Inside the
Boardroom
with
Barbara Nist
Cincinnati was graced with every type of weather known during the spring NABC. We had everything from 75 degree sunshine to rain, sleet and even snow. Unfortunately there was construction going on so the bridge players had to go outside between playing sites. Local attendance picked up the last weekend and we were only about 200 tables below the projected table count. Quite a success.
Under the leadership of President Glenn Smith with our first
ever Vice-President Jim Kirkham the meetings ran quite smoothly. Jeffrey Polisner, League Council announced
that he would be leaving us after 15 years to take a position as Council to the
WBF.
Bob Lix, District
20, was re-elected for a one year term as Treasurer.
Chuck Wilkinson, District 10, was re-elected to a four year term as Pension Plan Trustee.
President Glenn Smith appointed the following:
Bart Bramley, Chairman; Chip Martel; Sol Weinstein; Howard
Weinstein; Richard Colker; and Fred Gittleman to the Competition and
Conventions Committee.
Percentage awards for KO’s are amended as follows:
1.
1.00 5. .30 9/12 .12
2.
.75 6. .25
3.
.55 7. .20
4.
.45 8. .15
In calculating the awards for KO’s other than bracketed
which play only 3 sessions, the formula will include an 80% factor to account
for the reduced number of sessions.
The 80% factor used in calculating the masterpoint award for
a second KO event starting when there is a concurrent KO event being conducted
is removed. The 80% age and/or gender
factor remains in effect.
There have also been some changes to the Bracketed Swiss
Teams, but not enough to make it attractive.
It still pays less than all forms of team event.
Management shall publicize the regulations regarding slow
play. Directors shall be instructed to
actively monitor slow play and to assess warnings and penalties for violations of these regulations. Another motion with no teeth in it.
The choice as to the number of boards played in regionally-rated prime-time knockout events at NABCs is up to the host organization. Management will make certain that the host organization’s selection is requested and implemented.
Sanctioned clubs may hold shortened regular open games with a minimum of 12 boards played. Masterpoints will be awarded at 80% of the award for open games. Sanction Fees will be the same as for open games.
A new event in which each participating ACBL SPC may name a champion in each category by means of a fair competition that is not necessarily the same for SPC to SPC. The type of event must be approved by Management. There is no national final. Therefore, we can have a Washington or Alaska state championship as well as a BC. Championship if desired. A complete set of conditions of contest is available.
Whenever the ACBL BOD or Executive Committee is considering holding a special event at a Regional or other District function, the District’s President and District Director must be notified as far in advance as possible. Such events must not be scheduled without the permission of the District.
Disciplined Players’ Masterpoint Sanctions
The ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations is revised, as appropriate, to indicate that whenever an ACBL player is suspended for one year or longer, as a result of ethical transgressions, removal of all or part of that player’s ACBL masterpoints shall be part of the sanction imposed.
As a minimum, all masterpoints won within 12 months of the date of the suspension takes effect shall be removed from the player’s record. As a maximum, all masterpoints won within 36 months of the date of suspension takes effect shall be removed.
Upon returning to ACBL players may be required to play in Flight “A”: events based upon their masterpoint holding at the time of their discipline.
On-line Bridge
Management is authorized to enter into and conclude an arrangement to offer an ACBL On-Line Bridge service provided that:
1. The policy requirements of the On-Line Bridge Committee are met. (Report is available on request.)
2. League Council first reviews the agreement for legal considerations.
3. Any cost expensed on an annual basis must not violate the established ACBL financial guidelines.
Annual World
Computer Bridge Championship
The ACBL’s Annual World Computer Bridge Championships may be held as part of the Mind Sports Olympiad, August 2000, or the WBF’s World Championships, or an NABCThe current allocation of $3,000 for this event is allowed for the WCBC activity.
Jack Zdancewicz, CFO reported that we should expect more red
ink, in the neighborhood of $250,000 this year. We are still within our financial “comfort zone”, but clearly
this is a trend that cannot continue.
The annual membership dues are increased effective January 1, 2001 from $30 to $31.50 US. Corresponding increases to be made in the other dues categories and service fees to preserve their current relationship to the regular annual membership dues level.
Those joining or rejoining ACBL after June 1, 2000 will pay
dues at the established first-year rate and at the full rate starting the
second year. When these players obtain
Life Master status, they will continue to pay the established rate with no
service fee differential.
This again seems that we have “taken something away,”
remember that this is only for those joining or rejoining after June 1st. Something has to be done regarding our
membership fee scale.
There are currently over 100 different amounts that can be
paid, US, Cdn, 1 to 3 yrs, 1st yr, Jr, and combinations of those and
others, it is an accounting nightmare.
First year ACBL dues for players who have never belonged
shall be $20. Both the ACBL Bulletin and
Better Bridge magazine will be sent the first month, and if the member doesn’t
indicate a preference, the Bulletin will be continued.
A motion that members of NCBO’s not within Zone II be exempted from the dollar per session non-member surcharge at NABCs was defeated 24 to1.
