Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Volume 56, Number 5 Daily Bulletin 56th Spring North American Bridge Championships Editors: Brent Manley and Sue Munday Good start for new Goodwill Chair Debuting as chair of the Aileen Osofsky Goodwill Committee, Sandy DeMartino handled a heavy agenda with ease while maintaining focus on the overall purpose of the institution: making sure people enjoy playing bridge. Echoing a sentiment expressed by others at the meeting, DeMartino urged Goodwill Committee members to wear their pins to remind others that “we can be competitive and still be friendly, caring and ethical.” DeMartino, elected chair of the committee last Richard Wieland and Mike Cappelletti Sr. won fall, started off by acknowledging the co-chairs the Silver Ribbon Pairs. who will work with her through the year: Marilyn Vilhauer, Sandy Arlinghaus, Joo-Hee Janicki and Janise Saul, who were in attendance, and Roger Smith Silver a squeaker The finish in the Leaventritt Silver Pairs was so and Carol Hamilton, who were not. tight that every time a final round score was entered, Robert Hartman, ACBL’s chief executive, was first- and second-place flip-flopped. Even when the next and he reminded those gathered that the ACBL event was over, it wasn’t over. The tiniest score will combine forces with the Alzheimer’s Association Sharon Anderson, 2012 ACBL president, with correction seesawed one and two again. In the end, for a national fund-raising effort called The Longest Sue Kroning, ACBL Volunteer of the Year. it was Richard Wieland of Redding CT and Mike Day on June 21. Cappelletti Sr., Alexandria VA, who finished on top The CEO noted that the slogan of the Alzheimer’s with a score of 2543.12 (on a 77 top). Association is “The compassion to care, the leadership to conquer,” and he said the same could continued on page 4 be applied to the Goodwill Committee and its role in assuring a bright future for the ACBL. Vanderbilt now in “Get your clubs registered for the Longest Day games,” Hartman said. round of 64 ACBL President Donald Mamula praised The Vanderbilt Knockout Teams gets into full Goodwill Committee members for being on the front swing today after 14 squads did battle on Monday for lines in the effort to promote duplicate as a fun, social 10 slots to fill out the round of 64. The field will be pastime instead of just a competition. cut in half each day through Sunday, when the two “Aside from the competition,” Mamula said, Goodwill Chair Sandy DeMartino, second from finalists will face off for the championship. “equally important is the social side. We enjoy the left, with Joe Oliver, far right, the Goodwill Some of the teams with the day off played in an time we spend together and the friends we make. Member of the Year. With them are Oliver’s event called the Vanderbilt Bye Swiss. The squad Even if you have your head handed to you, you can father, Ken, and Margot Hennings, who captained by Richard Schwartz, seeded 14th, no say ‘they were nice folks.’ You have taken us to the represents District 6 on the ACBL Board of doubt is hoping their win in the bye event is a sign of point where we can enjoy the total experience.” Directors. good things to come. The president thanked Goodwill Committee The top-seeded team, led by Nick Nickell, members for their actions on behalf of bridge, “and I top volunteer in the district. Carmen has served on the should be familiar to NABC regulars. The defenders, challenge you to repeat them as we go forward.” district board for 24 years and has chaired numerous captained by Les Amoils, are seeded fifth. Georgia Heth, who represents District 8 on the tournaments in that time. He is serving as NABC ACBL board, took the podium to present an award to chair in St. Louis for the third time. We’ve got a winner! Mike Carmen, chair of the 2013 Spring NABC, as the continued on page 5 Donna Fortunate of Grand Blanc MI submitted the limerick judged the best by the Daily Bulletin editors. She is encouraged to stop by the DB office Learn bridge in a day? after 1 p.m. to collect her prize. Three other limericks tied for second and can be found on page 4. They, Ed Foundation is interested too, earned prizes. Here’s the winner: In August 2011, Patty Tucker rolled out her Learn The pros thought they’d have a field day Bridge in a Day? workshop at the Labor Day Regional When a novice team sat down to play in Atlanta, her hometown. But their system extensive Tucker, Melissa Bernhardt and their company, Proved far too expensive Whirlwind Bridge, have come so far with the effort When their games were all one away that the ACBL Educational Foundation is interested See the Wednesday Daily Bulletin for the in making the program available throughout North limericks that earned honorable