District 17 BRIDGE BUZZ
MAY 2019
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The Buzz is delivered to you the months the ScoreCard is not published. This online newsletter focuses on upcoming District 17 tournaments, events and breaking news and provides you with links to access the details.
Contact
Cindy Shoemaker
, editor, cndyshoemaker@yahoo.com
with feedback and content suggestions.
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UPCOMING DISTRICT 17 REGIONALS
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The Denver Rocky Mountain Regional
May 21 - May 27
Denver, Colorado
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By Wayne Eckerling
Tournament Chair
Don’t miss the Denver Rocky Mountain Regional May 21-27 (Memorial Day) at the newly renovated Renaissance Hotel by Marriott. The Renaissance Hotel is conveniently located between Denver International Airport and downtown Denver in the redeveloped Stapleton area. The bridge rate, $112, is good through April 30.
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The regional begins with a Pro/Am pairs event Tuesday at 1 pm. If you have between five and 299 points and want to play with a more advanced player, sign up by May 10 with an email to
ProAm@DenverBridge.org
. In addition to masterpoints, section tops and first and second place overalls will receive prizes. There is also a single-session charity open pairs game at the same time. Evening charity games begin at 7 pm.
Start times for games Wednesday - Sunday are now 9:30 am and 2:30 pm providing ample time for dinner before evening play at 7:30 pm.
We are honored to once again host the D17 Grand National Teams finals held Friday, Saturday and (if necessary) on Sunday.
The Denver Rocky Mountain Regional offers a dynamic playing schedule that includes KOs, Swiss teams, bracketed teams, Board-a-Match teams, open pairs, fast pairs and side pairs.
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With an average of over 60 tables daily, Gold Rush pairs is one of our most popular events. These two-session pair games will be held Wednesday through Sunday with the exception of Friday when a two-session Gold Rush Swiss teams game will be offered. To play Gold Rush pairs, you must have less than 750 masterpoints. Tops in each section and overall winners will earn gold.
On Wednesday there will be special discounts, promotions and prizes for I/N and Gold Rush games. Friday there will be prizes for winners in all events.
299'er single-session pair games will be held Wednesday through Sunday.
The regional will conclude on Monday with an A/X/Y Swiss teams game and a Bracketed Gold team game for players with fewer than 3000 masterpoints. The top three finishers in each bracket will earn gold! If you need a partner, send an email to
Partners@DenverBridge.org
.
Regardless of level, all players are encouraged to attend bridge lectures by top experts 1:45 pm Wednesday through Sunday.
Click here
for a map of the Denver/Stapleton area.
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COLORADO NON-LIFE MASTER REGIONAL
JULY 12-14
JEFFERSON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
GOLDEN, CO
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By Wayne Eckerling
Tournament Chair
Don’t miss STRIKE GOLD, the Colorado Non-Life Master Regional on July 12-14. This event was held last year by Unit 363 (Northern Colorado.) This year it is being hosted by Denver, Unit 361. The tournament offers a great opportunity to earn gold and red masterpoints – 33 percent gold and 67 percent red - for overall winners and section tops in two-session events. To participate in the tournament, a player must have fewer than 750 masterpoints and cannot be a Life Master.
There will be a two-session pairs event on both Friday and Saturday at 10 am and 2:30 pm. Pairs wishing to play in a single-session will be accommodated within the two-session event. On Sunday, a bracketed Gold Rush Swiss Teams game will start at 10 am. Teams are expected to play in both the morning and the afternoon sessions. Lunch is included with the entry fee.
The Strike Gold NLM Regional is run concurrently with the Denver Summer Sectional, so if you have friends with too many masterpoints to be eligible for the Regional, they can play at the same time and location.
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To improve your bridge, listen to our great speakers between sessions (2 pm) on Friday and Saturday and before the Swiss Teams begins on Sunday (9:30 am.) Learn more about hand evaluation and hear two perspectives on team play.
Hospitality includes a full continental breakfast each morning, coffee, tea, and soda throughout the day, and afternoon snacks. The first 30 registrants on Friday will receive a free-play good for use later in this event or in another event sponsored by Unit 361. Prizes include beautiful art glass trophies for the top winners each day and gift cards for the individual or pair that travelled the farthest to get to the tournament.
If you are looking to combine bridge with other activities, July is a great time to visit Denver. Summer days are typically hot and dry with highs around 90 degrees. Lows are in the low 60’s. Jefferson County Fairgrounds are located just west of Denver, close to the mountains. There are many hotels and restaurants a short drive from the tournament site. A number of Jefferson County open space parks are also nearby that offer unique hiking opportunities.
