President Glenn Smith announced the selection of Peter Rank as ACBL League Counsel effective November 15. Mr. Rank's selection was confirmed unanimously by the ACBL Board of Directors.

Committee report by Chairman.

Item 003-41: Redistricting

The report from the redistricting sub-committee (Val Covalciuc, Jerry Fleming and Nadine Wood) is received. (Exhibit 5)

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-42: WBF Membership Dues (Reconsideration of Item 002-55)

The ACBL Board of Directors affirms the action taken in Item 002-55 WBF Membership Dues of increasing said dues to .50 per member excluding youth members.

Carried.   Nay: 7, 8, 12, 17, 22

Item 003-43: ACBL WBF Representatives

ACBL WBF representatives will receive no expense reimbursement from ACBL.

Not Carried without dissent.

Item 003-44: ACBL Board of Directors' Expense Reimbursement

Item 943-24 is amended:

The ACBL Board of Directors' trimester expense reimbursement is reduced from $750 to $500.

Carried.   Nay: 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25

Item 003-46: ACBL President's Expenses

The ACBL President's expense allowance for 2001 is reduced to $40,000 to be spent at the discretion of the President with previous constraints rescinded.

Items 901-14, 981-18 and 001-24 are rescinded.

Carried.   Nay: 3, 4, 6, 7, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25   Abstain: 1, 22

Item 003-47: Forfeiture of Titles and Master Points

Item 872-2 is modified so that not only collusive cheating but individual cheating falls under the same regulations. This is effective immediately.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-50: ACBL Board of Directors' Expenses

Expense reimbursement to the ACBL Board of Directors will be stopped the day after the ACBL Board meetings end.

Not Carried.   Aye: 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 24

The Board confirms current practices and interpretations with regard to the rights and privileges of Life Members who have not paid the appropriate service fee.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-52: Privileged Communications

1. Any communication that occurs during the meeting of an ACBL Body (as defined below), which relates to matters that have been, are or might reasonably become subjects of business for that body, is privileged.

2. Private conversations between ACBL Officials (as defined below) who serve on the same ACBL Body, which relate to matters that have been, are or might reasonably become subjects of business for that ACBL body, are privileged.

3. For the purposes of this regulation:

1. "Privileged" shall mean communication that may not be used as the basis for any complaint under ACBL disciplinary or other regulations.

2. "ACBL Body" includes the Board of Directors, any ACBL Foundation Board and any ACBL committee or sub-committee appointed by the ACBL President, by the ACBL Board or by any ACBL Board member. It shall also include the Board of Governors, any District or Unit Board within ACBL and any duly appointed or elected District or Unit committee or sub-committee.

3. "ACBL Officials" shall include:
   1. Members of the ACBL Board, the Chairman of the Board of Governors (who shall be deemed a member of both the ACBL Board of Directors and of the Board of Governors), members of any ACBL Foundation Board or of any ACBL committee, sub-committee or commission appointed by the ACBL President, or by the ACBL Board or by a member of the ACBL Board. It shall also include members of the Board of Governors.

   2. Members of any District or Unit Board within the ACBL and of any duly appointed or elected committee or sub-committee of such a Board.

   3. ACBL employees, the ACBL Recorder, ACBL League Counsel and all ACBL Tournament Directors. Those listed in this section 3 shall, for the sole purposes of determining whether communication is privileged, be considered members of all ACBL Bodies.

4. "Private" in section 2 above refers to a conversation at which only ACBL Officials are present regardless of the number of such officials.

Deferred to Spring 2001 meeting.
Carried without dissent.

Item 003-53: Sidney H. Lazard, Jr Award for Sportsmanship

Subject to funding by Sidney Lazard:

1. An award for sportsmanship will be established to recognize those players who exhibit admirable ethical behavior and a strong sense of fair play at the highest levels of bridge. The award will go to an individual who displayed these traits over an extended period of time not for just one good deed. Presentation of the award shall take place at the first Hall of Fame Banquet following the selection.

2. This award will be named the Sidney H. Lazard, Jr. Award for Sportsmanship.

3. A permanent trophy for this award will be kept at ACBL Headquarters. Recipients of the award will receive certificates suitable for framing.

4. Recipients of the award will be determined by a three person committee. The initial committee appointees are Sidney Lazard, Lew Stansby, and Zia Mahmood. Each committee member will appoint his/her own successor. In those circumstances in which a committee member is not able or can no longer serve on the committee and no successor has been named, the other two committee members will appoint the third member.

5. The award is limited to the top echelon of players, i.e., only those that have finished 4th or better in an NABC+ event. The award may be given annually or less frequently as appropriate.

Carried.   Abstain: 1, 4, 9, 21, 25

Unit 424 in District 18 is dissolved and that geographical area and membership is distributed to Units 404 (Billings) , 396 (Idaho Falls) and 386 (Salt Lake City) .

