Aces, places, & faces

Volume LXXI No. 5
PEGGY OCHS MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 5, 2019
Every year on the first Sunday of May we remember our friends at the bridge club who passed away during the last year. One is our long time membership chairman and club director Maggie Mahaffey. She knew everyone at the club and always had nice words to say about those we honored on this day. Many of us remember Peggy Ochs, who treated the bridge club as her home and all the bridge players as her guests as she directed nearly every afternoon game and some evening games.
We’ll have a pot luck lunch at noon and a Unit Championship game at 1 pm.
 
THE LONGEST DAY
Friday June 21
For the past few years we’ve had a full day of bridge to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association on the longest day of the year. All over the country bridge clubs raised money for the Alzheimer’s Association. Last year we played from 6 am to past 10 pm and raised over $3,000. This year, plan to play bridge on Friday, June 21 as many times as you can.

CLUB NEWS
299er Game May 8
Mary Lou Pease and Laura Da Costa plan a new section on Wednesday afternoon for players with fewer than 300 master points, starting May 8. It will be a good time to play in the afternoon for those who don’t feel ready for the 750 games or the open games.
     Carol Kaufman was the top masterpoint winner in Madera, followed by Steve Johnson and Gay and Larry Slates. Steve Johnson is the top masterpoint winner so far for 2019, followed by Carol Kaufman, Barbara Diebert, and Gary Nelson. The Madera Bridge Club wishes well to Larry and Gay Slates, who are moving to Tennessee. They won their last game in Madera.
At the Fresno Bridge Center, Ray April was tops in March, followed by Victor Greener, Steve Johnson, and Laura Da Costa. Ray now leads for 2019, followed by Steve Johnson, Richard Meffley, and Victor Greener.
The top 99er for March was Ruby Butterick, followed by Fred Schellack. Pam Pigg leads for 2019, followed by Ann Keag, Cheryl Johnson, and Ruby Butterick.
Starting in June, the Friday evening game will begin at 6:30 pm
            The barbecue at the 75th Anniversary Party was very popular. We may have another barbecue in the future.
            A reminder: never make your own rulings at the table. If there is an irregularity – whether it be failing to follow suit or bidding out of turn, call the director. Let the director make the ruling. Also, if anyone’s behavior makes you uncomfortable, call the director to stop the behavior. We have a zero tolerance policy, but we cannot enforce it if we are not aware of problems. If you don’t call the director, you can fill out a recorder form.
            Be sure to join us Sunday, June 23 for our annual Graduation Party, where we honor new Life Masters, plus Ace of Clubs winners and MiniMcKenney winners.

 

WINNERS
UNIT 75TH ANNIVERSARY CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP
1AB     Mark Stern - Sally Anne Stern
2AB     Villa Vejvoda - Carol Carr
3A       Anthony Toto - Byron Steinert
3B        Victor Greener - Cynthia Tingey
1C        Rev. Jim H. Luther - Ken Sommers
2C        Kay Chrisman - Mary Lou Pease
3C        Barbara Wiedel - Kathryn Miller
 
UNIT 75TH ANNIVERSARY 299ER CHARITY
1A       Don Myers - Doris Myers
2A       Debbie Kemp - M. Steve Johnson
 3/4A1/2B        Rita Gladding - Jonel Mueller
 3/4A1/2B        Marilyn J. Kendall - Ruby Buttereck
 
ST. PATRICK'S UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
1A       Gerard Laquerriere - Mun Takeda
2A       Robert Durbrow - Belva Quattrin
3A1B   Mary Lou Pease - Kay Chrisman
2B        Avis Morse - Cynthia Tingey
3B        Ray April - Laura Da Costa
1C        Barbara Wiedel - Kathryn Miller
 2/3C    Jason Mcalexander - Debbie Kemp
 2/3C    Don Austin - Marion Austin
 
UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
1A       Mark Stern - Dave Haberstich
2AB     1Ray April - Laura Da Costa
3A2B   William Glass - Jason Mcalexander
 
UNIT 99ER CHAMPIONSHIP
1          Barbara Gaudin - Sandra White
2          Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn
 
MEMBERSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP
1A       Lowell Gist - Victor Greener
2A       Laura Da Costa - Ray April
3A1BC            Don Austin - Marion Austin
2BC     John McGregor - Patrick Carroll
3B        William Glass - George Dalition

MEMBERSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP
1AB                 Laura Neville - Ruth Christensen
2A                   Laura Da Costa - Ray April
3A2B1C          Pat Heckathorn - Brenda Ward
3B2C               Fred Schellack - Margot Cegielski

MUN’S LESSONS
Mun Takeda will again give lessons on Tuesday, May 7, at 9 am and Thursday, May 9, at 6 pm. This month she will explain Garbage Stayman, also known as Drop Dead Stayman. This variation of Stayman allows you to stop in a suit at the two level when your partner opens one No Trump, even when you have a very bad hand. You must let your partner know you’re playing it, or it could be a disaster.
 
