Aces, places, & faces

PRO-AM TEAMS
September 24, 2017
We’ll have the third Pro-Am team game of the year on the last Sunday of September. Com
e early so we can pick a team for you and serve you hot dogs with the trimmings.
 
PLACES AND FACES
Farid Assemi and Richard Meffley finished second in the team game and seventh in the pair game at the San Mateo sectional.  Belva Quattrin is now a Sapphire Life Master. Judy Pierre is now a junior master.  Congratulations!
Victor Greener has retired and plans to move to Nevada this month. We’ll miss him. We wish him well.
 
Our condolences go to the family and friends of Martha Waller, who recently passed away.
Our condolences also go to the family of Marlene McCready, who passed away in July.
 
NON-LM SECTIONAL
Attendance at this year’s Non-LM sectional was the best in years, averaging just under 10 tables per session. It was better than a NonLM sectional held in San Jose the same weekend. Congratulations to top master point winners Rene Laquerriere and Rhonda Hampton. Jackie Finn organized the hospitality for the tournament. Thanks to everyone who participated in the NLM sectional Everyone brought great dishes to make the tournament a success. Jackie thanks Anthony Toto for helping her out, as well as Deb Petersen. It was lots of work,  with good rewards.
  
FALL SECTIONAL
OCTOBER 20-22
It’s not too early to make plans to play in our fall sectional next month. Friday and Saturday we have open games at 10 am and 2 pm, with 499er games each session except Saturday morning.  For Saturday morning, we have a 199er game instead, free for members with fewer than 10 master points. Sunday is Swiss team day, with open and 499er teams playing two sessions starting at 10 am, with lunch included.
 
CLUB NEWS
               Top winners in Oakhurst for August were Claire Molnar, Burke Zane, Karen McCartin, Ken Doig, Paul Mertens, and Jim Luther. Gary Nelson and Richard Meffley were the top players in Madera for August, followed by Mary Gullo and Barbara Diebert. Gary leads for 2017, followed by Richard, Barbara, and Carol Kaufman.
Maggie Mahaffey leads at the Fresno Bridge Center for July, followed by Mark Stern, Bob Durbrow, and Belva Quattrin. Mark lead for 2017, followed by Maggie and Ray April.
Debbie Kemp is the top 99er for July, followed by Judy Pierre and Beth Matheny. Beverly Little leads for 2017, followed by Debbie Kemp and Marilyn Kendall.

There are lots of Club and Unit Championships this month. Check the calendar for the schedule, and pick up a few extra points this month.

LATE BREAKING CHARITY NEWS
At the District 21 board meeting during the Santa Clara regional, it was announced that our nominee, Camp Sunshine Dreams, will receive one of the charity awards of $1,000.  We are pleased that we can nominate a deserving charity for a D21 award.

WINNERS
 
NLM SECTIONAL SATURDAY MORNING
1ABC  Jonel Mueller - Rita Gladding
2ABC  Margot Cegielski - Myles Johnson
3A       Rhonda Hampton - Renee Laquerriere
3B        Marge Field - Joan Fritz
3C        Karen Matthews - Cheryl Johnson

NLM SECTIONAL SATURDAY AFTERNOON
1ABC  Myles Johnson - Edward Hampton
2ABC  MaryClaire Ewing - Sandy OwYoung-Chu
3AB     Don Austin - Marion Austin
3C        Helen Smades - Mark Smith
 
NLM SECTIONAL SUNDAY MORNING
1AB     Sherrie Barakatt - Michael Saeler
2AB     Joan De Yager - Marsha Infausto
3/4A    Renee Laquerriere - Rhonda Hampton
3/4A3B1C       Karen Matthews - Cheryl Johnson
2C        MaryClaire Ewing - Sandy OwYoung-Chu
 
NLM SECTIONAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON
1A       Deb Petersen - Barbara Wiedel
2A       Renee Laquerriere - Rhonda Hampton
3A1B   Don Austin - Marion Austin
2B        Patricia Creede - Marva White
3B1C   MaryClaire Ewing - Sandy OwYoung-Chu
2C        Jeff Nevins - Andrea Wheeless
3C        Jonel Mueller - Rita Gladding
 
PRO-AM TEAMS
½`Robert Durbrow - Anthony Toto - Jane Bragg - Marion Austin
 ½ Belva Quattrin - Mary Lou Pease - Don Austin - Marge Field
3 Al Crane - Carol Kaufman - Karin Blanchard - Barbara Diebert
 
NAP QUALIFIER
1A       Anthony Toto - Margaret Mahaffey
2A       Barbara Thacker - Michael Molinari
3A       Gerard Laquerriere - Mark Stern
1B        Laura Da Costa - Jason Mcalexander
2/3B     Don Austin - Marion Austin
2/3B     Mary Lou Pease - Sally Anne Stern
 
UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
1ABC  Dick Powell - Avis Morse
2ABC  Laura Da Costa - Ray April
3A       Margaret Mahaffey - Barbara Thacker
3B        Mark Stern - Sally Anne Stern
 
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1A       Howard Arquette - Margaret Mahaffey
2A       Mark Stern - William Glass
3A       Belva Quattrin - Robert Durbrow
1BC     Delia Green - Jackie Finn
2B        Sheila Smith - Gerry Jones
3B2C   Olivia Stockton - Annie Chiljian
3C        Gloria Fitzgerald - Karin Blanchard

LESSONS
Easybridge beginning lessons start again at 9am on September 16.  Let your friends know so they can learn how to play one of the best games ever.  For those who finished the first Easybridge session, we are also offering the second EasyBridge series at the same time. Call Laura Da Costa at 999-2825 or Mary Lou Pease at 288-2340 for more information.

