DISTRICT 24 Newsletter Alvin Levy 2009

DISTRICT 24 Newsletter Alvin Levy, District Director 2010.3
published after each NABC

World Bridge Series Championships
Philadelphia, October 1-16, 2010

Many New Yorkers attended. The opening ceremony and banquet opened the games, with the mayor of Philadelphia present to welcome the players. The closing awards ceremony and banquet was very well attended and very well done. These banquets were free to all who played in any event.

All the world championship bridge events used screens. Everyone played the same deals at the same time, allowing players to discuss hands without revealing any information. Electronic display screens were visible in many areas to see the day’s leaders and special announcements. The players were given their score sheet at the end of each session. Vugraph shows were held in a comfortable auditorium, with multiple tables visible, and with expert commentary. There were great restaurants nearby and an excellent food court/market a short walk from the playing area. Regional events were held at the same time, and many players took advantage of this, including players who were eliminated from the main events. On the downside, attendance was below expectations and it was not a financial success. There was confusion at times as some starting times changed at the last moment due to unforeseen problems. All in all, it was a happening and rewarding to all who attended, especially the newly crowned world champions.

USA took most of the medals

All the events were transnational, that is, nationalities could be mixed in all the events. USA players took gold in all the world championship events except the McConnell Cup (Women Teams). USA players took all the gold and silver medals in the premiere open team event, the Rosenblum Cup and the gold in the prestigious Open Pairs. USA players took gold, silver and bronze in the Women Pairs, gold and bronze in the Senior Pairs, gold and silver in the Senior KO Teams, almost all the medals in the Mixed Swiss Teams (one Canadian shared in the gold medals). One USA player took a bronze medal in the McConnell Cup and Canadian players shared gold in the Mixed Swiss teams, silver in the Women Pairs, and shared silver in the Mixed Pairs.

The World Youth Team Championships also took place in Philadelphia, with much less success for North American youngsters. The youth championships comprised three series: Juniors (for players up to 26 years), competing for the Ortiz-Patiño Trophy; Youngsters (former Schools, for players up to 21 years), competing for the Damiani Cup; and a new series for Young Ladies (female players up to 26 years old), competing for the Rona Cup. The Europeans triumphed in the World Youth Teams Championships, winning all the gold and all the silver medals, and sharing the bronze medals with China. While we have a number of youth programs in North America, and performed well in past Junior championships, we are clearly behind the Europeans.

Orlando Fall NABC

The Fall Orlando NABC was also a wonderful experience to all who attended. Hotel rates were relatively low and after-game hospitality was the usual for Florida bridge tournaments…outstanding. Unfortunately, attendance was 2,000 below the same 2004 tournament. Over the past few years, while our membership has grown, attendance at NABCs has declined approximately 10% overall. This may be a sign of the times, with many watching their pocketbooks more closely, and suggests that we need to offer more bang for the buck. Lower card fees and hotel rates, popular destinations, better amenities and more publicity might help. The ACBL will study the situation nest year.

Top 20 District 24 players in NABC+ event

Bobby Nail Life Master Open Pairs: Roy Welland, 3rd; Kevin Bathurst, 18th.

Helen Sobel Smith Life Master Women’s Pairs: Valerie Westheimer, Winner; Sue Picus - Gail Greenberg, 7th; Shelly Dunietz - Migry Zur Campanile, 18th; Judi Radin - Sylvia Moss, 19th.

Victor Mitchell Open Board-A-Match Teams: Christal Henner-Welland - Roy Welland, 3rd; Martin Fleisher, 7th; Bjorn Fallenius - Michael Moss, 9th; Michael Polowan - Jared Lilianstein, 11th; Kevin Bathurst, 13Bian Glubock, 15th; John Hurd - Joel Wooldridge, 16th; Richard Schwartz, 19th.

Marsha May Sternberg Women’s Board-A-Match Teams: Debbie Rosenberg, 2nd; Sylvia Moss- Judi Radin - Migry Zur Campanile, 6th.

Edgar Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs: James Cayne, 10th; Bjorn Fallenius - Michael Moss, 18th.

Senior Knockout Teams: Melih Ozdil, 5/8th.

Reisinger Board-A-Match: James Cayne, Winner; Roy Welland - Christal Henner-Welland, 2nd; Andrew Rosenthal - Aaron Silverstein - Chris Willenken - Michael Rosenberg, 3rd; Alan Sontag, 4th; Kevin Bathurst, 5th; Michael Moss - Bjorn Fallenius, 7th; Martin Fleisher, 9th.

Ethel Keohane North American Swiss Teams: Justin Lall, 14th; Melanie Tucker, 15th.

ACBL State-of-affair

Membership continues to climb, standing at 165,250, up 2,350 from this time last year. Regionals continue to be stronger than last year, with 1,490-tabl average per tournament. Sectional tournament table count is slightly down from last year. STaCs continue strong and will set a new record for total table count. NABC table count is down from year to year. As mentioned above, over the past few years attendance at NABCs has declined approximately 10% overall.

Board Actions

Congratulations to Craig Robinson, elected 2011 ACBL president.

Joan Gerard was elected to a three-year term as one of five ACBL representatives to the World Bridge Federation.

Rose Meltzer was elected ACBL Goodwill Committee Chair, filling the remaining 2 years of Aileen Osofsky term.

Larry Cohen was named 2011 Honorary Member of the Year

Added Stipends to Bridge Teachers in Schools

The ACBL's School Bridge Class program will pay up to $500 to a teacher for a qualified school program series. The teacher cannot receive more than $500 from all sources of income for each qualified series of classes.

Regionals at Sea and Sectionals at Sea (Tournaments on Cruise Ships)

Regionals at Sea, starting in 2012, can be only sponsored by the ACBL. Three RAS may be run each year. Masterpoint awards will be 80% of regular Regional events. Other conditions apply.

Sectionals at Sea, effective immediately, can be run by any approved applicant. There are no restrictions on the number of SAS a year or on the length of any one SAS. Masterpoint awards will be 80% of regular Sectional events. Sanction fees are 410/table. Other conditions apply.

2010 ACBL Goodwill Committee and Charity Committee Appointments

Congratulations to District 24 recipients. The lifetime appointments are well deserved.

ACBL Goodwill Committee
Barbara McLendon

Jack Sage

Phillip Alder

Ludmila Antonova

ACBL Charity Committee
Diana Schuld

David Korenstein