Oregon High Desert Regional: May 9-15 RUMPETTHE DISTRICT 20 T www.ACBLD20.org Vol. 12, No. 1 Bridge Across the District Spring 2016 D20 pair’s team is fourth in world at Chennai District Verifying the system notes Tolliver, Zwerling were uploaded to the World bridge Federation archive, reach semifinal looking at the systems that projects the competition would be of D’Orsi Cup playing and last, packing for By Mark Tolliver the three-week sojourn. but it Special to The Trumpet was all surreal until the mo- small loss “Emirates Flight 4386 Seat- ment I heard that boarding tle to Dubai now boarding at announcement. Gate 22.” We were leaving on a Sun- Despite raising table fee, That was the moment when The Grande Chola was the site of the world championships. day and would arrive on a Tuesday. Play would begin at it really hit me. I was getting great teams in hopes of win- tion: getting a visa, ordering budget has $10K deficit 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. This The Oregon Trail Regional in Vancou- on a plane, going to Chennai, ning a medal. Sure, there had the team polo shirts with ver exceeded expectations with just one India, to play against a lot of been all the requisite prepara- embroidered uSbF logos. Continued on Page 10 short of 1500 tables. The good turnout hopefully bodes well for our future tour- naments and for our financial condition (more on this below). Many thanks to Tournament Manager Denver: Better Beach wedding? Judy Davis (her first solo undertaking) and to Director-in-Charge Matt without snow Koltnow and his staff. The trip to the fall nationals in They all contributed to Mile High City of Denver, Colo., was a smooth-running and very cold and dry with some snow. It rewarding experience for the players. The takes some adjusting from living in Rich Carle the Northwest where we aren’t used wine-and-cheese party D20 President to dealing with 7 degree tempera- Friday evening seemed tures — and of course the altitude especially popular. was a problem for some. Tournament Feb. 1 marks the beginning of the attendance was down a little, most D20 fiscal year and the board had its likely because of the early snowfall first meeting of 2016 at the OTR. We that scared away many drivers. The welcomed new Area Representatives playing area and local free bus make Duane Christensen from Area 3 Denver a great city (Nampa-Caldwell and boise) and Jim for a national, but Smith from Area 6 (Oregon Coast). In the board requested addition, new Trumpet managing editor we not book an- Amy Casanova and copy editor Martha , and new Education Liaison other fall national Seaside area players Jane Beach and Ray Lowe were married last month. See story, page 16. Maroney there and instead opt for spring or Continued on Page 11 summer. Prior to the start Merlin of the national tour- Vilhauer nament, the ACbL D20 District Director TM tries to turn board of directors had its third meeting of the year. The board elected Ken GivingMeet your new back Goodwill Committee to bridge members water into wine Monzingo of District 22 president of the ACbL. His term is for one year. By Jen Smith son for 30 years and was Here comes the sun! The board said goodbye to three The Trumpet appointed to the Goodwill Hopefully, you won lots of events last members this year: Don Mamula Committee herself two month at the Oregon Trail Regional (D19, Washington, Alaska and So many bridge mem- years ago, is a huge fan. and added to your masterpoint bank. Is british Columbia), Rand Pinsky bers, so little time to recog- baker and Gramson there anything more important to a (D23, Los Angeles County) and Rich nize them all. So this year, learned the game together bridge player than win- DeMartino (D25, Maine, Vermont, we’re celebrating the four under Kroning, and have ning? Attendance was New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Con- who rose to the top — re- been teaching bridge les- virtually the same as necticut and Massachusetts). The ceiving this year’s Goodwill sons together for five years. last year’s OTR. board welcomed the directors newly Committee appointments. “We also have a club called As I look back on elected to these districts — Marv bridge Games R us, which this first experience as Norden D19, Kevin Lane D23 and The hostess: is held once a month at her your new tournament Mark Aquino D25. Ann Marie Gramson lovely home,” baker said. manager, the worst Kroning thinks