Funds provided to the local organization for implementation of activities and services have been raised $1 per table to $8, $7.50 or $7. depending upon location, regardless of the number of tables. The registration gift has been raised to: “from a minimum of $3 to a maximum of $5”. Gifts must still be approved by the meeting planner.
Starting with Summer 2001, the default starting time for
the prime-time sessions at NABCs for all events is 1 and 7:30 pm. Only under special conditions and with a 12
month advance notice can these times be changed.
Tournament Director Per Diem
The per diem rate charged for all non-con US locations of the US will be equal to but not greater than the highest con US rate.
Board of Directors
Per Diem
The per diem rate at Board meeting is broken down to 25%, 25% and 50%. Full per diem will be paid for the day of travel to and travel from the meetings. When a scheduled Board activity includes a meal the appropriate portion of per diem will not be paid.
Board of Directors Expense Reimbursement
The following guidelines for expense reimbursement for non-Board members and Board members traveling on ACBL business other than Board meetings and WBF meetings are:
1. No per diem will be paid, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
2. There will be no reimbursement for expense of guests.
Board of Directors
Meeting Expense
There were three motions to attempt to cut BOD meeting expenses.
The BOG motion that the BOD not be required to stay for the BOG meeting on Sunday failed because it was felt that any cost savings would be lost to airfare increases when eliminating the Saturday stay over rate.
I proposed two motions, both were amended but finally passed.
1. A motion to start all BOD meetings on Tuesday was amended to, “while the goal is to have shorter meetings, the actual length of each meeting will be determined by the ACBL President in consultation with Management”.
2. A motion to eliminate the costly catered lunches at BOD meetings was amended to, “may be discontinued in a particular city at the discretion of the ACBL President in consultation with the CEO and Meeting Planner”.
Actions of the February 11th Executive Committee meeting were ratified. The WBF had decided that the game scheduled
in Maastricht, Holland would not be an Olympiad World Championship event,
rather a Senior Cup game, therefore, the Executive Committee met to reconsider
actions taken by the BOD in Boston. A
majority vote approved the following issues:
1. Sending
a team to represent the US in Maastricht, Holland.
2. Paying
the $1400 entry fee with no additional subsidy.
3. Having
the team trials in Las Vegas.
Senior Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nevada starting June 20,
2000 and ending by June 24th.
Registration must be complete and teams on site by 10 pm Monday, June
19, 2000. $60 per team per
session. Any net proceeds will be given
as subsidy to the team to defray part of their expenses
The Fall 2000 Senior KO will determine the USA Senior Team
representation in the potential 2001 WBF Senior Championships. If the WBF awards unresticted masterpoints,
then a Senior ITT, administered by Management and self-supporting will be held
during the first half of 2001 to determine USA representation.
Subsidies to the 11th World Team Bridge Olympiad
will be as follows:
Entry fee for the USA Open and Women’s Teams and should the
net proceeds from the Senior Trial not cover the $1,400 entry fee, the balance
will be covered from the 2000 International Fund.
After payment of entry fees as stated above, the balance of
the 2000 International Fund will be divided equally between the members of the
Open and Women’s team. In no case will
the subsidy paid exceed actual expenses for hotel, airfare and per diem.
The ACBL will send a representative, selected by the Laws
Commission, to the WBF Laws Committee meetings in Maastricht this year. The ACBL will furnish a supersaver air
ticket, hotel room and per diem for not more than one week, if the
representative is not otherwise compensated by the WBF or the ACBL.
An additional $25 per team per session will be added to the entry fees of the WITT and ITT. These funds will go to the International Fund.
No pairs, as well as
the Rosenblum Teams or the McConnell Teams, will receive funds or
subsidies from the International Fund for the WBF World Pairs Championship.
The ACBL will send a USA team to the University Bridge
Championship in Maastricht. The funding
shall come from the Jr. Fund. No monies
may come from the general fund.
The conditions of contest for the Jr. Team Trials are
amended to allow teams of 4, 5, or 6.
There were several items deferred to Anaheim or later.
1. Management
will go on-line with the Bridge Bulletin and give membership the option of having
it on-line or a hard copy mailed.
2. WBF
has requested dues of $1. per ACBL member, juniors excluded, effective January
1, 2002.
3. Daily
qualifying in NABC+ events shall be between 40 and 50% at the discretion of the
DIC of the event. In no case will a
field be reduced to less than 40% of the field.
4. Contribution
of $1 per player per session for all NABC+ events will be deposited into the
International fund.
5. At
the conclusion of an auction using bidding boxes, the bids shall remain on the
table until the opening lead has been selected.
You are encouraged to send comments and recommendations to
me at any time. I would certainly
welcome any suggestions on the previous items.
Looking forward to seeing you in Penticton.
Sincerely,
Barbara Nist, District #19
National Director ACBL
14836 SE 16th St
Bellevue, WA 98007
425-641-4343
bnist@uswest.net