DISTRICT 24 NEWS ... Alvin Levy November 1998
following ORLANDO 1998 Fall NABC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
District Players Dominate NABC+ Events
Masterpoint Awards for Online Bridge
World Computer Bridge Championships
New Unit Responsibilities & Incentives
New Fees for Unpaid Life Masters
Increased Dues and Sanction Fees
Experimental Appeals Process at NABCs
ORLANDO - a great NABC site
Orlando in the fall was ideal, as expected, with the temperature between 70 and 84 all day, every day. Those who took a break from bridge experienced some great golf courses, Disney World, fine restaurants, and high-end shopping outlets. The bridge facilities were equally excellent, with spacious playing conditions in the Peabody Hotel and adjacent Convention Center. Orlando is truly a great NABC site, and the fall 2004 NABC will return to the Peabody Hotel, with all the playing space within a greatly expanded hotel.
The organizers put on a good show with nightly entertainment and food, free coffee and orange juice every morning and coffee every evening, nice registration gifts and helpful and cheerful volunteers.
Considering the fine site and excellent bridge amenities, attendance was a disappointing 12,035 tables. Orlando 1992 still holds the record for a fall NABC at 14,980 tables. go to top
District Players dominate NABC+ Events
District 24 players continued their tradition of NABC+ wins and high finishes. It is only fitting that we dominated the fall NABC+ events as many of the trophies had their origin with the GNYBA (at a time when the District had only one Unit).
Richard Schwartz placed 2nd and Adam Wildavsky 3rd in the Life Master Open Pairs. High finishers in the Life Master Women's Pairs were Laurie Vogel - Gail Greenberg, 6th, and Sylvia Moss - Judi Radin, 7th.
Vying for the Victor Mitchell Trophy, which honors one of bridge's and NY's most colorful characters, it was only fitting that our District players dominated the Open Board-a-Match Teams. A big win for Brad Moss. Nick Nickell was on the 2nd place team, Alan Sontag finishing 3rd (reunited with Peter Weichsel), Jimmy Cayne - David Berkowitz - Larry Cohen, 4th, Bjorn Fallenius - Michael Moss, 6th, and Zia tied for 7/8.
Also in the winner's circle were Judi Radin - Sylvia Moss, who won the Women's Board-a-Match Teams. Susan Wexler - Margie Gwozdzinsky were 2nd.
Another triumph as Zia won The Blue Ribbon Pairs, and with it the Cavendish Trophy, donated by the Cavendish Club in 1928. Robert Blanchard - Jim Krekorian finished 3rd.
In the Senior K/O Teams Alan Truscott was on a 3/4 team and I finished 5/8, playing with Jerry Levine.
The prestigious Reisinger Memorial Trophy, donated by the GNYBA in 1965, was the prize for winning the Reisinger Board-a-Match Teams. Another fine showing by District 24 players as Alan Sontag was on the second place team. Other top District finishers were Zia, 4th, Nick Nickell, 5th, Chris Willenken, 6th, Adam Wildavsky - Robb Gordon, 8th, and Richard Schwartz, 10th.
Janet and Mel Colchamiro finished 7th in the North American Swiss Teams. Congratulations to all our District high finishers and sympathy to all those who just missed. go to top
Masterpoint Awards for Online Bridge
Masterpoint awards for online Internet play have been revised to allow unlimited accumulation of points won on the net. These points (net points, or some similar name to be determined at a later time) will count towards a player's mp total with certain limitations. Only 100 will count towards the rank of LM and none will count towards any mp races, except possibility a separate 'net point' race.
For an online game to be sanctioned by the ACBL fifteen conditions must be met, including, having a Tournament Director, recording each player's bids and plays, and policing all accusations of ethical improprieties and reporting them to the ACBL recorder.
Uniform rules and regulations will be developed for online bridge, including addressing accusations of ethical improprieties.
Currently, the only sanctioned games being considered are unrestricted open club games, with a top award of 1.5 mps. OKbridge has a sanctioned game once a week and the Microsoft Gaming Zone is expected to apply for one early next year. Other online bridge providers, such as AOL and Yahoo, may also be interested in applying for sanctioned online play.
There has been a controversy over online Internet bridge and the awarding of masterpoints. Those speaking against the ACBL getting involved with online bridge and the awarding of mps warn of the ease of cheating, the devaluation of mps, and the threat against face-to-face bridge clubs.
Those speaking for this activity… Well, as one of the leading proponents for a strong Internet presence let me take a few lines of print to make the case for online bridge. I chair an ACBL Advisory Committee whose purpose is to advise the Board of Directors on bridge and promotional activities related to the Internet and computers. Members of the committee are Chip Martel, Robert Blanchard, Matt Clegg, Fred Gitelman, and Kent Burghard. Our new CEO, David Silber, also attends our meetings. One of our focuses has been on the Internet and online bridge.
