Minutes

WBL Board Meeting

February 1, 2006

The meeting was held at Clyde Kruskal’s house.

In attendance:  Barbara Ames, Don Berman, Winston Edwards, Richard Ferrin, Fred King, Clyde Kruskal, Steve Robinson, Jane Sturgis, Dick Wegman, and non-voting member Nadine Wood.

President Wegman called the meeting to order at 8:00 PM.

Secretary’s Report:

The board approved the minutes, without objection.  The board also thanked Barbara Ames for taking the minutes for the December 2005 meeting in Richard Ferrin’s absence.

Treasurer’s Report:

Steve Robinson reported that the WBL’s checking account balance was $25,360.96 at the end of December 2005.  This includes income and expenses for the January 2006 WBL sectional.  Steve presented a 2005 draft financial report and 2006 budget (copy attached).  He commented that the budgeted figures are conservative on income and expenses.

Dick Wegman inquired about comparison of the WBL’s finances in 2005 compared to 2003 and 2004.  Steve replied that the situation was much better in 2005.  Fred King noted a net of $7,300 in 2004, a net of $1,300 in 2003, and a $10,000 deficit in 2002.  He observed that the unit game is the WBL’s primary source of revenue, and the Bulletin is the largest single expense.  A few years ago, the WBL merely broke even on tournaments, but the tournaments are now in the black.  Fred added that the WBL paid advance rent of approximately $5,000 in 2004, which skewed the net downward in 2004 and upward in 2005.  Steve Robinson replied, however, that the WBL also paid advance 2006 rent in 2005.  Dick postulated that the WBL can expect about $10,000-$15,000 annually, based on the current pace.

Richard Ferrin moved that the Board approve the budget.  Barbara Ames seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Jason Rosenfeld’s Request to Remain a WBL Member

Dick Wegman reported that WBL member Jason Rosenfeld has moved to Boston, but wishes to remain a member of the WBL.  Dick asked for the Board’s comments.  Don Berman noted that because Jason moved to a different ACBL district, the district director for both districts must approve the request.  Don is awaiting a response from District Six President Margot Hennings, and if she approves, the ACBL will approve the request.  Steve Robinson stated that playing in the Grand National Teams (“GNTs”) may be a problem under the new rules, effective September 2006.  

Nadine Wood clarified that Jason can remain in the WBL unit.  But under the new rules for the GNT and North American Pairs, residency matters, not unit membership.  If Jason petitions to play in the these events 60 days in advance of the event (July 1 for GNTs), if the District directors of both districts approve the request, then the request is sent to the ACBL credentials committee, which can approve or disapprove the request.  Nadine confirmed that these new rules have not yet gone into effect and Jason will be able to play in the District Six GNTs this year without going through the new procedure.

Update on Smithsonian Program:

Steve Robinson reported that Ron Kral is teaching bridge for beginners at the Smithsonian.  He teaches for one hour, and the participants play for one hour.  Next week, they will begin duplicate bridge.

Winston Edwards said that last month, the WBL agreed to give 80-100 booklets of free play coupons for the participants.  Ron Kral has since asked for an additional 100 booklets, explaining that he has a waiting list in the program and knows of other people who want to get in the course.

Dick Wegman asked if the coupons subsidize Northern Virginia games.  Winston replied that he thought the coupons were redeemable only at Unit 147 clubs.

Steve Robinson moved that the Board approve distributing 100 additional coupon booklets to Smithsonian course students through Ron Kral.  Barbara Ames seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

January Sectional:

Nadine Wood reported that attendance at the January 2006 WBL sectional was up slightly from one year ago.  

Nadine also stated that Diane Walker e-mailed the daily bulletins to Nadine, and Nadine printed it out.  Nadine distributed copies of the daily bulletins and the program.  Dick Wegman queried what could be done to improve the daily bulletins.  Nadine replied that the daily bulletins need graphics.  Also, the Monday bulletin should be made available at the following Thursday unit game.

Nadine reported that the awards given at the January sectional were appreciated, especially by flight B and novice strata players.

Fred King observed that the WBL needs a sound system for sectional tournaments.  Nadine replied that the Schweinhaut Senior Center has repeatedly asked the county for a sound system, but the county has denied those requests.  Clyde Kruskal said that the WBL has a sound system at Christ the King Church.  Fred King volunteered to check on that.

