MINUTES OF ACBL DISTRICT 4 BOARD MEETING

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

July 10, 2009

 

Voting Member Attendees:

At-Large: Craig Robinson (National Board), Joann Glasson (President), Bob Cole (1st

VP),  Rick Rowland (2nd VP), Lois Sanders (IPP) (5 of 7)

Unit 112:  Robert Simard (Unit Pres.) (arrived at conclusion of meeting), Mary Miller

                 (for Warren Marsland), Harry Nuchols (for Sharon Paulus), Mary Poplawski

                 (for Laura Krauss),  Margie Spence (for Mark McDermott), Walt Gable(6 of 6)

Unit 120:  Walter Mitchell (Unit Pres.), Ray Depew (2 of 2)

Unit 121:  Sue Wessner (Unit Pres.), Jack Berry (for Barry Gorski) (2 of 2)

Unit 133:  Don Swan (for Barbara Miller), John Schwartz  (2 of 2)

Unit 141:  Tom Purl (Unit Pres.), Jay Apfelbaum, John Marks, Michael Salton,

                  Everett Young, Ala Hamilton-Day, Ray Raskin (for Tom Urso), Terry

                  Coughlin, Marie Trethaway, Tom Sakaguchi, Elaine Landow, Joan

                  Brandeis  (12 of 12)

Unit 168:  Ron Orr (Unit Pres.), Tim Smith (for Bob Priest), Betsy Davenny (for Bert

                 Murray), Bridget Whitley (for Pamela Murray)  (4 of 5)

Unit 190:  Anne Taylor (Unit Pres.), Jess Stuart (for Richard Popper), Harold Jordan (for

                 Ward Schaumburg), Rick Rowland (also counted as District 2nd VP) (4 of 4)

Unit 217:  Jim McKeown (for Sue Pierce, Unit Pres.), Ed Bissell (2 of 2)

 

Non-Voting Attendees:

Bill Bauer, District Secretary                        Jane Segal, Board of Governors

Bob Glasson, Judiciary Chairperson     

 

CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS

A meeting of the ACBL District 4 Board of Directors was held at the King of Prussia Valley Forge Convention Center, July 10, 2009.  Joann Glasson, President, called the meeting to order at 6:20 PM, there being a quorum present (39 of 44 voting members representing all 8 units counting Rick Rowland twice, once as 2nd VP and once as Unit 190 representative).   There being a dinner following the meeting and the desire of some present to play this evening’s 7:30 game, President Glasson requested attendees to keep their reports brief.

 

SECRETARY’S REPORT & APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOV. 1, 2008

The minutes of the Lancaster Board meeting of November 1, 2008 were unanimously approved as submitted.  (Secretary’s note: The minutes appear on the District website.)

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

Rick Rowland distributed and presented the fiscal year ending May 31, 2009 income statement and balance sheet.  Net income for the year was $25,317 vs. $8,700 last year with a balance of $256,471 as of May 31, 2009.  The higher income is due to the 2008 King of Prussia profit exceeding Cherry Hill’s in 2007, the Syracuse Regional being more profitable and some timing issues.  The Board approved the Treasurer’s report. 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Joann thanked the King of Prussia Regional Tournament Committee (John Marks, Joan Brandeis, Dennis O’Brien, Tom Sakaguchi, Elaine Landow, Ala Hamilton-Day and Jerry Craig for the excellent job they have been doing.  The I/N program has been an incredible success.

 

She noted that the TAP training sessions were well attended such that the District made money rather than having to subsidize the TAP’s.  Mary Poplawski coordinated the Vestal TAP (44 students) and Joann Glasson the King of Prussia TAP (66 students)

 

Joann noted that Bob Grover had resigned as District Recorder having relocated to Florida to take a new job.  Dan Boye will succeed Bob.  Joann announced that Elaine Landow had resigned as Tournament Coordinator and that John Marks would take the position in addition to being Tournament Committee Chairman.  Joann thanked both Bob and Elaine for their years of dedicated service.  Note: The Tournament Committee is composed of Regional Tournament Chairs, the District NAP Coordinator, GNT Coordinator, Tournament Coordinator, and District STaC Coordinator).

 

Joann informed the Board that a transition meeting involving 1st VP Bob Cole and other officers would be held after the meeting and dinner.

 

RATIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTION

Joann reported that the Executive Committee took two actions since the 2008 Lancaster Board meeting.

