Edited & Published by Kay Beebe

This is my first column as president of the Unit 171 . That makes it a time to think of goals.

Our tournaments are bucking a nationwide trend in attendance. The goal is to continue bucking!

Jane Champion has taken over as chair of the Blue Ridge Summer Spectacular, the centerpiece tournament for our Unit. In 2015, we averaged more tables per session than ANY tournament in the District 7. Thanks to great volunteers and the sponsorship of Carolina Village along with the underwriting of St. Paul Mountain Winery, this has become one of the few ‘destination sectionals’ in the country. It’s hard to picture how a tournament can be more fun….but Jane and crew are working on it. Len Perkins has taken over as chair of the Highlands Mothers’ Day tourney, hosted by the Highlands Club. Ahhhh…..another destination tournament! That tournament has grown EVERY year since the first. Barbara Doster continues to chair the always fun (and delicious!) NLM tournament, hosted by the Hendersonville Bridge Club. And our fourth ‘jewel’ – the Asheville tournament is hosted by the Asheville Bridge Room and chaired by the energetic Paul and Kay Beebe. They rolled out the new venue last year, and it was a hit!

What is YOUR role, bridge player? Volunteer! Tournaments across the country are being canceled as volunteers tire. We are really focused in our unit on spreading the work, spreading the expertise, stepping up and stepping in. Here’s a goal: Get more people involved. Please reach out to the tournament chair; please raise your hand!

Another goal that the Board shares is education…education…education. Jane Champion (indefatigable Jane) is gathering ideas (and funds) to spread bridge to young people, the parents of young people, old people. There will be more to come on this.

Another goal – (Gently) make more people more familiar with the Laws. My mother told me that the reason to learn manners wasn’t really about the forks; rather, it was about smooth social intercourse. I think the rules are the same thing. If we all understood the rules better, there would be less contention. Here’s one that’s easy to put to use: Delayed Alerts. We are frequently lazy about delayed alert announcements at the end of the auction. We often assume the others are on the same page as we are and we fail to announce any conventional bids above the 3NT level that were not alerted. From the ACBL: Delayed Alerts are alerts given after the auction is completed for alertable calls above the level of 3NT starting with the opening bidder’s second turn to call. The dummy or declarer alerts the defenders before the .

One of the Board’s goals is to do a (much) better job with recognition. Who won the various Ace of Clubs awards? Who won the Mini-McKinney awards? Who achieved a higher rank? Stay tuned.

The Board also is looking at ways to ‘brand’ Unit 171. Our goal is to make it our Unit recognizable. We want our Unit to be known for its unique clubs and unique tournaments. We’re brainstorming…..

We’re off to a good start. We’re trying to turn our goals into actionable items. Get in touch with ANY board member and share your good ideas. We are all very, very excited about 2016 and bridge in Western North Carolina.

Gayle Covey Unit President

The report below is updated monthly on the Unit Website under the tab “Unit-Wide Achievements:

JUNIOR MASTER REGIONAL MASTER Grace Major Arthur Lebowitz Kenneth Barget

CLUB MASTER BRONZE LIFE MASTER Sonja Kozlowski Joe Hicks Sue Marker Beverly Reddick

SECTIONAL MASTER RUBY LIFE MASTER Rich Levy Nancy Lee Hoffman Barbara Macon Wilbur Palmer Donald Williamson

Explanation of rankings is noted below: LM Life Master Brnz Bronze LM LM with 500 Slvr Silver LM 1,000+/ 200 pigmented Ruby Ruby LM 1,500+ / 300 pigmented Gold Gold LM 2,500+ / 500 pigmented Sphr Sapphire LM 3,500+ / 700 pigmented / 350 gold-plat Dmnd Diamond LM 5,000+ / 1,000 pigmented / 500 gold-plat Emrl Emerald LM 7,5000+ / 1,500 pigmented / 750 gold-plat Plat Platinum LM 10,000+ / 2,000 pigmented /1000 gold-plat Grand Grand LM Platinum LM with unrestricted NABC win

For LMs before 1990, most pigmentation requirements waived. Rank requirements modified in 1969, 1990, 1999, 2002, 2012, 2016.

By Kay Beebe

Mary Hierl began playing bridge in the 1940’s. She played at the Oklahoma City Bridge Club with Jim (her husband) as partners whenever they could as Jim was still working at the time. Mary also has a long track record serving in leadership positions at the Asheville Bridge Club. After experiencing her first “psyche” bid during a tournament, coincidentally she met the same person in another tournament and “psyched” him in the exact same contract. When Mary and Jim were in New York visiting her son, they decided to play in the local bridge club. After the game Lyn Deas (bridge champ) and partner, Beth Palmer who had just returned from Europe after winning the invited Mary and Jim for beer and pizza.

