A note from your Unit President

by Karl Dencker

Even though the Unit Board meets several times a year, we are unable to chat with you individually about our thoughts/concerns/challenges. I thought sending a note in the District 8 Advocate would be a clever idea. Let's give it a go. My comments aren't in any particular order, just as they come to mind.

As most of you know, we're no longer using the Holiday Inn in Elgin. With the new owners and staff, they have a totally different attitude. The sandwich lunch the Unit provided last March was the last straw. We apologize. We still would have had to move in a year or so -- the space was too small. We are continuing to seek out another location. So far we haven't found what we're looking for. If you know of space that's around 4000 square feet, please let me, or any Board member, about it. Thanks.

A couple of our Sectional Tournaments are trying a couple new things. They aren't new to the world of bridge -- only new to us. We're going to try different days of the week. Perhaps Sunday thru Wednesday  or Monday thru Thursday. Then, in some cases, we may drop the evening games, with our day games at 10 am and 3 pm. In the Open Pair games, we're going to try an Open Pair/Team game. At the director's option, the Open Pair game may qualify for adding the "team" with it. You don't come to the game as a team. When the pair game is set up, at random you'll be matched up with another pair. As a result, you'll be able to achieve points not only as a "pair", but also as a "team". The Rockford Classic Sectional in September will have this "pair/team" event. I've never played in this event, but those who have like it.

Speaking of Rockford, we are still looking for a person(s) to chair a Sectional Tournament there. The Rockford Bridge Club has more than their share of qualified persons. Give it a thought and contact me.

The next annual Unit 239 meeting, FREE buffet lunch and afternoon of FREE bridge is being held next April in the Prairie Lodge in Huntley Sun City. Jamison's will be supplying the food.

There will be a District 8 Sectional-at-Clubs (STaC) tournament the week of November 1 thru 7. The Unit will continue to pay the STaC fee during that week for all members of Unit 239 who are also paid to date members of ACBL.

If you like this little note, please let me know. I'll try to do it a couple times a year. Have fun at the bridge table.

Achievers

Junior Master:  Romana Layng, Rockford;  Barry Shore, West Dundee;  Mary Young, Rockford.

New Club Master: Ids Velasco, Rockford;  Lynne Madden, Sugar Grove;  Dr. Ray Parnell, Wonder Lake;  Ellen Schumann, Rockford.

New Sectional Master: Judith Graff, Freeport; Georgia Jacobsen, Huntley

New Regional Master: Audrey Williams. Rockford

New Life Master: Charlene Whitney, Winnebago

Silver  Masters: Steve Sinkiawic, Roscoe

Rockford  Classic Silver Sectional

Sunday through Wednesday -- September 9-12, 2012

Tebala Shrine, 7910 Newburg Road, Rockford IL 

Directions: From I-90, exit East State Street and turn right to Bell School Road. Turn left to Newburg Road and turn left to Tebala Shrine on left.

Chairperson: Doug St. John   815-877-8460

Partnerships: Dave & Lu Jenkins   815-229-7799   dave.lu@comcast.net

Host hotel:  $84 king/$89 double (includes breakfast) at Marriott Fairfield Inn – 7651 Walton St., Rockford. 815-398-7400
     For guaranteed rate, reserve by August 22.