From Susie Leo:
Hi 349ers,
Saturday, April 20 is the Unit game. Betsy, Joyce and I will be providing fabulous food! (At least the first 2 will be fabulous. I will do my best!)
Please email me if you want to reserve your spot in the back room for your 349er game. As usual, we will need enough people to make a game back there.
John Wolf’s Report from Recent Board Meeting
Members:
The unit board met via zoom on August 16, 2020.
Our last in person meeting was on March 8, 2020. We have had three email meetings: on March 19, to officially cancel the 299 tournament scheduled in April; on March 25, to agree on setting up the Save Bridge fund; and on April 16 to officially cancel the Eugene Sectional scheduled in June.
We have not been meeting regularly up until this August 16 meeting because there did not seem to be much, if anything, to meet about. But we did need to review the Save Bridge fund situation, set the date for the 2021 Eugene Sectional and determine how to handle the annual meeting currently set for February 7, 2021 in connection with an in-person two-session bridge event at Shadow Hills. Here is what was decided about these items:
SAVE BRIDGE FUND
This fund has received about $8830 and paid out to Emerald Bridge Club (EBC) a total of about $2100. The last payment was in May. Payments have not been needed since May because the on-line games have covered EBC’s expenses. The current balance in the fund is $6726.41. At least one member has asked about returning some of these remaining funds. The board is still concerned about the viability of bridge going forward as there are unknowns, about how well, on-line bridge will do going forward, and whether expenses will remain low. For example the landlord has given a big reduction in rent up to now but that could change. The board looks at the fund as insurance for the future. However the board did decide to allow anyone who would like a return of a pro rata portion of their donation, to make a request through our treasurer Carole Schmitz. Attached to this email is a summary of the Save Bridge Fund and the procedure for requesting a return of money through Carole.
ANNUAL MEETING
I think it is safe to say that the board is not optimistic about being able to have an in-person meeting and bridge game on February 7, 2021. Shadow Hills allows us to cancel the meeting so long as we do it by January 7, 2021. So we have time to see what happens. Whether or not an in-person event can be held, our by-laws require an annual membership meeting prior to April 1 of next year for the purpose of nominating and voting for open board positions. Guidance from ACBL tells us that the meeting can be via zoom or a similar method. There are four members whose terms are up in February of 2021: John Wolf, Carole Schmitz, Dave Partridge and Denise Cox. Five members terms continue into their second year: Carl Scheffler, Joyce Spence, Diane Bricker, Ali Amory and Betsy Ovitt.
The by-laws provide for the board to nominate a slate of candidates and for the opportunity for additional nominations to be made by members at the annual meeting. As an alternative to doing this, Bing Kibby who is the past president of, and non-voting member of the board suggested that due to the unusual year we are experiencing and due to the lack of unit games, and sectionals, that we just keep the same board intact for another year. Essentially he suggests adding one year to each present board member’s term. Bing wrote up an explanation of his suggestion which is attached to this email. The board seemed receptive to Bing’s idea but only if there was general support from the membership. Bing’s proposal would still require a membership meeting and also a one-time amendment to the by-laws to allow the extension of all board terms by one year.
WE WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK ON BING’S PROPOSAL. Do you like the idea or should we stick with the method provided in the by-laws? Please contact any member with your feedback. The board members are listed on the CC line above.
OTHER MATTERS
We have scheduled unit board meetings, via zoom, for the 2nd Sunday of the next four months. The dates are Sept 13, October 11, November 8, and December 13. If you would like to attend any of those meeting let me know and I will send you the link a few days before the meeting.
Also all unit board meeting minutes and the unit by-laws can be found on the unit website which can be accessed through the EBC website.
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
John Wolf
Unit 479 Board President
Kim Larson
We have some great medical news to share. Kim had open heart surgery on Tuesday. He had a valve replacement and coronary artery bypass. The folks in the operating room said Kim was the healthiest patient they have ever had. The surgery went very well and Kim is doing great. You can text him at 541.520.8807.
Lois Fisher and Janne Davis
News from Don:
Most of you know “the sisters,” Lois and Janne (Fisher & Davis). I have spoken with both of them. They are doing well, sort of. Lois is now living at The Springs and she is not real excited about that. I am sure they would both enjoy hearing from folks. Janne is 541.461.1847 and Lois is 541.338.8689.
I also checked in with Norma. (541.607.2325). As you know, she is at Terpening Terrace. Norma would love to hear from folks. She is in sort of perpetual lock-down. She has to go out for an eye appointment once a month. When she comes back from that, she has to quarantine in her room for at least two weeks. Not ideal. She sounds like she is doing well in spite of it all. Of course, she expresses how much she misses all of us and being able to be at the tables.
Bill Matthews had a brief stay at Southtown for a short rehab situation and he is now back home. He expresses that he is glad to be back home, of course. Bill tried playing online with Jeff K and he said it was just too much. He got too confused, even with Sharron (Wife Sharron) trying to help him. It was just a little sad hearing it. Bill’s number is 541.1854.
McKenzie is offering to do a series of five talks aimed at the 199er+ crowd. For sure, all are welcome. There is a $10 fee. The topics Mac is going to present are:
Be a Better Partner
Wednesday, Feb. 14th at 9:30Should I Draw Trumps?
Friday, Feb. 16th at 1:30Make Better Opening Leads
Wednesday, Feb 28th at 9:30Do I have a good hand?
Friday, March 1st at 1:30Matchpoint Strategies
Wednesday, March 6th at 9:30Q&A
Friday, March 8th at 1:30Here’s a little background on McKenzie.
From Don and Sherri:
The session will be from 9-12 and the cost will be $10.
It is open to all. The target audience is somewhere in that intermediate zone. I think the only folks who might not have the best time would be very new players.
For those who are not familiar with this format, here is how it works. We select hands from The Common Game archive that we think are interesting and have teaching value. All tables bid and play the same board and we then put it up on the white board and discuss the bidding, opening lead, defense and how the hand could/should have been played. Each board takes about 20-30 minutes depending on how the discussion goes. We generally get around six boards played and discussed.
We have handouts on each hand.
Contact us with any questions. We will want to have folks sign-up. So, let us know if you plan to attend. We will have sign-up sheet at the club.
About Irva Kay:
We are very fortunate that Irva has volunteered her time for this event. Irva is a championship bridge player, winning the Senior Mixed Pairs event at the 2021 Fall ACBL nationals, playing with Roger McNay from Portland. You can read more about that here.
Bridge at 9:30am with a potluck and sharing afterward.
Maurelle Foster is a new NABC Master.
Cornelia Wonham is a new Life Master.
Sundra Malcolm is new Ruby Life Master.
Congratulations to all!
And be sure to check out this month’s Mini McKenney/Ace of Clubs standings.
Mark your calendars for our annual unit election and party on Saturday, February 17 at 9:30am.
To express its appreciation to all EBC members, the unit will hold a free bridge game followed by a free pizza lunch. Annual election of board members and officers will also be held.
Don’t miss this special event!
From Rebecca regarding marylou Bert:
I have been communicating with Vicki Fine about marylou who has been in ill health for the past several weeks. She recently has been diagnosed with spots on her lungs (which I assume may be cancer) and has decided against treatment so she is entering Hospice.
marylou is 93 now and you can understand her decision at this point in her life.
She loves getting cards so we are informing all her Bridge friends where she is receiving care. Could you pass the word along? marylou loves the EBC community and those of us who took lessons from her are forever grateful for her teaching.
Thanks so much!
Rebecca
marylou Bert
North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center
Room 232
4680 Cordata Parkway
Bellingham, WA. 98226
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