DISTRICT 6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

9 November 2002

The District 6 Board of Directors meeting was called to order by the President at 10:55 AM at Virginia Beach VA.

Present: President: Bill Cole

Treasurer: Steve Robinson

Secretary: Bette Dudka

Unit Presidents: Lynn Rattinger (231), Ethel Klavens (135), Mike Fine (109).

Dick Wegman (Proxy (147), Bruce Culmer (218), Jim Vroom (146),

Kathleen Ritchie (110)

Representatives: Anne Duty, Barbara Moomy, Jennifer Christman (146), Michael Carroad, Rae Dethlefsen , Millard Natchwey, Charity Sack (147), Patricia Wilson (135), Andre L’Heureux (218), Wyatt Mapp (110), Nadine Wood, District 6 Representative

1. Minutes: The minutes of 24 August 2002 were corrected to include “also money collected from regionals” in the amount of money raised for the Philadelphia NABC. With this correction, the minutes were approved as presented.

2. Treasurer’s Report: Mr. Robinson distributed a written Treasurer’s Report indicating a checking account balance of $10,552,76. We do have to pay for the NAPairs to go to Philadelphia, but we will make money from the GNTeams.

3. District Coordinator’s Report: Millard Nachtwey said the 2003 dates are in place, but he would like to start on 2004 and give TCs here possible dates to check-out. We are going to try to spread the Sectionals out so that they are not week after week after week in the same part of the District.

As you can see from the Treasurer’s report, the gross for the NAPairs this year will be about $1,000 and that will not cover transportation or rooms for the third place pairs. This year, the 0-2000 Flt B event was significantly smaller – only 20 tables this year as opposed to 28 last year. The event as a whole is doing all right for the moment, but we are finding it increasingly expensive to get suitable playing space in the Washington area. In 2003, we are set to play at the Eagles Lodge in Fredericksburg VA. This is a 2-day event, qualifying on Saturday and finals on Sunday. We are trying to get a possible site in Hampton VA for the Flt C event so the players won’t have to travel so far and hope it will be an encouragement for them to participate.

Charity Game: At the last meeting, we had selected Wednesday, 26 March (AM) – and Thursday, 27 March (PM) 2003 as dates for our District-Wide Charity Game. I was asked to investigate about opening up this event and having a Charity Week so that clubs not having games on those two days could participate. ACBL has no objection to this, but the District needs to decide whether doing this is going to be good for bridge in general or bad. The reason to be concerned is that we already have a week in that time frame for our StaC that raises money for the District and the clubs. Players are going to resent paying additional fees week after week. Mr. Nachtwey said that was only an opinion – not a proposal. Patricia Wilson said she ran a club game every day and she felt her players would resent paying more money each time. She suggested that we make our District-Wide Charity game special. Michael Carroad said the clubs get nothing from holding these games – the charity gets the money – and it would interfere with the StaC where both the clubs and the District make money. Mr. Nachtwey said he would consult Gloria Brown and possibly switching the games to different days of the week next year.

4. Finance Committee Report: Andre L’Heureux advised the Board that current members of the Finance Committee who looks at the financial health of the District are Kay Afdahl, Bill Cole, Andre L’Heureux (Chair), Steve Robinson, and Nadine Wood. One of the items that the President asked the Finance Committee to look at was the Educational Program. We have to have financial over-sight on whatever it is we designate as an Educational Program. We decided that since Kay Afdahl is the Chair of the District 6 Education Committee she is going to be held accountable for the financial over-sight of the Educational Program. We want an administrative layout and accounting of any program by the over-sight committee. We are going to ask Ron Kral to do this in the northern part of the District. This would be on any request for assistance. If the request comes from the north, Ron Kral would be responsible; if it comes from the south, then Kay Afdahl would be responsible. We will ask them to draw up some criteria for this program and present it to the Board.

The President said what was set-up for these start-up programs, not just Easybridge!, but any start-up program, we are trying to get a compromise of what ACBL does and what we can do. We are not proposing to pay for the cost of the playing sites or the cost of presenters. We are covering the cost of materials, the ACBL pays for the cost of advertising. We are going to pay $9 for the cost of the books, but the program is set-up so that at the beginning of the course, the students pay $9 for the books, if they complete the course – then we reimburse the $9. If they drop out of the course and bring the book back, then get $9 back. If they don’t complete the course and don’t return the book – no exchange is made. The President asked for a show of hands on what has been done so far. The “show of hands” indicated that everyone agreed what we are doing is “just fine”.

Andre L’Heureux made a motion that the Board grant $2500.00 to start this program. Motion was seconded and carried. He proposed two other things: (1)Youth entry fees will be the same as MABC – for all players 21 and under, the playing fee will be half-priced. (2) Members on probation are not considered members in good-standing and are not eligible for any awards, free plays, etc.

The President advised that the way he had structured the Finance Committee is that all major spending decisions go through the Finance Committee. No one can approve playing space for the NAPs or GNTeams without going through the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee will hear anything of significance on spending. Lynn Rattinger has been approved as a member of the Finance Committee and the President will also add someone from Baltimore.

