WBL Board Meeting
December 19, 2001

In attendance: Barbara Doran, Barbara Shaw, Steve Robinson, Kathy Kruskal, Michael Carroad, Lee Jensen, Don Berman, Fred King, Dick Wegman, Dave Ruderman, Bill Cole, Bryan Coleman, Francis Burke.

President Barbara Doran called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

The minutes were approved as amended without objection.

Steve Robinson reported that we have $6556.39 in our checking account. We still have the expenses of the STAC and the dealing machine. The expenses of the directories are almost a wash with the NVBA after the STAC. Treasurer’s report was approved.

Barbara Doran said the Chuck Whidden, the WEB master for the Mid-Atlantic wants to be sent the WBL Bulletin. It is $18.00 for three years. It was decided that we would not charge him.

Steve Robinson said that the dealing machine software does not work. Since the machine was purchased from Australia, Lee Jensen suggested that it is probably a current problem and we need a converter. We need more that just a plug change to convert the machine to American current. Robinson said that he would try and handle the problem.

He also reported that the WBL Round Robin Tournament is finally over. The team of Donna Rogall, John Adams, Bobby and Janet Gookin, Linda Maloney and Barbara Shaw won the Flight A event. The Clyde Kruskal team won the Flight X event.

Don Berman reported that we need to renew our Web site. District 6 also needs to renew theirs. He is working on trying to have the WBL combine with District 6 and therefore get a quantity renewal that would save both the WBL and District 6 money.

Fred King reported that he went to the Easy Bridge class on Friday night, December 14. There were 13 people in this class. The NVBA is running two classes one in Reston and the other at Columbia Pike. The Smithsonian is going to start a new class in January. Ron Kral from the NVBA is running this class. Edith McMullin had a certification class to teach Easy Bridge and she certified 7-8 instructors. Diane Walker was our only new instructor. Others certified to teach Easy Bridge from the WBL are Francis Burke, Steve Forsythe, Rose Berman, and Lee Jensen. There is Easy Bridge 1,2 & 3 as well as a junior course for youth and workshops. We need help advertising these classes and help in contacting potential players. The classes are 15 weeks long with the first 6 weeks free. Steve Forsythe is the current instructor and he wishes to set a definite pay structure.  Now he receives 75% of the money collected with the Washington Bridge Center getting the other 25%. We could pay him a flat salary with all the extra money coming back to the WBL. He does not want to continue the class on Friday night. Saturday afternoon would be better for him. There is still a conflict with who owns this class the WBL or the WBC.  Michael Carroad said that he would check with Millie Parkins the WBC club manager. Michael Carroad stated that the WBL is a 2 star club. In order to receive a 3 star rating we would need an Easy Bridge class, a mentoring program and a social event once a month. It takes 40 new members to receive a sanction to run an Up-graded Club Championship game. Lee Jensen moved and Bill Cole seconded that we reimburse $2.00 playing fees per student to Steve Forsythe and verify that this is our sanction number and our game. The motion passed unanimously. Lee Jensen moved that we buy ACBL memberships for all of Francis Burke’s students at Highland School. Kathy Kruskal seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. Michael Carroad suggested we give Forsythe a salary of $60.00 with the WBL getting the extra fee money. We would also pay the WBC rent for refreshments and he would then pay for his own babysitter. Steve Robinson moved that we pay Steve Forsythe $60-$70 not to exceed $75.00 for running the Easy Bridge class for the WBL. Kathy Kruskal seconded the motion. It passed unanimously. It was also suggested that we E-mail younger/less experienced players to see if they are interested in playing with more experienced players. Michael reported via the Internet that the WBC owns the Easy Bridge game. Dave Ruderman, Unit game chairman, asked Michael Carroad to announce that the Unit KO’s are double elimination. Lee Jensen suggested a flyer with all the rules and an entry form attached. Barbara Doran said that we need to cover the mirrors and the glass panels on the sides of the entry doors.

As a way of building up our membership and increasing attendance at our Unit games, Dick Wegman suggested having pot luck dinners one or two more times a year, perhaps paying for the clean-up. Barbara Shaw thought maybe a potluck dessert would be easier and less work for the clean-up crew.  Dave Ruderman also suggested that as a service to our membership perhaps people could E-mail Steve Robinson bridge questions. It was agreeable with Stevie to do this. He will also stay after the Thursday night games for a few minutes to run the boards and discuss any problem hands.

Bill Cole, Clubs chairman, said he has found an alternate date for the Sectional in Clubs. It will be held the weekend of September 29, 2002 at the Laurel Bridge Club and the Washington Bridge Center. Lee Jensen and Kathy Kruskal will be co-chairpersons. A full-page ad will be printed in the Mid-Atlantic section of the Bulletin. The GNP has been moved to the first weekend in October.

Bill Cole also reported that District 6 wishes to begin a Hall of Fame. The Unit Presidents were asked to take this suggestion back to their Units and get their opinion. Jim Allen is our representative on the committee that also consists of Dar Afdahl and Jennifer Christman. Our unit has four votes. We voted unanimously to vote against a Hall of Fame.

As for the yearly trophy races, the Thursday morning points have been counted in the yearly totals. Tim Crank will pull up the games on the WBC computer and have the points removed from the final standings. The Thursday morning points will be counted beginning with the first sectional in January 2002.

Dick Wegman reported that we have a rental agreement with Christ the King Church through 2002. However, we cannot use the Church on Thursday. March 28. We have also informed them that we will not be using the Church on July 4th, 18th, and 25th because of the Nationals here. We are planning to have a game on Halloween. Dick presented us the final version of the C&E committee report and asked that we approve it. Dave Ruderman moved and Don Berman seconded that we approve the C&E committee’s policy as presented to the Board. The motion passed unanimously. The report will now become an official part of the Unit’s policy and guidelines. Dick informed us that Glenn Lublin is appealing the C&E committee’s decision to the District 6 appeals committee headed by Peter Boyd.

Michael Carroad reported that we have three Unit Championship sanctions to give to clubs. Bill Cole told the Club managers at the Club Managers breakfast. They were informed that they would pay $1.25 per table to the ACBL. They were to get back to Bill Cole with the dates they were going to use. No club has asked to use the Unit Championship sanction as of this date.

Kathy Kruskal stated that St. Elizabeth’s needs a printer for their bridge group. Steve Robinson suggested we check into the use of an old Mid-Atlantic printer. She was also told that Abby Heitner’s report needs to be resurrected.

Kathy also asked about the National fundraiser for Margo Henning. Since we were unable to have a fundraiser at the October Sectional as planned we are sending her a check for $400.00 instead. Steve Robinson also said that he has to send to the ACBL $5000.00 in January and again in March as our contribution to the National tournament being held here in July 2002. We are planning to have a fundraiser at our April Sectional.

The floor was then turned over to Bryan Coleman. He said that he would publish the final standings of the trophy races once that are accurate and complete. He asked the Board for a raise for editing and mailing the WBL Bulletin. Lee Jensen moved that we pay Bryan $15.00 a page for editing the Bulletin and $150.00 for labeling and mailing it per issue. Fred King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Barbara Doran thanked Francis Burke for hosting our meeting. The next meeting will be January 16, at Bill Cole’s. Dick Wegman will host the February meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Shaw, Recording Secretary