THE SHANGHAI INCIDENT

The “Shanghai Incident” is a headline that appears on the United States Bridge Federation website (usbf.org). At the closing ceremony (October 13, 2007) for the World Bridge Team Championships (sponsored by the World Bridge Federation) in Shanghai, China, a member of the winning United States Venice Cup team held up a sign that read “We did not vote for Bush.” This incident has generated substantial dialogue throughout the bridge community with some people expressing support or this action and some people condemning the action.

Jurisdiction for the World Bridge Federation is with the United States Bridge Federation. On October 15th, the Board of the USBF meet and the minutes of their meeting included the following:

It was agreed that a letter of regret will be written to the resident of the Chinese Contract Bridge Association and to Mr. Jose Damiani, President of the World Bridge Federation regarding the incident at the Closing Ceremonies on Saturday, October 13, 2007 in Shanghai when the US Women’s team received their gold medals and remained on stage during the playing of the US National Anthem while holding a sign “we did not vote for Bush.” This letter of regret will be written by Jan Martel and approved by an e-mail vote of the full board. The board also agreed that these Minutes could be approved by e-mail vote and they have been so approved. The board further agreed to meet again next week to discuss this incident.

At the October 18th meeting the USBF passed the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the United States Bridge Federation (USBF) make a Complaint against the members of the 2007 Venice Cup USA 1 team (Hansa Narasimhan, Jill Levin, Irina Levitina, Jill Meyers, Debbie Rosenberg, JoAnna Stansby and Gail Greenberg, nonplaying captain) regarding their behavior at the Closing Ceremonies of the World Bridge Federation World Championships in Shanghai, China. Such complaint shall be forwarded to the USBF President requesting that she charge the members with violation of Section IV.A.10 of the USBF Grievance, Appeals and Disciplinary Procedures (“Actions unbecoming a member...”) and requesting that a timely hearing on the charge be held under Section IV.B.2 of the Procedures. The Board agreed that a hearing committee of non-board members should be appointed and that these charges should be heard, if at all possible, at the 2007 Fall NABC.

Finally, at the October 25th meeting, the USBF as reported in their minutes took the following action; Rose Meltzer, chairman of the GAC reported that in accordance with our procedures, she has formed a Hearing Panel to hear the charges against the Venice Cup USA1 team. The panel is: Rhoda Walsh (Chair), Wafik Abdou, Peter Boyd, Kitty Cooper and Nadine Wood. Only one of the members of the standing Grievance & Appeals Committee (Wafik Abdou) was eligible to hear this matter, all of the other members having conflicts. Therefore, Meltzer asked the Board to appoint four (4) temporary members of the Grievance & Appeals Committee to substitute for members who were ineligible. The Board appointed Rhoda Walsh, Peter Boyd, Kitty Cooper and Nadine Wood as temporary members of the Grievance & Appeals Committee.

I am informed that this committee will meet in San Francisco.

Finally, a motion has been submitted to the Marketing Commitee of ACBL Board for discussion in San Francisco which states: “The month set aside for International Fund Games be canceled and clubs may run any special games that they want that month, including International Fund Games.”

I think that this motion was a result from the incident discussed above. I believe that the USBF should be given an opportunity to handle this matter pursuant to their charter. Further, I am not ready to penalize the entire USBF program for the actions of a few. I will report the results of the hearing next month.