The President also proposed that the 2d and 3^rd place winners of the NAPairs be reimbursed at the rate District 6 reimburses players for the GNTeams. Steve Robinson made a motion to that effect. Bette Dudka seconded. Motion carried.

5. GNTs Coordinator’s Report: Rae Dethlefsen reported the Club qualification period started on October 15 and will run through April 15. The District Finals information has been published and any questions should be directed to the Unit Coordinator.

6. NAPairs Coordinator’s Report: No report.

7. District Director’s Report: Nadine Wood reported she had selected the following members for the Goodwill Committee – Bill Cole, Lynn Rattinger, Charity Sack, and Betsy Reuhl. She appointed Kay Afdahl and Andre L’Heureux to the Charity Committee.

Coming up before the Board in Phoenix is the appeals procedure which has caused a lot of controversy. The Board passed at the last meeting that directors would no longer have appeals committees – they would be handled by the Chief Tournament Director as the final authority. The motion reads that it would not be only at NABCs – it would be for ALL tournaments. The Board of Governors asked the ACBL Board to reconsider and we are going to do that in Phoenix. I think we will have at least one compromise, i.e., taking Sectionals and perhaps Regionals out of this mandate because they are not ready for doing this. Too many Sectionals only have one person working. The maker of the motion is going to propose another amendment to move the effective date. The proposed date was originally January 1, 2004, but to give ACBL more time to work out the procedures and train the directors, the effective date will be determined later.

8. Charity Report: Gloria Brown was not present. The District-wide charity game is set for March 26 (AM) and March 27 (PM) 2003.

9. STaC Report: Michael Carroad stated the annual StaC will start on 31 March and run through 6 April 2003.

OLD BUSINESS:

District 6 Magazine: Bill Cole reminded the Board that starting January 2003, the ACBL would no longer publish a Bulletin in its present form. They are publishing a magazine-type bulletin, and the District 6/7 Supplement will no longer be published in the ACBL Bulletin. The MABC decided to allocate money to the two Districts so they could publish their own magazine. Each District was allowed to choose the format for their magazine. The primary purpose of the magazine is to have big easy-to-read, easy-to-find advertisements for the Sectionals and Regionals. The President showed the Board a lay-out of the D6 proposed magazine, with an explanation of what would be included. We can supplement our costs with advertising. We’ll publish 2 or 3 issues and at the July Regional re-visit what we are doing and see if changes are needed. A 24-page issue (basically tournament advertising), the cost would be approximately $32,000 a year counting postage. If we include other material, making the magazine 32 pages, it would cost $250 to $300 more an issue. The first issue will appear around 1 February 2003 and will include a 2-month period.

District 6 Charity Foundation: Andre L’Heureux informed the Board that a meeting was held Thursday between sessions to review the District 6 Charity Foundation bylaws. The draft bylaws will be circulated to the members of the Foundation and hopefully finalized at the Roanoke Regional. The Foundation is registered in the State of Virginia. We voted for officers. Andre L’Heureux is President of the Foundation, Vice President Ethel Klavens, Secretary Bette Dudka, Treasurer Steve Robinson. We are asking ACBL for a grant of $2500 to get the Founda-tion started. We will ask Unit Presidents to appoint one member from their Unit to be on the Board and the District 6 President to appoint 4 members at large – 12 members, plus 4 officers. We will have another meeting in Roanoke. Bette Dudka commended Joel Weintraub who performed all the legal work and wrote the Articles of Incorporation. Steve Robinson was also commended for his hard work with the IRS.

NEW BUSINESS:

District 6 Past President: The President asked Nadine Wood to address the “past President” issue. Ms. Wood stated that something unusual occurred that is not covered specifically in our Bylaws. The Bylaws state that the Past President of the District is a voting member of the Board. What occurred is that we had a resignation of a President. However the President served one full year, was re-elected, and resigned 6 months into his 2d term. According to our Parliamentarian, even though he resigned during his 2d term, he forfeited all rights and privileges. Bette Dudka addressed this issue by stating that the Past President served for a full year, one full term, which would make him Past President. I don’t think we can now change that and make someone else Past President. (Secretary’s Note: The Past President’s letter of resignation states he resigned because he was going to undergoing an operation for spinal stenosis). A lot of discussion was had and Michael Carroad said the discussion was about if the original Past President resigned did the former Past President now become Past President. Steve Robinson made a motion that the original Past President continues to retain the title of the Past President. Bette Dudka seconded the motion. Andre L’Heureux said there were two separate issues here – one is are we changing the Bylaws, and if we are, is there sufficient notice – or are we addressing Nadine Wood’s specific question? A lot of discussion, a lot of different views, they will not be reported here since at the end of the discussions, the subject was tabled until the Roanoke meeting.

Secretary’s Note: The Bylaws pertaining to this issue are quoted below for ready reference:

ARTICLE IV – PARA F “The immediate Past President shall remain a full voting

Member of the District 6 Board until his/her successor becomes available to

serve as Past President.”

NEW BUSINESS: None.

The President thanked and congratulated Anne Duty and Barbara Moomy for their gracious tournament hospitality and for hosting another successful Virginia Beach Regional.

Date of Next District 6 Meeting: The next meeting will be at the Roanoke Regional on Saturday, 18 November 2003.