District 24 Newsletter     Alvin Levy      volume 2004.2
Published after each NABC

New York City NABC – A special NABC with “unexpected” Attendance

The table count of 13, 351 was 2,500 above original estimates of 10,800.  This was probably the most under-estimated NABC ever.  It was surely the most under-rated NABC ever, with a wait of 30 years due to unfounded fears that out-of-towners would keep away because of the high hotel rates and locals would keep away because of traffic and high parking rates.

For many out-of-towners this was a major treat, playing in an NABC and taking advantage of NYC’s great attractions and restaurants.  For many locals this was a chance to attend an NABC in their backyard, and attend they did.  Of the 7,400 players at this NABC slightly more than half were from Districts 24 (30%) and 3 (21.5%).  One-third of the 6400 members of District 24 attended this NABC!

The Hilton New York had all the requirements for a good NABC.  The playing space was in one Hotel (compared to a Convention Center or multi-hotel sites) and many convenient and diversified good restaurants, at every price range, within walking distance.

Problems:
The playing space was ample and generally comfortable.  However, not all was perfect.  Poor lighting in spots and extreme temperatures at times marred some of the playing space, notably the Americas I and II.  On the last Sunday playing space was cramped as attendance was greater than expected and the playing space was limited due to another hotel convention.  There could have been more strategically placed food service stations.  Players had to go to the third floor food station for coffee during the games.  For many players on the second floor, the food station of the third floor was inconvenient.

The hosts Districts, 3 and 24, raised considerable funds, $13 per table above the $9 per table supplied by the ACBL.  This allowed the hosts to give the players the best show in town, that included high quality after-game food and entertainment.  "Bridge to Broadway," produced and directed by Augie Boehm, will go down as a classic and may be the best bridge show ever produced.

The added funds were also used to subsidize parking that included nearby long-term parking at $10/day and short-term parking at $15/day.  Our visitors used 750 long-term nights and 1,000 short-term days.  These arrangements solved the problem of expensive parking and were greatly appreciated by the players who used them.

Many visitors took advantage of the great entertainment and attractions that NYC has to offer.  While most toured NYC on their own, there were 11 subsidized tours offered by our Hospitality Committee.  These included some of the best attraction in the city: the best seats in the house at two Broadway shows ( Chicago and 42^nd Street ); tours of Radio City Music Hall , the United Nations, Ellis Island , Greenwich Village and Rockefeller Center ; a visit to the Hayden Planetarium and Museum of Natural History ; and a Yankee game.  In addition, some attended the making of the TV show Regis and Kelley.  230 people took advantage of these tours, with the most popular being the two Broadway shows and the Yankee game.

With every big plus in the book and arguably one of the best NABCs ever, there is no reason that NYC should have to wait another 30 years for an NABC.  Unfortunately the next open summer NABC is in 2013.

Hall of Fame adds five New Yorkers

Five great New Yorkers were inducted into the Bridge Hall of Fame at Hall of Fame reception that kicks off the summer NABC.  Peter Weichsel, originally from New York , was induced in his first year of eligibility.  New Yorkers Jimmy Maier and Harold Harkavy, stars from many years ago, were induced as recipients of the von Zedtwitz Award.  New Yorkers Amalya Kearse and Jeff Rubens were inducted as recipients of the Blackwood Award for their contribution to the game.

Goodwill Honors four New Yorkers

Four outstanding District 3 and District 24 personalities who were actively working at the last NYC NABC in 1974 were honored at the Goodwill reception.  Aileen Osofsky, as chair, honored Leonard Harmon, Joan Gerard, Gail Greenberg and Alan Truscott.  At the start of the reception Aileen introduced me as Mr. New York and I, in turn, congratulated all the many Goodwill New Yorkers in attendance as well as saluted New York City, one of the greatest cities in the world and, for many, the city that hosted one of the most memorable NABCs in recent history.

Junior events throughout NABC

It was a big tournament for junior players, which included the North American College Bridge Team Championship, the Stratified Junior Scholarship Game, the USA Junior Team Trials and the World Junior Individual Championships.  This was followed by the world Junior Camp at Nyack College following the NABC.  Jose Damiani, president of the World Bridge Federation, was on hand to oversee all the WBF Junior activities, as well as to address the Board of Governors on the first Sunday.  Joan Gerard, with all her duties as District 3 Director co-host of the NABC, found time to help make all the junior arrangements.

Bridge in our Schools

In an article that appeared in the Daily News on July 12^th, Rose and Dom Gargiulo and Carol Mathews were interviewed and related their teaching some of their experiences in teaching bridge to 4^th through 6^th graders.  In the Monday, July 12 Daily Bulletin, Saundra Jones was written about for her after-school bridge programs at a middle school in Queens. Many of her students were in attendance and played in the Bridge Plus games.

ACBL’s World Computer-Bridge Championship, VIII

The eighth annual world computer-bridge championship was held during the NYC NABC from July 13-17.  The top eight “robots” from around the world competed in this five-day event.  Jack (The Netherlands) developed by Hans Kuijf, won the title for the fourth year in a row. For results, go to www.ny-bridge.com/allevy/computerbridge/

District 24 winners of NABC+ events

With the NABC in NYC we expect many more high finishers then ever.  We were not disappointed.