Mary and Jim Hierl along with Dick and Louise Caser were featured in the bridge article written by Dick Kaplan which was published in the Asheville Citizen Times on Sunday, September 8, 1991. The team of Life Masters won the Flight A Swiss Team Championship in the Labor Day MABC Regional in Atlanta. The married couples team finished with 103 points in beating out the runner-up elite players: Eric Rodwell/Eddie Wold and Ron Anderson/Sabine Zenkel who ended up with 102 points. Kaplan noted in his bridge article that Mary Hierl’s successful grand slam gamble paid off to win an earlier match and was the highlight of the team’s victory. Please note East’s double on the Spade bid which indicated that East had the Ace of Spades. Therefore, North had to have the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Clubs. North ♠K 7 4 ♥Q 7 ♦A 8 6 ♣A J 9 5 2 West East ♠Q J 10 3 ♠A 9 8 6 5 2 ♥9 5 4 ♥10 3 ♦2 ♦10 7 5 ♣K 10 8 6 3 ♣Q 4

South ♠ ♥A K J 8 6 2 ♦K Q J 9 4 3 ♣7

East-West vulnerable, North dealer. The bidding: North East South West 1♣ Pass 1♥ Pass 1NT Pass 3♦ Pass 4♥ Pass 4NT Pass 5♠ Dbl 7♥ End

Lead by West was the Q♠

Gayle Covey Gayle has loved bridge since her mother taught her to play as a child, and it has always been a huge part of her life. Sitting at the elbow of some of the New York greats, she kibitzed hundreds of deals. It was at the elbow of Edgar Kaplan that she learned Kaplan-Sheinwold, which she still plays. She was gratified to stay in touch with until his death. Professionally, Gayle was a banking consultant in partnership with her husband Steven DeVico (whom she met at a bridge game that started at midnight on Saturday nights in NYC!). Edited & Published by Kris Boswinkel Kay Beebe

People come to bridge from many angles, but for me it was family and friends. My mother played--I was roped in This is my first column as president of the Unit 171 Board. That makes it a time to think of goals. as a substitute from the age of 10. My brother played and was justly proud of his regional red paints earned in

1963.Our tournaments Even my college are bucking debate coacha nationwide played and trend was in aattendance. Life Master. The I met goal my is husband to continue at the bucking! bridge table. There wa s just no getting away from it. And I am thankful for that, and for the many friends made by sharing the love of theJane best Champion card game has taken ever. over as chair of the Blue Ridge Summer Spectacular, the centerpiece tournament for our Unit. In 2015, we averaged more tables per session than ANY tournament in the District 7. Thanks to great volunteers and the Veysponsorship Turner of Carolina Village along with the underwriting of St. Paul Mountain Winery, this has become one of the few I‘destination am the Secretary sectionals’ for in Unitthe country.171 as well It’s hardas a toBoard picture of howDirector a tournament member. can Barbara be more Doster fun….but, previous Jane and Unit crew 171 are working Secretaryon it. Len Perkinsfor the haspast taken 8 years, over trustedas chair meof the to Highlandstake on her Mothers’ position. Day tourney,It has been hosted a challengeby the Highlands to follow Duplicate in her Bridgefoot steps,Club. Ahhhh…..anotherhowever with her destination assistance tournament! and others That I have tournament made it hasthrough grown my EVERY first yearrewarding since the year. first. Barbara Doster continues to chair the always fun (and delicious!) NLM tournament, hosted by the Hendersonville Bridge Club. And our fourth For all Unit 171 Members, the Unit Board is here for you and the game we all love. Please let the Unit Board know ‘jewel’ – the Asheville tournament is hosted by the Asheville Bridge Room and chaired by the energetic Paul and Kay Beebe. whatThey rolledwe can out do the to new enhance venue thelast gameyear, and of bridgeit was afor hit! you!

GraceWhat is SchmidtYOUR role, bridge player? Volunteer! Tournaments across the country are being canceled as volunteers tire. We are Afterreally manyfocused years in our of unit playing on spreading golf, my the husband work, spreading Tony and the I hadexpertise, to give stepping it up. upI realized and stepp weing needed in. Here’s to have a goal: Get somethingmore people to involveddo together.. Please Tony reach loves out to to play the tournamentbridge so I chair; decided please I would raise yourlearn. hand! I had played a couple of times and thought the game silly. If one heart means I have 5 hearts and somewhere between 12 and 21 HCP, why don'tAnother you goal just thatsay it.the Why Board talk shares in code? is education…education…education. Not ready to “give in”, I took lessons Jane and Champion after about (indefatigable a year, I Jane)decided is bridgegathering was ideas the (andgame funds for )me. to spread And bridgeso began to young the love people, hate the relationship parents of youngI have people, with this old fascinating,people. There frustrating will be more and to immenselycome on this. challenging game. Continuing my journey, I became a director in 2010 and starting giving lessons in

