Minutes
WBL Board Meeting
June 15, 2005
The meeting was held at Barbara Summers’ apartment.
In attendance: Barbara Ames, Don Berman, Richard Ferrin, Clyde Kruskal, Steve Robinson, Jane Sturgis, Barbara Summers, Dick Wegman, and non-voting members Donna Rogall and Ted Ying.
President Wegman called the meeting to order at 7:45 PM.
Secretary’s Report
Without objection, the board approved the minutes, as amended.
Treasurer’s Report
Steve Robinson reported that the WBL had $16,374.68 in its checking account. Dick Wegman noted that the NVBA is looking at its audit procedures, and that they want to talk with us about the best way to upgrade financial oversight procedures. Dick said that he suggested that NVBA contact Fred King to discuss this. Without objection, the board approved the Treasurer’s Report.
C&E Committee
Dick Wegman reported that Carole Banks, Bob Bell, and Ellen Cherniavsky agreed to serve on the WBL standing C&E Committee. (In the May 2005 WBL Board meeting, they had been elected as non-WBL-board members to the Committee.) Barbara Ames agreed to serve as the WBL board member replacement for Ron Zucker.
Status of Sectional
Dick Wegman said that Nadine Wood strongly suggests moving up the March 2006 WBL sectional to avoid a direct conflict with the baseball draft and to avoid holding it so close to the ACBL Spring Nationals. Nadine told Dick that because of her commitments at the Spring Nationals, she would be unable to chair the WBL sectional unless the dates were moved. The new proposed date for the sectional is March 2-5, 2006. This would require moving the Grand National Teams district finals event. Dick noted that Margot Hennings of the NVBA registered a mild objection to scheduling the WBL sectional the week after the NVBA sectional, but Dick observed that at least it was not being rescheduled to one week before the NVBA sectional, which would have posed more of a problem with the NVBA. Steve Robinson moved to move the WBL sectional to March 2-5, 2006. Barbara Summers seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
Lighting for Unit Game
Barbara Ames reported that Christ the King has replaced the bulbs in the space for the unit game. She said that if the WBL gives her a budget, she can purchase additional lamps. Ted Ying observed that fluorescent bulbs with inverted frosted glass lamp shades work well, because they diffuse the light well. The problem with the old shades is that they dimmed the light too much, but when the shades were removed, the lamps created a glare. One person who occasionally attends the unit game has asked for a bare-bulb light near his table because of macular degeneration. Dick Wegman asked whether we should consider a special shade to accommodate that person. Barbara offered to check on alternatives. She asked what the total shade/lamp purchase need would be. Dick suggested three to four shades, and one down-directing lamp. Ted suggested five lamps with shades. Barbara and Ted agreed to confer on details. Barbara asked for the budget total. Dick suggested a budget of $200, and Barbara was authorized to spend up to this amount on upgrading the lighting.
Unusual Game
Dick Wegman reminded the Board that at the last meeting, the
Board discussed several alternatives for an occasional “unusual” game, as
suggested by Clyde Kruskal.
Donna Rogall suggested that having an unusual game could attract more people. Dick asked about holding a fast pairs. Clyde replied that the last time the WBL did it, it did it too often, about once per month, and the event “overwhelmed” people. Ted commented that running a fast pairs simultaneously with a regular game would be difficult logistically for the directors. In addition, the fast pairs would not be added into the overall results unless the fast pairs were willing to wait until conclusion of the regular game to get the results. Donna thought that holding such an event once per year might not be so bad. Steve Robinson said that it would have merit only if a minimum number of people committed to play in the event. Dick suggested conditionally scheduling the event, stating that the event would take place only if there were a set minimum number of tables for the unusual event.
Clyde suggested taking a survey to determine interest in an unusual game. Don Berman commented that the WBL is trying to build attendance at the unit game, which calls for consistency. Richard Ferrin and Barbara Summers agreed with Don. Ted suggested occasionally holding an IMP pairs event. Richard noted that we have already scheduled IMP pairs for the Friday night of the WBL sectional for the next few sectionals. Referring to the unit game, Dick commented that he sees no reason to “fix” something that isn’t “broke”. Clyde commented that the advantage to having an unusual game on Thursday night is that there is already a large game, and therefore we can experiment with new ideas. Steve recommended conducting a survey, by flyer, with one question. Dick thought that it would be OK to try an experiment one night without a survey, for something like the fast pairs. Clyde replied that we need something more unusual, such as Australian pairs. He said that Bob Bell and Kevin Barnes have played in an Australian pairs event previously, and that he would ask them about the details. Dick said that we would need more information as to how such an event would be run. Ted stated that he would need the exact mechanics of how the event would be run. In addition, Ted queried whether the possibility of running such an event simultaneously with a regular game would pose problems, such as with preduplicated boards; we would not want to encourage discussion of the boards opposite the regular game. Clyde pledged to report back to the board with further details.