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-55: NABC Tournament Committee

Item 961-110 is amended:

The NABC Tournament Committee will be chaired by the Chairman of the ACBL Board's Bridge Committee.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-56: District 9 New Unit

1. District 9 will create a new unit covering zip codes 34228, 34201-03 and all Sarasota County with the exception of the area currently under zip codes 34285, 34292, 34287, 34286, 34293, 34223, 34224 and 34295.

2. The new unit will abide by district membership policies and respect the tournaments already sanctioned for 2001.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-57: NABC's Policy

A Board and Management Committee will be formed to examine our existing policy towards NABC's.

Carried without dissent.

1. The ACBL Disciplinary Sanction Guidelines is amended as follows:
   1. Add to 1st paragraph after the 1st sentence: "This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible infractions but rather itemizes examples"......

   2. Under Conduct:
      1. C1 should be (2.6)
      2. C2 should be (2.6) only
      3. C4 becomes C3 and changes to: Publicly belittle partner or opponent on bidding or play (2.6)
      4. C3 becomes C4 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation
      5. C5 is harass a tournament director or tournament official (2.6) - Recommended discipline: Public reprimand to 30 days suspension (If probation, 90 days recommended as maximum)
      6. C6 remains as C6 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation to 30 days suspension
      7. C5 becomes C7 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation to 30 days suspension
      8. C8 is deleted because it is covered under Ethics - E4
      9. C11 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation to 180 days suspension
      10. C12 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation to 180 days suspension
      11. C14 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation to 1 year suspension
      12. C16 - Recommended discipline: Public reprimand to 90 days suspension (If probation, 90 days recommended as maximum)

   3. Under Ethics:
      1. E3 - Unsportsmanlike and frivolous psyching - Recommended discipline: Public reprimand to 30 days suspension
      2. E4 - Play a convention, system, or treatment knowing it is illegal: purposefully fail to disclose partnership agreements with intent to deceive.
      3. E6 - Recommended discipline: 180 days suspension to 1 year suspension
      4. E8 - Recommended discipline: 1 year probation to 180 days suspension
      5. E9 - Recommended discipline: 90 days probation to 90 days suspension

2. Section 5.1.1 is modified as follows:

   5.1.1 Private Reprimand A determination that a person has committed an offense warranting discipline. It is not a matter of record. *The committee should send a report to the ACBL Recorder and/or local Recorders for their information even though no action may be taken based on a memo that is a report from a disciplinary body.*

3. Sections 1.1 and 1.2 are modified as follows:

   1.1 Units *Each Unit is encouraged to have a Unit Disciplinary Committee and a standing Disciplinary Chairperson.

   1.2 Districts * Each District shall have a District Disciplinary Committee and a District Appellate Committee which shall not have any members in common. Each District shall have a standing appellate and Disciplinary Chairperson who may not be the same person.

4. Section 8.1 Appeals to the District shall be allowed.

   8.14 The reasons for the appeal shall not be grounds to refuse to hear the appeal.

   8.2.3 The reasons for the appeal shall not be grounds to refuse to hear the appeal.

   8.2.5 decision

Carried without dissent.
Effective Date: 1/1/2001

A new Ethical Oversight Committee will consist of fifteen members, 12 of whom must be from the current EOC members, appointed by the President of the ACBL. Five members shall be appointed each year for staggered three-year terms.

During the first year (2001) five members will be appointed for a one-year term, five members for a two-year term, and five members for a three-year term. Each year thereafter, the President will appoint five members for three-year terms.

During their tenure in office a member may not be dismissed except for grossly inappropriate behavior. If the President of the ACBL or the Chairman of the Ethical Oversight Committee call together the members of the Committee, they may, by majority vote, remove a member of the Committee.

The Chairman of the Committee shall be elected from within the body. The Chairman may not serve more than three consecutive one-year terms.

Item 923-1 is recinded.

Carried.   Nay: 3, 5, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 24   Abstain: 10, 17
Effective Date: 1/1/2001

Item 003-60: Competition and Conventions Committee

Items 941-85 and 963-178 are amended:

The Chairman of the ACBL Board Bridge Committee and the Chairman of the ACBL Board Tournament Committee will both be members of the Competition and Conventions Committee.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-61: Presidential Appointments

1. The following appointments made by the incoming president at the beginning of his or her term will be made prior to the start of his term and ratified, if necessary, at the Spring Board meeting. The terms of such appointments will be from the start of the Spring NABC to the day before the start of the subsequent Spring NABC.

   Committee	Appoints Chairman & Members	Board Approval
   C and C	Yes	No
   ITT	Chair Only	Yes
   WITT	Yes	Yes
   Seeding	Chair Only	Yes

2. Other committee appointments made by the incoming President (including committees of Board members who meet at the Board meetings) will be made and Management informed prior to the start of the incoming President's term.

3. The following appointments will be made by the outgoing President and ratified at the Fall meeting as is current practice.

