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DISTRICT 17 BRIDGE BUZZ
SEPTEMBER 2022
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The District 17 Bridge Buzz focuses on district and national news and provides you with the links to access the details. Catch the next Buzz November 2022.
Contact Cindy Shoemaker, editor, cndyshoemaker@yahoo.com with feedback and content suggestions.
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By Elizabeth Hamilton
grtscot@gmail.com
415-994-3527
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Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. The words of Helen Keller.
Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights activist, political activist and lecturer. She lost her sight and her hearing at the age of 19 months, after suffering from an unknown illness. Keller attended Radcliffe College of Harvard and became the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree. An inspirational accomplishment.
I just attended the Phoenix Desert Empire Regional held August 15 through August 21 at The Talking Stick Resort. This event was sponsored by ACBL Unit 354 and District 17. The local volunteer staff was amazing and truly inspirational. It really illustrated the meaning of the quote above. In addition to mostly local volunteers, there were some volunteers from other units in District 17. These ACBL players, local and non-local, participate in running their own regionals, sectionals and special events in their units, but still found time to come, play and support Unit 354. I know their efforts were appreciated and as we move forward with bridge in 2022 and 2023, it is going to take “out of the box” thinking to make our events successful and bring people safely back to face-to-face bridge. Unit 354 plans to be back at The Talking Stick Resort in August 2023, so please mark your calendar.
District 17 will have one more regional this year in Las Vegas, NV and an NABC in Phoenix, AZ - both in November.
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Dates and information about these events are available at www.d17acbl.org and in this edition of the BUZZ. There are many volunteer opportunities available. Please check them out. Volunteering can be lots of fun.
I hope that you were able to qualify for the District 17 North American Pairs (NAP) in your local clubs or online during June, July and August. The District 17 Final will be held at the Las Vegas Regional in November 2022. This is a great opportunity to participate in a District Final that could lead to playing in the National Final at the NABC in New Orleans in the Spring of 2023. Now that would be a blast!
Information will soon be available for the District 17 Grand National Team (GNT) qualifying events. The updated conditions of contest will be on our District website soon.
There is a lot going on in District 17! The next Royal STaC event will be happening from September 12 to 18. This is a great opportunity to support your local clubs and to get us all back to face-to-face play.
For those of you who remember the Board of Governors, they are now called the Advisory Council. The list of District 17 AC members with contact information is on our District 17 website. This is another avenue to explore to give feedback to ACBL.
Our District 17 National Representative can also be reached through our website and she does an outstanding job of representing key District 17 issues.
Stay healthy, stay safe and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have ideas or questions.
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By Angie Clark
Tournament Chair
angieclark@comcast.net
847-764-1060
On behalf of the Las Vegas Unit 373 Board, I'd like to invite you to attend the Las Vegas Glitter Gulch Regional held November 7 – 13, 2022 at The Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas.
The location is ideal to experience Vegas night life after a successful day at the tables. Hotel rates are very reasonable, but they do vary by night of the week. Book early for the best options for you. The link to reservations is: https://book.passkey.com/event/50320721/owner/4735443/home. Use code: SACBL22. The booking deadline is October 7. As in the past, parking is free with a validated parking ticket.
Our event schedule is comprised of a wide variety of playing options for new and advancing players, including 0-299 and Gold Rush Pairs. For the seasoned Life Masters, there are Premier Soloway KOs, Bracketed Round Robin Teams, Side and Open Pairs.
Please visit our web page at https://lvregional.com/schedule/ to view the full seven-day competition designed with you in mind!
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On Wednesday, November 9, the tournament is saluting our new and advancing players, with a day focusing on events and drawings especially tailored for our I/N attendees. Karen Kimes will deliver the afternoon lecture, DRURY – It’s not dreary! Karen, a Ruby Life Master, is a certified ACBL instructor and is highly respected by her students. In addition to spearheading Wednesday’s event, Karen is our Partnership Chair for 2022.
For those of you who have qualified to participate in the District NAP Finals, the Las Vegas Glitter Gulch Regional is home to this event. Flight B Pairs will compete on Friday, November 11. Flights A and C will be held Saturday, November 12. Successful pairs will carry the D17 banner on to the NABC in New Orleans.