Grand National Teams Championship

Roy Welland – Bjorn Fallenius – Zia Mahmood – Robert Levin – Steve Weinstein – Michael Rosenberg, 5/8^th

Grand National Teams Flight C

Ryan Connors – Mark Dean – Daniel Wilderman – Helena McGahagan, 2^nd

Life Master 0-1500

Marvin Levine – Robert Frick, 1^st; Mel Messing, 8^th; Joan Lewis, 9^th; Helene Greenberg – Martin Greenberg, 11^th; Kevin Casey – Robert Verthelyi, 15^th; Robert Christman – Charles Greeley, 18^th; Joel Salinger, 20^th

Life Master 0-5000

Henry Meyer, 1^st ; Jane Dillenberg – Jerry Goldberg, 2^nd; Anna Bromberg – Paul Klarreich,4^th ; Kelley Hwang, 7^th; Bruce Neiger, 10^th; Robert Russell – Gary Russell 12^th; Robert Karlan – Gary Paston 13^th; Alvin Zuckerman – Max Brimberg, 14^th; Ted Newman – Otto Adamec, 17^th;Karen Ewald – Naomi Klosner, 19^th

Life Master Pairs

Zia Mahmood, 1^st; Michael Rosenberg, 3^rd; John Fout, 7^th; John Diamond, 11^th; David Berkowitz – Larry Cohen, 13^th; Sam Lev, 14^th; Glenn Milgim – Chris Willenken 18^th; Victor Melman 20^th

Senior Swiss Teams

Ira Rubin 2^nd; Ruth Stober – Keith Garber, 3^rd; Henry Meyer, 10^th; Gary Paston – Jack Harris – Robert Karlan – Stephen Gilbert, 16^th; George Perry – Lew Walter – Stanley Roth, 20^th

IMP Pairs

John Fout, 9^th; Michael Kopera – Jeff Aker, 11^th; Andrew Rosenthal – David Moss, 15^th

Wager Women’s KO Teams

Jill Levin – Sue Picus – Debbie Rosenberg, 2^nd; Valerie Westeimer – Judi Radin, 3/4^th; Lynne Tarnopol – Laurie Vogel – Jacqui Mitchell – Amalya Kearse – Gail Greenberg, 5/8^th

Mini-Spingold KO Teams, 0-1500

Doris Banks – Christine Woodring – Paul Lenoble – Lew Kroll, 2^nd; Emile Heredia – Terry Oleske – Laura Tolkow – Eva Graczyk, 5/8^th

Mini-Spingold KO Teams, 0-5000

Eric Hochman – Eric Mock – Joan Dziekanski – Jeff Bayone – Alvin Levy – Alan Goldman; 5/8^th; Robert Gordon – Peter Bisgeier – Simon Erlich – Samuel Ehrlichman, 5/8^th; Nancy Kalow – Jane Dillenberg – Burton Lipsky, 5/8^th; Alan Lechner, 5/8^th

Spingold KO Teams

Nick Nickell, 1^st (Nick is an “unofficial” member of District 24 but officially a member of District 7); Warren Spector – Mark Feldman, 2^nd; Christal Henner-Welland 3/4^th; James Cayne – Robert Levin – Steve Weinstein, 5/8^th; Michael Moss – Jim Krekorian 5/8^th; Roy Welland – Bjorn Fallenius – Zia Mahmood – Michael Rosenberg, 9/16^th; Richard Schwartz – Larry Cohen – David Berkowitz, 9/16^th; Sam Lev 9/16^th

Mixed Board-A Match Teams

Margie Gwozdzinsky – Larry Cohen – Richard Schwartz – Lisa Berkowitz – David Berkowitz, 4^th; Janet Colchimaro – Mel Colchimaro, 10^th; Leslie Paryzer – Ira Herman – Robb Gordon – Linda Gordon, 14^th; Winthrop Allegaert – Judith Bianco, 16^th; Riva Akerman – Elliot Sternlicht, 19^th ; Debbie Rosenberg – Michael Rosenberg, 20^th

Fast Pairs

Peter Weiden, 1^st; Adam Wildavsky, 2^nd; James Rosenbloom, 4^th; John Fout, 8^th

Membership

Total membership of 168,000 is up approximately 1,000 from last year.  This includes 17,500 non-dues paying Life Masters.

Financial Snapshot

The net assets of the ACBL at the end of 2003 were $7,382,000, compared to $7,150,000 at the start of 2004.  With the success of the NYC NABC, net assets should be higher.

Istanbul as the site of the 2004 WBF Olympiad

With the U.S. State Department lifting the travel alert against Turkey on March 22, the USBF has voted to send teams to the 2004 championships in Istanbul .

Board Actions

2005 ACBL President

Chuck Wilkinson (District 10) was elected ACBL President for 2005.

Membership Dues and service fees

All categories of dues will be increased by $3.00, excluding: Patron membership dues that will be raised from $200 to $250 for an individual and from $250 to $350 for a household of two along with some changes in benefits; Youth dues that will remain at $5.00; and Junior dues that will be raised from $12.75 to $14.

Life Master Categories

Two additional Life Master categories were added.  Emerald LM with 7,500 masterpoints and Platinum LM with 10,000 Masterpoints.

Lower Junior Entry Fees at NABCs
At all NABCs, the entry fee for all players who have not yet reached their 16th birthday shall be $1 per session except for NABC+ surcharged events.

At all NABCs the entry fee for ACBL members in good standing who have not reached their 26^th birthday shall be no more than 50% of the Regional-rated event entry fee.

The ACBL encourages all districts, units, and bridge clubs to consider similar policies for their regional tournaments, sectional tournaments and club games.

Special Games at Clubs

Special club games will take effect January 1, 2005 .  February will remain Junior Fund month, and April will become Charity month and September will become International month.  In other months (other than February, April, and September) clubs can hold as many of special games (Junior, Charity or International) as they want to.

 

The ACBL fee is $4/table ($1/player).  The masterpoint award , every club game may be designated as a Junior, Charity, or International game.  The masterpoint award is approximately 2.75 times that of a regular club game.

 

For more great bridge, don't miss the next NABC in Orlando, Florida, November 18-28, 2004 www.acbl.org/nabc/Orlando2004/index.html