Nadine stated that for the March sectional, the Instant Bridge Player program must be held on Sunday, not Saturday, because the extra room at the Schweinhaut Center is unavailable on Saturday.  Dick pledged to discuss scheduling with Steve Forsythe.

Fred King commented that in the January sectional, trophies were awarded after most of the players left.  Nadine replied that the trophies should be presented at the next tournament. Also, Fred asked whether the WBL should award the Flight B trophy to the B player earning the most master points in any events, or in B events only.  Dick Wegman replied that it all events should count for the B player trophy.

Steve Robinson proposed to award trophies only for the lower strata.  Clyde Kruskal specifically suggested awards for the lowest three quartiles.  Don Berman volunteered to devise masterpoint ranges for the strata for trophy purposes and the date of the cutoff for categorization purposes.

Next Year’s Tournament Schedule:

Nadine Wood reported that the Schweinhaut Center increased the rent from $729 to approximately $800 per day for tournaments.  Nadine also discussed tournament dates with Millard Nachtwey and Margot Hennings.  Tentative dates are as follows:

    January 4-7, 2007   WBL sectional

    February 8-11, 2007 NVBA sectional

    April 19-22, 2007   NVBA sectional

    May 3-6, 2007       WBL sectional

    August 9-12, 2007   WBL sectional

    September 6-9, 2007 NVBA sectional

    October 4-7, 2007   WBL sectional

    October 25-28, 2007 NVBA sectional

Dick Wegman asked whether the date for the August WBL sectional was appropriate, being one week before the Hunt Valley regional.  Nadine replied that it should not hurt attendance at the WBL sectional.

March Sectional:

Nadine Wood said that she needs two new coffee pots for the WBL, one large and one small.  The Board approved reimbursement for the purchase.  Jane Sturgis offered to obtain them.

Unit Game:

Fred King stated that WBL Unit Game Director Ted Ying does not want to run a single large web movement for the flight A/X pairs, because dividing it into two sections with a normal movement is easier logistically and more points are awarded.  Dick Wegman replied that Ted should run the movement that he wants.  Fred stated that Ted also raised the issue of when a guaranteed partner is assigned.  Dick replied that there should be a fixed cut-off time, such as 7:20 PM.  The Board agreed to fix 7:20 PM as the cutoff time for assignment of the guaranteed partner.

Assistance from Bill Gates:

Dick Wegman explained that St. Andrews, Walter Johnson, Richard Montgomery, and Bethesda Chevy Chase high schools have bridge programs supervised by Ron Starr.  Ron, Ellen Rosenthal, and Messrs. Brown and Hall each run one program.  Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have offered $1 million to start up school bridge programs in the United States.  Dick contacted Sharon Osberg, a frequent bridge partner of Bill Gates, about the WBL’s high school bridge program.  Ms. Osberg expressed interest in the WBL’s program and asked how the Gates-Buffett organization could help.  Ms. Osberg said that that the Gates-Buffet organization could help pay for teachers and materials, and fund expenses for sending winners of a local high-school-level tournament to a national event held in conjunction with the August regional in Omaha.

Fred King commented that the biggest help would be associating Bill Gates’ name with the WBL’s local high school bridge program.  Dick Wegman stated that funds would be needed to hire professional bridge teachers, particularly ones with dynamic personalities.  Nadine Wood observed that the school program should be expanded to the middle schools, because there is less competition for alternative activities in middle school than in high school.  Jane Sturgis commented that Jim Allen co-owns a set of Montessori elementary/middle schools, and his wife is the administrator.  The WBL used to have a program there.

Dick Wegman and Clyde Kruskal promised to speak with Ron Starr, Mark Rosen, Barbara Shaw, Edith McMullin, and Sandy Forsythe about possible ways to expand and strengthen the program with the assistance of the Gates-Buffet organization.

WBL Award Rules:

Clyde Kruskal read a proposed change to the WBL award rules.  He proposed to add the following language:

The WBL board has the right to deny granting a WBL award for unethical conduct in any event within the scope of the award; and has the right to delay granting the award pending the outcome of a C&E committee.

Steve Robinson moved to adopt the proposed rule change.  Jane Sturgis seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Next Meetings:

The next WBL Board meeting will take place March 15, 2006 at Jane Sturgis’ house.  Richard Ferrin will host the following meeting on April 26, 2006.  The Board thanked Clyde Kruskal for hosting the November meeting.

Whereupon, the meeting adjourned at 10:14 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Ferrin, Secretary

Attachment:  2005 Draft Annual Report and 2006 Budget