District 24 Newsletter
Alvin Levy
volume 2004.2
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 NYCs 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.
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 (
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.
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
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.
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
In an article that appeared in the Daily News on July 12th, Rose and Dom Gargiulo and Carol Mathews were interviewed and related their teaching some of their experiences in teaching bridge to 4th through 6th 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.
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/
With the NABC in NYC we expect many more high finishers then ever. We were not disappointed.
Roy Welland Bjorn Fallenius Zia Mahmood Robert Levin Steve Weinstein Michael Rosenberg, 5/8th
Ryan Connors Mark Dean Daniel Wilderman Helena McGahagan, 2nd
Marvin Levine Robert Frick, 1st; Mel Messing, 8th; Joan Lewis, 9th; Helene Greenberg Martin Greenberg, 11th; Kevin Casey Robert Verthelyi, 15th; Robert Christman Charles Greeley, 18th; Joel Salinger, 20th
Henry Meyer, 1st ; Jane Dillenberg Jerry Goldberg, 2nd; Anna Bromberg Paul Klarreich,4th ; Kelley Hwang, 7th; Bruce Neiger, 10th; Robert Russell Gary Russell 12th; Robert Karlan Gary Paston 13th; Alvin Zuckerman Max Brimberg, 14th; Ted Newman Otto Adamec, 17th;Karen Ewald Naomi Klosner, 19th
Life Master Pairs
Zia Mahmood, 1st; Michael Rosenberg, 3rd; John Fout, 7th; John Diamond, 11th; David Berkowitz Larry Cohen, 13th; Sam Lev, 14th; Glenn Milgim Chris Willenken 18th; Victor Melman 20th
Ira Rubin 2nd; Ruth Stober Keith Garber, 3rd; Henry Meyer, 10th; Gary Paston Jack Harris Robert Karlan Stephen Gilbert, 16th; George Perry Lew Walter Stanley Roth, 20th
John Fout, 9th; Michael Kopera Jeff Aker, 11th; Andrew Rosenthal David Moss, 15th
Jill Levin Sue Picus Debbie Rosenberg, 2nd; Valerie Westeimer Judi Radin, 3/4th; Lynne Tarnopol Laurie Vogel Jacqui Mitchell Amalya Kearse Gail Greenberg, 5/8th
Doris Banks Christine Woodring Paul Lenoble Lew Kroll, 2nd; Emile Heredia Terry Oleske Laura Tolkow Eva Graczyk, 5/8th
Eric Hochman Eric Mock Joan Dziekanski Jeff
Bayone Alvin Levy Alan Goldman; 5/8th; Robert Gordon
Peter Bisgeier Simon Erlich Samuel Ehrlichman, 5/8th; Nancy
Kalow Jane Dillenberg Burton Lipsky, 5/8th; Alan Lechner,
5/8th
Nick Nickell, 1st (Nick is an unofficial member of District 24 but officially a member of District 7); Warren Spector Mark Feldman, 2nd; Christal Henner-Welland 3/4th; James Cayne Robert Levin Steve Weinstein, 5/8th; Michael Moss Jim Krekorian 5/8th; Roy Welland Bjorn Fallenius Zia Mahmood Michael Rosenberg, 9/16th; Richard Schwartz Larry Cohen David Berkowitz, 9/16th; Sam Lev 9/16th
Margie Gwozdzinsky Larry Cohen Richard Schwartz
Lisa Berkowitz David Berkowitz, 4th; Janet Colchimaro
Mel Colchimaro, 10th; Leslie Paryzer Ira Herman Robb Gordon
Linda Gordon, 14th; Winthrop Allegaert Judith Bianco, 16th;
Riva Akerman Elliot Sternlicht, 19th ; Debbie Rosenberg
Michael Rosenberg, 20th
Peter Weiden, 1st;
Adam Wildavsky, 2nd; James Rosenbloom, 4th; John Fout, 8th
Total membership of 168,000 is up approximately 1,000 from last year. This includes 17,500 non-dues paying Life Masters.
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.
With the U.S. State Department lifting the travel alert
against
Chuck
Wilkinson (District 10) was elected ACBL President for 2005.
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.
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 26th 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
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