Minutes
WBL Board Meeting
May 19, 2004
In attendance: Barbara Ames, Don Berman, Richard Ferrin, Steve Forsythe, Fred King, Steven Robinson, Dick Wegman, Ron Zucker, and non-voting members Michael Carroad and Donna Rogall. Alice Wegman also attended the meeting.
President Dick Wegman called the meeting to order at 7:45 PM.
The board approved the minutes.
Treasurer, Steve Robinson, reported that we have $10,771.77 in our checking account. He noted that the Charity Game on May 13, 2004 raised $4.80 per person, with 57 tables. The board approved the treasurer’s report.
The board discussed the July-August WBL Sectional. The WBL will roast Mark Shaw after the Friday
evening game. Fred King suggested that
Jeff Roman host the roast. Steve
Robinson agreed to discuss the matter with Jeff Roman. The Saturday of the July-August sectional
will feature two sessions, at 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM instead of three
sessions. The board discussed and agreed
also to implement the 11-3:30 two-session schedule for the Saturday of the
October sectional. The purpose of the
change is to avoid the current problem where the first and third sessions are
poorly attended, and hopefully instead there will be two well-attended
sessions. Jeff Roman and Charity Sack
will hold another workshop on Saturday regarding the art of developing and
maintaining partnerships. The
July-August Sectional will be the last Sectional for which there is a
commitment with the School for the Saturday and Sunday sessions. The WBL is looking for new locations for
future sectionals. Dick Wegman is
inquiring about returning to the Kensington Armory. The current Mayor of Kensington, who was
largely instrumental in terminating the previous WBL arrangement to play there,
is expected to step down as Mayor in June 2004.
Dick is hopeful that the new Mayor may be willing to consider a return
by the WBL for the sectionals. Michael
Carroad and Nadine Wood are talking to the people who will be in charge of the
The WBL needs persons to fill in as partners for members who come to the unit game without pre-arranged partners. The NVBA does. Mike Henderson and Michele Cantave live close by, and hopefully would be willing to help. Jason Meyer and Sandy Forsythe also may be willing to help with partnerships. Michael Carroad will follow up with this possibility and discussing the Partnership Desk generally with Charlene Brand.
Steve Robinson received a $2,000 check from Fidelity, in connection with their sponsorship of the Round Robin.
The board thanked Ron Zucker for doing a great job putting together the WBL Directory. Ron is putting together an errata sheet to correct errors and recent updates. The cutoff for new information in the errata sheet is approximately two weeks from the date of this meeting.
The board reviewed the new player brochure. The board authorized Alice Wegman to choose the paper stock, with an expenditure of up to $1,000.
Dick Wegman proposed a new list of committee assignments. The WBL needs a new Volunteer Coordinator; Steve Forsythe asked to be relieved of that responsibility. Steve Forsythe will ask Arnie Frankel if he is interested in the position.
Dick Wegman advised that he had made three appointments to the District 6 Appellate Committee: Barbara Doran, Peter Boyd, and Bob Bell. No board member objected.
ACBL is offering general liability insurance, including Director and Officer (“D&O”) insurance. Steve Robinson noted that the WBL has been paying $225 per year for the ACBL’s umbrella policy. Michael Carroad noted that the ACBL umbrella policy covers tort liability at unit games and WBL tournaments. Steve Robinson noted that the ACBL offer for general liability insurance and D&O insurance is separate from the ACBL’s umbrella policy. The general liability insurance would cover liability for WBL activities other than tort actions at unit games and tournaments, such as suits against WBL directors and officers. The board agreed that a committee of Barbara Ames, Richard Ferrin, and Steve Robinson would consider the new insurance offer further, and provide a recommendation at the next board meeting.
After 30 years, Michael Carroad is stepping down as manager for the unit game. Ted Ying is willing to take over that position, with the assistance of Tim Crank. Tim would run the technical aspects of the game, and Ted would be the Chief Director. Michael Carroad would transition out by the end of the year. A motion was passed to hire Ted as Chief Director at the rate of $100 per week.
The board considered general goals and plans for the
WBL. The priorities are to find a new
location for sectional tournaments, improve the financial position of the WBL,
and improve outreach to new members. Ron
Zucker will talk to Michael Gill regarding college recruitment. Donna Rogall will contact Ron Starr regarding
the
The board elected the following WBL members to the Conduct and Ethics (“C&E”) committee: Gene Fisher, Roger Pies, and Ralph Turner. The board elected Mike Henderson and Clyde Kruskal as alternates.
Frances Burke has numerous “knick-knack” bridge souvenirs with which she is willing to part. Steve Forsythe will inquire further, with the idea of awarding the bridge souvenirs as prizes for the 0-20 game.
The board agreed on the dates and hosts (or hostesses) for the next four board meetings:
Date Host(ess)
June 16 Donna Rogall
July 21 Richard Ferrin
August 25 Steve Forsythe
September 22 Barbara Ames
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Ferrin, Secretary