TREASURER’S REPORT
Don Austin
I can report that it looks like we have a resolution to our financial dilemma on the horizon. But since the terms are not “inked” as of the end of this month, the board of directors is not ready to share details at this time. Once it is final, word will go out. I can say that if it goes as expected, it will allow us to continue as a sound ACBL unit for the foreseeable future.
To be a successful unit, the board has had to make difficult decisions. We have put our resources into those efforts that will build our membership and club. For example, despite our financial distress, the unit subsidized the Tuesday morning open game for several years. One may think that because we have space, any time a game is played, it is good for us. That is just not the case. Unfortunately, the terms of our current lease limit the amount of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) we can use.  The notion that we have free space at any time to use for games is incorrect. The games we have each month fit exactly into the HVAC requirements set by the landlord.  
Games “owned” by the unit that have fewer than four tables on a regular basis are a financial drain on the unit. The fee structure is that the unit pays the director a fixed fee to run and market (making phone calls to get players) these “unit owned” games. The unit also pays for refreshments and ACBL fees. These expenses leave little or nothing to help pay the rent. 
If an individual director “owns” the sanction (franchise) from ACBL, they receive either less or more than the fixed fee depending on how successful they are at getting players to attend. If the game is small, the club owner is more a volunteer than a business owner. With our current financial situation, the unit does not have the luxury of being a volunteer running low attendance games. At one time, all the games but Sunday afternoon were run by “business owners,” and the unit just provided a place for all to play.
 The board has tried to find a director to “own” the Tuesday morning game and risk improving the game to make a profit. But no one is willing to take the risk. If the players or a member wanted to subsidize the game, I am sure the unit would support their effort and help find a director or even help train a new director. Otherwise, this low attendance game is a financial drain on the unit.
  The board has decided the money being spent to subsidize a game for a dozen advanced players will not help grow the club. Most of those players have found other times to play. Instead, we are going to use a portion of the HVAC time previously allocated to that losing game to conduct lessons for new players. We hope that this will pay off in the long term to build a stronger club, bringing in new players. As new players get confident to play in open games, then perhaps there will be enough demand to restart the Tuesday morning game.  
Instead of being sad about the closing of a game, encourage people you know to come to the Tuesday morning or Saturday morning lessons. We are trying to build a better unit. 
            

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1          Don Austin - Marion Austin
2/4       Beth Matheny - Judy Pierre
2/4       Margaret Mahaffey - Steve Sharp
2/4       Mary Ann Florio - Mike Florio
 
1A       Rose Boot - William Glass
2/3A1B            Robert Cherry - Stephen Blumberg
2/3A    Victor Greener - Skip Miller
2B        Gerry Jones - Laura Da Costa
3B        Robert Durbrow - Sheila Smith
 
99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
1`         Steve Johnson - Margot Cegielski
2          Cheryl Johnson - Laurie Harrington
 
1          Margot Cegielski - M. Steve Johnson
2          June Oeser - Alan Sakamoto
 
OAKHURST WINNERS
Burke Zane - T.Srinivasan
Karen McCartin - Claire Molnar (2)
Burke Zane - Claire Molnar
Judy Bingham - Martha Robrahn
Ken Doig - Claire Molnar (2)
Karen McCartin - Paul Mertens
Burke Zane - Corey Cole
 
SPECIAL LINDA'S BIRTHDAY  
Robert Durbrow - Sheila Smith
Laura Neville - Laura Da Costa
Carol Miller - Mary Gullo[B]
Al Crane - Sally Anne Stern [B]
George Efthemon - Linda Coppersmith [C]
 
SPECIAL
Gerry Jones - Sheila Smith
Gerard Laquerriere - Joseph Fox
George Dalition - Kent Billeter
Jay Roll - Robert Durbrow
Sheila Smith - Cynthia Tingey
John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott
Barbara Thacker - Skip Miller [B]
 
750 SPECIAL
Sue Gearhart - Paul Boyd
Jerry F. Noga - John Hempel
Mary Ann Clark - Mary Gullo
Gay Berry - Kathleen Coit
Patricia Creede - Sandy OwYoung-Chu [B]
Sandra Beebe - Judy Pardun [C]
Judy Geary - Carol Willoughby [C]
Kathryn Miller - Mary Claire Ewing [C]
99ER SPECIAL
Walt Kelso - Alvin Fred Schellack
Barbara Gaudin - Julia Kendall
Alan Sakamoto - June Oeser
Walt Kelso - Alvin Fred Schellack