 

  1. Amended the by-laws as requested by the Board in Lancaster.

      Specifically, the Executive Committee approved a By-Laws amendment to Article

      X, Paragraph B, Executive Committee as follows.  After the existing wording

      “among the members of the District Board” add the following:  If any Executive

     Committee member ceases to be an ACBL member, moves outside the District,

     resigns from the Executive Committee, holds two offices awarding committee

     membership, or dies; then the President may select a representative from among

     the members of the District Board from any unit that is not already represented on

     the Executive Committee or if all units are represented, then from any unit. 

     Exceptions: (1) The District Director is replaced by the First Alternate District

     Director and (2) the Immediate Past President is replaced by the most immediate

     Past President eligible and willing to serve.”  The Executive Committee having

     approved the amendment, President Glasson appointed John Klinger of Unit 168

     (an unrepresented unit to take one of the two seats of Rick Rowland and Lois

     Sanders as the most Immediate Past President as a result of Carl Cronrath’s move

     from the District.

 

  1. The Executive Committee approved John & Debi Klinger’s recommendation that a Lancaster Regional event be named for the late Don Marlett.

 

The Board ratified both Executive Committee actions.

 COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

DISTRICT 4SPOT

Elaine Landow thanked unit correspondents for their articles and noted that 4Spot material is due August 1 for the September 1 edition.

 

TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR

Elaine Landow distributed the up-to-date 2009, 2010 and 2011 tournament schedules for Unit and District tournaments and STaC’s.  She thanked Unit Coordinators for their cooperation.   

 

CHARITY

Beth Rosenthal was not present.  She asked Craig to report the following on her behalf.  Since there are so many Sectionally rated Charity Club Championship games, last year was the last year for ACBL-supported District-Wide Charity Games (the Solomon and Gough memorial games).  Beth is willing to work on a charity game if someone has a suggested charity and an idea how to promote the event. 

 

FINANCE

Dave Kresge was not in attendance.  Per Dave’s request, the Secretary reported that Dave has received the Lancaster Regional financial report, but had not seen the Scranton Regional and May GNT reports.  Ray Depew said that the reports have been prepared and he will see that Dave receives a copy.

 

DISTRICT RECORDER

President Glasson appointed Dan Boye to the position upon Bob Grover’s relocation to Florida.  Dan was not present to report.

 

NAP

Don Swan reported that the Conditions of Contest remain essentially the same and will appear on the District website.  The Board approved one change in Lancaster, namely to have Flight “B” scored across the field.

 

It is likely that the events will be held as follows:  Flight “A” will be played October 17-18 in Allentown;  Flight “B” split-site between Lakeville (Rochester) and Wilmington Bridge Studio on October 24; and,  Flight “C” to again be a STaC-like event on October 17 at clubs choosing to host the event (must have a minimum of 5 tables of Flight “C” pre-qualified players).

 

Craig reported that the ACBL would provide a list of qualified Flight “C” players that he will distribute to the club managers so that they can recruit players for the District finals.  The list will include the names of Flight “C’ players who won masterpoints and thus qualified.  It will not include players who qualified in other districts or who qualified “automatically” due to the flight ”C” field size being fewer than 5 pairs (in which case all pairs qualify).

 

Secretary’s note:  The current Board-approved conditions of contest state that 1st and 3rd places in Flight “B” will come from the larger field provided that one site has 12+ tables and the other site does not.  If both sites are either 12+ or neither are 12+, then the places are awarded strictly by percentage except that if 1st & 2nd come from the same site, then 3rd place will go to the other site.

 

GNT

Ray Depew reported that the 2009 GNT had greater attendance and made money.  The date for the 2010 GNT needs to be resolved as the 2010 Delaware Regional is scheduled over the traditional GNT 1st weekend in May.  Ray Raskin intended to bring up the matter of the location of the 2010 “Open” Flight game, but in the interest of time, agreed to defer consideration of his proposal until the Lancaster Board meeting.

 

EDUCATION

Mary Poplawski reported that the two TAP’s generated about $800 in profit for the District; therefore the Board-approved subsidy was not needed.  Mary proposed that the profit be used to purchase student text books (the two series covered in the TAP’s, although Ala Hamilton-Day favors Bridge for Dummies) so that teacher’s could avail themselves of the quantity price break on small purchases.  The program would run on a “breakeven basis”.  The Board adopted the textbook program with a $1,500 fund.

 

Mary also suggested that the Executive Committee explore hosting TAP’s in other areas of the District.

