Announcements

It seems like a life-time ago that we were all playing at the club. Clearly it will be some time before we are back over there. Until then, we have Virtual Club. We are fortunate that ACBL created Virtual Club. It is the way we will be able to pay the rent and keep the building which means keeping bridge. The funds that were contributed by so many players to the special fund set up by the Unit would have been soon exhausted given how long this is all going. So “Thanks” to ACBL and “Thanks” to all the folks who have been playing in Virtual EBC.

There is no way of predicting when we will be able to open. Fall of 2021? Right now hard to imagine that it will be sooner than that.

We are adding another game. Sunday evening at 6:30.

The Saturday morning game will be 20 boards. Some folks have requested that we play more boards. Others much prefer the 18. So let’s add a couple of extra boards to the Saturday morning game as a start.

Please remember that you have to self-alert in Virtual. If you are not comfortable with this, check with us. It’s easy-peasy.

We miss all of you. Stay well. Stay safe.

Play slam hands on Sunday, July 5 at 1:00pm. Go to the BBO free tournaments area to find Ellen’s session.

Here is an update from Carol Schmitz.

It is now 3-1/2 months since we were all able to play bridge face to face.  I was just getting to know everyone!!  How times have changed – and will remain changed for some time to come.

As the newest member of EBC and the Unit 479 Board, I can’t tell you how impressed I am with how everyone has rallied to save this club with your donations.  I know Don and Sherri have expressed their appreciation for everything everyone has done to keep this club alive – and now to keep us playing online on BBO.

As Treasurer of the Unit, I wanted to give everyone an update on where we stand with regard to donations and expenditures toward this effort. I have received checks for the “save bridge” fund in the amount of $8,700.60 as of last week.   I reimbursed EBC for operating expenses of $1,068.59 for April and $1,035.60 for May.

EBC said they made enough money from online games for June that they were able to cover their overhead expenses with an excess of $576.  This is great news for them and for the general membership.

Bottom line is we have a “rainy day” fund of $6,596.41 from your generous donations.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments,

Congratulations to Toni Brown and Carol Schaafsma who were the Overall winners of our inaugural 500 MP game Monday evening. Ned and Bev were winners the other direction. We had a nice 7-table turnout. Next week, same time, same bat channel.

Here is Kim’s address. 950 7th St. Springfield, OR. 97477. Spoke with him Friday evening and he is doing well though gets tired easily…as to be expected. He is looking forward to playing online one of these days.

We are sure you have received the notice from ACBL that all Sectionals and Regionals are cancelled through the end of the year. This was not an easy call for them to make though we think it is a reasonable one.

There are a few clubs around the country opening back up. To us, that seems very premature. We would all love to be back at the tables, but we are not expecting that until well into 2021. David Brower from the Portland Bridge Club said he wasn’t expecting to open before the fall of 2021.

Until then, we have EBC Virtual. We are fortunate that ACBL has created this venue. Without it, we would have no source of income to pay monthly expenses. The money that was contributed to the Unit’s special support fund helped with expenses until we were able to get Virtual EBC up and running. If table counts hold, right now we are self-supporting. This means that some amount of those funds that were contributed can remain as a “Rainy Day” cushion since none of us clearly knows what is down the road.

We would expect that the Board would provide an accounting of amount of money collected, expenses to-date and current status of the special account.

We are grateful for all those who are playing in the Virtual games.

We miss seeing all of you. Stay safe…and healthy.