Volume LXIX Number 1 FRESNO WINTER SECTIONAL PRESIDENT’S DAY WEKEND February 17-20, 2017 We’re doing things a little bit different this year. We’re ending the sectional on Monday, President’s Day. Most of the schedule is the same as usual, except that the tournament starts on Friday instead of Thursday. Friday has open and 499er games at 9 am and 1:30 p.m., plus Fast Pairs at 6 pm. Saturday morning at 10 am has a 199er game and on open game. Members with under 10 points play free on Saturday morning. All other games have open and 499er sections. Swiss teams are on Sunday as usual. Check the flyer for game times on Sunday and Monday. Life Masters may play in the 499er games as long as they have under 500 points. If you need a partner, contact Mary Lou Pease at 559-288-2340 or marylou121@comcast.net. PLACES and FACES At the Palm Springs regional, Cynthia Tingey, Judy Nibler, Rhonda Hampton, and Renee Laquerriere were second in the Compact KO teams, Bracket 6. Jay Roll was third in Bracket 2 KO teams and seventh in the afternoon Swiss teams. Congratulations! Paul Mertens and Paul Messner are now Silver Life Masters. Karin Blanchard is now a regional master. Nick Gullo is a sectional master. Jonel Mueller is now a club master. Nancy Swanson is now a junior master. Congratulations to those advancing in rank. Welcome to new member Julia Kendall! Our condolences to Bob Giragosian whose mother Margaret Giragosian passed away in November. Sympathy is also extended to all Margaret’s family. She played often at the bridge center after she and her husband retired. Bob started playing bridge in Fresno, and continues playing bridge in Bakersfield and in tournaments when he can. Our condolences also go to the family of Nancy Honeywell. She and her husband Jim played every week in Madera for many years, until Jim passed away a few years ago. CLUB NEWS Leaders in Oakhurst for December are Ken Doig, Claire Molnar, T. Srinivasan, Burke Zane, and Karen McCartin. Madera leaders were Carol Kaufman and Barbara Diebert, followed by Larry and Gay Slates. Gay Nelson is the top player for 2016, followed by Carol Kaufman, Barbara Diebert, and Mary Gullo. Bob Durbrow leads at the Fresno Bridge Center for November, followed by Ray April, Mark Stern, and Maggie Mahaffey. Ray still leads for 2016, followed by Mark Stern and Victor Greener. Marilyn Kendall was the top 99er for November, followed by Barbara Brock, and Judy Pardun. Debbie Kemp is the top 99er for 2016, followed by Kathryn Miller and Beverly Little. We had sectional tournament at club games at most of our clubs in December. Mark Stern won six games in a row, and finished high in the auxiliary pairs. The overall places are in brackets below. | FREE LESSONS We’re starting a series of nine free lessons, starting at 9 am on Saturday January 14. Please let your friends know. We have flyers that can be passed out to any groups you know. This is the first time we’ve offered a whole series of lessons free. We hope you can help bring many people to learn our fascinating game. UNIT NEWS At the annual meeting in December, all board members were reelected. The amended by-laws were approved. The first Unit board meeting of 2017 will be Sunday, January 29, 2017, at 11 am. District 21 charity has awarded $5,000 to the Valley Teen Ranch of Fresno. We thank D21 on behalf of the Valley Teen Ranch. REPORT from the JUDICIARY CHAIR By Don Austin As some of you may know, Unit 522 had to convene a judiciary hearing last year. A player was… well the only way to say it is that this player was rude. This involved a violation of the ACBL rules of conduct. The player has been suspended from play in all ACBL events for 30 days. The Board of Directors has long been discussing ways to improve the temperament of our games. One of the complaints about showing traveling scores on the bridge pads was that players would gloat about winning hands as the game progressed. Some players stopped playing at the club because they did not like even this level of rudeness. Additionally, we consistently hear from beginning players that they are intimidated by advanced players in open games; not so much from the better play, but by some less than gracious players. If we want to keep this center alive, we must encourage new and continuing players by being kind and friendly. So let’s make it our practice: when new (and well known) players come to your table, please greet them nicely. When the dummy’s hands come down, say thank you. When the round is over, complement your opponents and thank them for the game. If someone is rude, tell the director, either immediately or between