   Committee	Appoints Chairman & Members	Board Approval
   ACBL Laws	Yes	Yes
   Hall of Fame	Yes	Yes

Carried without dissent.

The ACBL, acting in its capacity as the Zone 2 governing body, requests the WBF to allow Zone 2 three(3) teams in the Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup beginning in 2003.

NOTE: It is understood that currently no NCBO may qualify more than 2 teams to any one competition.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, 15, 18.

Item 003-63: Calcuttas at Bridge Events

ACBL may sanction bridge events that run a concurrent calcutta.

Carried.   Nay: 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17

Peter Rank, ACBL League Counsel, will develop an "attorney to attorney" contact with the USOC general counsel in order to obtain information on how we should properly proceed toward our goal.

With that knowledge in hand, David Silber, the interim CEO for the USBF may proceed with incorporation. At that time he will determine the most favorable state for incorporation of the USBF.

The ACBL President will appoint a temporary USBF Board of Directors to serve until the Spring meeting.

The members of the ACBL Board of Directors are requested to address the issues in the report submitted to the board on 003 journal pages 25 through 25.4. The things that need to be determined are:

1. The mix of ACBL and ABA members on the USBF Board of Directors
2. The mix of ACBL BOD and ACBL general membership on the USBF Board of Directors.
3. The procedure for selection of USBF Board members - perhaps BOD election or Presidential appointment.

Carried.   Nay: 4, 16, 22, 25

Committee report by Chairman.

The 2001 budget, which forecasts a surplus of $13,000, is approved as attached. (Exhibit 6)

The 2001 budget includes, in addition to other cost savings reflected by individual motions passed at this NABC, the following:

1. A change to the NAP subsidy (Item 34 on the savings sheet attached) for the 2^nd pair. The 2^nd pair will receive travel only in accordance with the current rules and regulations.
2. Elimination of travel awards for Instant Matchpoint game winners.
3. Restriction of attendance at NABC volunteer dinners to the local volunteers plus the ACBL CEO, BOD President, local District Director and their spouses
4. Elimination of prizes for the North American 49er Pairs.
5. Elimination of subsidy for attendance at the Junior Bridge Festival (Holland).
6. Increase in club rating point table fees from .60 to .65 effective 4/1/01.
7. Increase in regional, sectional and StaC table sanction fees effective 4/1/01 from:
   Regionals - 4.30 to 4.45
   Sectionals - 3.00 to 3.11
   STaC's - 2.30 to 2.38
   I/N Sectional - 2.00 to 2.11
   Progressive Sectional (Qual.) - 2.60 to 2.71
   
8. Increase in sponsor fees effective 1/1/01:
   

   National and Associate National Director	$101.00 to $107.50
   Tournament Director	$ 92.00 to $ 98.00
   Associate Tournament Director	$ 75.00 to $ 80.00
   Local Tournament Director	$ 60.00 to $ 64.00

9. Decrease in payment of Computer Rental Fees by ACBL effective 1/1/01:

   Regional per tournament for Computer/Printer	$30/$20 to $15/$10
   Sectional per tournament for Computer/Printer	$20/$20 to $10/$10

10. Increase in sectional surcharge from $90 to $110 effective 1/1/01.
11. Increase in Preduplicated Hands from $10/per set to $12.50/set effective 1/1/01.
12. Annual employee salary increase limited to 3% instead of 3.5%.
13. Elimination of the third year rebate for member recruitment.
14. Increase in Local Rated Unit Game table fees from $1.10 to $1.20 effective 4/1/01.
15. Increase in employee contribution to medical insurance to maintain employer/employee ratio.

Carried.   Nay: 3, 5, 6, 24

Item 003-22: Patron Member Dues

The membership dues for Patron members are increased from $150 for individual patron members and $200 for household patron members to $200 for individual patron members and $250 for household patron members.

Carried.   Nay: 3, 15   Absent: 25
Effective Date: Renewal mailings beginning January 2001

Projected Revenue Increases: If membership levels remain unchanged, the impact will be $20,500 per year with an increase of $10,250 in calendar year 2001.

Item 003-23: ACBL Retirement Benefits

ACBL Management is requested to evaluate options on providing retirement benefits for Canadian and Mexican employees and submit recommendations and cost at the 2001 Kansas City Spring meeting.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-24: Canadian Exchange Rate

The Canadian exchange rate for Membership Renewals, Club Sanction Fees, Tournament Entry Fees and any other Canadian Fund receipts will be reviewed and changed if warranted in increments of ½ Canadian cent or more.

Carried.   Nay: 18

Item 003-204: Eastern and Western Zone
Executive Committee and Alternates

1. The Eastern Zone reported the election of Nadine Wood as Eastern Zone representative on the Executive Committee for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2003.

2. The Eastern Zone reported the election of Bruce Reeve as Eastern Zone alternate on the Executive Committee for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2003.

3. The Western Zone reported the election of Roger Smith as Western Zone representative on the Executive Committee to finish the term ending December 31, 2001 vacated by ACBL President elect Jim Kirkham.