Selected comments from the committee's report to the Board of Directors follows.
The Internet and Online Bridge
The Internet is a new an exciting mass-communication medium in which the game of bridge can be brought to the masses, popularized, taught, and played.
There will be many Internet sites that offer bridge activities. OKbridge, Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone, AOL, Yahoo, and others, already offer online bridge games, teaching, and related bridge information. With millions of subscribers to these Internet servers there is a great opportunity to promote bridge and the ACBL. By forming an association with these servers/providers the ACBL can remain at the center of bridge activities. The benefits will include increased membership, greater revenue, and remaining the governing body for bridge in North America.
The ACBL should use the Internet to: (1) promote and publicize bridge to the general public; (2) become the center of bridge information; (3) keep track of various mp and netpoint awards, as well as a new rating system; (4) offer Internet membership (inexpensive or free) that provides tracking of Internet points (net points), player ratings (new rating system), current bridge news, and updated information on online and face-to-face bridge activities; and (5) become recognized as the governing body for online bridge.
Through the exposure that these activities will bring there will be many opportunities to increase membership, recruit younger members, obtain major sponsorship for face-to-face bridge activities, and increase revenue from Internet advertising and online sanction fees.
These Internet providers would have a stake in promoting bridge and forming an association with the ACBL if they believed that it would add value for their subscribers. To assure that belief we must offer the following: credibility as the Ruling and Governing Body for Bridge (developing rules and regulations for online play is underway); support for online bridge which must include a direct link to our mp system as mps are perceived as having great value to their subscribers (approved by the Board but limited to 1.5 mps and many limitations); a homepage that offers information and give-aways (currently being developed); and the recorder of netpoints, ratings (to be developed), and ethical records (approved by the Board).
Online bridge is already popular and will be developed further with or without our support. If we resist online bridge we may lose a wonderful opportunity to promote our game and our organization. If we support online bridge, we will have an opportunity to capture an ever-increasing market of new players, increase our membership and revenue, and further increase the popularity of face-to-face activities.
Many supporters for these activities have come forth, including club owners, the Board of Directors, ACBL management, and outside advisors. go to top
World Computer Bridge Championships
Through my negotiations with the World Bridge Federation and the American Contract Bridge League, the next World Computer Bridge Championships will be held at the January 2000 Bermuda Bowl. The WBF and ACBL will co-host this event and I will coordinate and run it. This year's Championships, held at the summer's NABC in Chicago and sponsored by Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies and OKbridge, was won by the GIB program. See the August Post-Mortem and the November ACBL Bridge Bulletin for a complete write-up. go to top
Masterpoint System Revisited
Our system of rating players through the accumulation of masterpoints has been reviewed and enhanced, with the many changes going into effect starting January 1, 1999. At the summer NABC in Chicago the masterpoint awards were altered to better match the magnitude of awards with the degree of difficulty of the events. At this Board meeting the requirements for the various Life Master rankings were altered, and new rankings and types of masterpoints were added.
To attain the rank of Life Master a new player must 300 masterpoints, which must include 50 black points, 50 silver points, 25 gold points, and an additional 25 gold or red points. The new black point can only be won at club games, while silver points can only be won at Sectionals. This is an attempt to allow clubs to better compete with Tournament and online bridge events.
Another new 'pigmented' masterpoint has been added - platinum points. These points can be won at NABC+ events, including the three Senior and various Women's championships, as well as all NABC+ events that currently count towards the Player of the Year title. Junior, Flight B or other restricted events are not included.
A new designation of Expert has been added to the current Life Master rankings. For example, the requirement for Expert Life Master will include the basic requirements for Life Master but will also include 100 gold points, one Ribbon qualification, and one unrestricted Sectional win. The designation of Expert has been added to the other Life Master rankings, including, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond Life Master. As an example the rank of Expert Silver Life Master will require 750 masterpoints including 150 gold points, 5 platinum points, 3 Ribbon qualifications, and one unrestricted Regional win. Past performances will count towards these new designations. Electronic records going back to 1990 will be used to upgrade player's records for the purpose of meeting minimum qualifications for Expert rankings.
