Monday, November 30, 2009 Volume 82, Number 4 Daily Bulletin 82nd Fall North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Dave Smith Morris out front Gates, Buffett named in Open BAM A foursome captained by Robert Morris of 2010 Honorary Members Houston TX will start play today in the Victor Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, whose love of both of them Mitchell Open Board-a-Match Teams with a lead of bridge prompted them to donate $1 million to help but encourages about three-quarters of a board. promote teaching the game in schools, have been them to help the Morris is playing with Steven Cooper, Fort selected as the 2010 ACBL Honorary Members of ACBL in the Collins CO; Allan Falk, Okemos MI, and Peter the Year. promotion of the Friedland, Cupertino CA. The recipients of the honor each year are game.” Their carryover of 6.15 puts them .74 ahead of chosen by vote of the ACBL Board of Directors Osberg, an Barry Rigal, Alex Ornstein, Jeff Aker and Glenn to acknowledge long and meritorious service to executive with Milgrim. bridge. Wells Fargo The four-session event concludes tonight. The two titans of business – Gates is the & Co. and a founder and chairman of Microsoft and Buffett two-time world Joel squad leads is chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a champion at conglomerate holding company – have made no bridge, has Warren Buffett and frequent Women’s BAM secret of their love of bridge over the past several been playing partner Sharon Osberg. The team captained by Geeske Joel starts play years. with Buffett for today in the Marsha May Sternberg Women’s Gates is often seen at ACBL tournaments nearly 20 years. Board-a-Match Teams with slim lead over two and even occasionally at a world championship. The two squads just a quarter of a board behind. Buffett, who lives in Omaha NE, doesn’t travel to new Honorary Joel, of Palo Alto CA, is playing with Tobi tournaments, but he is known to play bridge online Members, of Sokolow, Austin TX; Jill Meyers, Santa Monica about 12 hours a week. course, are CA; Jill Levin, Lake Ariel PA; Debbie Rosenberg, Both have expressed their support for the game well known New Rochelle NY, and Janice Seamon-Molson, of bridge and the many benefi ts it has for old and around the Hollywood FL. young alike. In 2005, the two announced a grant of world for their Tied for second third with two sessions to $1 million to fund efforts to teach bridge to school accomplish- play are teams captained by Kyoko Shimamura children. ments in of Tokyo, Japan, and Daniele Gaviard of Paris, In a news article in USA Today that year, business, France. Buffett touted the benefi ts of bridge over poker, and in early which seems to have seized the imagination of more 2009, Forbes Bill Gates. young people. Said Buffett: “There’s intellectual Magazine listed Tucker maintains development involved and working as partners Gates and Buffett and Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, with people. If a lot of kids are exposed to bridge, on the list of the world’s richest people. In 1999, focus on recruiting a number of them are going to benefi t in a very Buffett was named the top money manager of the signifi cant way.” 20th century in a survey by the Carson Group. young players ACBL Board Members Joan Gerard and Al Gates’ and Buffett’s interest in bridge is well Levy were co-chairs of the Honorary Member documented, and just last summer, Gates attended Concentration is a key to success at bridge – Committee. Gerard said the committee unanimously the Summer NABC in Washington DC, taking time and that may explain why Patty Tucker, an expert selected the recipients for 2010. out from his schedule to visit with participants bridge player and “It took less than a minute for unanimous board in the second Youth NABC. It was one of the ACBL’s youth approval,” said Gerard. “We couldn’t think of two highlights of the tournament for players 19 and coordinator, has yet more deserving people who have contributed to younger. to take her eye off the the betterment of bridge in so many ways – giving In 2006, Buffett sponsored the fi rst Buffett Cup, ball as she strives for us publicity by speaking about bridge so lovingly, a challenge match modeled after golf’s Ryder Cup, new and better ways but playing bridge as often as they can and getting in which teams from Europe and the U.S. face off to promote bridge to such enjoyment from it, by their willingness to in different competitive formats. The fi rst Buffett young people. devote time to talk with our Juniors and fi nally to Cup took place in Dublin, Ireland, the second in At the Fall donating $1 million to be used for promoting bridge