Inside the Boardroom
with
Barbara Nist
Toronto Summer 2001
Toronto turned out to be a very successful tournament. The largest since Washington in 1993, 16,079.5 tables. Toronto is a popular site offering big-city attractions, convenient and reasonably priced restaurants and for the Americans a very favorable exchange rate.
While the playing areas were very comfortable, the convention center was hard to find even after you had been there once of twice, and was absolutely impossible for anyone with a disability. While attendance certainly should indicate a return to Toronto, I would hope that other arrangements could be made nearer the convention center.
Hall of Fame Banquet
– Paul Soloway Honored
The Hall of Fame Annual Banquet was a great kick-off to a very eventful NABC. This is a class A affair and continues to improve every year. Make it a point to attend if you are going to a summer NABC. Our own Paul Soloway was the first recipient of the Sidney H. Lazard, Jr. Sportsmanship Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the individual exhibiting admirable ethical behavior and a strong sense of fair play in events at the highest levels. The award is bestowed upon a player who displays these traits over time, not for just one good deed. Congratulations, Paul. Eric Murray and Sami Kehela of Canada were joint winners of the von Zedwitz award and should continue to be invited for comic relief. They stole the show.
CEO Resignation
Major changes occurred administratively in Toronto. At the Board of Governors meeting, David Silber, CEO, announced that he would be leaving the ACBL, effective July 31, 2001. Wayne Hascall, District 12 representative to the Board of Directors, has generously consented to act as Interim CEO. Wayne has volunteered his services and we are certainly lucky to have someone with his credentials willing to help us at this time. A CEO Search Committee is in place and it is expected that a new CEO will be available by the first of the year.
Elections
Our congratulations to George Retek, District 1 (Montreal), who was unanimously elected ACBL President for 2002. George is the senior member on the Board of Directors, 22 years, and is certainly deserving of this position. He will be the third Canadian President and the second in four years. George extends an invitation to the World Championships, Summer 2002, in Montreal.
Management
Consultants Report
Linda Bryant, Management Consultant, was hired to observe business in Memphis and make recommendations as to policy changes for both management and the board. She gave a meaningful presentation and I think all sides benefited from her efforts and was certainly well worth the funds expended.
Finances
While ACBL was on target to meet the 2001 budget, with increased legal expenses and the cost of a CEO search, it is possible that we may show slight red ink again this year. Hopefully the expenditures will be offset by the additional income generated by the sale of the warehouse building in Memphis.
Sanction fees for Regionals, Sections, and StaC’s have been increased for inflation. Effective 4/1/02 sanction fees will increase per table $4.45 to $4.60 regionals; $3.11 to $3.22 sectionals; and $2.38 to $2.46 for STaC’s. Membership dues will remain the same for 2002. NABC entry fees will rise by $1. per session effective January 1, 2002. Tournament Directors Session Fess will increase by 6.5% effective January 1, 2002. All NABC+ events will be the same and will include a $1.50 surcharge per player per session for the International Fund effective January 1, 2002. The Board of Directors voted themselves another decrease in pay with the decision to receive payment in Canadian funds while in Canada.
International Bridge
The ACBL authorizes the inclusion of a $1.95 USBF (United States Bridge Federation) donation line (clearly labeled optional) on member renew bills for ACBL members in the US.
The ACBL authorizes a loan to the USBF of up to $50,000. Any expense already paid by the ACBL for the benefit of the USBF will be considered as part of this loan. This loan shall be interest free and is repayable no later than December 31, 2005. All US International Fund and Junior Fund monies collected by ACBL for the specific purpose of subsidizing US athletes in International Competition will be held by the ACBL and disbursed by ACBL directly to the athletes as directed and requested by the USBF.
The authority for selecting and subsidizing athletes representing the United States in International Competition rests with the USBF. The committees previously established by the ACBL BoD to handle the ITT and the WITT will cease to be official ACBL bodies and no longer report to the ACBL Board.
Due to the establishment of the USBF and the existence of the Bermuda, Canada, and Mexico Bridge Federations, there is a need to redefine the zonal qualification rules for the Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup. A Zone may send only one (1) team from an individual NCBO, except that up to two (2) teams may be sent from an NCBO whose membership exceeds 140,000. ACBL can send one team from either Canada or Mexico provided the NCBO that is sent participated in the previous World Olympiad. ACBL can send one team from the USA provided that USA participated in the immediately previous World Olympiad. Additionally, ACBL can send a second team from the USA provided USA’s membership remains above 140,000.