A committee is exploring the possibility of introducing a Player Rating System, similar to that used in chess, which will reflect a player's performance based on the ability of the field. go to top
Club Enhancements
In order to increase the competitiveness of face-to-face clubs a number of issues were addressed. Besides the new LM requirement of 50 black points, which can only be won at face-to-face club games, October is designated as an ACBL club recognition month. During October clubs may hold up to three Unit rated games, but no more than the number of sanctioned sessions per week. So a club that meets once a week can hold one Unit rated game during the month of October. Sanction fees will be the same as for a regular club game. All cash awards limitations at club games were rescinded. go to top
New Unit Responsibilities & Incentives
The ACBL will implement a cooperative marketing program meant to help initiate and retain membership. Units will be required to perform certain tasks to receive their Unit rebate, and will have a chance to increase their rebates based on the future change in their membership. Our Unit Boards already are very conscientious in attempting to recruit and retain members and will have no problem complying with the new responsibilities (which may include welcoming new members and contacting members who did not revenue their membership). In addition our Units may easily qualify for added rebates based on their membership retention record. go to top
New Fees for Unpaid Life Masters
Starting with the San Antonio summer 1999 NABC, entry fees for all non-members and unpaid LMs will be $1.00 per player per session higher than for ACBL members and LMs who have paid their service fees. Charity events and events limited to players with less than 20 mps are exempt. For all Sectionals and Regionals beginning after July 1999, the sponsoring organization is urged to also charge at least the above mentioned increased fees at Regionals and at least $0.50 at Sectionals. The sponsoring organization can keep the added entry fees without paying an increased sanction fee, but if they do not charge these fees they must remit $0.50 for each session played by a non-member or unpaid LM. go to top
Increased Dues and Sanction Fees
Effective July 1, 1999, membership dues and LM service charges will increase $2.00 (1994 was last increase). Effective April 1, 1999, club sanction fees will increase from $.50/table to $.60/table (last increase was in 1989). Sectional ($2.60/table) and Regional ($3.70) sanction fees remain the same. go to top
Co-Op Funds for Advertising
Funds, limited to 50% of the cost up to $250, are available to Units, clubs, bridge teachers, etc., for advertising. Eligible media are radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, direct mail, and flyers. Advertisements must meet certain specifications. Check with ACBL's Jean Patterson at 901-332-5586, Ext. 295. go to top
Bridge an Olympic Sport
The WBF is making a major effort to make bridge part of the Winter Olympic Games. The International Olympics Committee held an Olympic Grand Prix bridge tournament at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, this September. The event was a great success, with the US team taking the bronze medal. There appears to be major support from the IOC to include bridge into the Winter Olympics as early as 2006, after being a demonstration sport at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002. go to top
Experimental Appeals Process at NABCs
On an experimental basis, Tournament Directors will handle all appeals from all events except NABC+ events at the next two NABCs, Vancouver in the spring and San Antonio in the summer. The exact procedures are currently being developed. NABC+ events will use the current Appeals Committee process. This experiment will be reviewed for future use. Under Law 80 Sponsoring Organizations are empowered to have an appeals process. Under Law 93 sponsoring organizations can defer the appeals process to the Chief Tournament Director. At NABCs, the ACBL is the sponsoring organization and has chosen to defer to the Directors. At a Regional, the sponsoring organization can also defer to the Chief TD. go to top
Spring 1999 Vancouver NABC
The next NABC will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, March 18-28, 1999, at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (VTCC). The main hotels are the adjacent Pan Pacific Hotel and the connected Waterfront Centre Hotel. The U.S. dollar is very strong against the Canadian dollar so hotel and food prices will appear even more attractive than they usual do. The scenic views, nearby sites, and beautiful city should offer a treat to the bridge players who want to take advantage of their non-playing time. Even though not usually necessary, it is advisable to take along a valid passport or original birth certificate. In any case take a valid US ID, such as an auto license. Check the Bridge Bulletin for travel arrangements, and reserve early. go to top
District News
Collectively, District 24 bridge clubs have more success then clubs in any other District. With the most clubs in the top 20 based on ACBL sanctioned games, and the number 1 club in the league, Honors. So it's no surprise that our District was the most successful in club attendance for the qualifying stage of the North American pairs. Players who finished 1st and 2nd in each Flight (A, B, and C) received an ACBL subsidy to attend the NAOP finals, to be held at the NABC in Vancouver. In addition, because we had the highest table count per member in Flights A & C, we are entitled to have our Flight A & C third place finishers attend the NAOP finals and receive an ACBL subsidy as the 'at-large' pair. Nationally, there was one award for Flight A and two awards for Flights B & C. District 24 was singled out as having the best District performance.
It is always a pleasure to announce the District's permanent appointments to the ACBL Goodwill Committee. They represent all those who give so much to our game. This year's appointments are Joan Dziekanski, Jim Schneider, John Solodar, and Adam Wildavsky. Also two members are chosen as lifetime members of the ACBL Charity Committee. This year's selections are Art Brodsky and Gail Greenberg. On behalf of a very proud District, congratulations to this year's recipients and thanks for representing everything positive about our game.
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Alvin Levy
22 Hamlet Drive
Commack, NY 11725
516-858-9225
allevy@aol.com
