ACBL - UNIT 161

MINUTES of MEETING

May 20, 2006 at Resort City Regional

ATTENDANCE: Lou Agnew, Jan Farnsworth, Bonnie Blankinship, Connie Fitch, Jane Cherry, Barbara Hess, Sharon Cissell, Anne Martin, Jane Dickey, David Siebert, Warren Swift

ABSENT: Mike Compton

GUESTS: Bill Cook, Dick Condon, Cindy Devish, Ned Irving

I REVISION OF AGENDA TO ALLOW DIST #10 VISITOR TO SPEAK EARLY

II CALL TO ORDER

President David Siebert called the meeting to order. The secretary reported the attendance figures and the absence of Mike Compton was duly noted. The President introduced our District Representative, Bill Cook:

A. Bill addressed many changes being discussed at the District and ACBL levels:

1. Incorporation of Units – ACBL will not cover Unit Boards, if not incorporated

2. Charity and Education foundations may be combined as Charity and Education Trusts

3. Age of participants in senior events may be raised to age 60

4. "Women’s" events may be dropped for lack of attendance

5. ACBL plans to review awards, i.e., stratification, etc.

6. AARP - sponsored events will be added to five (5) or six (6) Regional and National ACBL tournaments

7. College teams in 2006 are showing the highest participation to date for those events.

8. Buffett/Gates bridge programs in schools has just kicked off. A study in Illinois of 5th graders, who were tested for 32 months, demonstrated 32-39% higher scores in all subjects for those students participating in the bridge program than for those who were not participating.

9. New technologies, i.e., hand-held Bridgemate is expensive but will eventually lead to cost savings by eliminating pick-up slips and lowering the number of directors needed at events.

B. Questions from Board members re: ACBL role in Unit incorporation, 501 C-4, insurance costs, incorporation costs, etc., led to a motion, second and unanimous vote that Jane Dickey look into Unit incorporation and be prepared to make a report at our next meeting.

C. Currently, ACBL is granting amnesty to Life Masters who have played in a tournament within the past two (2) years, but whose dues have lapsed. Master points earned during the period of lapsed dues will be credited upon renewal of dues. This program runs from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2006.

III MINUTES of PREVIOUS MEETING, March 18, 2006

Following a motion, second, and unanimous vote, minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

IV TREASURER’S REPORT

A. Treasurer’s report for the period 3/01/06 through 4/30/06 was approved and filed for audit. The present cash balance is $11,141.51.

V OFFICER AND COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. 1. President David Siebert: called upon the Board members to compensate the Secretary/Treasurer with $200 salary. Lou Agnew explained past procedure that if the Secy is compensated, so should be the Tournament chairs. Anne Martin asked that such compensation not be tied to Administrative Costs. A motion and second led to the vote that the Secretary/Treasurer receive a gift for services for each Unit meeting: ten (10) in favor and 1 (one) abstention..

2. David explained the methodology of compensation to the clubs from the DeGray Sectional. Lou Agnew commented that the DeGray Sectional required subsidization from the Unit until recently, when Teri LaBove was named Tournament Director. The DeGray Sectional profits were lower this year than in recent years, but it is still in the black.

3. David reported that ACBL is looking at new formulas for handicapping and also is holding conversations about Board-A-Match scoring, i.e., giving a fraction of a point for each board won.

B. Secretary Jan Farnsworth reported on the problems that were never corrected by the storage unit owner, in spite of repeated calls – leaks causing rain damage to bidding box inserts, mold, and several break-ins. Jan has secured another locker, unfortunately more expensive, but clean, well-supervised, and with video security.

C. Tournament Director Cindy Devish

1. Cindy offered attendance figures to date (up 24 or 25 tables over 2004) and explained that bigger games usually occur over the weekend.

2. She asked who will figure the club distribution and David volunteered to do that.

3. There followed a discussion of Zero Tolerance and how to handle it at tournaments in the future: newcomers/novice players could wear a badge that would identify them for special consideration during play; a seminar could be held for new players to explain Zero Tolerance; Directors might make some form of announcement at the beginning of each game.

4. Cindy received praise for her performance and for the success of the Resort City Regional

D. Education Liaison, (Mike Compton absent) Jane Dickey

1. Jane circulated Mike’s informational sheets indicating that his suggestion is to limit educational reimbursement to new players, i.e. under 20 master points, and to expect every club to utilize the reimbursement policies of both ACBL and Unit #10. A guest, Ned Irving who is President of VCC, asked to be heard and stated HSV is a big club, in the black, but has in the past been allowed to receive reimbursement for educational expenses. Bill Cook, District #10 representative, responded that District policy is now to help clubs which cannot recover from short falls created by educational expenses. Anne Martin offered to help any club with obtaining a grant for assistance. Following this discussion, a motion was offered and seconded that Unit #161 accept Mike’s recommendation for Educational Reimbursement policy. The motion passed, with one abstention.

VI OLD BUSINESS

A. Handicapping Team Games

1. Discussion of "leveling the playing field ", unrealistic formula of the ACBL for game handicaps, difficulties of attracting Bracket I players were all discussed at length. David pointed out that Units can set their own game handicaps and using a formula of 1 ½ x ACBL formula has been analyzed and might be appropriate for us.

2. A motion and second was put forth and unanimously accepted: Unit #161 will try a handicap formula of 1 ½ x ACBL formula for Unit #161 sectionals.

VII NEW BUSINESS

A. President David Siebert presented a suggestion from members that Unit #161 hold a 0-750 game as an open event with reduced gold points as awards for top, similar to a very successful game held in Gatlinburg. The suggestion will be taken under consideration.

B. David informed the members of the Board that odd-numbered Board positions will be open for election in this year, 2006. He announced his appointees for the Nominating Committee: Lou Agnew, Chair; Russ Jones; and Ann Ferrell. David asked for a written Nominating Committee report to be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer at least 45 days prior to the DeGray tournament (Nov. 3-5, 2006).

Meeting adjourned.