:

EDUCATION COMMITTEE continued:

· Paul Boyd reported that the telephone survey was proceeding and some valuable information has so far been obtained.

· It appears that there is a very real need for restricted games in the range of 0-50 masterpoints.

CLUBHOUSE:

CLUB GAMES

It was brought to the attention of the Board that a problem occurs when morning Club games run late and do not leave sufficient time for the set-up of the afternoon game.

DISCUSSION: ACBL sanctioned games are allowed playing time of 7.5 minutes per board. A three-board movement should take approximately twenty-three (23) minutes per round. A four-board movement should take approximately thirty (30) minutes per round. If the time clock is used and adhered to, the game should be completed within approximately three and a half (3 ½) hours. Multiply games on any given day are scheduled allowing for games to run 3 ½ hours. Additional time is given for scoring the game and clean up. What is important is that players are finished and vacating the tables and parking lot to accommodate the arrival of the afternoon players.

It was agreed that adhering to the allotted time frame was a requirement. It was also agreed that this would require strict attention by the Director and total cooperation of the players.

Therefore, the Board voted that the following rule would take effect immediately:

NO NEW ROUND MAY BE STARTED FORTY (40) MINUTES PRIOR TO THE START OF THE NEXT SCHEDULED GAME.

Example: If the next scheduled game starts at 1:00 p.m., the morning game may not start a new round after 12:20 p.m. A round that starts prior to the 12:20 p.m. cut off must be completed and the tables vacated by 12:45 p.m. The boards from any un-played rounds will be handled by the Director when scoring the game.

To Clarify, it is not required that players vacate the building, it is only required that players vacate the tables fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the next game. The Director may certainly have access to the computer after 12:45 p.m. and sufficient time for the normal clean-up duties that are required after the game. This allows fifteen (15) minutes for incoming players to sign-up at a table so the Director can determine the number of tables and movement for the start of the new game at 1:00 p.m.

OTHER:

It was brought to the attention of the Board that there are still many bidding box inserts that are in need of replacing. A year ago 40 new inserts were purchased and it was suggested that each year the bidding boxes should be cleaned and replacement inserts purchased if needed. The Board approved the purchase of an additional 40 inserts.

March 4, 2007 minutes continued:

SECTIONALS:

· The Fall Sectional is scheduled for November 4, 2007.

· The Winter Sectional is scheduled for February 8, 2008

· The Board approved an increase in pay for Caddies to $25 per session.

DISTRICT 21: Unit 522 is now part of District 21. The District’s NABC (national tournament) is scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving.

SUNDAY UNIT GAMES:

• There will be a Pro-Am Team game on Sunday April 15, 2007.
• Pro-Am Pairs game in April, to be announced.
• The annual Peggy Och Party is scheduled for May 6, 2007.

THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING WILL BE APRIL 1, 2007 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 p. m.

THE BOARD MEETING WAS CLOSED AT 6:35 p. m. TO BE REOPENED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007, DIRECTLY AFTER THE VIEWING OF THE BUILDING AT 2515 WEST SHAW AVENUE, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.