4. The Western Zone reported the election of Barbara Nist as Western Zone alternate on the Executive Committee to finish the term ending December 31, 2001 vacated by Roger Smith.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-205: 2001 Honorary Member of the Year

It was moved, seconded and passed unanimously that the rules for Honorary Member of the Year be suspended for 2001 and Jane Johnson and Norman Kay both be named as the Honorary Members of the Year 2001.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-207: Bridge Hall of Fame Nominating Committee

1. The Eastern Zone reported the election of John Solodar and Bill Passell as Eastern Zone representatives on the Bridge Hall of Fame Nominating Committee for a three-year term beginning August 1, 2000 through July 31, 2003.
2. The Western Zone reported the election of John Swanson and Bruce Ferguson as Western Zone representatives on the Bridge Hall of Fame Nominating Committee for a three-year term beginning August 1, 2000 through July 31, 2003.
3. The Central Zone reported the election of Tom Sanders as Central Zone representative on the Bridge Hall of Fame Nominating Committee for a three-year term beginning August 1, 2000 through July 31, 2003.

Item 003-209: NABC Site Recommendations

1. Atlanta, Georgia is approved as the site for the 2005 Summer NABC.
2. Nashville, Tennessee is approved as the site for the 2007 Summer NABC.
3. Las Vegas Nevada is approved as the site for the 2008 Summer NABC.

Carried without dissent.

The meeting was called to order by President Glenn Smith on Thursday November 16 at 8:30 am

By unanimous vote the ACBL Board of Directors established the following awards to honor Jane Johnson, long-time and much-respected manager of the ACBL Club Department.

1. Jane Johnson employee award - to be given to an ACBL employee who exemplifies extraordinary care and concern for our members.
2. Jane Johnson Club of the Year award - At the Spring NABC the marketing committee will set criteria for recognizing an ACBL club demonstrating the greatest concern and caring for its players.

Carried without dissent.

Committee report by Chairman.

Management's marketing and publicity report is received.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-142: Easybridge! Report

Management's Easybridge! report is received.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-143: Better Bridge and The Bridge Bulletin

Better Bridge and the Bridge Bulletin will be combined into one magazine.

Not Carried.   Aye: 1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 22

Committee report by Chairman.

Management's education status report is received.

Carried without dissent.

Committee report by Chairman.

Louise Wiegman of Mesa, AZ and John Keech of Victoria, BC are approved as the 2001 Goodwill Members of the Year.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-192: NABC Child Care Program

Management's child care report is received.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-193: ACBL Bulletin

Management will develop and implement:

A.     A strategy for first year discounted memberships.

Carried.   Nay: 2

B.     A strategy for distributing both the Bulletin and Better Bridge.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 21, 23, 25

NOTE:     Items 003-194 and 003-196 are being combined with item 003-193.

Item 973-68 is amended to read as follows:

ACBL Mailing Lists (913-103) (942-44) (973-68)

Effective immediately, the policy regarding lists, mailing labels, and discs shall be as follows:

1. LISTS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE:

   ACBL Board of Directors

   Any name, address, M.P. list available

   Chairman, Board of Governors

   Any name, address, M.P. list available

   Unit/District Board

   His/Her Unit or District Directors Board Members names and addresses

   Candidates for ACBL Elections

   Unit/District Board Members names and addresses

   Unit Membership Chairman

   Unit Members names, addresses, and masterpoints (Once a year)

   Club Manager

   Unit Members names, addresses, and masterpoints (Once a year, upon request, for local units)

2. CHARGEABLE LABELS/LISTS, DISCS:

   Management will set prices that will cover costs for requests for names by list, cheshire labels, by modem or disc in zip code order.

   These lists, labels and/or discs are available at the stated charge to any arm of the ACBL, ACBL Departments, and anyone ordering labels for Sectional/Regional flyers or programs. Anyone else may purchase the membership list/labels/discs at the prevailing commercial price. Any commercial use (other than for the normal bridge business of the requesting body) of a membership list/label/disc including those obtained free or at wholesale must be approved by the ACBL CEO or his designee.

   The Data Entry Service Department processes all orders for lists, labels, and discs. No changes in policy or procedures are approved by anyone other than the ACBL Board of Directors, although an exception may be made occasionally by the ACBL CEO or his designee.

Carried without dissent.

The ACBL will continue to support a parent-coordinated child-care program.

1. ACBL will advertise the availability of child care at each NABC with the normal NABC publicity in the ACBL Bulletin and in each daily bulletin.
2. ACBL will continue to provide a room and supplies for day care.
3. ACBL will maintain a list of parents who may need daycare and inform them in advance of the availability of child care at least three months before each NABC.
4. ACBL will provide a sleeping room for the parent-coordinator that will be used as an overflow child care room during child care hours.
5. Parents and the coordinator involved will sign agreements that the child care is being provided by a parent-coordinator and not the ACBL.
6. The child care providers must be licensed and bonded in accordance with each state, provincial and local laws.

