Shafer Is ABTA's Teacher of the Year
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Saturday, July 23, 2016 Washington DC • July 21-31, 2016 Volume 88, Number 2 Daily Bulletin 88th North American Bridge Championships [email protected] | Editors: Paul Linxwiler and Brent Manley Coren out as GNTs Shafer is ABTA’s Teacher of the Year enter semifinals Leslie Shafer of week. Her instruction covers difficult concepts in The star-studded team captained by Richard Gaithersburg MD was stages. ‘She makes the tough stuff fun and learning Coren is on the sidelines today as the Grand National awarded the 2016 becomes a joy,’ stated one of her students. She relates Teams Championship Flight and three other divisions Teacher of the Year bridge concept with humor in such a way that her enter the semifinal stage. award by the American students remember them in actual play.” Coren, representing District 9, held a 5-IMP lead Bridge Teachers Shafer says “We teachers should be entertainers going into the final quarter but lost that set 46-20 to Association at the as well as instructors. Students who have a good time the District 20 squad captained by Eric Stoltz. A win group’s annual summer not only return, but they bring their friends.” continued on page 13 conference on Thursday. Shafer notes that one of her favorite books is A grassroots teacher Teach Like Your Hair Is On Fire by Raife Esquith, who is known for her whose book stresses the importance of entertaining Chinese pair sets humor, passion and students. pace in LMs creativity, Shafer is a “Have four cups of coffee before class and have Lidang Dong of Shaanxi and Sheng Shan of club owner and ABTA some fun!” says Shafer. Beijing posted the best score in the qualifying round Master Teacher. Having taught thousands of students In addition to Shafer, the other finalists for of the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs. Dong and at all levels of competence, Shafer easily met the the 2016 Teacher of the Year award were Henry Shan paired a 59.73% effort in the first session with a ABTA’s challenging criteria to win the prestigious Meguid of Raleigh NC, Rex Glimp of El Paso TX, 63.28% set in the second to begins today’s semifinal honor, which include a cash award and crystal trophy. Glenna Shannahon of Madison WI, Joann Glasson round in first place. The award is sponsored by Master Point Press. of Pennington NJ, Jay Helekar of Orange CA, Dallas In second are Richard Chan and Shan Huang of According to the ABTA, “With innovative Moore of Dayton OH and Enid Roitman of Toronto the Toronto area. In third is the Dutch duo of Cornelis teaching methods, Leslie teaches several classes each ON. Van Prooijen and Louk Verhees. One hundred ninety pairs will compete today, including seven pairs who dropped in as losing ACBL, ABA working on partnership quarterfinalists from the Championship Flight of the ACBL leaders work hard to live up to the GNT. organization’s official mission statement – to promote, grow and sustain the game of bridge and to Liu-Collins top Bruce quals serve the bridge-related interests of the members. The Bo Liu of Irvine CA and Somers Collins of Little world’s largest bridge organization may soon have a Rock AR posted the best score in yesterday’s opening new partner in that endeavor. round of the Bruce LM-5000 Pairs. In second is the American Bridge Association President Hank Ohio-based duo of Ryan Schultz of Dayton and Peter Irwin Jr. has approached ACBL executives and the Whipple of Mason. The French pair of Francis Lobry Board of Directors to propose a cooperative effort and Daniel Delestre, both of Paris, is third. to make sure bridge is a growing, vibrant game well Ninety-six pairs will play in today’s two-session into the future. semifinal round. “The seeds are planted,” said CEO Robert Hartman after meeting with Irwin and listening to his comments at a meeting of the board on Thursday. Texas pair leads Young Hartman had a dinner meeting on Wednesday CEO Robert Hartman, ABA President Hank Robert Schmidt of Murphy TX and Ari Sippola with Irwin, Harriette Buckman, ACBL’s liaison Irwin, Harriette Buckman, liaison to the ABA, of Irving topped the two-session qualifying round of and ACBL President Ken Monzingo. with the ABA, and Linda Dunn, newly hired ACBL the Young 0-1500 Pairs. In second is the local pair counsel. play in ABA events, “cross points” as Irwin described Dean Baird and Carolyn Baird of Fairfax Station “We talked about working together for the good them. VA. Third among the 40 qualifying pairs are Charles of bridge,” said Hartman. Irwin also mentioned the In a letter written last month to ACBL leaders, Riffle of Emerald Hills CA and Douglas Grant of San ABA’s need for help in the technology of running a Irwin said he believes more