WBL Board Meeting Minutes

June 20, 2001

In attendance: Barbara Doran, Barbara Shaw, Don Berman, Steve Robinson, Bill Cole, Fred King, Jim Allen, Lee Jensen, Dick Wegman and guests Jason Meyer and Alice Wegman.

The meeting was called to order by President Barbara Doran at 7:18 p.m.

Without objection the revised minutes of the May 30, 2001 meeting were

approved.

Treasurer Steve Robinson reported that we have $10,310.78 in out checking account and that includes STAC money. Steve reports that we still owe the NVBA for the STAC. The balance also includes #2000.00 for the regional taken out of savings.

President Doran said that she received a call from Harris McClay from St. Elizabeths requesting money. Steve Robinson moved and Don Berman seconded that we send $150.00 to the St. Elizabeth Bridge Club. The motion passed.

The board addressed the National fund raising issue. Steve Robinson movedand Don Berman seconded that we charge an extra dollar entry fee for all three sessions on Saturday at the October and April Sectionals and the surcharged funds raised will go to the National Tournament Fund. The motion passed.

The dealing machine is due to arrive any time. Steve Robinson last talked to the man in charge in mid-May. It should be here the end of June. Millard Nachtway knows that it may not be here for the regional. We have already sent a down payment of $1720.00 with the full price being $3400.00. Bill Cole suggested that Barbara Doran ask for a rebate or reduced fee since the arrival was delayed and resulted in our inability to use it for the regional.

Bill Cole reported on the Clubs. He had a meeting with Jim Allen, Leslie Shafer, and Kathy Kruskal on Monday June11, 2001. They discussed ways in which the clubs could be helped so as not to close due to lack of income.

The first suggeston was to use our unused sanction for a sectional and run it out of the Washington Bridge Center and the Laurel Bridge Club. The clubs would pay for the expenses. The ACBL receives $64.00 and $2.11 per table. The clubs would keep all the profits about $30.00 per table. It was mentioned that the WBL might help by advertising in the Mid-Atlantic insert in the Bulletin as any sectional we would have. Club Reps, the director in charge, and the tournament Chairpersons would be listed. It was suggested by Bill Cole that Millard Nachtway serve as Director and either Kathy Kruskal or Lee Jensen as Tournament Chairperson. There should be reservations for this sectional with Jim Allen and Mary Dresser do to the limited space available. Discussion insued as the what would be the difference between this and a STAC? Bill Cole said that we would emphasize that this is a sectional. Lovenberg points would be given. Fred King asked about other clubs in the area wanting to participate. It was pointed out that no other clubs had games during the tournament period, but if one did, they would be welcome to participate. Lee Jensen was apprehensive because of

possible problems such as size of space, schedule, change of site and

split-sites. Bill Cole moved that the WBL run a sectional out of the

Washington Bridge Center and the Laurel Bridge Club on a one year trial

basis in a way and at a time mutually agreed upon by Jim Allen, Mary

Dresser, Kathy Kruskal and most importantly Millard Nachtway with the Clubs sharing the expenses and splitting the profits. Barbara Shaw seconded the motion. The motion passed with Don Berman recusing since he is an owner of the Laurel Club.

A second suggestion by Bill Cole for helping area clubs was for the WBL to pick up the Club's up front cost of the Easy Bridge books. The ACBL pays for 60%, the WBL 20% and the clubs 20% right now. I was also sggested that District 6 subsidize some of the cost. Barbara Doran said that District 6 is limited to subsidizing clubs for Easy Bridge the first 3 times they offer it and nothing further. Leslie Shafer will supply us with names of those people taking the Easy Bridge class. Dave Ruderman asked what the cost would be? Jim Allen said the it costs $1400.00 per year with the WBL cost being $280.00. He pays $500.00 for the room, $650.00 for the books and $900.00 for the teacher. Dave Ruderman asked if there was any alternative to Easy Bridge and was informed there was none. Jim Allen said that Easy Bridge is worth it. Bill Cole moved that the WBL pay the up front cost for Easy-Bridge of any area club on a case by case basis. Barbara Shaw seconded the motion. The motion carried.

A third suggestion for assisting clubs was a special sectionaly rated game the date to be determined later. There is a sectional scheduling meeting June 25, 2001 with Millard Nachtway. We would also pick up the up front cost of advertising. The ACBL pays 40%. Perhaps District 6 could subsidize some of the cost but we were told the District has no money. The clubs will supply the manpower. The Unit would pay over and above what the ACBL pays. Any area club would qualify for this, not just the full time clubs.

