Bridge Buff November/December 2009 Bernie and Dick Czarnecki, Editors - Phone: 731-1707 A Publication of Unit 116, Buffalo, New York Email: [email protected] 300 to 1000 MP's President’s Message 1 16.75 Richard Czarnecki 2 14.25 Dale Anderson My term of President ends with this News- 3 14.20 Chongmin Zhang letter. I look back at the last two years with much gratitude for the work that the Board of Directors has 1000 to 2500 MP's done. We increased the number of unit games and 1 34.85 Judith Padgug had greater attendance at the Sectionals and Unit 2 28.76 Dian Petrov Games. The President’s Race Contest was rein- 3 25.84 Kathy Pollock stated and well received. The result was a significant 2500 + MP's increase in our treasury. Because of this increase, 1 63.41 Jim Mathis we were able to subsidize the cost of the annual 2 48.29 Randolph Seidenberg, Jr. meeting. My thanks to all the Board members who 3 43.98 John Kilmer made my job very enjoyable. Your 2009 Unit 116 Board Members On a personal note, my father, Harold Harrison Levy, passed away on October 15th at the Bailey, Judie 636-6148 [email protected] age of 92. Although not a bridge player, he played Czarnecki, Dick 731-1707 [email protected] Danielson, Luke 632-5309 [email protected] gin, pinochle and participated in a regular poker game until his hospitalization six months ago. At an Lederhouse, Bob 625-9443 early age, he taught me many card games and my Levy, Jay 689-2110 [email protected] Marvin, John 836-2803 love of cards, I owe to him. Thanks DAD! [email protected] Metz, Betty 773-7398 [email protected] Rasmus, Pat 649-4634 [email protected] Jay Levy Toy, John 885-5364 [email protected] Your President The Bridge Buff editors wish to congratulate the Your 2010 Unit 116 Board Members: following to a 3-year term on the Unit Board: Bailey, Judie 636-6148 [email protected] Fran Kurtz, John Marvin and Sue Neubecker Kurtz Fran 688-7069 [email protected] and Stan Zionts to a one year term. Pat Lederhouse, Bob 625-9443 Rasmus was named ACBL “Volunteer of the Marvin, John 836-2803 [email protected] Year”. Metz, Betty 773-7398 [email protected] Neubecker, Sue 876-2630 UNIT 116 - Presidential Masterpoints Race [email protected] Rasmus, Pat 649-4634 [email protected] 0 to 100 MP’s Toy, John 885-5364 [email protected] Zionts Stan 633-2429 [email protected] 1 12.78 Franklin Kidd \\ 2 12.29 Peter Patterson 3 10.97 Florence Boyd Important! Please Read 100 to 300 MP's Editor’s Note 1 17.27 George Donsky 2 17.08 Carol Bedell To accommodate members without e-mail access, there 3 15.78 Betty Metz will be limited printing of the Buff. PLEASE READ AND RETURN COPY TO DESK OR TABLE. 1 Personally: Judie Bailey asks that anyone with an e-mail address contact her at [email protected] and they will receive • Joanne is married to Ted Schwalbe for 30 the Buff by electronic delivery. years; they have two (2) daughters – Kate The Buff is also available on the Unit 116 website courtesy and Laura. of Dick Rasmus. It can be read or downloaded from that • Ted works as professor of communications facility. and has enabled them to some unique travel opportunities. Thanks for your attention. • Joanne manages a small data base of sold properties in Northern Chautauqua County. Bernie and Dick Czarnecki, Editors • She has been a Meal on Wheels volunteer for many years. • She enjoys gardening, quilting, reading as well as playing bridge on Bridge Base. The editor also interviewed a helpful and energetic bridge player. Her name is Betty Metz. The editor interviewed a soft-spoken talented bridge Here is what she gave the editor: player. Her name is Joanne Kelley: How I got started in bridge. Bridge: My dad was a life master in the early 60’s and • Joanne started taking bridge lessons from he took me to lessons and had the patience to play Rhoda Jacobs in 1980. After two lessons with me in duplicate games at the Barrett Club. I fell she showed up at the local duplicate game. in love with the game at this time. During these few • Jim Gullo convinced Joanne to try bridge in years, I finished college, worked full time, got married the big city of Buffalo. She felt intimated at and then had children. Decision Time!! Do I play half- first but met many wonderful people and was heartedly or do I quit cold turkey? As is true to my ready to improve her game. nature of doing things well or not doing them at all, I • Paul Thurston was another helpful teacher, decided to put bridge on hold. That