CENTRAL AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN BRIDGE FEDERATION

Board of Governors Meeting Curaçao Hilton Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

May 2007

The of Governors Meeting was held over two sessions, on Friday, May 18, and Friday, May 23, on the occasion of the 24th CACBF Zonal Championship hosted by the Curaçao Bridge Federation and the Bridge Bond Nederlandse Antillen.

The sessions were variously attended by the following officers and delegates:

Jean-Yves Dabreteau (Martinique), President Leslie Atherley (Barbados), First Vice President Lillian Morganti (Venezuela), Secretary Hugh Williams (Trinidad & Tobago), Treasurer Panos Gerontopoulos, Representative WBF and WBF President José Damiani John Mac Gregor (Costa Rica), Chief Tournament Director Tony Watkins (Barbados), Master Point Registar

Delegates: Barbados, Leslie Atherley Bermuda, Sheena Rayner Costa Rica, John Goold Curaçao, Els Maas French Guiana, Eric Cellier Guadeloupe, Chantal C. Bistoquet Jamaica, Rex James Elizabeth (Betty) Williams Martinique, Jean-Yves Dabreteau Guy-Alain Germon República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Eduardo Rosen Trinidad & Tobago, Hugh Williams

Jean Louis Derivery, delegate of the zone to WBF, could not be there and is excused

Agenda

The following agenda for the Board of Governor’s meeting is presented by the President:

1. Welcome by the president 2. National teams schedule (John MacGregor) 3. Appointment of the Appeals Committee 4. President’s report 5. WBF representative presentation 6. Treasurer’s report 7. Venues for 2009, 2011 and 2013 8. NBO reports 9. Election of officers 10. Miscellaneous

Meeting of May 18

1. Welcome by the president

The President welcomed the delegates and others present at the meeting, with a special welcome for Mrs. Els Maas as the organizer of the present championships along with her husband, Mr. Ad Maas. He thanked the Curaçao Bridge Federation (CBF) and Bridge Bond Nederlandse Antillen (BBNA) for sponsoring the event, and emphasized the hard work of the organizing committee.

Mrs. Maas in turn welcomed all those present who had come to the championships with the traditional “Bon Bini” welcome of the Netherlands Antilles.

The President circulated and commented the report from Jean Louis Derivery who unfortunately could not come to Curacao.

2. National teams schedule (John Mac Gregor)

The Chief Tournament Director announced the format of play for the national teams participating: Zonal winners in each division earn the right to represent CAC Zone 5 in the World Bridge Championships which will be held later this year in Shanghai, China: National Open Team winner in the ; National Women’s Team winner in the ; National Senior Team winner in the Seniors Cup.

A. National Open Teams There are nine teams competing: Barbados, Bermuda, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. Qualifying round will consist of a full round robin of nine matches (one a bye) comprising 16 boards each. Final round will encompass a semi-final and a final.

B. National Ladies’ Teams Six teams are competing: Barbados, Bermuda, Guadeloupe, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. Qualifying segment is to be a double round robin of 12-board matches, followed by a four-round final.

C. National Senior Teams Six teams are competing: Barbados, Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. Format of play will be the same as that employed for the National Ladies’ Teams.

3. Appointment of the Appeals Committee

The following Appeals Committee for these championships was appointed by the Board of Governors: John Goold (Costa Rica), Chairman Nicky Inniss (Trinidad) Rex James (Jamaica) Ad Maas (Curaçao) Jean-Claude Pelletier (Guadeloupe) Tony Watkins (Barbados)

4. President’s Report

Mr. Dabreteau presented his Report from the President, copy of which is filed with these minutes, and salient topics of which were:

Early Registration of teams. The president stressed the importance of NBOs registering their teams for participation in the zonal championships reasonably early, so as not to cause serious difficulties for the organizers.

Accommodation for the Tournament Directors. He pointed out that in the CACBF Championships, residential accommodation for the Tournament Director and two assistant directors has to be provided by the hosts.

