HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ACBL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO

 

            I will use my column this month to report on the highlights of our San

 Francisco Board meeting.   If there is any subject that any member of our district requests additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at pinsky4bridge@earthlink.net.

 

            The first item of note was that the Board voted to create a committee of Management and tournament directors to discuss a paradigm of TD’s future structures.  (Paradigm: a typical example, pattern, or model of something).  This was induced by a need to make sure the ACBL is in compliance with all Department of Labor guidelines as it pertains to work schedule and compensation for some tournament directors. 

 

            Next the Board approved the second reading of the Masterpoint Formula.

  The masterpoint structure is reviewed every five years by the Board.  The main items that effect Clubs are:

  1. The replacing all Unit Games with one class of Unit Championship and increase the number of games from 16 to 24 with a fee of $1.25 per table; 
  2. The replacing of all Unit or District Charity Games with one class of Fund or Foundation games with a maximum of 4/year per unit and 4/year per District; 
  3. Increase the Swiss match awards to 0.015/board at club rated events and 0.02 /board at club championship events;

4.  Increase the maximum allowable overall award at an open club rating point, or an internet club game to 2.5 at 0.10 per table; and

5.  Add a cap to all special fund / foundation games of 6.0 masterpoints.  I will discuss Knockouts next month.

 

            As for honors for our bridge players, Peggy and John Sutherlin were appointed as the 2008 Honorary Member of the Year and District 23's good friend and supporter, Ken Monzingo was appointed as the 2007 Volunteer Member of the Year.

 

            Finally, regarding bidding conventions, the Board defeated a motion to allow  any defense to a 1 NT opening bid as a general chart convention and referred to the Competitions and Conventions Committee a motion to allow Wide Range No Trump Openings for Mid Chart competition. 

 

            I will report some additional actions by the Board next month.

 

IT IS A DIFFERENT VIEW FROM DUMMY

           

            I was elected as treasurer of the Educational Foundation during our San Francisco meeting.  I would therefore be remiss if I did not report that the ACBL Educational Foundation now as its own game designation in ACBLScore.  Special games to benefit the Educational Foundation may be held in lieu of or in addition to the current special fund games:

 Junior, Charity and International Fund Games.  The Educational Foundation games award masterpoints at 100% sectional black.  Minimum donation is $4.00 per table.  The donation will be included with the monthly club report.  An Educational Fund Game cannot be held during the months of February, April or September as those months are designated for Juniors, Charity and International.  The ACBL Educational Foundation is a charitable trust fund established as a nonprofit organization in 1987.  The Foundation provides grants to promote bridge.