ACBL Director's Report
ACBL Director's ReportAloha from Hawaii, which was a wonderful site for the Fall Championships. The Hilton Hawaiian Village is a beautiful resort, even if outrageously expensive, and more reasonably priced food was available immediately around the site.
Smoking policies: Things became interesting on the first day of the tournament when Hawaii's new no-smoking law went into effect. Smoking was illegal within twenty feet of a work site, which even included the balconies of the guest rooms. In a way, this was a trial run for next year. All three nationals are being held at hotels in the Marriott chains, and all Marriott hotels will be nonsmoking next year. (Noone knew this would happen when the tournaments were booked five to seven years ago). The Bloomington sectional in January will be nonsmoking as well. This was known in advance, but the Interstate Center has become prohibitively expensive and a new site had to be found. The only alternative the organizers could find is non-smoking. This appears to be the wave of the future. Outdoor smoking is still allowed at most other sites, including the Illinois Education Association building in Springfield where we now hold the North American Pairs and Grand National Teams district finals.
District 8 NAPs: I only got to attend the first few hours of the North American Pairs District Finals but I was glad to see all of you in attendance. Congratulations to the winners, who get to go all the way to St. Louis for the National Finals. I hope the hometown advantage will be advantageous to our representatives.
Grand National Teams: It's less than six months until the 2007 District 8 Grand National Team Finals. We will be at the Illinois Education Association building in Springfield, and I have just been notified that Gary Schecter will no longer be directing the event for us. Chris Patrias will be the Director in Charge of this event next year. Gary has announced he is retiring from directing effective sometime early next year. I would like to thank Gary for his years of service to the ACBL and to District 8. I have worked with Gary as long as I have been involved in bridge, and it will not be the same without him. Maybe he will get to play with us once he is completely retired (he retired from his job with the State of Illinois some years ago.) Thanks again Gary, and best wishes for an enjoyable retirement.
Hawaii Board meeting highlights:
The only fee increase for 2007 was for tournament directors rates. These increased 4% for cost of living and 4% for catch-up (we are gradually working towards charging the full cost of tournament directors.) Half of the increase will be offset by a decrease in tournament sanction fees.
The sale of the ACBL Product Store has been completed. Baron Barclay bought most of the inventory and will be the official supplier from now on. Hand records are still generated by the ACBL and are available from both Baron Barclay and the ACBL.
We may be selling the ACBL headquarters building in Memphis. The Board voted to pursue an offer to purchase the building. If the sale occurs, we will lease back the building for approximately 20 months at a rate equal to or less than what it costs us to own the premises. During that time, we will decide where to relocate. No matter what rumors you may hear, there has been no decision on where our new headquarters will be.
Clubs no longer must hold an annual charity game to maintain their sanction. If they do hold charity games, the proceeds from the first game held (and every odd-numbered game) must go to the ACBL Charity Foundation. Proceeds from the other games may go to a local charity if desired.
An attempt to allow tournament directors to serve on Unit and District boards as voting members was defeated. Management opposed this motion as it is against the personnel policies. It is seen as a conflict of interest since the Unit boards elect the members of the Board of Directors.
Sample bylaws for districts were approved. These will be available on the ACBL website.
Conditions of contest for the two "Mini" Life Master Pairs at the Summer NABC were changed to make these six-session events.
The Board of Directors will have a one-day educational program at the St. Louis meeting to update us on changes in the laws and other relevant topics for members of boards of not-for-profit organizations. This is basically continuing education for board members. This was my motion and it was more controversial than you would think.
Changes were made to the Code of Disciplinary Regulations to clarify that only one district has jurisdiction for appeals hearings and to update the regulations regarding Recorders.
The board passed regulations for its own deportment.
An attempt to form a third foundation was deferred to the St. Louis meeting. This motion attempts to replace the Charity and Education foundations with a new foundation that would take over these duties and promote bridge history and development. I believe that an alternate motion will be presented for the formation of a third foundation supporting the last two goals only that will coexist with the Charity and Education foundations.
A request by the European Bridge League to offer ACBL masterpoints at their championships was denied. Their promotional materials that say ACBL masterpoints will be available are wrong.
Three months and counting ... until the North American Championships come to St. Louis, March 8-18, 2007. The St. Louis Unit has put up a website with information and links that might be useful to you. The address is http://biliken.wordpress.com. I have only started exploring the site so far. I hope you find it helpful. Also, if you're available to volunteer while attending the nationals, I know the local committees could use the help. They need people to work the registration, prize and information desks and help out with other behind-the-scenes jobs.
If you have questions or suggestions about ACBL Board actions or other bridge matters, please contact me at gkheth@hotmail.com or 917 S. Main Street, Morton IL 61550-2419.
See you in St.
Louis,
-- Georgia