BEGINNING LESSONS
Free beginning lessons resume on Saturday May 4 at 9 am. The lesson series will go through the end of July. Mary Lou Pease and Laura Da Costa will teach Easybridge 1 and Easybridge 2. Easybridge 1 is for those with little or no experience at bridge. Easybridge 2 is a continuation for those who took Easybridge 1 and those with more experience. Tell your friends that this is a great opportunity to learn to play bridge. If they can’t make the first week, Laura and Mary Lou will catch them up when they come. Call Mary Lou 288-2340 or Laura 999-2825 for more information.

PLACES AND FACES
At the San Diego regional, Steve Johnson and Debbie Kemp were fourth in 299er pairs.  Richard Meffley was second in the stratified pairs at the  Bakersfield sectional.
      Congratulations to new Silver Life Master, Sheila Smith. Also congratulations to new sectional master Cheryl Johnson, club masters Joann Hollenbeck, Catherine Wilkins, and Clint Hudson, plus new junior masters Bill Carroll and Jimmy Moore of Mariposa.
     Welcome to new member Ed Keller.We’re glad to see Peggy Oakshott is well, celebrating her 39th Anniversary with husband John, and ready to play bridge.

Treasurer’s report 
If you look at our Statement of Financial Position, (which in a for-profit corporation would be called the Balance Sheet) you will see something very interesting. Comparing the total assets for March 2019 to a year ago, March 2018, we are ahead of where we were. That is the first time we are showing marked improvement in our financial situation.
I wish I could say it was because more members are playing, but it is due to the fund raisers; Poker night and Mun’s lessons.
You will also find an anomaly on the Statement of Financial Income and Expenses (or as known in the for-profit world; the Profit and Loss Statement). Due to some confusion with deposits to the new bank, allocations between director and unit games was more difficult to sort out than it was worth. But the deposits were made and going forward, it should work easier.
Play nice, keep having fun playing bridge and remember that sectionals and The Longest Day are coming up soon.

CLUB CHAMPINSHIP
1A       Mark Stern - Dave Haberstich
2A       William Glass - Richard Meffley
3A1B   Villa Vejvoda - Lisa D'Arcy
2B1C   Irene Whelchel - Carol Rodder
3B2C   Peter Weber - Susan Vildosola
 3/4C    Olivia Stockton - Annie Chiljian
 3/4C    Sally Anne Stern - Carol Miller

OAKHURST WINNERS
Pearl McGinnis and Ken Doig
Judy Bingham and Ruthie Fruehauf [2]
Bill Carrol and Jimmy Moore
Karen McCartin and Claire Molnar
Ken Doig and T. Srinivasan
Corey Cole and Dana Brown
Ken Doig and Nancy Hays [2]
Jim Luther and Diane McDonough
Diane McDonough and Nancy Hays
Burke Zane and Ken Sommers
Paul Mertens and Karen McCartin

SPECIAL
Lowell Gist - Victor Greener
Gay Slates - Larry Slates
Gary Nelson - Barbara Diebert
Irene Whelchel - Ray April
Peter Weber - Susan Vildosola
Mun Takeda = Gerard Laquerriere
Barbara Thacker - Mark Stern
Lisa D'Arcy - Avis Morse[B]
Gay Slates - Larry Slates [B]
Steve Johnson - Carol Kaufman[B]
Irene Whelchel - Rosalie Jorgensen [B]
Rosalie Jorgensen - George Dalition [B]
Sandy OwYoung-Chu - Mary Claire Ewing [B]
Steve Johnson - Marilyn J. Kendall [C]
Annie Chiljian - Olivia Stockton[C]
 
750 SPECIAL
Joan De Yager - Marsha Infausto
Steve Johnson - Ruby Buttereck
Deb Petersen - Cynthia Tingey
Rita Gladding - Lois High
Steve Johnson - Ruby Buttereck [C]
 
99 SPECIAL
Ruby Buttereck - Brenda Ward
Julia Kendall - Tom Callahan [B]
 
99
Clint Hudson - Barbara Gaudin
Ed Keller - Margot Cegielski
Alvin Fred Schellack - Walt Kelso
Ed Keller - Margot Cegielski
Walt Kelso - Alvin Fred Schellack
Sandy Petrie - Pat Heckathorn [B]
Debbie Todd - Tim Woody[B]
Julia Kendall - Tom Callahan [C]