 

Mary also informed the Board of the ACBL-administered Youth Program Fund, a 501(c)(3) corporation.   The Fund management maintains a separate account for each participating District or Unit.  Clubs can hold charity club championship games to benefit this fund in place of another local charity.  The Board approved District participation.  Patty Tucker, ACBL Youth Coordinator, supplied the Fund document.  The ACBL has 792 Junior-age members (24 in District 4).

 

Craig explained that this fund should not be confused with the ACBL Junior Fund that provided $207,000 in funding last year for junior education (teacher stipends), NABC entry subsidy, and Junior team expenses in world competition.

 

JUDICIARY

Bob Glasson had no report, as there are no active cases.

 

APPEALS

JoAnn Sprung was not present.

 

INTERMEDIATE/NEWCOMER

Ala Hamilton-Day reported that I/N events in King of Prussia have been well attended as evidenced by the number of registrants (137 Tuesday + 130 Wednesday + 91 Thursday + 53 Friday = 411 so far).   The Board applauded Ala’s efforts, which included organizing a speaker series and mailing a flyer with the speaker and event schedules to thousands of prospective players with fewer than 300 points.  Later on in the meeting a note was received from DIC Doug Grove that “483 of the 1,172 players attending this tournament so far have fewer than 300 masterpoints (41%)”.

 

On a lesser note, the “guaranteed partner” program has been a headache.    

 

TOURNAMENT

John Marks reported on the WBF World Championship games to be held at the Philadelphia Marriott October 1 – 16, 2010 (schedule on WBF website).  The first and last days would consist solely of opening and closing ceremonies, respectively.  There will be a Regional tournament running concurrently with event starting times of 10:30 & 3:30.  The District would neither share in profits or expenses.  Local players will be asked to volunteer for the partnership desk and perhaps other functions.

.

TOURNAMENT REPORTS:

 

2012 NABC      -  The summer 2012 NABC ( July 12 – July 22) will be held at the

                              Philadelphia Marriott.  Joann Glasson, Craig Robinson, and John

                              Marks will co-chair the tournament.  Committee Chairpersons already

                              designated are:

 

                  Intermediate/Newcomer:  Susan & Bill Grover (Unit 168)

                  Food & Entertainment:     Pat Civale (Unit 141)

                  Registration:                     Ray Depew (Unit 120)

 

                  As in the past, Units will be requested to provide volunteers on one

                  or more specific days to staff the various tables and prize room.  

 

King of Prussia - John Marks reported that the table count through Friday 5:30 was up

(7/6–7/12/09)       10 tables.  He noted that next year the Regional would return to King of

                              Prussia from July 12 – 18, 2010.

      

Lancaster          -  John Klinger was not present.

(10/26–11/1/09)

 

Harrisburg         - Bob Priest was not present.  The 2010 Harrisburg Regional will be split

(Summer 2010)    with Syracuse.

 

Syracuse           -  Lois Sanders sadly reported the death of co-chair Judy Butcher.

(8/3 – 8/9/09)    

 

Delaware          -  Anne Taylor reported for co-chairs Tom Grabowski & Susan Corbett. (4/26-5/2/10)        The tournament will be held at the Holiday Inn Select in Claymont, DE

                             near I-95 & Namaans Road.

 

Scranton           -  Ray Depew thanked Judy Argento for her superb job with hospitality.

(3/2 – 3/8/09)        The Regional made a small profit.  The Regional will be held in 2011.                                

DISTRICT DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Craig reported on the WBF World Championship event to be held in October 2010 in Philadelphia.  Since the event will take place just prior to the Lancaster Regional, Craig will attempt to negotiate a payment of $20/table for Lancaster attendance below the three-year average attendance (maximum guarantee of $5,000).  Craig noted that  Philadelphia won out over such cities as Las Vegas and Paris.

 

Ray Raskin added that Arnie Fisher’s team has won the Senior Team Trials.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

There were no items of old business.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

Ray Raskin agreed to defer consideration of his proposal to name Regional events for living persons as well as deceased persons until the Lancaster Board meeting.  He noted that there will be about 50 to 60 Regionally-rated events at the 2012 Summer NABC that could be named after people who have contributed to the game.  

 

Ray Raskin also has proposed changing the location of the GNT Open Flight District finals.  Ray agreed to defer action until the Lancaster Board meeting.  Ray Raskin noted that the vast majority of participants come from the Philadelphia/Wilmington area and that these participants would save commuting and hotel costs if the event were held in the Philadelphia area.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING & ADJOURNMENT

Joann announced that the next Board meeting will be Saturday, October 31, 2009 during the Lancaster Regional.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Bill Bauer

District 4 Secretary

william.baueriii@verizon.net