Carried without dissent.
Effective Date: Spring 2001

The ACBL Board of Directors will reconsider Item 002-194 Membership Benefits and remove the word voluntary.

Not Carried.   Aye: 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 18, 24   Abstain: 1

Committee report by Chairman.

Item 003-181: North American Collegiate Team Championships

The report on the funding and format on the North American Collegiate Team Championship is received.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-182: Junior Teams NPC List

Junior Teams shall choose from the existing list of approved captains.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 6, 8, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22   Abstain: 1, 23

Items 973-92, 953-33, 952-33 and 951-8 establishing the ACBL Junior Bridge Camp are rescinded.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 3, 5, 6, 18

Committee report by Chairman.

Management shall explore the feasibility of offering clubs a new format for running their regularly scheduled club games. This format shall allow a group of clubs (in a region, Unit, District, etc.) that run a regularly scheduled club game at approximately the same time, to combine their games and score across the field. Overall awards, not to exceed sectionally rated games, shall be awarded in addition to the regular club section awards. The results would be posted on the Internet within 24 hours.

Carried.   Nay: 6, 7, 9, 12, 18, 22, 23   Abstain: 25

Committee report by Chairman.

Item 003-81: Conditions of Contest

1. The following Conditions of Contest are approved as amended ( as suggested by the Competitions and Conventions Committee) for 2001.
   1. APPENDIX C
      

      SCHEDULE OF KNOCKOUT INITIAL ROUND PAIRINGS

      Appendix C is amended to use head-to-head play and four-way matches in addition to one bye if necessary to determine initial round pairings.

   2. APPENDIX G

      SPECIAL CONDITIONS PERTAINING TO THE USE OF BIDDING BOXES AND SCREENS

      1. BIDDING BOXES - No Screens

         Players must choose a call before touching any card in the box. A call is considered made when a bidding card is removed from the bidding box and held touching or nearly touching the table or maintained in such a position to indicate that the call has been made.

      2. SCREEN PROCEDURES

         LAW 73 D:
         During the auction period, after an opponent has acted quickly, it is proper to adjust the tempo back to normal by either delaying one's own call (place the bidding card faced in front of, but not on, the tray) or by waiting before passing the tray. It is considered that there can be no implications if a tray returns after 25 seconds or less. This period may be extended in the later stages of a complicated or competitive auction without necessarily creating implications.

         Note: This change was voted on by C&C during 1999 and did not make it to the Boston agenda.

   3. QUALIFYING PERCENTAGES IN THE FOLLOWING EVENTS (See Item 003-82 which follows this item)

   4. GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS

      The GNT Conditions are amended as follows in the eligibility section:

      In no case may a player compete in more than one district in the 2001/02 GNT. In addition:

      1. Out-of-District members and non-ACBL members may compete in regular club session qualifying games and
      2. A player who moves to a different district during the course of the event may elect to continue in his original district for the remainder of the event.

2. The following Conditions of Contest, all 2000 conditions as amended for 2001, and all unlisted and unamended 2000 Conditions of Contest are approved for 2001 (with any appropriate date changes and masterpoint cycle changes).
   1. INTERNATIONAL TEAM TRIALS, 2001 ITT CONDITIONS OF CONTEST
   2. 2001 WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL TEAM TRIALS CONDITIONS OF CONTEST.

Carried without dissent.
Effective Date: 1/1/2001

Except for the Reisinger, which will remain as is, approximately 50% of the field but no less than 40% of an NABC+ event's field will qualify from one level to the next (qualifying to final, qualifying to semifinal and semifinal to final).

NOTE: The philosophy of the Board is that more emphasis should be on the number of contestants qualifying from one level to the next than on the technical perfection of the movement.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 15, 24, 25   Abstain: 8
Effective Date: 1/1/2001

Item 003-83: Three Way Knockout Matches

The General Knockout Conditions are amended and read as follows:

11.   The team(s) eliminated from a round-robin shall be determined as follows:

Definitions of terms used:

IMP Quotient	the total number of IMPs won divided by the total number of IMPs lost
Net IMPs	the difference between the total number of IMPs won and the total number of IMPs lost.

1. When two teams progress and one team has not lost both matches:
   1. If each team has won a match:
      1. Net Imps
      2. Result of the head-to-head match if two teams are tied in negative net IMPs.
   2. If one team has won two matches and the other two teams tied:
      1. Net IMPs
      2. IMP Quotient
      3. Playoff (continuing 4-board matches until the tie is resolved)

2. When one team progresses and one team has not won both matches:
   1. If each team has won a match:
      1. Net Imps
      2. Result of the head-to-head match if two teams are tied in net IMPs.
   2. If two teams beat the third team and tie their match:
      1. Net IMPs
      2. IMP Quotient
      3. Playoff (continuing 4-board matches until the tie is resolved)

3. For three-way matches in which one team is meant to be eliminated after the first session:

   3.2 Unless one team has lost both matches (i.e., is behind in both 16-board matches), the match continues as a full day three-way match (playing a total of 32 boards against each of the other teams). In such a case, if there is a tie in the matches won, the tie will be broken as in "B" above.