International Zonal Participation. He noted that large representations from our zone had been sent by Venezuela and Guadeloupe to WBF events in the past two years, namely, to the Bermuda Bowl, Venice Cup and Seniors Bowl in Estoril, Portugal, in 2005, and to the World Bridge Championships in Verona, Italy, in 2006. He particularly congratulated the Venezuelan ladies for their outstanding results in the Venice Cup.

WBF Representative in Curaçao. The report notes with pleasure the presence of Mr. Panos Gerontopoulos at the present games in Curacao, as the representative of the and of its president, José Damiani.

Review of the traditional tournaments held in our zone from 2003 on. Good attendance at these tournaments and their continuity was remarked on, with mention made of the following: Sun, Sea and Slams, Barbados (annual), 2005 & 2006 OECS Championships (annual), Dominica, 2005 St. Kitts, 2006 Southern Regional Championships, Trinidad & Tobago, 2006 (to be held again in 2008) The Three Guyanas: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname Dominica/Martinique

Also mentioned in the report is the yearly International Bridge Festival in Cuba, held in 2005 and 2006, and which continues in 2007. [Cuba is not at present a member of the CACBF, but shows interest in our bridge zone, of which it is geographically a part.]

Congratulation to members with large participation in the present championships. Barbados, Guadeloupe, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela are congratulated on the large number of participants from their respective countries in these Curaçao games.

Renewal of CACBF Board of Directors. The need to renew the Board of Directors of the CACBF Zone is brought out. The present board has been operating for a number of years, and further, Mr. Dabreteau will be retiring soon and moving to .

In closing, Mr. Dabreteau thanks all those who have contributed in one way or another to the CACBF Zone.

5. WBF Representative presentation.

Mr. Dabreteau introduces Panos Gerontopoulos, Vice President of the World Bridge Federation and Chairman of the WBF Youth Committee. He is here in representation of the World Bridge Federation and of its president, José Damiani.

Mr. Gerontopoulos is internationally known for his outstanding efforts in the promotion of youth bridge worldwide. He speaks to the Board of Governors about his earnest desire to stimulate bridge among the young and to ensure the continuation of our “.” The WBF, he affirms, works on strategy for the stimulation of bridge and regularly organizes youth championships, notably a world zonal event every two years.

The WBF, he says, seeks the recognition of bridge as a medal sport, so that all Olympic Committees around the world will then have to accept and support bridge actively.

Mr. Gerontopoulos speaks of the big upcoming global event for youth being promoted by the WBF. It is the World Mind Sports Games to be held in Beijing, China, in 2008. The sports included will be Bridge, , Dart and Go. “We want only young people up to the age of 28 to play in these games, one team per country. A tremendous effort is being made to cover their expenses at the playing site. Travel will be paid for some,” states Mr. Gerontopuolos.

“This will be the biggest youth bridge event ever. It will be a starting point for ongoing effort. The WBF appeals to all countries to start forming their youth team immediately,” he concludes.

6. Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Hugh Williams presented his CACBF report for the 24 months ended December 31, 2006, consisting of unaudited financial statements and accompanying notes. Copy of this report is filed with the present minutes.

The financial statements are the following: - Unaudited Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006 - Unaudited Statement of Earnings and Accumulated Surplus - For the 2 years ended December 31, 2006 - Accounts Receivable Transactions for the 24 months ended December 31, 2006

Mr. Williams informed the Board that the finances of the CACBF are now in a better situation than they had been previously. He named as currently delinquent CACBF member NBOs Aruba, Guatemala, Guyana (where he said organized bridge is practically dead) and the Virgin Islands. [Haiti and Panama were suspended as members of the Federation at the 2005 meeting of the Board of Governors.] He further stated that Jean-Louis Derivery, WBF Treasurer, has suspended Guyana, Haiti, Panama and Suriname from the WBF because of non-payment of dues to the world body.