2011. My greatest joy is seeing someone get the "bug" to play bridge. I tell them to pass it on! Another goal – (Gently) make more people more familiar with the Laws. My mother told me that the reason to learn manners wasn’t really about the forks; rather, it was about smooth social intercourse. I think the rules are the same thing. If Chipwe all Boyleunderstood the rules better, there would be less contention. Here’s one that’s easy to put to use: Delayed Alerts. We Iare am frequently a retired lazy trial about lawyer delayed who developedalert announcements an interest at thein bridge end of whilethe auction. in college. We oftenFamil assumey and career the others intervened are on the but I maintainedsame page as interest we are byand faithfully we fail to reading announce the any bridge conventional column. bids Upon above retirement the 3NT levelto the that Carolinas, were not Ialerted. attended From a seminar the inACBL: Tryon Delayed conducted Alerts byare Sally alerts Jo given Carter aft erand the Jerry auction Helms is completed and became for alertable "re-hooked." calls above I now the play level in of club 3NT games starting three with the dopeningays a week bidder’s and second on BBO turn daily, to call. all Thethe whiledummy realizing or declarer that alerts the morethe defenders I play the before less the I know opening about lead. this challenging, magnificent, puzzling, rewarding and enjoyable game. One of the Board’s goals is to do a (much) better job with recognition. Who won the various Ace of Clubs awards? Who won the Mini-McKinney awards? Who achieved a higher rank? Stay tuned. Arthur Lebowitz

LikeThe Boardmany alsoof my is looking peers, atI playedways to bridge ‘brand’ duringUnit 171. the Our 1960’s. goal isAfter to makemoving it ourto Western Unit recognizable. North Carolina We three want ouryears Unit ago to (retiredbe known from for its private unique medical clubs and practice unique intournaments. New York City), We’re my brainstorming….. wife asked if I would be her bridge partner as she had begun taking a series of classes. I agreed and now, having just passed the 100 point level, I’m hooked. Getting my administrativeWe’re off to a good toe start.wet, I’ve We’re also trying become to turn a ourmember goals intoof the actionable planning items. committee Get in touchfor the with last ANY two board Blue member Ridge Summer and sectionals.share your goodI see ideas. my fellow We are bridge all very players, very excitedas dedicated, about 2016 smart and and bridge creative in Western people, North good Carolina. players willing to share their expertise. Bridge is the bonus that keeps giving: mental stimulation and new friendships. What a joy to have rediscoveredGayle Covey this great game. Unit President

Jane Champion My husband, John, and I started playing bridge twenty years ago when we first moved to Western North Carolina. We were fortunate to live near Boone at the height of the Land Cruise Program at Appalachian State University hosting 12 weeks of intermediate to advanced bridge classes and 11 weekly open games every Summer. My favorite early bridge memory was meeting and playing against Paul Soloway at our first regional in Raleigh and getting teased by Paul the next time we saw him in Gatlinburg for coming in second in the Junior Master (10-20) Mini-McKenney Race. With another ten points we would have been on the cover of the Bridge Bulletin with him when he was Player of the Year.

Stewart Manning Stewart Manning is a retired business owner, graduate of Georgia Tech and a year-round resident of Highlands with his wife Brenda. They both enjoy bridge, today mostly as a social benefit, having worked in the governance of bridge for six years. After co-chairing the Asheville Regional, Stewart's involvement in bridge will be solely for the mental and social benefits. He will continue to support Brenda's teaching efforts, including her invited presentation at the ABTA convention this year, as well as her other leadership and teaching roles.

ī BLUE RIDGE YOUTH BRIDGE

Youth Bridge Camp Dates Set

Unit 171's highly successful Youth Bridge and Golf Camp is scheduled for the weeks of June 13th and 20th, 2016 at the Broadmoor Links Golf Club. This year's camp will be co-chaired by Jane Headland and Linda Brown. With our growing outreach into the student community we are expecting to operate the camp at or near capacity. Many students from previous camps are still involved in bridge, some at club games. And even better yet, some bring their parents and grandparents to the games to play. As we did last year we plan to conclude the camp with a tournament on the Friday of the Blue Ridge Spectacular Tournament. This camp would not be possible without the support of ACBL, District 7, Unit 171, and our wonderful unit members who have contributed much time volunteering and providing financial assistance for need based scholarships and memberships in ACBL.

If you are interested in volunteering at the camp, or helping out financially, please contact Jane @ [email protected] or Linda @[email protected].

Parents of local young bridge players may want to consider a family vacation passing through Washington DC this

summer. All youth are invited to play in the Youth Nationals. fees are free for ACBL members. A great historic stop for your road trip next summer!

http://www.nextgenbridge.com/content/?p=173

If you have already picked up your Directory from your local bridge club, please make these corrections:

Dave and Annabelle Hutson [email protected]

Edwina Burger 828-894-9583

Merrie Carol Weedman [email protected]

Ino Hassid [email protected]

Kathryn Swaringen 828-687-8210

A new cut of the directory will be uploaded to the Unit 171 website: www.bridgewebs.com/wncunit171

the first week in March.

ForeverForever Friends.... Friends.... As many of you know, Ernest Rosenau was diagnosed with late-stage cancer andAs died many shortly ofafterwards. you know, Ernest had Ernest several bridge Rosenau partners at was the ABR butdiagnosed his regular partner with was late Georgia-stage Tanner, cancer a dear friend. and Ernest died knew that he would not be alive for Georgia’s upcoming birthday. On her birthday ashortly dozen red roses afterwards. were delivered from Ernest Ernest. had several bridge partners at the ABR but his regular partner