Daily Bulletin
The Daily Bulletin Editor must commit to preparing bulletins for the entire week of the tournament.
A suggested methodology with time frames is given below:
Before the Tournament
1. Design a flag for heading and to frame all the interior pages.
2. Prepare the entire playing schedule and send it to the TM or to DIC to okay.
3. Prepare the top of each day's page one, using the flag and the day's schedule. (The editor can make changes at the tournament in case of additions or deletions to schedule.)
4. Prepare four sheets of pages with the remaining "upcoming" schedules. (Wed thru Sun; Thur thru Sun; Fri thru Sun; Sat - Sun) Use either one of these or just the next day's schedule on the back page, depending on space available.
5. Prepare several bridge hands to use as filler.
6. Prepare a story on the next D22 regional to use as filler.
7. Preprint 25 page one flags and 100 framed pages for the interior.
8. Get as many stories as possible from the TM and/or hospitality and partnershp chairs. Keep one file named "Stories" and update it daily. Articles in the "Stories" file are:
Daily speakers (with photos, if available
Hospitality (daily and/or suite)
Section Top Awards/Registration
Notices of changes in playing areas
Partnershp Desk and hours
Photographer hours
New Life Masters
Parking terms and/or validations
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No smoking rules
Cell phone non-usage Volunteers and Chairpersons
Lists of Directors, Caddies, Volunteers, Chairpersons
Daily
Monday: No bulletin is necessary.
Tuesday: One or two sheets with the TM welcome letter on the front. Only news and schedule are necessary. The Charity Game results and KO brackets can be put in Wednesday's bulletin. This small bulletin should be done in advance and sent to Kinko's or to the TM to put out. No hotel room for editor is necessary.
Wed-Sat: These bulletins require an editor. A room is essential, but these could be done from home if the editor is proficient with e-mail publishing. However, this only leads to poor timing, late bulletins and errors.
Sunday: If on a 10:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. schedule, the editor should check out of his room Saturday and finish the final bulletin in the playing area to save a hotel night unless impossible or too late to drive home that evening.
Format
Small tournaments in the 1400-1600 range can easily be done on 8.5 x 11 paper. For larger tournaments use legal size.
First page is any color - different for each day, if possible. Other pages are white. Sunday's bulletin is all white.
Use a condensed font for the results; use 12 point for the stories and schedules. While using the condensed font creates a great savings to the tournament, it is not the best when working with Kinko's. It cannot be emailed to them; it must be printed out and delivered.
Content
Page one is the flag, today's schedule and announcements. Names of TM and Director are put above the day's schedule. On the final Sunday page one, there should be a thank you letter from the TM.
Page two is news.
Pages 3-7 are yesterday's events - each with their sections. Open Pairs comes first, followed by Senior Pairs, Side Games, I/N games, KO results, KO pairings –
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in that order. Single session Swiss Team results go wherever they fit near the KO's. The final page is upcoming schedule or the end of results and tomorrow's schedule. Bridge hands or feature stories go where they fit best.
Photos can be used if the editor is very proficient with a camera, with layout, and with dealing with Kinko's. Other than guest speakers or new Life Masters, or perhaps winners of the top flights, do not use winners' photos. It would cost too much in time and printing.
On the final two days, run a "Top Two Hundred" winners list.
Numbers
In medium tournaments (like Orange County) print 225-275 copies daily. In larger tournaments (San Diego and Palm Springs) print 325-350 daily. On Sundays, more than 100 copies at small tournaments is a waste; at medium tournaments, print no more than 150; and at large tournaments, no more than 200.
Kinko's
The TM and/or bulletin editor must negotiate time and money with a nearby Kinko's. Some are open 24 hours, some are not. Some have different hours on weekends. Prices vary. An organization can get an annual Kinko's contract below open rates, but one can do better with individual negotiations. All Kinko's offer free delivery, but to ensure having the bulletins ready before game time, it might be better to sit and wait for them to be printed.
Timing
Bulletins that arrive after the games have begun are worthless. The most important thing is to have a clean, neat bulletin waiting for the players when they arrive. Plan to have them there by 8:00 AM if games start at 9:00, and at 8:30 if games start at 10:00.
Purpose
The bulletin is a tournament vehicle only. To use rambling stories about the local clubs, local zoo, local bars is a waste. Players just need to know what is happening at the tournament.
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Daily Bulletin Editor Contract
In exchange for a comped hotel room Tuesday through Saturday nights, and a small monetary stipend of _____________, the undersigned commits to produce and have printed the daily bulletins for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday games.
If, on any day, the bulletin is late in being delivered, the editor may be docked the monetary stipend and/or the cost of the hotel room depending upon the lateness of the delivery.
If, on any day, the bulletin is not produced at all, the editor will be docked both the monetary stipend and the cost of the hotel room, and will not be retained for any regionals in the future.
In agreement:
__________________________ ____________________________
Daily Bulletin Editor Tournament Manager
__________________________ ____________________________
Printed Name Printed Name
__________________________ ____________________________
Date Date