   When a team is eliminated after 16 boards against each of the other teams, the two teams continue with full carryover from their match only.

Carried.   Nay: 25
Effective Date: 1/1/2001

Item 003-84: Conditions of Contest Review

Beginning with 2001 the review and approval of the Conditions of Contest shall be done at the Summer Meetings for the following calendar year.

Carried without dissent.

Committee report by Chairman.

Teams representing the United States other than Junior teams in international competition will not be subsidized either wholly or in part for expenses incurred for the trip (travel, hotel, per diem).

Not Carried.   Aye: 12

1. Management will create conditions of contest for a Senior Trials to select the Zone 2 representative to the WBF Senior Championship scheduled to be held in Bali during the 1^st week of the Championships which will be held from October 20, 2001 to November 2, 2001. The conditions will include the date (which will be after the WITT and before Labor Day) and site of the Trials and will be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Board for approval no later than January 31, 2001.

2. For 2001 ACBL will pay the entry fee for the WBF Senior Championship from the International Fund from monies collected in 2001. Other than the entry fee, ACBL will provide no financial subsidy to the senior team selected.

3. Starting in 2001 the Senior Knockout, Senior Swiss, and the Silver Ribbon Pairs are added to the list of NABC events assessed an entry surcharge of $1.50 per player per session. All surcharge revenues go directly to the International Fund. The entry fee for the 2001 and subsequent WBF Senior Championships will be paid from the US International Fund.

4. The entry fee for the Senior Trials will be set in order to ensure the trials will be conducted on a breakeven basis regarding projected actual, out-of-pocket expenses.

5. In addition to the entry fee for the Senior Trials, there will be a $25 per session per team surcharge to go to the US IF.

Carried.   Nay: 5, 7, 11, 12, 17, 22, 25

Committee report by Chairman.

Item 003-101: Club Appreciation Team Games

During the month of October, each ACBL Sanctioned Club shall be entitled to declare one of their regularly scheduled games as a Club Appreciation Team Game. Each Club shall be entitled to one such Team Game regardless of how many actual sessions they have sanctioned.

Each club with a separate number shall be entitled to a Team Game provided it is held in the month of October.

This game shall be sectionally rated and shall award black points. In addition, 5% of all Masterpoints awarded shall be Gold Points.

No one individual may win more than .25 gold in any single event.

This event is approved for a two year trial. The status of the event will be reviewed at the Fall 2003 Board meeting.

Carried.   Nay: 3, 10, 13, 15   Abstain: 14
Effective Date: 10/1/2001

Item 003-104: NAOP and GNT Qualifications

1. NAOP to qualify locally at club games, next round would be the Nationals. All qualifiers welcome, but must pay their own expenses. The GNT would start Monday, the NAOP would start on Wednesday of the same week. Anyone knocked out of the GNT may play in the NAOP.
2. Club games, Unit games or District games would be $1.25/table the same as GNT. Unit and District optional should - - they want to pay to send any pairs.
3. If A and B fails, motion is to cancel NAOP.

Not Carried.

Item 003-105: Charity Game Sanction Fees

ITEM 732-63 is amended:

1. Unit and District Sponsored Charity Games

   Each Unit is entitled to hold two charity events annually. The first event must be for the benefit of the ACBL Charity Foundation or the CBF Charitable Fund. The second event may be for either of the ACBL Charity Foundation or CBF Charitable Fund or for a local beneficiary. For the ACBL Charity Foundation or CBF Charitable Fund, these events may be one or two sessions. For the local beneficiary, they may be two sessions only if the first event for the ACBL Charity Foundations was two sessions. In addition, Units and Districts may conduct a charity event (of one or two sessions) in conjunction with each Sectional or Regional Tournament.

   All Unit or District Charity events held for the benefit of the ACBL Charity Foundation or CBF Charitable Fund shall carry Sectional rating, and require a minimum payment to the appropriate Foundation of $1.50 per player per session. Events held for a local beneficiary shall carry awards of 70% of Sectional rating, and require a minimum payment to the local charity of $1.25 per player per session. Each Unit shall be permitted to charge whatever entry fee it believes will cover its costs, plus a satisfactory overage.

   The ACBL waives all sanction fees for Unit and District charity events. Events held at sectional and regional tournaments to benefit Charity are not excluded from the per table sanction fee. The minimum payment to charity will be 40% of the per table sanction fee for open & senior regionals and 100% of the per table sanction fee for sectionals & I/N regionals.

