Another change includes a night of free, social bridge on RealBridge's website. Think of it as social duplicate bridge on ZOOM, and although you can play the same 20 boards as other duplicate pairs, there are no masterpoints awarded. Still, if you've got a few friends across the country and want to chat and catch up while you're playing bridge, this may be a good option for you. These games take place on Monday evenings, from 5pm to 8pm (Minnesota time) - and cost nothing. You can find out more information about this program and how to sign up for it by clicking here. |
There is also an opportunity for club members to ask the BCSP board questions - if you would like to sign-up for this event, please click here. PLUS - a reminder that their annual fundraising drive is happening. More on that here. |
Sandy Casey provides this update:
--Sandy C
My bridge friends have been so kind and supportive thru it all. I will drive that tractor again some day." -- Bill |
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This year the board is asking members to donate additional monies to help obtain matching grants from Unit 103 which has offered to reimburse the club up to $2,500 toward the purchase of a new dealing machine and from Unit 178 which has offered to match $500 toward new chairs to upgrade some of our older tattered chairs. The board suggests you buy a chair for $40 or donate toward a new dealing machine. More information at the annual meeting. [The] deadline to appear in the 2025 directory [is] 12/15/24." |
The full name, and we should be using it, is "Jane Johnson Club Appreciation Month". Jane Johnson was the ACBL's longtime Club Department Manager until her death in 2001. When she passed away, the ACBL began what was known as the Star Club program, which asked clubs to apply for recognition based on specific criteria - and earn one, two, or three stars. Club members were asked to nominate their clubs for the annual Jane Johnson Club of the Year award. Unfortunately, the Star Club program never really took off, with less than 130 of the ACBL's 3,200 clubs participating in the early 2000s. In 2006, the criteria for recognition was simplified, but still this program was not working. So the ACBL elected to kill the Star Club program and honor Jane by renaming Club Appreciation Month each October as Jane Johnson Club Appreciation Month (the games carry this name as well). |
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RUBY LIFE MASTER - Keith Thompson [St Paul] SILVER LIFE MASTER - Gene Nelson [Maple Grove] BRONZE LIFE MASTER - Mike Curran [Maple Grove] LIFE MASTER - Kathy Stadther [St Cloud], Kay O'Brien [Apple Valley] John Pelegano [St Paul], Mike Curran [Maple Grove] ADVANCED NABC MASTER - Judy Knutson [St Cloud] NABC MASTER - David Lui [Roseville], Nancy Brunzel [St Cloud] REGIONAL MASTER - Robert Engstrom [Bloomington], Mary Helen Gill [Long Lake] Dennis Hoidal [Columbus], Diana Peterson [Ramsey] Joann Sufka [Nisswa] SECTIONAL MASTER - Diane Alhouse [St Paul], V Francis Luikart [St Paul] Robert Marx [Maple Grove], Betsy Michel [Minneapolis] CLUB MASTER - Dick Argue [Rochester], Greg Sletten [Detroit Lakes] Brian-Paul Crowder [Little Falls] JUNIOR MASTER - Weston Cutter [Mendota Heights], Susan Egan [St Paul] Mary Jane Edel-Joyce [Roseville], David Jann [Birchwood] Randall Shane [St Paul], Jill Wroblewski [Minneapolis] |
- Each player's ACBL number - Each player's BBO username - The flight (A, B, or C) for which you are registering - A check for the entry fee payable to: District 14 ACBL c/o Keith Thompson 8624 Crest Road Bloomington MN 55425 |
So when it comes to special games (like the NAP and GNT finals, for example), why does D14 have them online? It's true that more players can play from the comfort of their homes (and not travel) with online play, but do they come out in bigger numbers? Attendance for these special events when held online would suggest maybe not: |
The bottom line is that everyone needs to keep working hard in reaching out to members whose membership has lapsed, as well as recruiting and maintaining newer players. Hopefully the newer ACBL targets coming up in the 4th quarter will also help. |
Such fun - we may have to do this again next year! And whether you played in this Unit NAP Final or not, having qualified at the club level this summer still qualifies you to play in the D14 NAP Finals which get going the first weekend of October online. The Conditions of Contest state that you are eligible to play in the D14 Finals as long as you qualified at the club level, so we hope to see many more of you playing online starting October 5th. For the details of how to enter the D14 NAP Finals, click here. (You must submit your information and entry fee by October 1st!) UPDATE: Individual scores and results from Saturday's game are available by clicking here. |
Partial list of goals: play live bridge again; fly to CA to see the grand daughters; drive that tractor." - Laurie |
Get a partner who has also qualified at the club level and we'll see you next Saturday! |
You can register for this course by emailing Scott Krupke [Little Falls] at krupkebridge-at-gmail-dot-com or by visiting the Sartell Community Center website. It sounds like a great introduction to the game of bridge, so if you know someone who might be interested, here's your chance to get them involved! |
Friday night's 7-table open game in St Cloud saw Shirley Richardson [St Joseph] and Scott Richardson [St Joseph] earn a huge game of 76.64%. Of the 28 boards they played, 8 were outright top boards, and another 7 were tied for the top matchpoint award on the board - look for their names to be in an upcoming ACBL Bulletin soon. |
There are a few more of these special games coming up in 2024 - the schedule can be found by clicking here. If your local club is not running these games - ask your local club to sign up as a participating club so you can get in on the action. |
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