mention. America. Tucker has already conducted six workshops and has more scheduled for later this year. “I know it works,” says Tucker, “and the Educational Foundation does, too.” “It’s exciting,” says Barbara Heller, president of Goodwill Message the Educational Foundation. Educational Foundation President Barbara Treat others as you would treat yourself. At the Summer NABC in Atlanta, Whirlwind Heller with Patty Tucker, founder of Whirlwind Sandy DeMartino, Goodwill Chair Bridge will make a presentation to the Educational Bridge and the Learn Bridge in A Day? program. Foundation as a step toward the foundation’s formalizing an agreement with Tucker’s company. Tucker says she developed the program after At the debut of LBIAD, 149 people showed up for realizing that traditional introductions to bridge ATTENDANCE the five-hour presentation. Tucker notes that the goal – usually six- to eight-week classes – did not through Monday of the workshop is to get participants to “understand accommodate the busy schedules of today’s potential what bridge is, how it works and how much fun it can players. be.” continued on page 7 4238.5 tables Page 2 Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Daily Bulletin SPECIAL EVENTS MEETINGS / SEMINARS / RECEPTIONS Tuesday, March 19 Wednesday, March 20 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course. A continuing education 9-11 am TourneyTRAX. (America’s Center, Room 232) course for club directors to increase their skills. Participants 9 am-Noon Club Director Refresher Course, session 2. A continuing must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both days. Sign up education course for club directors to increase their skills. at the door. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, Benton Room) Participants must attend both sessions. Fee: $15 covers both 10 am-Noon GNT/NAP Coordinators. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, days. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, Benton Room) Portland Room) 11 pm-1 am USBF Board Meeting. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, Benton Room) 11 am-Noon FPAB meeting. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, Shaw Room) Thursday, March 21 11:30 am-1 pm USBF Junior Committee. (Renaissance, mezzanine level, 4:30-7:30 pm Women’s Reception. (Renaissance, Landmark Rooms 4-7) Lafayette Boardroom) Friday, March 22 11 pm-2 am Women’s Team Trials meeting. (Renaissance, Benton Room) CELEBRITY SPEAKER PROGRAM Don’t miss these free lectures in St. Louis from expert players. These talks will Thursday, March 21 be held in Room 230 at the America’s Center. 9:15 a.m. Jeff Roman Look Beyond Your High Tuesday, March 19 Card Points 9:15 a.m. Phillip Alder Going Fast Forward with Reverse 6:45 p.m. Barry Harper A Short List of Conventions You Need Drury Friday, March 22 6:45 p.m. Billy Miller Dear Billy 9:15 a.m. Mike Flader Ruling the Game Wednesday, March 20 6:45 p.m. GS Jade Barrett Losing and Winning Trick Count 9:15 a.m. Tom Carmichael New Minor Forcing and Saturday, March 23 Friends 9:15 a.m. Mark Ehret How to Execute a Simple 6:45 p.m. Bruce Greenspan Bruce’s Top Ten Tips Squeeze 6:45 p.m. Michael Huston Convention Choices ENTERTAINMENT and HOSPITALITY — Landmark Ballrooms 1-4 Tuesday, March 19 Friday, March 22 MC: Macaroni and cheese Chinese night: Cajun fried rice and spring roll Erin Bode creates music forged from Midwestern roots, infused with jazz The Pennsylvania Slim Blues Band has been performing blues, R&B, soul, grooves and made magic by Bode’s bell-like voice. She has a crystal clear voice jump swing and rock‘n’ roll from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties for over 15 that is too exquisite to miss. years. Wednesday, March 20 Saturday, March 23 Doggone it! Hot dogs and brats Chili cookoff: Vegetarian chili, turkey chili Friendly Henry’s will keep your toes tapping with bluegrass, folk and a little Friendly Henry’s will keep your toes tapping with bluegrass, folk and a little country. country. Thursday, March 21 Oldies night: French bread pizza The Pennsylvania Slim Blues Band has been performing blues, R&B, soul, jump swing and rock ‘n’ roll from the Forties, Fifties and Sixties for over 15 years. Registration Smoking rules New Electronic The registration desk is located at the America’s Tournament directors have receive complaints Center through the end of the tournament. about players smoking in the stairwells at the Device Policy Renaissance Hotel. Smoking is not permitted The electronic device policy at Free Parking anywhere on the hotel property and is a violation of NABCs has been revised to allow NABC guests enjoy free parking at the the law in St. Louis. Players found to be smoking players to bring electronic devices Renaissance.