Carried.   Nay: 3, 5, 15
Effective date: As soon as it can be properly implemented by Management, but before the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

Item 003-106: Membership Residency Requirements

Item 931-86 is amended:

Members of the ACBL are normally expected to belong to the Unit in which they reside. If a member chooses to belong to a Unit in which he/she does not reside, the member must specifically make this request in writing to the ACBL stating the Unit of preference and the reasons for the request. Further, if the Unit is not in the same District as where he/she resides, both Districts must approve the membership in the other District. The following are some of the reasons why a member would be given permission to belong to a Unit outside the District of residence. To warrant consideration, a player should meet at least two of the six reasons listed:

1. Plays at least once a month in a club in that Unit
2. Attends STaCs or Sectionals in that Unit at least twice a year
3. Attends the annual unit dinner and/or annual membership meeting
4. Participates in Unit special events
5. Serves on the Unit Board and/or Unit committees
6. Serves on the District Board and/or District committees

If it is determined that a member requests a change of Unit membership for the sole purpose of Grand National Teams (GNT) or North American Pairs (NAP) play, the request must be denied. The membership approval granted by a District in which the member does not reside may be reviewed by that District at least every five years to assure the above criteria continue to justify non-residency membership.

If a player has been a member of that Unit and wishes to remain and does not participate in GNT and NAOP events in that District, permission may be granted by the District without the player meeting any of the above six criteria.

NOTE: This regulation supercedes any GNT and NAP membership residency regulations previously passed by the Board.

Carried without dissent
Effective date: 1/1/2001

Item 003-107: Canadian National Team Championships

1. The masterpoint awards for first place in the CNTC Flight B final shall be 50 gold masterpoints. The remaining places will be according to ACBL regulations.

2. The Board reaffirms that the $2.00 sanction fee mentioned in item 922-103 is to be $2.00 U.S. per entered table.

Carried without dissent.

Committee report by Chairman.

Item 003-121: NABC Speedball Championship

1. The evaluation of the NABC Speedball Championship event is received.

Carried without dissent.

2. The NABC Fast Open Pairs is approved for 2001 and 2002 on a trial basis.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 5, 14, 15

3. In 2001, the event will be held at the Summer NABC on the last Saturday and Sunday.

Carried.   Abstain: 2

4. The Masterpoint award for first place overall is 100 masterpoints with remaining places per ACBL regulation.

Carried.   Nay: 14, 15, 25

Item 003-122: NABC Appeals

1. The report on the NABC Appeals process is approved. (Exhibit 7)

2. The NABC Appeals Process will be reviewed at the Fall 2001 Board meeting.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-123: Bidding Boxes

When bidding boxes are in use and the auction has concluded, the bids will remain out until the opening lead has been made.

Not Carried.

Item 003-124: ACBL Mid-Chart

1. On a trial basis, during 2001, the ACBL Mid-Chart will be expanded to include more dynamic and experimental systems.

2. The following is the method to be used to implement A. above.

   The player is required to submit a complete explanation and cogent and complete defense to the C&C committee (or a small sub-committee of the C&C committee) for approval. If approved (the explanation and defense are appropriate and the method is not destructive), the committee will give the player a letter of approval which the player can present to the Director-in-Charge of an appropriate event. Unless the sponsor of the event decides otherwise, the player is allowed to play the method. The DIC will be asked to forward any complaints or problems that occur from the use of this method to ACBL Headquarters to be given to this committee. When the committee approves a method and defense, the method will be placed on the database so that others can download and use it.

   The following will be added to the Mid-Chart:

   A player wishing to play a method not permitted by this chart in an event is required to submit a complete explanation and cogent and complete defense to the C&C committee - details can be found on the ACBL Web Page or through the ACBL Tournament Department. When the committee approves the method, the player will receive written approval. For an event which is not sponsored by the ACBL, permission of the sponsoring organization will have to be obtained by presenting the written authorization to the Director-in-Charge of the tournament who will then have the matter reviewed by the tournament chairman (or sponsoring organization's designee).

3. Each experimental convention or system allowed shall be reviewed at year-end and using normal procedures a decision regarding future use will be made at that time.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, 24
Effective Date: 1/1/2001

Management may set entry fees in Canadian dollars, rounded at Management's discretion, for NABCs held in Canada as appropriate based on the exchange rate on the first business day of the month of the NABC.

Note: Management should try to set the entry fee to the nearest ½ dollar for both the entire entry fee and for an individual player's portion of that fee.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-126: Team Game Scorecards

Conditions of Contest for Knockout and Swiss Team events are amended to include a statement that teams may be required, at the discretion and instruction of the DIC of the event, to keep and submit an official scorecard.

Carried without dissent.

Item 003-127: Convention Chart Changes

1. The Competitions and Conventions Committee is authorized to create and add to the General Convention Chart for 2001 a definition of "natural suited overcalls." This will be accomplished prior to the conclusion of the committee's meetings in Birmingham and approved by the Chairperson of the Tournament Committee in consultation with members of the committee.

