Minutes WBL Board of Directors Meeting

May 30, 2001

In attendance: Barbara Doran, Barbara Shaw, Steve Robinson, Dave Ruderman, Bill Cole, Kathy Kruskal, Michael Carroad, Dick Wegman, Lee Jensen

The meeting was called to order by President Barbara Doran at 7:35 p.m.

Without objection the minutes of the May 2, 2001 meeting were approved.

Treasurer Steve Robinson reported that we have $7960.20 in our checking

account.

President Barbara Doran reported that she attended both the Mid-Atlantic and District 6 meetings held in Richmond,Va. during the Regional. The main topic of interest discussed there was the collegiate bridge championships held on the internet. And she was asked that we encourage collegians in our area to participate.

She also discussed job assignments for the coming year. Dick Wegman will be in charge of the C&E Committee and Fred King will be in charge of Education.

We received a form to fill out from the ACBL listing our officers and other important committee members. They need our points of contact so they know to who to send information.

Barbara Doran will call John Lawrence about problems on the board dealing with Website information.

The appointment of three new members to the C&E committee has been postponed until next month. Finishing their 2 year terms are Ellen Cherniavsky, Micki Kivel and Elizabeth Nelson. Continuing on the committee for one more year are Ron Spath, Ben Laden and Turner.

Michael Carroad reported that we will not be able to use the Christ the King Church on November 8, 2001 and an alternative site must be found. Havng the game at the Washington Bridge Center was proposed. Kathy Kruskal said there may be a problem. It was discussed that we may be losing the only full time bridge in the Washington area. They may be closing in September. Barbara Shaw said that as she understood it the club was losing money because their rent was so high. They needed to get about 10 more tables a week to keep open. Other problems were discussed. Bill Cole mentioned the pay of directors being high and the fact that we have so many Sectionals and GNT's here that affect the attendance at the club. Steve Robinson suggested that the WBL might buy the Club and operate a full time club instead of just one game a week. Michael Carroad cautioned showing favoratism for one club over

another. Bill Cole mentioned that we have a sanction for one more sectional that we don't use. Perhaps we could run a sectional out of the Washington Bridge Center on a weekend. On June 10, 2001 the NVBA is having a special Non-LIfe Master game. Perhaps a game such as that at the club would help. Also it was mentioned that a few sectionally rated games at the club might help attendance. The loss of Washington's only full-time bridge club was a major concern of the board. Barbara Shaw suggested that we invite owners Jim Allen and Leslie Schafer to our next board meeting the discess this problem and ways of solving it. Dick Wegman asked what happened in Northern

Virginia when the Aces closed? Other area clubs were also discussed. The subject was tabled until the next meeting.

Michael Carroad said that we have an old computer which we replaced with a new one. He would like to sell the old computer to the Mid-Atlantic for their use at Regionals. Players were using it regularly at the Richmond Regional to check their master point totals. Dave Ruderman suggested that the price could be negotiated later.

Steve Robinson reported we are having trouble getting the new dealing

machine. The manufacturer is having trouble getting the machine to include the 10 of spades. Apparently the machine can't read the 10 of spades. He will E-Mail them. We need the machine for the July 4th tournament.

Steve Robinson also reported that the WBL Round Robin is underway. We have 22 A/X teams and 6 C teams this year. He also said that it was unclear who plays free. Millard Nachtway, Michael Carroad, Nadine Wood, and Bryan Coleman receive free entry into the tournament because of the tireless work for the WBL which is not always recognized.

Kathy Kruskal reported that the Regional Tournament coming up is coming

along fine. Chairman Lee Jensen, Kathy Kruskal and Millard Nachtway met with the Hotel management last week. They are moving the location of the Senior and Novice games this year. The Novice game will be upstairs in the middle room. The Senior games will be downstairs where the novices used to be. The target is for 2900 tables. A discussion insued as to why the Hunt Valley tournament is 400 tables larger than Alexandria. The fact that parking was ample and free and it was also on a non-holiday weekend were given as major reasons.

Kathy then went on to discuss Nationals which are here in July, 2002. The schedule has been set. Charity Sack and Margo Hennings are in charge of fund raising. The continuing discussion about charging $1.00 extra on a Saturday at one or two of our sectionals evolved. Margo Hennings National Chairperson has asked that we charge $1.00 extra at the Saturday games at two of our sectionals one this year and one next year. There seemed to be some confusion among returning board members as to wether they agreed to do this or not. Next year's sectionals are the 3rd week in January, 1st week in March, and the 2nd week in April. Michael Carroad suggested that we donate the money and not charge extra. Bill Cole suggested that we charge $2.00 extra on 3 of our Thursday night unit games at which we only charge $6.00. Kathy Kruskal said that Margo wants advertising at the sectionals for the up coming Nationals. Their maybe ethics involved if the NVBA charges $1.00 extra for their Saturday games and the WBL does not. Steve Robinson said a few months ago we voted to donate the money needed. Bill Cole moved that we charge $2.00 extra at 3 Thursday night Unit games. Dick

Wegman seconded the motion. Later in the discussion Bill Cole moved that we table the motion.

Kathy Kruskal also said that we needed to have the bank account statements sent to her. We need the Vice President to review the account since she is someone who doesn't sign the checks. We need to have Barbara Shaw's signature included as the new Secretary. The by-laws require two of three signatures on any checks even though the bank no longer requires that.

Dick Wegman talked to the Church and they are certainly happy to have us continue using the facility into the new year. However the church wants to wait until their new priest arrives for approval. They might have another room available for the class for novices. And we can certainly pay the maintenance man extra to set-up and take down the tables and chairs for our game. Steve Robinson asked Dick Wegman to ask about use of alternative restrooms.

Dave Ruderman reported the parternship committee will include Dick Wegman, Barbara Doran, Barbara Rothkin, and Barbara Shaw. They will probably have a coordinator for A, B, and C divisions. And he plans to use E-Mail.

Dave also reported that according the surveys filled out at the annual

meeting there is no real salient reason for the decline in attendance.

Steve Robinson will send the survey out on E-Mail to all WBL members for whom he has an E-Mail address. Other suggestions for improving attendance included advertising in local college papers inviting people to play and include a coupon for a free play. We should contact American University, Georgetown, George Washington University, University of Maryland, Catholic University, Howard University, Montgomery College, and Galudette. It was also suggested the we put articles in the local Gazette Papers especially on the days they throw the paper free. Dick Wegman suggested that the article include a list of winners from the Thursday night unit game and an interesting hand from that evening. He voluntered to work on this.

At 9:20 the meeting was unofficially adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Shaw, Recording Secretary