Welcome to San Diego - The Fall 2009 NABC 

By Ken Monzingo 

NABC Co-Chairman 

I quote the San Diego Union-Tribune, our major newspaper, often. They run good surveys on our city, and recently identified San Diego as the number two tourist venue in the U.S. - second only to Honolulu. So, fifteen years after the last NABC was here, the league has finally scheduled the Fall (Thanksgiving week) North American Bridge Championships at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, November 26-December 6, 2009. I don’t think they read the same surveys! 

November 2009 is a little more than three years away, but in terms of preparation, it’s around the corner. Chairman Jim Kirkham and Co-Chairman Ken are recovering from major surgeries, but we’re both doing well now. We each thank you all so much for your support and caring, but now it’s time to get back to work. Especially when we have a National coming to town! 

We’ve been involved in these NABCs for the past 15-20 years and two things remain constant: we need quality volunteers, willing to work as our team, and we need some corporate sponsorship to put on a good show. The latter is on the front burner now. If you have influence with any major Southern California airline (Southwest), Verizon (Cingular, Sprint or other), banks, casinos, amusement parks or a myriad of other potential sponsors, we need your help now. Anyone wanting to be identified with this National is a potential. The areas of sponsorship range from as little as naming a game after the donor to full image partnership with logo identity, Daily Bulletin stories, display booths in the hotel playing area, etc. We’ll find a great spot for any company, organization or person willing to contribute $2,000-$50,000. 

Contact me or Jim if you believe you can help in this area. 

The NABC volunteer committees will be separated into several areas of responsibility. The foundation has been laid. Jim, as our leader, will oversee the operation and handle the delicate dealings with the league head office and the ACBL Board. My responsibilities will be to organize the committees, assign working requirements and oversee all. Ed Layton will be assisting me here. Fran and Linda Foresta have consented to do the very important job of finance (treasurer, etc.). Committees being formed are for Fund Raising, Special Events, Entertainment, Tours, Registration, Partnership, Publicity, Prizes, Volunteers, Web Page maintenance, Hospitality, I/N Events and Promotion.  

Your District 22 Forum editor, Joel Hoersch, is assembling a squad of singers and actors from the bridge world to perform on-stage in original material that marries the quirky side of bridge with numerous hilarious spoofs on famous literature and music from past ages. A “Mission Impossible?” Don’t bet against it; and if you have some on-stage talents - whether delivering “Prince Hammanlet’s Soliloquy,” or perhaps singing a la the Stiff-Kingston Trio about “Worried Man Bridge Blues” or “Hang Down Your Head, Tom Foolery,” let Joel know; he may be desperate for just the kind of performance you can deliver. 

In addition to Ed, Joel and the Forestas, other volunteer committee chairs and members will be Teri Atkinson, Bonnie Bagley, Letha Couch, Ann Cressman, Shirley Eide, Debbie & Alan Gailfus, Liz Garber, Bill Grant, Ron & Mary Huffaker, Corinne Kirkham, Alice Leicht, Rob & Dorinda Lindvall, Laura Loring, Lynne Newman, Anna Robison, Marty Roth, Linda Trent, Jan Wickersham, Audrey Wicks, and Toshi Yingst. 

That’s a great group of wonderful people, but there’s need and room for more. Contact myself or Jim at the following: 

JimKirkham@aol.com Phone: 909 425-0259 

KenM@KenMonzingo.com Phone: 619 220-0209 

P.S. from Jim Kirkham 

Ken is right about needing plenty of volunteers; most of those jobs will not involve a lot of your time until the beginning of 2009, but we need your commitment and interest now. 

The tournament sponsorship is everyone’s job. That is most important if we are going to have the capital to provide quality hospitality. We want to show the bridge world that San Diego is the best city in the ACBL and a great North American Bridge Championship is the way to do it. Other NABCs have raised as much as $250,000 for hospitality, we want to do at least that well here. A major sponsor might provide as much as half that amount if we get to the right person with the right kind of presentation. 

Your help is very important to assist us finding the right contact in the right company. We will do the leg work. There are many very rich companies in San Diego, and we can do a lot of promotion for them in return for their sponsorship of our NABC. 

 Please help us.