Subject to approval by the WBF, ACBL approves the Bermuda Bridge Federation’s request to compete internationally as a member of WBF’s Zone 5. For all other bridge competitive purposes, by virtue of being Unit 198 in District 2, Bermuda will continue to be a part of ACBL.
Code of Disciplinary
Regulations
Responding to the concerns by the membership, the board has voted to rescind their actions and members will be allowed to be represented by legal counsel.
Responding to the influx of frivolous lawsuits, the board has adopted a policy that states, any member who files a civil action for damages against the ACBL shall be automatically suspended from the ACBL upon the occurrence of any of the following:
Suspension shall be lifted only upon the occurrence of one of the following:
Any participant(s) in an ACBL sanctioned event convicted of premeditated or collusive cheating or any participant who admits to such action or actions shall forfeit all masterpoints and titles theretofore earned by said participant(s).
Any participant(s) in an ACBL sanctioned event suspended for one year or longer as a result of ethical transgressions, other than those set forth above, shall forfeit any masterpoints and titles won in the event in which the offense(s) occurred. Further, the committee shall remove, as a minimum, all masterpoints won within the 12 calendar months preceding the date of the offense to a maximum of all masterpoints won within the 36 calendar months preceding the date of the offense(s).
Teammates and partners of a participant(s) who suffers penalties as provided above shall forfeit any title(s) and masterpoints won in events in which the offense(s) occurred.
Titles forfeited above shall remain vacant and there shall be no change in rankings or awarding of masterpoints for other contestants.
The ACBL and ABA have agreed that for all joint games, players suspended from either organization will not be allowed to play.
GNT Conditions of
Contest
The 2001/2002 conditions of contest are reaffirmed with the amendment that a district may elect not to name a district champion in Flight A (0-5000).
WBF Simultaneous
Pairs
The WWP Simultaneous Pairs may be held at clubs, sectionals or regionals.
Club Special Game
Allocation
The allocation of all special games will be based on sessions sanctioned rather than the number of sanctions held. Therefore, a club that currently holds several games per week can, in fact, hold one special game for each scheduled game.
Juniors
Approval is given to hold a Junior Camp in the Washington, DC area July 29 through August 4, immediately following the Summer 2002 NABC. Management, in conjunction with League Counsel will develop a code of conduct.
Any junior receiving subsidy must be a high school graduate, have received a high school equivalency certificate or be a student attending school and making orderly progress toward graduation. Additionally, all such juniors will be held to the Code of Conduct as developed.
Each ACBL sanctioned Unit will be allowed during Junior Month in February to hold one Sectionally-rated game to benefit the Junior Fund, and a Unit will be allowed to hold one Sectionally-rated Charity/International Fund game during each ACBL Charity/International Fund Week, provided either that the unit is sanctioned to hold a game on the date and session requested, or that there are no clubs within a 25 mile radius of the Unit game site that regularly hold a game on the date and session requested.
New Event
Regional KO’s of three sessions in length may be scheduled. The overall masterpoints will be reduced by a factor of 30%.
Trophies for
Individual Races
Trophies and titles for individual races at NABC’s shall be awarded to ACBL member(s) in good standing. Additionally, the winner’s certificates for event winners shall be awarded only to ACBL members in good standing.
Nationwide Education
Program
The Board of Directors will actively pursue the development of a nationwide educationally sound after-school bridge program. Funding will be sought from outside sources. The components of this program would include the hiring of a professional educator to examine existing programs and write teaching objectives to develop a website to distribute the program, secure funding, and to market and implement the program nationwide.
World Computer Bridge
Championship
The fifth annual ACBL hosted WCBC was held as part of the Toronto NABC. A new program , Jack, from the Netherlands won the championship in convincing style, beating Micro Bridge from Japan in the final 64-board KO 136-84.
Alert Procedure
Last but certainly not least, the ACBL Competition and Convention Committee wants to institute modifications to the alert procedure, yes it really has been three years since the last modification to the Alerts. These charges are designed to simplify the alert procedure. While it may do that, it will definitely increase the number of announcements. A majority of the board felt that we needed more information to present this proposal to our membership. This item was deferred to the Fall meeting in Las Vegas.
The recommended changes will be available on our webpage and you are encouraged to submit your comments to me prior to the Las Vegas meeting.
Looking forward to seeing you at the tables in Everett
Sincerely
Barbara L. Nist
National Director
District 19