is an combining knowledge, patience and a superb understatement as I didn’t come back to this game sense of humor. until 2005 (sounds like a lapse of 40 years): This • Joanne is amazed at Brian Meyer’s ability to wonderful game has progressed, grown and changed analyze bridge hands. She loves to hear him dramatically over time but it has been able to retain think out loud. One of her favorite bridge its intrigue. So bridge has stolen my heart once again memories was playing in a Buffalo Regional and now I have the freedom of time to enjoy every Swiss with Jim Gullo, Donna Steffan and pleasure, frustration and challenge that comes to me. Judy Graf. Joanne didn’t have many points My teachers, mentors, favorite partners and and she never once went to look at the board friends are all wrapped up in one incredible package to see how they were doing. Jim asked if she – The Bridge Center of Buffalo. I am overwhelmed wanted to know and she indicated “No”. To with the support and encouragement I have received her great surprise, they won the event and 19 and I send my thanks. gold points. • Since her husband travels in his profession, Last year I was elected to the Unit Board. I she was able to play bridge in Hungary and in love the involvement in the greater bridge community Namibia. of Western New York. Being involved in local bridge • Joanne feels that Unit 116 is loaded with decisions has made me far more appreciative of the talented players and it would be great to have local bridge events. I encourage my bridge friends -- some of the stars lead a discussion after one of give yourself the chance at this same opportunity by the Unit activities about the hands and the best running for the Unit board. Like anything else you way to play. gain more than you give. 2 emphasized not only Joel’s success but the Personally wonderful manner in which he achieved his goals, always as a gentleman. Jay, as president, presented I am blessed with a wonderful and very Joel with a gift from the Unit. understanding husband. Doug and I are coming up th on our 48 wedding anniversary. It has worked Wonderful food and drinks were available because we like to do things together and in addition before, during and after the game. we have our individual interests. Doug is “Mr. Fix It”. I mean he can fix anything even if it isn’t broken. We Congratulations Joel and much success in the have two grown children. In their busy schedules, future!! they are very competitive in their own way... Our daughter, Becky, has rowed crew since college when HONORING JOEL WOOLDRIDGE she was on the US Team. Her latest race was in By Carol Siracuse October when she rowed in the Head of the Charles Unit 116 honored Joel Wooldridge, winner of (Boston). Our son, Jon, is a triathlete. This summer two national championships and 279 Master Points at he finished his first Iron Man Triathlon (2.3 mi. swim, the 2009 Washington Summer Nationals on Satur- 112 mi. bike and a marathon). The next generation th day night, November 14 . continues with our two, curious, energetic, wonderful grandsons (Connor 11 yr. and Eli 9 yr.) There was great hospitality at the Bridge Center. The unit supplied hors d’eauvres and wine Before retiring, I owned and operated a local and various members supplied desserts. Carolyn tour company. We worked with groups both outgoing Siracuse wove a story of memories of events in (all over the world) and to incoming (conventions etc. Joel's life into her speech which follows. to WNY). It was a challenging and rewarding time in my life. I had the opportunity to travel worldwide, Joel, I was so excited when I heard the news usually with 25 to 50 people under my care. This that you won two national titles! Tonight we are all makes for some very interesting stories about human here to celebrate these well-deserved achievements. nature. The travel bug has long since left me and been replaced by 52 cards that appear simple and When I received the news a flood of straight forward but under certain circumstances memories came to me and I'd like to share them with become the most complex, challenging, frustrating all of you. and rewarding game imaginable. I remember like it was yesterday, going to Congratulations Jeanette McKenzie's games - your parents bringing you there as an infant with your baby Congratulations-New Life Master blanket. You slept in Jeanette's little office while we Dave Larcom were all in the next room playing bridge.