it’s this thing that could have Our first 2015 Goodwill very act that sets Gramson Judy Davis happened, did in fact, Continued on Page 11 Committee member learned apart from the rest. “Once Tournament Manager happen. We ran out of the game from Sue Kron- Ann Marie Gramson opens a month she opens her wine at the Friday ing, who gushed about how INSIDE her home to new players spectacular riverside home night party! I promise that will not hap- far her protégé has come. Masterpoint races monthly and the whole to 6-7 tables of 299ers, pen next year at the OTR. “I am so glad I taught Ann Seaside unit once a year. after which she and Sandy Now we look forward to the Just 0.13 masterpoints Marie bridge in 1999,” Kron- Oregon separated the top baker serve wine and a , May 9-15, in ing says. “She wears many so hats now — High Desert Regional two finishers in fabulous home-cooked dinner,” Kroning Sunriver. If you haven’t already booked teacher, club president, unit board mem- District 20’s 0–5 said. “This really captures the hearts and your room at the Sunriver Lodge, you ber, sectional chair and local chair for the Mini-McKenney race. minds of new bridge players.” will want to do so quickly. The room Seaside Regional.” Race results | 3 Story | 11 Sandra baker, who has known Gram- Continued on Page 10 Continued on Page 11 Page 2 The District 20 Trumpet Spring 2016 PeopleA often new ask me how lifeI’m liking fullshe of asked anlessons unfortunate question: on Why comicopportunity to continuetiming this exploration is Memphis. It’s hard question to answer, can’t one make a natural 2© overcall after one thing I like best about my new job. mainly because I haven’t seen enough of it the previous hand opened 1©? Still time for bridge? to know. That’s because I’ve spent most of “Because it would mean something At my first club game here I had a 7-6 my free time since arriving — including else,” I said, trying to avoid the specifics. hand with 5 HCP which on the layout was the last seven weekends straight — put- She persisted in asking what it would cold for two grand slams; it might make it ting together this issue of the Trumpet. mean. “I promise, you don’t want to know.” into It’s Your Call, so I’ll table that for now. Sure, there were a few weeks before I Don’t go down that road. No luck. Finally, At another club game, I had my typical got tied up, so let’s review what happened I broke down and confessed it meant she Martha Maroney and Amy Casanova Silly Rabbit experience on the first board. in that time. They say the most important had 5-5 in the majors. Her mind exploded. thing in comedy is timing. This has been a She may never touch cards again. ´A Q 10 6 5 4 ♥2 ©A K ®K 8 6 4 Board hires two editors cavalcade of perfectly timed disasters. The timing was, for once, good when I I opened 1 and LHO overcalled 2 . ´ ® The outgoing Trumpet editor left big November: First, my car died. When’s managed to stick in a reference to “Teen Partner gave me a 3 limit raise, and RHO ® shoes to fill — perhaps too big for any the best time to apply for a car loan? How Wolf” in a Bridge Bulletin article introduc- doubled. The news that the opponents one person, at least if you ask him. So about a week after quitting your job, when ing me. The January issue arrived the same had an apparent club fit was music to my the district board has hired two new edi- you have no verifiable income. week as the season 5B premiere. ears. Envisioning partner with shortness, I tors: Amy Casanova, who will serve as Then I moved. When’s the best My first local tournament was looked for slam, stopping in 5 . ´ managing editor, and Martha Maroney, time to drive across the country? largely disaster-free, but the fol- The A was led; dummy was a surprise: ® who will serve as copy editor. During a blizzard covering most lowing weekend I went to Las ´K 9 3 ♥K Q 6 3 ©Q J 7 ®5 3 2 Casanova has been the Portland unit of the states you need to go Vegas to play in the Sin City Why so many club losers, partner? RHO reporter for the Trumpet for three years through, of course. Shootout. You know what that discarded a heart. Now, if it goes club ruff, and the Trumpet’s social media editor A few days after starting the means: air travel. There has A, heart ruff (not expecting a 7-1 break), since November. She will take over the new job, I discovered a kidney never been a more fertile source ♥ club ruff, I’ll be down three before I get in.