Two important reminders about our tournament:
- ACBL COVID-19 and local protocols at the time of the tournament will be enforced. All participants must be vaccinated. Event Safety Coordinator, Jacque Brickey, indicates she and her team have a fashionable ID bracelet just for you.
- This is a Cashless Tournament. All credit cards will be accepted.
Until November, may all your slams be grand!
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CLUB QUALIFICATION GAMES HAVE ENDED. | |
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CACTUS FLOWER NLM REGIONAL
NOVEMBER 17-19
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By Jack Shoemaker
Tournament Chair
shoejack20@gmail.com
The Cactus Flower Non-Life Master (NLM) Regional delivers the GOLD Thursday, November 17 through Saturday, November 19 at the Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, 8625 E. Tanque Verde Road, Tucson. Ample free parking daily.
This regional is exclusively for non-life masters with fewer than 750 points. Gold Rush Pairs or teams that finish in the overalls (Stratification A) will be awarded 33 percent gold and 67 percent red masterpoints!
There will be two days of two-session Gold Rush Pairs. Saturday is the Gold Rush Swiss Teams. All non-life masters will receive a tournament patch and more.
The Cactus Flower NLM Regional and the Tucson Fall Sectional will be held at the same time and at the same location; however, they are two separate tournaments.
Both the regional and the sectional will award 20 percent more masterpoints to those who place in the overalls!
The sectional offers two days of Open Pairs and two days of Swiss Teams. A sectional Stratified Swiss Teams will be held on Saturday.
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Hospitable touches include complimentary coffee and hot tea daily and premium candy each afternoon. Saturday lunch will be offered at a reduced rate.
Take advantage of free lectures by top local experts Thursday and Friday between sessions.
Need a partner? Contact Doug Cain, partnership chair, cainds2@comcast.net or post to www.playsouthernazbridge.com and click partnerships.
The regional and the sectional are cashless tournaments. Please be prepared to pay with a credit/debit card.
We look forward to seeing you in Tucson!
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SAVE THE DATE
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT REGIONAL
ALBUQUERQUE, NM
JANUARY 16-22, 2023
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By Joyce Keane
NABC Publicity Chair
jekeane903@gmail.com
The Fall 2022 North American Bridge Championships (NABC) will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center November
24 through December 4, 2022.
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If you have under five masterpoints, more than 10,000 masterpoints, or somewhere in between, this event is for you. Players of all levels are welcome – beginners to experts. Play as many days as you want.
If this is your first NABC, help will be available onsite to guide you through the process. There are plenty of players at your same level. There are daily games for those under 300 masterpoints. And numerous opportunities exist for winning red and gold masterpoints. Even better, there are free lessons/lectures from top experts daily. Partners are guaranteed for single players. Take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of other bridge players from around the country.
If you’re new to NABCs and are thinking about making plans to attend this NABC but are still wondering, how does it really work? You’re not alone. We’ve set up a way to help you right now. Email us at Phoenix2022NABC@gmail.com and we will be happy to answer your questions.
Information and the full schedule of events for all players is on the ACBL website at https://www.acbl.org/portfolio/phoenix-nabc/.
Sponsor hotels are within walking distance of the Convention Center and reservations are open, so start your planning now! Parking is available at the Phoenix Convention Center. Remote parking is also available at Phoenix area rail stations for a short train ride to the Convention Center then a 1½ block walk to the Convention Center. Or if you are local and commuting, consider using the car pool/HOV lanes (2+ passengers) on the local interstates and highways to expedite your ride.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Phoenix 2022 NABC Committee is seeking volunteers to make this another first rate event. Dozens of volunteers are needed to fill one-hour slots to help with areas such as registration, giving out prizes, working the information booth and more! It’s easy (quick training before your shift) and you’ll meet plenty of other bridge players to make it an enjoyable experience for you.
If you have an hour to spare before the games at 10am or 3pm – you choose what is convenient for you - please consider helping out. Email phxnabc@icloud.com and you’ll then get instructions for signing up for the specific days, time and duty you want to work. As a volunteer, you’ll have plenty of time to make it to the bridge game you’re registered for.