Jason Meyer was recognized by Barbara Doran and given the floor. He began speaking on an issue which more appropriately belonged in front of a C&E committee not the WBL Board. Steve Robinson expressed his opinion that behavior and conduct issues should not be discussed by E-Mail. Mr. Meyer was directed by President Doran and other members of the board to bring his complaint before the Unit C&E committee. Don Berman, Unit Recorder, said he received Mr. Meyer's E-Mail and was accepting it as a substitute recorder form. He is forwarding it to the C&E committee. Dick Wegman, C&E Chairman, said he will appoint a committee to listen to the complaint. However, Mr. Wegman stated that he has reservations about the appeals process. AT this time, Mr. Meyer was allowed to state his opinion that WBL Board members should set a higher standard of conduct than other WBL members. He also questioned the general principle of appeals committees.

President Doran announced that she had appointed Abby Heitner Reich as

chairperson of a committee which included Donna Rogall, Ted Ying, Eric

Landau with Millard Nachtway and Rich Coker as advisors. This committee is to look into the viability and credibility of appeals committees and ways to improve the appeals process. They will be asked to report their findings and conclusions to the board at the September Board Meeting.

Don Berman reported that Rich Coker, the National Recorder, sent him a 24 page report on the responsibilities of a recorder and the national

zero-tollerance policy. The WBL adopted the principles of zero-tolerance without calling it that. The discussion was tabled until Michael Carroad could be present.

Dick Wegman reported on the meeting of the Partnership Committee (Dave

Ruderman, Barbara Rothkin, Don Berman, Barbara Doran, and Barbara Shaw). Starting in September there will be a Flight A and Flight B/C coordinator. Flight A coordinator is Dick Wegman and Flight B/C coordinator is Barbara Rothkin. They will use E-Mail to try and link people together. They will call people to come and play. They will also work to link up teams. They will make a poster with an appropriate logo to put up Thursday nights. Alice Wegman volunteered to make the poster.

Dave Ruderman reported that the WBL STAC was a success. They had 4 tables

less that last year. WE still need to receive money from the NVBA. Dave

suggested that we continue giving trophies to the winners of the STAC. Dave

Ruderman moved that the WBL purchase 12 trophies for the winners of each

individual STAC event to be engraved WBL-NVBA 2001 STAC Winner. Dick Wegman

seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Jim Allen reported the results of the Non-Life Master Tournament. They had 129 tables and made $416.00 which is less than he would have made had he run his regular games that weekend. He spent $69.50 on trophies for the Thursday night session which brought in 19 tables for the Unit instead of the usual 7 0r 8 tbles and the Unit kept all the profits. Steve Robinson moved that the Unit pay for the trophies. Barbara Shaw seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Jim Allen then expressed his ideas to get help for the area clubs. We need new teachers. Leslie Shafer will not be teaching the teacher's class at the Regional. We need new pupils. We need to start teaching again at the Unit games on Thrursday nights. We need to put a letter in every package sent out to the clubs by Francis Burke. Alice Wegman suggested that we need to motivate people to learn the game. She suggested flyers at the hotels where regionals are held.

Barbara Doran thanked Dick Wegman for hosting the meeting.

The next meeting will be Wednesday August 15, 2001 at Dave Ruderman's.

The September meeting will be the 19th at Barbara Shaw's.

The meeting was ajourned at 10:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara A.Shaw, Recording Secretary

Barbara Doran and Bill Cole asked that these comments be part of the

minutes.

Abby Reich has been appointed to chair a committee on improving the appeals process by Barbara Doran, the President of the Washington Bridge League, because Abby is very experienced in this area. This appointment is in no way a reflection of the job any appeals committee has done (the WBL's leading player feels the committee ruling on May 31st was reasonable). The committee was established because it has been many years since the process was examined.

The WBL Board realizes that at times volunteers are criticized for the work they do. We also realize that sometimes such criticism crosses the line into loud screaming and anti-social behavior. We do not want any player being abusive to other players. If a player feels they have been abused, they should use the existing process of informing the WBL Recorder and/or the Conduct and Ethics Chair.

Until a C&E committee has been held, conduct and ethics matters are

confidential. Board members cannot publicly discuss pending C&E issues. When board members and friends or family of board members are involved in C&E matters or potential C&E matters, the Board cannot change existing policies.

This does not mean we are not concerned with complaints expressed. It just means we must resolve the issues using the mechanisms that have been in place curing the past years.

Board members should hold themselves to a higher standard but no one else should hold them to that standard.