In reference to the above statements made by Mr. Williams, Mr. Dabreteau said that he would try to intervene with Guatemala to get them to pay.

Also in reference to the Treasurer’s Report, Mr. Goold, President of the Asociación Recreativa Nacional de Bridge de Costa Rica, stated that Costa Rica had replaced all CACBF playing cards in lieu of No. 6 in the Treasurer’s Report.

In his closing statement on Treasury matters, Mr. Williams noted that the CACBF needs a new president and a new treasurer.

A motion was made that the Treasurer’s Report be approved. Same was accepted unanimously by the Board.

10. Miscellaneous

Presentation by Mr. Frankie Frontaura on the International Bridge Festival in Cuba. Present at the Board of Governors’ Meeting is Mr. Frankie Frontaura, originator and developer of the International Bridge Festival of Cuba. He is here to:

- Announce the VII International Bridge Festival of Cuba 2007, to be held November 3-10, in Havana and Varadero (Teams in Havana, Open Pairs in Varadero). - Discuss the possibility of holding the CACBF Championships in Cuba in 2009. - Speak about the of the Cuban Bridge Federation into the CACBF.

Mr. Frontaura recounts the evolution of the International Bridge Festival of Cuba, which started eight years ago. It was his brain child, and it was he who persuaded the Cuban government to allow Cubans to play bridge. The Bridge Festival was approved by the Cuban Bridge Federation, was subsequently turned down, and was finally given the definitive go-ahead. It has been held every year since. Brochures for this year’s event, giving details on the favorable rates offered, were passed out to the Board members.

Mr. Frontaura states that the Cuban Bridge Federation will enter the CACBF this year, and that Cuba would constitute an attractive venue for the next CAC Bridge Championships.

By now, Cuba has a group of 40 players, of which 30 are young people, and all of whom have been taught to play by Frankie Frontaura.

Mr. Dabreteau says that he played in the International Bridge Festival in Cuba in 2005. He had a meeting there with Mr. Damiani and with Emma Castro, Fidel Castro’s sister, a bridge fan and player who was taught by Mr. Frontaura. The general appreciation of the subject was that Cuba’s entry into the CACBF would be favorable for the zone and that Cuba’s group of trained young players would infuse some fresh blood into the ranks of the zone’s members. 7. Venues for 2009, 2011 and 2013

Possibilities for the 2009 venue were discussed.

- Mr. Dabreteau advised that Barbados offered itself as a possible venue.

- Trinidad will not make a proposal for the 2009 venue even if Cuba does not materialize as the venue for that year; nonetheless, they might reconsider.

- Regarding Bermuda as a possible venue, Ms. Sheena Rayner stated that rates are too high in Bermuda at the time of year (May) when the CACBF Championships are traditionally held; even in the off season, January, for example, rates are $200 per night.

- Mr. Dabreteau is of the opinion that the Board should think of Cuba for the venue. Rates there are very favorable, around $80 per person per day, all inclusive, as per Mr. Frontaura’s figures. The President asks if anyone is opposed to Cuba as a venue. No opposition is voiced. However, it is noted that Cuba is still not a member of the CACBF.

- Decision on the 2009 venue and other possible future venues is left pending for the next meeting of the Board.

Entry of Cuba into the CACBF

Before the meeting closes this point is discussed further.

- Consensus is that the Board of Governors of the CACBF will decide if it accepts Cuba as a member. If Cuba agrees, then a formal decision will be taken.

- General feeling of the board members is that Cuba’s entry should be positive for the zone, bringing in a good number of new players, mostly young. It is believed that if Cuba decides for entry, then it will train university student players intensively, so that they become outstanding exponents of the game.

- Hugh Williams believes that WBF pre-approval is needed for Cuba’s entry into the Zone.

- Mr. Dabreteau states that in any case, according to WBF organizational plans, Zone 5 is to be, in future, a sub-zone of a greater All-American Zone, and that it is anticipated that there will only be five major zones in the world.