DO YOU HAVE AN NABC STORY TO TELL?
We’re accepting submissions for articles (1 – 5 paragraphs) for an opportunity to be published in the Phoenix NABC 2022 “Daily Bulletin” and other pages on the ACBL website. If you have an interesting story about your experience, partnership, people you met, etc. while at a previous NABC, then we want to know!
Here’s your chance to spread the word about why the NABC was meaningful to you. If you have an idea, please contact Joyce Keane, Phoenix 2022 NABC Publicity Chair, and we can arrange to talk about your topic. We can even write the article for you.
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SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE
2022 FALL PHOENIX NABC
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By Susan Kraght
NABC Fundraising Chair
slkraght@gmail.com
480-433-7724
The Committee needs your help! Have you ever wanted to recognize a fellow bridge player who has tirelessly served our community? Naming an event at the 2022 Phoenix Nationals is a fitting tribute. Here is your chance!
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Not only will it be exciting to see a familiar name in all of the printed schedules for the 2022 Fall NABC, but the money will contribute to a great cause – a robust and exciting I/N program and improving the playing experience for local and visiting players.
A two-session event is $100 and a one-session event is $50.
Please contact Susan Kraght for more information or to reserve your spot.
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By Sharon Smith
D17 Education Chair
sharon@spatialsolutionsgroup.com
D17 GRANTS FUEL EDUCATION AND MEMBERSHIP BUILDING INITIATIVES
Bridge education is our future! The D17 Grant Program is designed to support innovative education programs.
The D17 Board recently approved grants for Units 360 and 363. These efforts include BIAD (Bridge In A Day) seminars and Open House events that have attracted new players to the Northern Colorado bridge community. The curriculum for BIAD is licensed by D17 and is available to bridge teachers who qualify to teach this program.
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Is your Unit planning an upcoming membership drive or new player education program? If so, take a look at our grant program to see if it can help you handle some of the expenses related to these efforts. We are here to support you! | |
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GREAT GAMES FOR NEWER PLAYERS
The All-Western 99er NiteClub offers virtual online games for players with less than 100 MPs. There is even a game for players with less than 20 MPs. Now the NiteClub offers games for 199ers! All games are followed by post-game analysis by top teachers via Zoom.
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Attention all NiteClub players! Mark your calendar to attend the Phoenix NABC November 24 through December 4. Enjoy playing in person in the 299er sections. Watch for news on a special event with a post-game board review. | |
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BRIDGEWHIZ NEEDS TEACHERS
The BridgeWhiz Online Youth Basic Bridge Class, an ACBL Educational Foundation initiative, has completed its pilot year with over 1,300 youth ages 9-13 taking classes. The goal for the 2022-2023 session which starts in October is to register over 4,000 students.
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Thank you to D17 teachers who have or are continuing to participate.
More teachers are needed to meet this demand. If you are interested, please contact Albert Bender or Sharon Smith.
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D17 BOARD ELECTION UPDATE | |
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The nomination period for candidates seeking to represent Las Vegas Unit 373, Arizona at Large Units 355 and 358 or Tucson Unit 356 on the D17 Board ended August 31 at midnight.
Elizabeth Hamilton, incumbent, representing Unit 373 and Bill Phillips, incumbent, representing Arizona at Large Units 355 and 358 have run unopposed. Each will be elected by acclamation.
Two candidates are running for the position to represent Unit 356: Steve Reynolds, incumbent, and Diana Galis, president, Unit 356.
Unit board members elect their representatives and must conduct a vote before November 1, 2022.
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The term for a D17 board member is three years, beginning January 1 in the year following the election.
For more information contact Lakin Hines, D17 election secretary, lakinh57@yahoo.com
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ACBL members receive masterpoints for winning and placing in club games and tournaments as they strive to advance through the ranks. There are 16 ranks, from Junior Master (5 masterpoints) to Grand Life Master (10,000 masterpoints plus a victory in an eligible North American Bridge Championship). | | | | | |
