Bridge Center Update
At the January 8 Board Meeting, the board voted to pursue filing
a
conditional use permit with the City of Palo Alto in order to
move back to
the club we inhabited for over 25 years. The application was submitted
with
the City on January 9. We've heard estimates of between 4 weeks
to 3
months! to go through the approval process. Part of delay in filing
the
permit was due to the fact that the fee (over $2,000) is not refundable
if
the use permit is denied. This was a stumbling block with the
landlord, as
we wanted to sign a lease on the condition that we get a permit
and he
wanted no such condition. We think we are now over that hurdle.
Once the
permit is approved, we hope to move as quickly as possible. OK.
Now
everybody hold your breath!
The Unit will mail all members a postcard when all plans are
final.
--
Sunday Bridge???
Claire Coleman reports that new manager at the YWCA has notified
us that she
does not want to keep the Y open for bridge if there are no other
Y
activities going on. That means-Claire's Sunday game is closed
until
further notice. Claire is trying to overturn this decision-so
be sure to
check with her.
--
Unit Pro-Am Postponed
Due to the postponement of our move, and the added wrinkle
of not being
allowed into the YWCA on Sundays, we are postponing the Unit Pro-Am
until
further notice. Once we have a home, the Pro-Am will be our first
Unit game
and a HUGE CELEBRATION.
--
New Officers Elected
At the January 8 Board Meeting, the new officers were elected.
Pat
McFerren, featured in last month's Kibitzer, was named President.
Merle
(pronounced "Merrill") Orelove was named Vice President,
Claire Coleman will
continue as Secretary and Albert Pagin, former president, will
again be
Treasurer. Thanks went to outgoing Board Member Alan Templeton,
who has
worked very hard for the Unit for the last several years. Alan
will
continue to maintain the Unit website (http://www.accesscom.com/~unit503)
and the Winner's Circle. Some committee assignments were made
and the whole
list will appear in next month's Kibitzer.
--
Who's Better
Our Unit Board approved an inter Unit competition between 503(us)
and
507(them). The coordinators for each unit will be setting up the
types of
games, stratas, places and times in the next month. Each unit
will have
qualifying matches and the winners will face off in spirited competition.
Further developments will be in the next Kibitzer so be sure to
check next
month.
--
Dear Fellow Bridge Players and Directors
We are about to start a New Year with hopefully a new Bridge
Center. I know
you all love the game of bridge as I do. I am writing in the hope
that we
can encourage newer players and create a pleasant environment
in which we
all can play. I am suggesting that we take a look at how we play
the game
and see if we can improve that and help others to improve their
mode of
play.
Over the years I have been playing I have encountered and heard
about
behavior that has created distress in other players. Some of the
most common
are making unkind remarks (such as "this is not bridge")
to opponents,
calling opponent "little lady" when the opponent is
near sixty in age
(equivalent to calling older men "little man" or "boy"),
being so into the
last hands that new opponents at the table are not acknowledged,
exclaiming
"Oh!!, we got a top board" (guaranteed to make the opponents
feel badly and
a not so subtle form of gloating), slapping or snapping cards
down on the
table in an annoying manner, talking to opponents in a superior
manner,
taking upon oneself to teach the other player how to play the
hand when
assistance was not asked for, not passing the boards in a timely
fashion,
playing very slowly so the opponents will go to sleep, agonizing
over a pass
when there is no reason for it, intimidation of opponents by calling
the
director after a small hesitation when the opponent is trying
to think,
criticizing other players. And the list goes on. This does not
encourage
newer and even older players to play at some games.
As bridge players we can play our part to monitor our own behavior
and help
others with this issue. Zero tolerance should be used and no one
should fear
calling the director if they feel that is needed. Bridge is a
competitive
game, but competition should never get in the way of treating
others with
respect.
And directors have their very important part to play. The players
at their
games should be viewed equally, and not be viewed as "clients".
The "client"
notion makes it harder to discipline "better" players
for fear of losing
them. The behavior of these "better" players may be
the reason that other
players stay away from your game. Players should feel that they
have a fair
and equal footing with all other players. Friendliness and civility
has to
be a top priority for the games.
These suggestions if implemented may cause some players to
leave the game.
However, I feel that a friendly atmosphere will encourage many
more to play
and make bridge the game that we love to play and enjoy playing
at all the
different games.
Here's to a new environment and a new respect for each other
in the New
Year.
Marianne Moutoux
--
Yes Santa, There is a Virginia
Virginia Savstrom directed her final game on Tuesday, December
18th, and the
air was filled with warm sentiment. After the first round, all
players
gathered in a room to honor this fine lady. Albert Pagin said
kind words and
gave her a handsome plaque, designed by Richard Johnson , from
the Board of
Directors of Unit 503 holding a certificate of appreciation for
all of her
years of service. Leona Lane then presented Virginia with a gift
certificate
for an opera of her choice plus a dinner saying, "Thank you
for every
Tuesday at 12:15."
Virginia, composed as ever, graciously thanked us all and promised
to keep
an eye on all of us. She also said as her send off, she had had
5 director
calls in the first round. She seemed delighted by the tribute.
Many elves baked delicious cookies and at the end of the game,
there were
many heartfelt "good-bye" hugs. Virginia will obviously
be missed.
--
Martin Fletcher
Martin Fletcher, a regular at the Bridge Table, and a wonderful,
gentle man
(British accent and all) with a great sense of humor, died in
January.
Martin recently handed me an envelope, addressed to the Palo Alto
Bridge
Club, within which he included a Thanksgiving card and a $1,500
donation.
The card read, "With thanks for all my happy memories at
bridge." Lori
Spaeth
--
Player Advancements
The ACBL December 2 printout shows that the following players
have moved up.
Congratulations!
Junior Master Milt Liebhaber
(5 MP) Ernest Pope
Club Master Elinor Gorlin
(20 MP)
Sect'l Master Jim Houseman
(50 MP)
Regional Master Joan Kewman, Reginald Rice
(100 MP) Carl Baeuerlen, Ann L. Mollard
NABC Master J. T. Steffes
(200 MP) Greg Humphreys
Silver LM Jean Gold
--
Newcomers
A warm welcome to new Palo Alto Unit 503 members: Jack Birnbaum,
John
Mattis and Paul Martino. We would also like to welcome Quixing
Sun and
Marion Morgan who transferred into our Unit.
--
Upcoming Events:
.
All Games Closed During Regional starting February 12 (evening)
through
February 18 except for Walter Miller and Cameron Cotton's games
(see above).
Sat., Feb. 2 - Sectional, Hart Middle School, Pleasanton
Tues., Feb. 5 - Club Championship for the "Under 200"
Club
Tues., Feb. 12 - REGIONAL, Santa Clara Marriott
Wed., Feb. 20 - Club Championship for the 49er Game at 1:30
Mon., Feb. 25 - ACBL-Wide Senior Game, Palo Alto BC
Tues., Feb. 26 - Club Championship for the Tues. Noon Open Game
Next Board Meeting
Tuesday February 5, 4:00 p.m.
YWCA, 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto
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*Hand records provided. |
**Includes lesson and hand records with analysis. |
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