DISTRICT DIRECTOR REPORT – April 2007

IT HAS BEEN ONE HECK OF A WEEK

I am writing this column on Sunday morning, March 11th from my hotel room in St. Louis. I have just finished attending the Board of Governors meeting. I have been at board meetings since Monday. Simply, Monday was a seven hour seminar on Ways to improve the efficiency of non-profit Board of Directors and the relations to Management and Staff. Tuesday was 7 hours of committee meetings, (I was at Bridge and Tournaments, and Marketing). Wednesday was a committee meeting of Board Operations and a three hour Board Meeting in the afternoon. Thursday was a full day of Board Meetings. Friday, I completed a joint board and Educational and Charity Foundation meeting. Saturday was the Educational Foundation meeting. I also attended the Club and Unit Reception and the

National Appeals Introductory meeting (this began at 11 P.M.) (I promised Alan I would attend). Finally, I will be attending the Unit Board Seminar on Monday morning and the Goodwill Reception on Monday evening.

Next month I will report on the workings of the committees I am on, but for now, I will report on the summary of the Board Meeting and motions that were passed

The motion that I believe was one of the most important was the establishment of a new 501(c) (3) foundation which will create Bridge Library and Hall of Fame. Its charter will to be acquire, preserve, and exhibit items related to bridge and to identify those people who have made significant contributions to bridge. Another motion passed changed the award given to the District winners of the North American Pairs. Beginning next year the first place pair in each stratification will

receive $700 per person. Second place will receive $300 per person. This replaces the awards of reimbursement for hotel expense and travel expense to the designated national location. Also passed was a motion to further clarify the residency requirements for participation in the Grand National Teams and North American Pairs.

I will report on what did not pass and some additional highlights of these meetings next month.

IT IS A DIFFERENT VIEW FROM DUMMY.

This month I answer a question I received from Diana Schreiber who asked why ACBL awards prizes for the

NAP but not for the GNT. After speaking with ACBL officials, I was told that ACBL receives income from the NAP qualifications and then gives it

back in the form of awards wherein the GNT is solely funded at the District level and ACBL receives no income. This is why our District provides some reimbursement to our teams and also why we now sponsor our Swiss Team Weekend where all monies raised go to our four teams.

Finally, if given the choice of going to St. Louis for the nationals or being able to go on a two week Caribbean cruise with your girlfriends, which one would you choose? For Kathy the choice was easy. As she flew out the door to her airport limo she yelled to me “See you in Nashville.”