ACBL members would Francisco. bridge organization, specifically a method of issuing support ABA games if they were able to earn ACBL Pre-registration required ABA and ACBL masterpoints for ABA members who masterpoints for placing in ABA events. play in ACBL events and for ACBL members who continued on page 5 for Spingold and Mini-Spingold KOs Rusty Krauss: Bridging the Gap Pre-registration for the Spingold, the Wagar and the Mini-Spingold KO Teams (5000 and 1500) is between Player and Advisor required before 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, in the We are pleased to highlight Romex system, a method they have been tinkering Marriott Ballroom on the lobby level. the contributions of our primary with ever since. Among their other successes, Barry corporate sponsor – Rusty and Rusty were members of the 2015 Flight A Grand Capitol Steps sold out Krauss. Rusty is a financial National Teams champs. The Capitol Steps performance scheduled for advisor and the founder of the For the past 30 years, he has been advising tonight is sold out. Krauss Investment Group, a individuals, families, and institutions through the If you signed up for tickets at the Registration part of the wealth management tricky shoals of investing. “The demographics of Desk, please pick them up by 7 p.m. tonight or the firm Janney Montgomery Scott, bridge dictate that many of my friends there have tickets will be released to others on the stand-by list. LLC. similar concerns: How do I plan for retirement and The performance is at 11:15 p.m. sharp in the Having made his acquaintance through bridge, make it work for me? How do I protect my family? Thurgood Marshall Ballroom. Please be on time for it is understandable that many folks who came to How do I pass my assets to my heirs in the most the start of the show. know him through his passion would seek out his efficient fashion?” professional advice. “I’m very lucky to have many Members of his team will be camped out at the Goodwill Message bridge players as clients but the pool is smaller than Tournament Registration desk on the lobby level Today is Junior Day. Have a word of you might think. For example, I’m limited to players Friday through Monday, so please stop by and say encouragement for young players, for they who don’t already know everything.” hello to Phil, David, Emma, Jeff and Anne. are the future of our game. Rusty’s bridge partnership with Barry Falgout Sandy DeMartino, Chair stretches back to their days at the University of Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee Delaware, where they encountered Dr. Rosenkranz’s Page 2 Saturday, July 23, 2016 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Meetings are at the Marriott Wardman Park. especially for true beginners, those returning to bridge after long absences and those merely wanting to “test the waters” Saturday, July 23 before committing to formal classes. The concentrated course 8:30 am-Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). Session three includes both class instruction and coached play. No pre- of three. ACBL’s 10-hour seminar for people interested in registration required. Fee: $20 covers textbook and door learning how to teach bridge. (Washington 6, lower level) prizes. (Thurgood South/West, mezzanine level) 9 am-Noon ACBL Educational Foundation meeting. (Park Tower 8222, 6:30-8:30 pm Learn Bridge in a Day?™ Teacher Accreditation. Teacher lobby level) training includes information on organizing and marketing 9:30 am-2 pm Bridge University. Construct your own curriculum at this LBIAD as well as maximizing retention rates, writing free lecture series. Following an opening lecture by Jerry effective grant requests and the presentation of the seminar. Helms, choose from among five topics each of the next four (Thurgood South/West, mezzanine level) 45-minute segments. (Thurgood South/West, mezzanine level) 11:30 pm- Women’s International Team Trials meeting. (Park Tower 10 am-Noon GNT/NAP Coordinators. (Park Tower 8228, lobby level) 12:30 am 8223, lobby level) 10 am-Noon ACBL Laws Commission meeting. (Park Tower 8226, lobby level) Monday, July 25 10 am-Noon Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee meeting. (Park 9 am-Noon Teacher and Club Owner Roundtable with Patty Tucker. Tower 8223, lobby level) Need some ideas for expanding your club? Want some help 10 am-Noon Hall of Fame Commitee Meeting. (Park Tower 8218, lobby in managing lessons? The ABTA, the Educational Foundation level) and the ACBL are partnering to present an informal meeting 6-7:30 pm Intermediate-Newcomer Reception. (Exhibit Hall A, lower where new and potential teachers and club owners can level) brainstorm with veteran teachers and club owners. Coffee, tea and breakfast pastries will be provided.