Sunday, November 29, 2015 Volume 88, Number 3 Daily Bulletin 88th Fall North American Bridge Championships [email protected] Editors: Brent Manley and Sue Munday Presidential career path District 22 explosive cheating scandals unfolding in high-level Director Ken bridge, I feel like I’m inheriting a hornet’s nest,” Monzingo wears Monzingo says. many hats. In 2016, The president-elect has made taking on he’ll be styling a top cheating and ethics his top priority next year, and he hat as he assumes a commends the actions Robert Hartman, the ACBL’s new post: president CEO, has initiated. of the ACBL. “Cheating cannot be a part of this game, but A member of it has become too common. The League has an the ACBL National opportunity to take the lead by stepping up and Board of Directors taking control of such unethical behavior,” he says. since 2009, “Robert is doing terrific things, and I want to work Winners of the Nail Life Master Pairs: Geoff Monzingo, who closely with him. I will back his decisions, and prod Hampson and Eric Greco. lives in San Diego, him if need be.” says his life is 24/7 Stressing open communication and transparency, Greco, Hampson take bridge. “I counted my jobs the other day, and I have Monzingo says, “We need to restore the game’s 10 of them.” He ticks them off: managing editor of image and our members’ confidence. Players have Nail LM Pairs title the Western Conference Forum; the Forum’s District questions, and they need true answers. I want us all to Eric Greco and Geoff Hampson stormed out 22 editor; chair or co-chair of two regionals (and he be a family again.” of the gate with a 69.23% game in the opening negotiates hotel contracts for all five of the district’s Another item on Monzingo’s presidential agenda session of the Nail Life Master Pairs and led from regionals); he sits on the boards of three separate is League finances. “We’ve experienced some wire to wire in winning the event for the second bridge governance organizations; he is ACBL progressive expenses over the past couple of years. time. Between them, the longtime partners have 35 treasurer and now the League’s president-elect. It’ll take some belt-tightening on the part of the board North American championships, including the Nail “Bridge is my life seven days a week,” says and management, but I’d like to see us work toward a LM Pairs in 2002. Greco lives in Wynnewood PA, the ACBL’s 2007 Volunteer of the Year, “and I love positive bottom line.” Hampson in Las Vegas. every minute of it.” Monzingo admits to one other Monzingo has always been a strong and Second place went to Kevin Castner of Kentfield passion: fantasy football. enthusiastic supporter of the clubs. CA and David Gold of Great Britain. Les Amoils of As he steps into his presidency, he may be “I love the silver-haired ladies who play at the Toronto and Tom Hanlon of Dublin, Ireland, finished third. adding a beekeeper’s hat to his closet shelf. “With the continued on page 8 Leading by just 14.38 matchpoints on a 77 top at the beginning of the second day, Greco and Hampson Notice to Players Who Live Outside North America posted a 59.27% game in the first final session and Participation in the Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs is waiver prior to the commencement of these contests. followed with 53.27% in the second final. limited to those ACBL members who have earned a Previously granted waivers will not be honored for The winners didn’t know it, but they were nearly Blue Ribbon qualification (or those members on the the Blue Ribbon Pairs. overtaken late in the event. After the 11th round, their Lifetime Top 100 masterpoint list). Foreign players For waiver information, please arrive early and lead had shrunk to .19 matchpoints. Their results who have not earned a Blue Ribbon qualification see the Director-in-Charge at the selling site. improved in the final two rounds, however, and they but feel they are otherwise qualified must receive a won by 23.75 matchpoints. How it’s done in Poland Senior KO in Radoslaw organizations such as the United States Bridge quarterfinal stage Kielbasinski, bank Federation, Canada and Mexico may send only one The Baze Senior Knockout Teams is down to executive, Polish (national) team in each category, but there can be eight survivors, with the top-seeded Vinita Gupta Bridge Union any number of pairs in each category to play in the team still in the hunt for a third consecutive victory in president and second week. I should point out that there are no the event. vice president of transnational events at this tournament. Gupta and company – Billy Miller, Jeff the World Bridge Why is it worth going to Wroclaw? Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell, Bart Bramley and Lew Federation Executive Wroclaw is the fourth-largest city in Poland with Stansby – will face the Richard DeMartino squad Council, travelled a population of 600,000 in the southwest part of today. to Denver to Poland. Wroclaw is the capital of the (Dolnoslaskie) Other pairings, by captain, are Alan Osofsky meet with ACBL Region. Both the city and the region are really versus Rose Meltzer, Gaylor Kasle versus Hemant officials. In the beautiful with plenty of tourist attractions. Lall and Jerry Helsm versus Steve Robinson. Next year, Wroclaw is the city designated as following interview, continued on page 6 Kielbasinski invites the European Capital of Culture. The city was players to next year’s selected by the European Union for a period of one California teams world championships in his country and describes calendar year, during which it organizes a series of how Poland has achieved remarkable success in high- cultural events with a strong European dimension. 1-2 in 10K Swiss level competition – including the NABCs – in recent There will be many cultural events in the first A Bay-area team led by Marcia Dean tops the years. half of September. That means Wroclaw can be a 0-10,000 Swiss teams. They scored 121 victory good mixture of high-level bridge and a holiday. The points, good for a 30-VP carryover going into the What was the purpose of your visit to Denver? magnificent Centennial Hall, located inside a nice final day. The Dmitri Shabes squad, also from I visited Denver in part to promote the 15th park, will be a comfortable venue for players and the Northern California, starts Sunday with 24.88 VPs. World Bridge Games, formerly known as the World staff. Ave Grubman’s New York-based crew enters the Teams Olympiad. The tournament will be played in The best way to reach Wroclaw is to fly to day in third place. Wroclaw next year from Sept. 3 to 17. It looks to be Warsaw or to Germany. From Frankfurt, Munich, Twenty-two teams qualified for the final day of a huge event. There will be national team events in (as well as from Warsaw), it is one-hour flight. The the two-day event, which made its debut last fall. four categories: open, women’s, seniors and mixed. alternative is to fly to Berlin and rent a car. It is a The mixed events will be played in this tournament drive of about three and a half hours. Goodwill Message for the first time. For those who are interested in this tournament, I Accept the decisions of the director In the second week, there will be World Pairs would suggest booking rooms no later than the end of with politeness and grace. championships in the four categories already January to be assured of a good hotel. September is Sandy DeMartino, Chair mentioned. For the teams events, national bridge continued on page 5 Aileen Osofsky ACBL Goodwill Committee Page 2 Sunday, November 29, 2015 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS The Sheraton has two buildings: Tower and Plaza. You can cross between you have questions, please contact Patty Tucker at patty@ the buildings on the concourse level and the second level. whirlwindbridge.com or call 404-735-4779. Windows, Tower Sunday, Nov. 29 Building, 2nd level. 8:30 am-Noon Teacher Accreditation Program (TAP). Session three. Savoy 11 pm-1 am Patron Reception. room, Tower Building, Majestic level. Monday, Nov. 30 8:30-10 am Audrey Grant’s Continuing Education for Teachers and 9 am-Noon Zero Tolerance Workshop. The lively two-hour workshop, Club Managers. For decades, Audrey Grant has taught developed for club managers and directors, goes well beyond students, teachers and club owners across the world. Her the Laws to address how to communicate with problem hands-on approach and creative use of the table, cards and players. TD Dan Plato’s presentation incorporates real-life bidding boxes has helped keep students engaged, excited experience dealing with club players, the differences between and focused. Following the seminar, attend her free two- club and tournament situations and suggestions for how to hour bridge lesson. Fee: $20 covers textbook and seminar. be proactive. The goal is to make the club experience more Windows, Tower Building, 2nd level. inviting for new members and more pleasurable for everyone 10-11:30 am Board of Governors/ACBL Membership Meeting. This by encouraging and empowering directors and managers to meeting is open to all members. Discussion will include recent deal with unacceptable behavior. Vail room, Tower Building, actions of the Board of Directors, reports from the CEO and Majestic level.