rounds, depending on the severity. Of course, if there is a question of play, call the director immediately; but PLEASE BE NICE. If you have questions about the ACBL rules of conduct, check out the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations (CDR) on the ACBL Website. I will also try to answer any questions you might have. DISTRICT 21 Those who qualified for the NAP finals may play in Mountain View or Burlingame. Flight A plays in Mountain View on January 21 and 22. Flight C plays on January 22. Flight B plays in Burlingame on Saturday, February 4. Grand National Team play starts February 11 and 12 for the Open Flight and Flight C, with pre-registration due on February 1. Flight B stars in March. Flight A starts in April. All flights require only preregistration. See the District 21 website for more information. |
WINNERS UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP 1 Mun Takeda - Allyson Farrell 2 Mark Stern - Victor Greener 1A Richard Meffley - Robert Durbrow 2/3A1/2B Laura Da Costa - Ray April 2/3A1/2B1C Cynthia Tingey - Sheila Smith 3B Al Crane - Susan Spears 2C Mary Lou Pease - Kay Chrisman 1A Mark Stern - Sally Anne Stern 2A Skip Miller - Cynthia Tingey 3A1B Gerry Jones - Ray April 2B Patricia Creede - Ruth Christensen STAC Barbara Thacker - Ray April Margaret Mahaffey - Mark Stern Mark Stern - Sally Anne Stern [2 Aux] Susan Vildosola - Peter Weber [6 Aux] Mark Stern - Gerard Laquerriere [19] David Haberstich - Mark Stern[1Aux] Naguib Abdallah – Victor Greener[2Aux] Mark Stern - Lowell Gist Belva Quattrin - Mark Stern[30] Mark Stern - Sally Anne Stern[3A Aux] Belva Quattrin - Robert Durbrow [6A Aux] Jay Roll - Richard Meffley [1 Aux] Judy Zimmerer - Irene Whelchel[22] Margaret Mahaffey - Monique Irion Don Austin - Marion Austin [B] Mary Lou Pease - Jane Bragg [B][1C Aux] Laura Da Costa - Carol Miller [B] Cynthia Tingey - Judy Zimmerer [B] Laura Da Costa - Sally Anne Stern [B] Olivia Stockton - Diana Papazian [B][41C] Janice Crossland - Pat Huston [B] Steve Sharp - Judy Dodd [B] Gay & Larry Slates [4B Aux] Carol Kaufman – Barbara Diebert [4B Aux] Suzanne Graham - Paul Boyd [C] Julie Wilson - Gerry Jones [C] Jeff Nevins – Jim Sweet [6C Aux] 750 STAC Mary Ann Clark - Beverly Little Sandra Beebe - Judy Pardun [C] Don Myers - Doris Myers June E. Weber - Fran Beazley [C] Pat Huston - Nancy Holley Debbie Kemp - Marge Field [B] Linda Town - Barbara Wiedel Sandy OwYoung-Chu - Mary Claire Ewing [C] 99er STAC Marge Field - Nancy Jones Kathryn Miller - Ann Sadler [B] Jeff Nevins - Andrea Wheeless [B] Cheryl Johnson - Karen Matthews [B] MEMBERSHIP 1ABCMary Ann Florio - Mike Florio 2AB Irene Whelchel - Laura Neville 3AB Robert Durbrow - Bob Cross 2C Skip Miller - Cynthia Tingey 1A Naguib Abdallah - Victor Greener 2A Gerard Laquerriere - Ethan Ronat 3A Elaine Chan - Mike Mezin 1B Lowell Gist - Anthony Toto 2B1C Paul Messner - Jane Bragg 2C Mary Lou Pease - Angelina Heisdorf | UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP 1A Robert Durbrow - Lowell Gist 2A1B Mary Lou Pease - Sally Anne Stern 3/4A Mark Stern - David Haberstich 3/4A2B Patrick Carroll - Anthony Toto CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 1A Laura Da Costa - Margaret Mahaffey 2/3A1/2B Mary Lou Pease - Sheila Smith 2/3A1/2B Carol Rodder - George Dalition 1A Lowell Gist - Robert Durbrow 2A1B Laura Da Costa - Ray April 3A2B1C Don Austin - Marion Austin 3B2C Mary Lou Pease - Sally Anne Stern 1A Jim Mckoane - Laura Neville 2A Rose Boot - Margaret Mahaffey 3/4A1/2BC George Dalition - Delia Green 3/4A1/2BC Jay Shapiro - Judy Dodd 3B Kent Billeter - Sydney Bluestone 750 CHAMPIONSHIP 1AB Kathleen Coit - William Coit 2AB Mary Ann Clark - Beverly Little 3AB1C Don Myers - Doris Myers 2C Therese Grootendorst - Edward Grootendorst 3C Joan De Yager - June E. Weber OAKHURST WINNERS Al Ellis - Diane McDonough Burke Zane - T. Srinivasan (4) Karen McCartin - Paul Mertens (2) Judy Bingham - Nancy Hays Annette Calhoun - Sharon McCoy Betty and Curt Gross Ken Doig - Jim Luther (2) Martha Robrahn- Deborah Hall SPECIAL Skip Miller - Barbara Thacker Margaret Mahaffey - Mark Stern Ray April - Laura Da Costa Steve Sharp - Ray April Gary Nelson – Richard Meffley Carol Kaufman – Barbara Diebert Mun Takeda - Gerard Laquerriere Margaret Mahaffey - Jay Shapiro Steve Sharp - Laura Neville [B] Delia Green - George Dalition [B] Jim Mckoane - Laura Neville [B] Irene Whelchel - Monique Irion [B] Deb Petersen - Cynthia Tingey [B] Laura Da Costa - Carol Miller [C] George Dalition - Sheila Smith [C] George Dalition - Judy Dodd [C] 99 Suzie Karp - Barbara Gaudin [2] June Oeser - Juli Kendall |