Oregon High Desert Regional: May 11–17 TRUMPETTHE DISTRICT 20 www.ACBLD20.org Vol. 16, No. 1 Bridge Across the District Spring 2020 Mike Eyer is district president By Amy Casanova replacing Laurie Rowe. terms on the Portland unit board, “My focus will be on strength- The Trumpet Rowe, who served two terms as five of them as president. He was ening hospitality, active ethics president, was recently elected to treasurer for the Portland 1986 and goodwill,” Eyer said. “If play- The District 20 board met at the national board of directors. NABC and was also both a sec- ers feel welcome, they will return. the Oregon Trail Regional and Eyer has been an active partici- tional and regional tournament All players owe an obligation to elected a new president. There pant in District 20 bridge since manager for several years. For the the other players and the game were initially two candidates, 1972, when he began playing district, he has served as first al- to be gracious. however one withdrew shortly be- while stationed in Klamath Falls, ternate district director, vice pres- fore the election. Mike Eyer is serving in the Air Force. ident, area rep, recorder, and on “While we as district officers now District 20’s new president, Eyer has served two three-year the board of governors. Continued on Page 15 Mike Eyer Plan to reduce Count not board size fails as sunny as on close vote weather The Fall NABC was held in San Francisco, one of my favorite tourna- The Oregon Trail Regional finished ment cities. It seems appropriate short of expectations and below the since it was my last tournament as previous year’s table count by 2.5%. your District 20 director. With 1414 tables, this year was down I have really en- just 37 tables from 2019, not terrible joyed serving the considering the trend. With the esti- district for the past mate of 1541 tables proving to be nine years. I learned too optimistic, the finance committee a lot about the recommended budgeting for about workings of the 1500 tables next year. ACBL. I leave wish- In 2019, there was light snow on ing the reorganiza- Dave Brower, George Crawford and Kathy Mather are joining the Goodwill Committee. the weekend and planners believed tion had happened that negatively impacted attendance Merlin and that the com- for the last two days. This year the Vilhauer puter system was a weather was outstanding, in the D20 District Director little more secure. It upper 50s and sunny. Maybe it was has been my honor Goodwill greats too good for indoor bridge and folks to represent District 20 on the na- stayed home to do some yard work tional board. or enjoy other outdoor activities. After having a difficult year in 2018 ACBL Goodwill Committee gets three new members For the second year in a row, the and losing money, the ACBL appears owner, David Castles, Brower has an infec- schedule was staggered to include to be going into the black in 2019. By Jen Smith The Trumpet tious love for the game, and is always Continued on Page 17 Continued on Page 11 working to spread that love. We couldn’t usher in a new decade “At a time when bridge communities without inaugurating some new folks into throughout the country are struggling to the Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Com- maintain their size, David has been bring- mittee. Meet the generous players among ing large numbers of brand-new players Results from you who selflessly give their time to the into the fold,” says Castles. Bend Regional bridge community. When asked what Brower has done to give back to the bridge community, Chris San Francisco Wiegand jokes it might be easier to list coming in May Many District 20 players played in Dave Brower what he hasn’t done. Wiegand says I hope you all are planning to the Fall NABC in San Francisco. A Brower has been playing bridge since Brower has helped turn what was a lan- come to Bend for the Oregon High few got high finishes in national he was 10 years old. He is a club co- guishing club into a thriving one. Desert Regional May 11–17. The events, mostly limited ones. owner, teacher, coach and director of the venue is the beauti- Amy Casanova was fourth in the Portland Bridge Club. According to his co- Continued on Page 10 ful Riverhouse on Whitehead Women’s Pairs and also the Deschutes. made overalls in the Mixed Swiss There are lots of Teams with Hal Montgomery. Ray opportunities for Robert and Ed Lee placed third in gold points — for the Mini-Blue Ribbon Pairs, where 2019 masterpoint races wrap newcomers and old Sam Asai and Ed Freeman were timers alike. Please There were few high placings in national of Clubs races in three consecutive brack- 15th. And Dawn Campbell’s team see the ad on page masterpoint races by District 20 players. ets, Irva Kay Neyhart said she would scale was second in the 10K Swiss Teams. Jim Wheeler 9 in this issue of the Louis Beauchet was fourth in Youth, back her club play in 2019. Though she In regional events, Montgomery Tournament Manager Trumpet for details. eighth in Juniors and eighth in his Mini- earned the second-most masterpoints of won the Wednesday open pairs with See you in Bend. McKenney bracket (1000–1500). Brenda anyone in District 20 with 756.37, only Jean Barry, and they were second on Biermann and Amy Casanova both 322.74 were black, leaving her 25th in the Friday. Bob Law was 1B in the fast For more information, contact placed fifth in their brackets (200–300 5000–7500 bracket. pairs Wednesday. David McGraham tournament manager Jim Wheeler and 1500–2500). See the District 20 winners of all races at [email protected] or Continued on Page 10 After winning three straight national Ace on page 13. 503-860-0563. Page 2 The District 20 Trumpet Spring 2020 From punk teen to preppy national-event competitor? Crazy! Do you ever stop and think to yourself, hair purple, but my dad would not allow it. The first few times I went to NABCs I Master someday. Assuming an average life “If someone told me 10 or 20 years ago Later, after I completely rebelled and played in North American events in the C span I’m probably young enough to accu- that this is what my life would look like, I’d moved out of the house at the tender age and B flights. These events are a great in- mulate 10,000 points. But winning a na- say they were crazy!” of 15, I shaved half of my head and pierced troduction to playing in a large tourna- tional event takes some luck. It also takes I do all the time. my nose. My mom said I’d never get a job. ment. They are limited events in the lower showing up. No matter your goal, you have When I was in fourth grade, I At this point you might be try- flights and represent a pair or team from to show up to achieve it. was really struggling with math. I ing to picture me with half a head each district so you play people from all That’s why I’m so proud of Inez Weiss, remember sitting at the kitchen of hair and a nose ring. I now over the country. who just became a Silver Life Master at the table and my dad trying to help shop at the Gap and JCrew. Crazy! Last year I went to three NABCs: Mem- Oregon Trail Regional. When she started me with story problems. “The My son asked to bleach his hair phis, Las Vegas and San Francisco. I playing duplicate in her 60s she almost time is 3:46. What time will it be — his beautiful, thick, chestnut played in some limited events and a few didn’t bother to join the ACBL, thinking, in 27 minutes?” I just could not hair — and dye it pink. Of national events. I usually set my expecta- Why track masterpoints? I’ll never live long figure it out. Math was hard course, I said yes, and the middle tions fairly low. It’s pretty easy to leave enough to be a Life Master. Now here she enough for me, but add in time school kid in me wanted him to with very few masterpoints, if not zero. is with over 1000 points and she is still ac- and a clock? Forget it. I remember do it. But the mother in me was The competition is tough! There are not tively learning and getting better. our mutual frustration over 30 Amy Casanova nervous. I get it now, mom and many opportunities locally to practice The great thing about the game is that years later. I never advanced past Managing Editor dad. I’m a parent. Crazy! against unfamiliar opponents. Thanks to there is a level and a goal for everyone, algebra. Now I work with numbers When I first started playing my great partners, I did better than I ex- and we can all inspire and help one an- doing bookkeeping and account- bridge, we used travelers at the pected. If someone had whispered in my other. So set your sights on something ing and I play bridge, a game that some club; there was no electronic scoring at the 19-year-old ear at the Eastside Bridge and keep playing. You might surprise your- people say has statistics and stuff.