Minutes

WBL Board Meeting

December 18, 2002

In attendance: Barbara Doran, Lee Jensen, Don Berman, Steve Robinson, Dick Wegman, Ben Laden, Dave Ruderman, Wei Bao, Fred King , Barbara Shaw and non-voting members Donna Rogall, Michael Carroad, and Francis Burke.

President Barbara Doran turned the floor over to Jim Allen for New Business.

Jim proposed that we consider hosting a second Sectional Tournament in Clubs. He suggested the dates August 14-17, 2003. The tournament would mean additional money for the clubs participating. He doesn’t know of an unhappy club that participated in the first tournament. It is a way of introducing club players to tournament play. Lee Jensen questioned adding another sectional to an already overcrowded calendar when we were considering dropping a sectional. Steve Robinson moved that we have a Sectional Tournament in Clubs the weekend of August 14-17, 2003. Dave Ruderman seconded the motion. Discussion followed. The Thursday evening game profits will belong to the WBL. The Clubs participating will keep the other profits. The WBL sites will count toward player of the year awards. Michael Carroad said that we have the sanction and we are giving it to the clubs. Lee Jensen stated that if it is a WBL Sectional then we are the profit center and should disburse the money to the Clubs. The Clubs pay the directors & the sanction fee. WBL is charging $8.00 per person for the Thursday night game. The Clubs may charge what they wish. However, they will owe $6.00 per table to the ACBL. So if each table is worth $32.00 then the club gets to keep $26.00 if they charge an $8.00 entry fee. The ACBL requires a coordinating director. Dick Wegman asked about the clubs retaining their own profits. The motion passed with 7 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstained and 1 recused.

The Non-Life Master Tournament was then discussed. Jim Allen says that it is very difficult to pry people out of the novice classes and into the open club game and then from the club game to a tournament game. He tries to keep his losses under $500.00. He provides a teaching panel and novice lessons with Leslie Shaffer as the director. He proposed that the tournament be at the Washington Bridge Center from July 17-20th. Steve Robinson moved and Dick Wegman seconded the motion that we approve a NLM tournament for the weekend of July 17-20, 2003 at the Washington Bridge Center. The WBL would be the cost center for the Thursday night game and the WBC the cost center for the rest of the tournament. The motion passed with 9 in favor.

Jim Allen also proposed that we increase our entry fees. Bridge is behind the price of movies. The cost of a game went up 21% last year. We haven't raised our fees in three years. We are also paying more to the ACBL. Jim wants to raise his entry fee from $6.00 to $7.00 to keep up with the increased rent contract he just signed and to meet inflation costs. He doesn’t feel he can raise his entry fees unless the Unit raises their entry fee. Dave Ruderman pointed out the Director fees have gone up and the fee we pay to the ACBL has risen from $2.60 - $3.22 per table. He said that we should decide based on our own financial situation, the fact that we operated $9,000 in the red last year. Steve Robinson moved and Dick Wegman seconded that we raise our entry fees from $6.00 to $7.00 on Thursday nights and from $8.00 to $9.00 for our Sectionals. Discussion continued. It was pointed out that in 2001 we had 1617 tables at our Unit games while in 2002 we had only 1553 tables, down 60 tables. The tournaments dropped over the same period of time from 1829 1/2 tables to 1700 1/2 tables. Dick Wegman asked what do other Units charge? Michael Carroad said that Atlanta charges $8.00, Richmond charges $8.00, Virginia Beach charges $7.00, Philadelphia charges, $8.00 and New Jersey charges $9.00. It was pointed out that if our expenditures are up then we must increase our revenues. Fred King suggested that Barbara Doran appoint a committee to study and evaluate the budget problem. We should wait until we get the committee recommendations. There was a motion to table the motion until the committee presents its report in January. The motion passed with 5 in favor.

Fred King, chairman of the Unit Growth Committee, reported that they have had some on-line meetings. They want monthly in and out reports on our members. They suggested that we create a brochure for area newcomers. What is the cost of such a brochure? There are two types of people who play bridge, casual and serious players. We need to contact Country Clubs, Rec Centers, Newcomers Clubs and Chambers of Commerce. We need people with PR skills and access to the Press.

Lee Jensen, tournament chairman, stated that we need to find a new site for the May Sectional since the White Oak Armory is unavailable. He said that it is important that all three days be at the same site. We may cancel it completely. We could play the first three days and cancel Sunday. The board directed Lee to look into the Hilton. We could also play the first three days at the Christ the King Church and the Sunday team game at the Clubs.

President Barbara Doran asked for a more thorough Treasurer's report on a month by month basis.

The minutes were approved as amended.

Steve Robinson reported that we have $2018.93 in the checking account and $22,788.66 in our money market account. He projected that our immediate expenses were $2000.00 for the bulletin and the rent of the Church. Lee Jensen said that he needed the check for the Armory be December 26. The treasurer's report was approved.

Donna Rogall reported that she has received about 70-80 surveys back already.

Dick Wegman said that he has the Church rented for 2003. We need to find and alternate location for April 17th, Holy Thursday. The Washington Bridge Center was suggested. We will pay rent of $225.00. The points won that night will count toward year end awards. Don Berman moved and Ben Laden seconded that we rent the WBC for Thursday night April 17, 2003. The motion passed with 8 in favor.

Fred King reported that Steve Forsythe will begin teaching classes on January 2, 2003 in the Church basement. The Church will set up tables and chairs, hopefully 8-10. Michael Carroad thinks that we have 70-80 tables. Dave Ruderman said he will check tomorrow night. Steve will be paid $75.00 + 1/2 of every table over 5.

Lee Jensen brought up the question of free plays and feels that we have lost sight that this is a volunteer organization. He said that we gave $632 in free plays in November, $576 in October and $842 last May. We can't afford to give as many free plays as we have in the past. He said that the NVBA gives only the tournament chairperson free plays. He strongly suggested that we cut out some of the free plays.

Donna Rogall said that the next Bulletin deadline is January 24. Dick Wegman thought that we should ask regularly for suggestions from our members. We could ask in the bulletin and on the Website. Don Berman would be the recipient of the suggestions.

Dave Ruderman asked what was going on with Ohr Kodesh? He also suggested that we publish Appeal Committee rulings. The ACBL lists appeals decisions in the National Newsletter. The head of the committee fills out our form and the form goes to Donna Rogall, the appeals committee chairman. Dave Ruderman moved and Dick Wegman seconded that committee rulings be posted on the Website. Barbara Doran appointed Eric Landeau as our scribe. He will take the forms and write them up for the website. The motion passed with 5 in favor. Dave wants the last decision posted on the website. Michael Carroad asked what was the purpose of this? What are we trying to prove? Are we trying to embarrass the Unit, the Round Robin Committee and the people on The Appeals committee. It was suggested that we publish Millard's write-up.

Barbara thanked Francis Burke for hosting the meeting. The January meeting will be at Ben Laden’s on Wednesday January 22, 2003.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Shaw, Recording Secretary