Ted noted that in the late 1980s, the WBL ran a par bidding event. Clyde thought that would be a good idea too. Dick said that such an event would be interesting, but cautioned that it requires a huge amount of work to set up. Ted added that such an event would require extra directors as well. Clyde agreed to look into this further.
Plugs for Local Bridge in Bridge Columns
Steve Robinson reported that he had not yet contacted Frank Stewart, and therefore there was nothing new to report.
WBL Legal Counsel
Dick Wegman explained that in the recent C&E matter, there were several questions that needed to be answered by counsel. The WBL needs somebody to offer counsel on similar questions in the future. He said that in his discussions with Gary Blaiss of ACBL headquarters, Blaiss advised that a number of other units in the country have outside counsel available to provide counsel on situations such as this, and he suggested that the WBL might want to do so also. Dick said that he thought we should have such a counsel, but we would have to find out whether we could obtain such service on a pro bono basis or would have to pay for it. Steve Robinson noted that there are two lawyers currently serving on the Board (Dick and Richard Ferrin). Richard cautioned that if the WBL obtained counsel, it should not be a board member, because of conflict-of-interest issues. Dick suggested that the WBL needs to be able to turn to somebody adept at process and who could review and provide counsel about ACBL regulations. Don Berman stated that if a lawsuit were filed against the WBL, the WBL would need a lawyer. In addition, a lawyer could review the WBL’s rules and regulations, which are not well stated. Dick suggested that the board approach a lawyer who would be willing to do it on a pro bono basis as long as the time involved did not exceed a pre-determined number of hours, and negotiate a fee for hours in excess of the ceiling. Dick said that he would discuss the matter further with Steve and Richard.
Survey on Start Times for Saturday Sectional Games
The survey that had been planned to take place last month was postponed at the request of Donna Rogall. Donna proposed that if the survey includes three options, it should include instructions on voting (e.g., whether multiple votes would be allowed). However, she would accept two options without instructions. Donna noted that when the WBL held three sessions on Saturday, the 1 PM session was always the most heavily attended section, and the morning and evening games were equally weak. Donna recommended that the second option call for start times at 12:00 or 1:00 for the first game, and 5:00 or 6:00 for the second game. Ted suggested that the survey could include a question about the times for the break between sessions. Donna disagreed, stating that it was important to schedule hospitality, and Nadine has carefully calibrated the time needed for the hospitality between sessions. Dick said that the board generally needs to check with Nadine regarding her views on the timing issue. Dick proposed conducting a survey at the unit game one week from this Thursday, with the following two time options for the Saturday sectional games: (1) 11:00 and 3:30, and (2) 12:30 and 5:30. Dick stated that he agreed with a suggestion by Donna that the survey make clear that both options would include a full meal between the sessions.
Ted observed that some members need time to go out to eat, particularly those members with dietary restrictions. Steve Robinson suggested that if the poll were to be conducted at the unit game, the options be explained during the first hospitality break, and that the poll actually be conducted at the second hospitality break, thereby giving the members time to think about the options. Barbara Summers asked that we conduct a straw poll of the preferences of the board members. Whereupon, the straw poll was conducted, with the board equally split five to five between the 11:00/3:30 and 12:30/5:30 options. (Donna and Ted joined in the straw vote.)
July WBL Board Meeting
Dick asked that because he has plans to attend the Summer Nationals starting on July 20th, the date of the July WBL board meeting be moved from that date. The board agreed to move the meeting to Tuesday, July 12. The meeting will still take place at Barbara Ames’ house.
Executive Session
Whereupon, the board moved to Executive Session at 9:05 PM.
Following conclusion of the Executive Session, the open session resumed at 9:36 PM.
Other Business
Barbara Summers moved that Steve and Sandy Forsythe be nominated as Goodwill members of the year. Jane Sturgis seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. Barbara Summers volunteered to write the letter to ACBL.
Don Berman showed the board a copy of the WBL’s web page with the ACBL logo added. He also apprised the board of other issues regarding the web page, such as server space and the feasibility of having an online directory of WBL members. With respect to the online directory issue, several members asked questions, such as the feasibility of an “opt in” versus “opt out” approach to posting member information online, and technical issues relating thereto.
The board thanked Barbara Summers for hosting the meeting. Whereupon, the meeting adjourned at 9:47 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Richard Ferrin, Secretary