Meeting adjourned.

Meeting of May 25

Congratulations to Panos Gerontopoulos. At the start of the meeting, Mr. Gerontopoulos is congratulated for the fine series of five articles on Youth Bridge, its significance and promotion, which he wrote for the Daily Bulletin during the present championships. They present valuable insights into the development of youth bridge programs and on the values which the game offers for youth. 7. Venues for 2009, 2011 and 2013 (cont.)

The Board focuses on the matter calling for immediate resolution, namely the venue for the next CACBF Championships in 2009. It is decided that Cuba as venue is to be left for the future, as that country is still not a member of the CACBF. It is noted that this is a non-political decision.

Mr. Dabreteau announces that, after having been suggested by several important not french speaking players of the zone, he has spoken to the representatives of Guadeloupe here in Curacao about the possibility of their hosting the 2009 games, and that Guadeloupe agrees to offer the venue. The Board unanimously approves Guadeloupe as the 2009 venue.

It is reported that Antigua is interested in being the venue for a future CACBF Championship.

9. Election of Officers This being another pressing matter, it is dealt with next. Mr. Dabreteau states that it has not been possible to find a person within the CACBF willing to replace him and stand for the position of zonal president.

(At this point, Sheena Rayner of Bermuda advises that she would be interested in standing for the position in future, but that she is unable to do so at this time.)

Mr. Dabreteau proposes a solution to the immediate situation, stating that although he is due for retirement, which signifies his eventual return to France, the date of said retirement is not fixed, and he may still remain in Martinique for some time. He is willing to continue as president during this period, during which he would train Guy- Alain Germon of Martinique to fill the office. If Mr. Dabreteau leaves for France during his term, then Mr. Germon could take over the post and carry on. Mr. Dabreteau considers that Mr. Germon has the administrative abilities required by the office, and that he would do an excellent job.

The Board unanimously accepts Mr. Dabreteau’s proposal and he is voted in as president for the 2007-2009 term.

The other officers of the Board agree to continue serving for the upcoming two-year term (Treasurer Hugh Williams will stay on until a replacement is found) and are reconfirmed in their posts by the Board. Roster of CACBF Board of Governors officers 2007-2009 is therefore as follows:

President: Jean-Yves Dabreteau (Martinique) Vice President: Leslie Atherley (Barbados) Treasurer: Hugh Williams (Trinidad & Tobago) Secretary: Lillian Morganti (Venezuela)

8. NBO reports

The President now calls for reports from the NBO delegates present on the situation of bridge in their respective countries, on their activities over the past two years, and on their future plans. The reports are presented in the following order: Barbados. Report by Leslie Atherley. Bridge training for youth has been undertaken, but participation is not regular. Mini-Bridge has been employed in teaching youngsters and the Audrey Grant method for adults. The participation of visitors is a factor in increasing attendance at tournaments. The yearly Sun, Sea and Slams Tournament is a big drawing card for visitors and continues to prove a success.

Venezuela. Report by Eduardo Rosen. Membership in the Venezuelan Bridge Federation is down to 200; members are dying and leaving the country. The Bridge Federation is working intensively on youth training, recruiting students in the universities and high schools as well as at the elementary level. Classes are given by the Federation for various age groups with teachers trained by the Federation. An effort is being made to further interest in bridge in the appropriate government bodies.

Venezuela is organizing the Bolivarian Bridge Championships in 2008. (The Bolivarian countries are those which were liberated by Simon Bolivar: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.)

Venezuela could be the venue for the CACBF Championships in 2013.

Regarding teaching of bridge in the zone generally, Mr. Rosen notes: a. Venezuela has people who are willing to work with Spanish-speaking countries to stimulate bridge. b. ACBL.org. offers a bridge program on the internet. He displays a flyer giving details of the program.