Louisville KY. Next year’s challenge match will be NABC in San Diego, in schools.” in Wales. she is distributing a Gerard added that “thanks must also go to Gates and Buffett are regular Internet players. fl yer about the newly our good friend, as well as Warren’s and Bill’s, Gates’s online name is Chalengr. Buffett goes by created Foundation Sharon Osberg, who not only plays bridge with T-Bone. for the Preservation and Advancement of Bridge. It’s a 501(c)(3) organization – meaning Another high seed Falls in Senior KO contributions are tax deductible – whose purpose The team captained by Ken Cohen took a slim Cincinnati; Russ Ekeblad, Portsmouth RI, and Ron includes inspiring more young people to play lead at the halfway point of their match with the Rubin, Miami FL. bridge. No. 3 seed, led by Reese Milner, before pulling Other high seeds, including No. 2 Carolyn Trustees of the foundation are Bob Hamman, away in the second half for a 163-135 victory. Lynch, continued into today’s quarterfi nal round. president; Steve Beatty, vice president; Allan Falk, Cohen, of Philadelphia PA, is playing with The matchups, by captain are Lynch versus Robert Sheri Winestock, Lynne Schaeffer, Jay Baum and Neal Satten, Wynnewood PA; Rick Rowland, Hollman, Amos Kaminski versus Fred King, Steve Tucker. Tracey Yarbro is secretary. Wilmington DE, and Thomas Weik, Reading PA. Robinson versus Cohen and Mike Levine versus Tucker’s fl yer describes the success of this Milner played with Matt and Pamela Granovetter, Stephen Shane. year’s Youth NABC, the second tournament for players 19 and younger, and points to the 2010 Youth NABC scheduled for New Orleans next Goodwill message continued on page 4 Today is Goodwill Day and my co-chairs and I invite members of the National Goodwill Committee to join us at a reception from x to x p.m. in the xxx. Attendance We look forward to seeing you there. Aileen Osofsky, Chairman 4106 National Goodwill Committee Page 2 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Monday, Nov. 30 Tuesday, Dec. 1 9 a.m. - Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). Session three of 9 a.m. - Noon Bridge Teachers and Bridge Cruises. Join Peg Cundiff, the ACBL’s popular 10-hour seminar for people interested host of more than 100 bridge cruises, for an informative in learning how to teach bridge successfully. Pre-registration session about what you need to know to be a successful required. Room: Ford B. teacher and bridge host on a cruise ship. Fee: $25 at door. 10:30 a.m. - Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of Room: Ford A & B Seaport Tower. Noon Bridge meeting. Room: Molly B 2nd fl oor Seaport 9 a.m. - Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education Tower. for bridge directors to increase their skills presented by 10 a.m. - Noon Competition and Conventions Committee meeting. internationally acclaimed ACBL Tournament Director Room: Maggie - 3rd Floor Harbor Tower. Guillermo Poplawsky. Continues Wednesday. Must attend 11 am - Noon Get Online with BridgeBase.com. Don’t miss this both sessions. Room: Maggie - 3rd Floor Harbor Tower. opportunity to meet with Fred Gitelman, creator of the 10 a.m. - Noon Senior Team Trials meeting. Room: Ford C. ACBL’s Learn to Play Bridge program. Get a guided tour of the Bridge Base web site and its outstanding teaching Wednesday, Dec. 2 features. Room: Ford C. 9 a.m. - Noon Club Director Refresher Course. Continuing education 5 - 7 p.m. Goodwill Reception. Reception for members of the ACBL for bridge directors to increase their skills presented by Goodwill Committee. Room: America’s Cup A Harbor internationally acclaimed ACBL Tournament Director Tower. Guillermo Poplawsky. Continued from Tuesday. Must attend both sessions. Room: Maggie - 3rd Floor Harbor Tower. 10 a.m. - Noon Open Team Trials meeting. Room: Ford C. CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Be sure to hear these free expert lectures at the San Diego NABC. They are Tuesday, Dec. 1 held in the Manchester Ballroom GHI. 9:45 am Mike Flader Ruling the Game 6:45 pm David Berkowitz Partnerships Monday, Nov. 30 9:45 am Mel Colchamiro How to Play Like an Expert Wednesday, Dec. 2 (without being one) 9:45 am Ken Monzingo Hand Patterns 6:45 pm Jay Helekar Simple End Play Theory 6:45 pm Judy Elbogen Bergen Style ENTERTAINMENT/FOOD Monday: Mashed potato bar at 10:30 p.m. -- Fourth fl oor Randle Ballroom. Tuesday, Dec. 1 Tuesday: Ice cream bars at 10:30 p.m. -- Fourth fl oor Randle Ballroom. 10 a.m. Rose Meltzer’s “Breakfast with the Stars” Admission: $10 (limited seating) Nov. 27–Dec. 1 Purchase tickets at Bridge Registration Desk Peter Rank’s “My Fair (Little Old) Lady” Shows at 11 p.m.