Click here
for a map of the area that may help with orientation and directions.
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PHOENIX DESERT EMPIRE REGIONAL
AUGUST 12-18
TALKING STICK RESORT
SCOTTSDALE, AZ
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The Phoenix Desert Empire Regional held August 12 - 18 is back at the beautiful Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale, AZ!
With convenient start times of 10 am, 3 pm and 7:30 pm, The Phoenix Desert Empire Regional boasts a varied playing schedule that includes: KOs, Swiss and bracketed teams, Board-a-Match, open pairs, gold rush and 299'er pairs. New KOs have been added to Tuesday and to Thursday. Monday evening games begin at 7 pm.
Free lectures by top experts will be held Tuesday through Saturday.
Great giveaways, registration gifts and more, including discount food coupons.
Talking Stick is a four diamond resort and is a cultural and entertainment destination. It offers six unique onsite dining experiences sure to fit your budget and your taste, including the award-winning Orange Sky Restaurant providing 360 degree views of the Valley.
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Book your rooms before July 29 to receive room rates of only $109. Use booking code 12693 or “Desert Empire Regional.”
Phone 480-270-5555 or toll free 866-877-9897. No daily resort fees. Free WiFi and complimentary self and valet parking daily.
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UPCOMING DISTRICT 17 SECTIONALS
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JULY
CLICK THE HOST CITY TO VIEW TOURNAMENT FLYERS
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BRIGHT
LIGHTS,
BIG
BRIDGE
DON'T MISS THE LAS VEGAS NABC
COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS
JULY 18-28, 2019
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Join the thousands of bridge lovers from around the world in an event like no other. The NABC is full of games, workshops and excitement, whether you’re just beginning to play bridge or looking for prime competition.
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DISTRICT 17 OFFERS UNITS EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY GRANTS
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by Steve Nordberg
Grant program coordinator
District 17
Over the past five years, District 17 has provided grants totaling over $10,000 to 15 different units. Some units have received multiple awards. Any unit that has not hosted a regional tournament within the last five years is eligible. There is no matching requirement and the maximum funding request is $1,000 per year.
Units eligible for grants include: Cheyenne and Laramie units, WY; Pueblo, N. Colorado, Western Slope and Boulder units, CO; Yuma and N. Arizona units, AZ; Carlsbad, Las Cruces, N. New Mexico and Santa Fe units, NM; and the El Paso unit, TX.
While priority is placed on beginner bridge education and membership building, the District 17 board has awarded grants for technology upgrades. Education grants can be used for Learn Bridge in A Day?, Easybridge!, bridge schools for beginners and open houses. They must be unit-sponsored events. To further reduce expense, units can also receive advertising funding from the ACBL through it’s “CAP” program which provides up to $500 based on a 50 percent subsidy of eligible date-specific marketing.
There are no applications. Simply email your request to Steve Nordberg, grant program coordinator, D17,
texminn@sbcglobal.net
.
Please direct grant questions to Steve Nordberg or to John Grossmann, president, District 17,
blackstone.co@comcast.net
.
Deadline for submission: May 15, 2019.
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As The Longest Day’s inaugural partner, the ACBL has raised more than $4.7 million for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. From sunrise to sunset, members across the country will host tournaments, teach lessons and play multiple sessions to advance the cause.
Join us for the 7th annual The Longest Day fundraising event supporting Alzheimer’s disease, care and research. Held during the week of June 21, 2019 – the longest day of the year – the event symbolizes the difficult journey of those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. Clubs, teachers, tournaments and players are invited to form fundraising teams and hold special games (upgraded masterpoints), teach lessons, conduct raffles and beyond.
Show your support by
registering
as an official fundraising team with the Alzheimer’s Association,
donating to a bridge team
, participating in The Longest Day games and lessons – or all three! You’ll be honoring the more than 35 million people worldwide who are living with Alzheimer’s and countless caregivers who face this disease. And by playing bridge, you’ll show the world there is a fun game that may help slow the onset of this disease.
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THE WESTERN CONFERENCE SPRING FLING STaC XX IS COMING:
MAY 6-12, 2019
Schedule your games today
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PARTICIPATE IN THE GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS
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Congratulations to all those who qualified to play in the District 17 GNT finals held at the upcoming Denver Rocky Mountain Regional May 24 - May 26.
The winning teams will receive $2,000/team to compete in the National Finals held at the Las Vegas NABC in July.
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For more information on District 17 activities go to
d17acbl.org
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