Jamaica. Report by Rex James. Youth is needed in Jamaican bridge. As far as participation in international events is concerned, travel is expensive for a number of players. Jamaica has a plan to start teaching bridge at the University of Technology.

Bermuda. Report by Sheena Rayner. The Bermuda bridge organization has over 200 members. Six games are held weekly. They have tournaments for players in various point ranges. Bridge lessons are being given, presently to between 26 and 30 people. However, there are no young people coming in.

Trinidad & Tobago. Report by Hugh Williams. The T & T Association has started a youth program at the International School. However, it is reported that the parents responded to a greater extent than the students.

The Sports Ministry is collaborating with the promotional efforts of the Association.

The Bridge Association is promoting more tournaments.

Trinidad & Tobago hopes to host the Eastern Caribbean Regional twice yearly.

Trinidad & Tobago participates yearly in the Sun, Sea, & Slams Tournament in Barbados.

The T & T Contract Bridge Association is holding the biennial Southern Regional Championships May 16-18, 2008, at the Queens Park Cricket Club. There will be Open Pairs, Teams and Swiss Teams. A large attendance is anticipated. All are cordially invited. For reservations and further information, the contact is Ralph Jaikaransingh, telephone: (868) 623-8143, e-mail: [email protected]

In concluding his report, the T & T delegate states that he considers the CACBF website needs updating.

Curaçao. Report by Els Maas. On the subject of Youth Bridge, the delegate reports that there are no young players in Curaçao.

She further touches on the matter of a game held at a private bridge club on the island the evening before the present meeting, with the added attraction of typical Curaçao food offered. The club is a member club of the Curaçao Bridge Federation. The game was publicized among the CACBF Championship players, a number of whom attended same instead of participating in the official IMP Pairs of the CACBF Championships, which ran at the same time. Mrs. Maas considers that the private game damaged the IMP Pairs tournament.

Mr. John Goold of Costa Rica expresses his opinion that member clubs of the NBO organizing the CAC games should not be allowed to compete with the official championships. The Board agrees that this should be adopted as general policy.

French Guiana. Report by Eric Cellier. The Board is advised that French Guiana has 40 young bridge players. Mini-bridge is being used to teach the game in the schools.

Costa Rica. Report by John Goold. Mr. Goold, newly elected president of the Asociación Recreativa Nacional de Bridge (ARNB) de Costa Rica, states that Costa Rica has about 90 players, half of whom play regularly. Six games a week are held by the association.

There are many elderly players, since Costa Rica has a large contingent of retired people, and there are no young players. It is difficult to recruit new young players, as the general educational level in the country is rather poor. Mr. Goold wants to draw players who have left the association back in.

He regrets that on this occasion Costa Rica was only able to compete with a Senior Team, without the participation of the top players in the country.

Martinique. Report by Guy-Alain Germon. The Martinique Bridge Federation, with a membership of 160 players, has a new board, which has brought in trainers for club directors. There are presently seven new teachers in Martinique, and it is hoped to have teachers of the game in the schools.

There will be a representation from Martinique in the Youth Mind Sports Games in Beijing in 2008.

Simultaneous tournaments are being organized with France.

Inter-District competitions are held among Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana. Other NBOs are cordially invited to participate.

Dominica-Martinique games are organized yearly.

Inquiry on Youth Teams for Mind Sports Games in China, 2008

Inquiry is made as to the possibilities of the NBOs here present sending a youth team per country to the Mind Sports Games in China in 2008. The respective delegates reply as follows:

Barbados: Will try. Bermuda: No. Curaçao: No. French Guiana: At the moment have one possible pair. Jamaica: No Martinique : Yes.. Trinidad & Tobago: Trying to get together a team. Venezuela: Will be difficult because of lack of young players

It is mentioned that St. Lucia has young bridge players, and could possibly participate.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, the CACBF President thanks all those present for their cooperation, and looks forward to seeing them again at the next Board of Governors Meeting in 2009.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Lillian Morganti Secretary CACBF