2. The Mid-Chart for 2001 will be changed to reflect the following:
   1. Methods indicated by an asterisk on the Mid-Chart will not require either a pre-Alert or suggested defense. The C&C Committee is authorized to designate those methods at its Fall meetings subject to approval by the Chairperson of the Tournament Committee in consultation with members of the committee.

   2. For all other methods permitted by the Mid-Chart, a user will be required to have available two copies of the approved defense from the ACBL database. If there is no defense available in the ACBL database, the player must submit the method and a defense to the C&C committee (or a sub-committee of C&C) for approval. In order to play the method in an appropriate event, the defense has to be approved and added to the ACBL database.

Carried.   Nay: 10, 11, 14, 15, 24
Effective Date: July 1, 2001

Item 003-128: Mini Spingold KOs

1. Concurrent with the Spingold there be a mini-Spingold (alternative name may be selected) Knockout held with conditions similar to the Spingold. The event will begin the same day as the Spingold begins and continue for not more than five days.

Carried.   Nay: 11   Absent: 25

2. There will be two Flights, 0-5000 and 0-1500.
3. Conditions of Contest to include masterpoint awards will be submitted at the Spring 2001 Board meeting for approval.

   Note: The committee determined that the length of a match should be similar to the length in Regional KO events (i.e., 56 boards for an all day match and 28 boards for a one session match). Screens should be used as appropriate in later rounds.

4. After a trial in 2001 and 2002, the event will be reviewed at the 2002 Fall meeting.

Carried.   Nay: 2, 14, 15, 20
Effective Date: Summer 2001

The WBF is authorized to conduct a Regional Tournament of 18 days duration to be held in conjunction with the 2002 World Bridge Federation Championships in Montreal, Canada from August 16, 2002 through September 2, 2002.

Carried without dissent.

Committee report by Chairman.

In the matter of Jack Hayden, ACBL player number P739672 and Rosemary Hayden, ACBL player number P739664:

1. Jack & Rosemary Hayden contacted the ACBL with regard to the restriction about their playing together. The committee met via the internet and decided that the Haydens might play together in games rated below the club level until the committee could meet in Birmingham.

2. When the committee has received and approved a letter from the Haydens in which they apologize for and admit to the acts for which they were initially sanctioned, they will be permitted to play together in ACBL sanctioned events which have a club or lower rating. Management will request that their area clubs attest to their positive behavior when playing together.

In the matter of John Lyddon, ACBL player number R087591:

Referred to District 22 to conduct an Appeals hearing.

In the matter of Alan Siebert:

The request was denied. The term of their prohibition from playing together is not amended.

Carried without dissent.

Committee report by Chairman.

Item 003-300: ACBL Financial Account Signators

Item 002-302 is amended:

B.   The following positions are authorized to bank wire transfer funds

ACBL Chief Executive Officer (confirm only)
ACBL Chief Financial Officer (authorize and confirm other than his own authorization)
ACBL Accounting Manager/Controller (authorize only)
ACBL Human Resources Director (confirm only wire transfers of an internal nature to move funds from Canadian banks to ACBL US accounts or ACBL Canadian payroll accounts when others are unavailable to confirm.)

Carried without dissent.

The membership meeting of the ACBL Charity Foundation convened. Charity Foundation President Virgil Anderson announced the candidacy of Howard Piltch for trustee and called for nominations from the floor. There being no other candidates, Piltch was elected to a four-year term beginning January 1, 2001 and ending December 31, 2003.

President Anderson then turned the meeting over to the Charity Foundation treasurer, Don Moeller who gave the annual treasurer's report (Exhibit 8). Moeller also reported that many district directors had not yet indicated a recipient for their $1,000 discretionary grants and asked that all unused grants be issued.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

The membership meeting of the ACBL Educational Foundation convened and was called to order by foundation Vice-president Jonathan Steinberg.

Steinberg announced the candidacy of Bruce Reeve, Geoffrey Cross and Dudley Brown for the three available trustee positions and called for additional nominations from the floor. There being no other candidates, Bruce Reeve, Geoffrey Cross and Dudley Brown were elected for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2001 and ending December 31, 2003.

There being no other business, the meeting adjourned.

Reports from each discussion group were given as follows:

1. Group 1 Player Rating System (Exhibit 9)

2. Group 2 TDs as Independent Contractors (Exhibit 10)

3. Group 3 Clubs (Exhibit 11)

4. Group 4 Player Rating System (Exhibit 12)

5. Group 5 TDs as Independent Contractors (Exhibit 13)

6. Group 6 Clubs (Exhibit 14)

It was moved by Retek and carried unanimously that the Board expresses its thanks to District 10 and its units, including District Director Chuck Wilkinson, Tournament Chairman Clay Hall and Tournament co-Chairman Ann West as well as all the other chair persons and numerous volunteers, plus a thanks to the Birmingham Civic Center and the Sheraton Hotel for their fine cooperation.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the Board adjourned sine die at 4:30 p.m.