Welcome to these new members:

From Cary, Candy Mortenson

From Elgin, Betty and Dennis Ryan

From Galena, Barbara Alexander

From Richmond, Carl Mayer

From Rochelle, Arlyn Van Dyke

Your new bridge community will provide friends and worthy opponents.

New Life Masters

Our members certainly are dedicated bridge players as evidenced with four players moving up in the ranks. Kay Burda and Charles Nier not only became Life Masters, but simultaneously Bronze Life Master, which is often the case. Those gold points can be elusive!

Kay Burda provided the briefest response to my interview questions to date. Her single-sentence reply was “It only took me ten years.”

Charles Nier offered a much broader review of his bridge career. Charles started playing bridge in college and played frequently while serving in the United States Army from 1956-1959. He continued playing bridge and took up duplicate in the early 1960’s with his friends in the Waukegan area. He has lived his entire life in the Chicago area and for the past decade in Elgin.

Charles earned his life master designation on a regional cruise in the Caribbean in October 2014. And, it was his first cruise. Now that’s an ideal vacation. Charles did volunteer that this accomplishment took 50 years, but his work and graduate school did affect his bridge avocation. He is also a life-long musician, performing on weekends in country and bluegrass bands. He has also performed in jazz and wedding bands.

Charles contributed this recollection about the 2013 Chicago Regional. He was in the final round and three of his contracts were doubled. All three of these contracts made (two with overtricks), and he and his partner moved from third to first earning over five gold points.

Additionally, Helen Anglemire of Rockford and John Javella of Huntley, should be recognized for their advancement to Gold Life Master. Neither provided information for this publication.

Rising in the Ranks

Here are the recent milestones for more of our members:

New Junior Masters:  Susan Hall, Lynne Nelson, Patrick Radcliffe, Susan Sallmen, Kathy Schulz and Richard Schulz all of Rockford; Sherry Heidenreich, Davis; Laverne Hoy, Elburn; Jane and Roger Landreth of Dixon; Cheryl Peacock of West Dundee.

New Club Masters:  Marlene Busher, Mary Caskey, Doris Hicks, Michele Joike, Richard Novak and Maryanne Peterson all of Rockford; Marcia Conarty, Kerry Leach of North Aurora; Pam Watson, Saint Charles.

New Sectional Masters:  Ramon Bonardi, Arlington Heights; Brion Brooks, Oregon; Christine Davis, North Aurora; Mary Murphy , Rockford; Victor Nora, Saint Charles; Barbara Rogers, Crystal Lake.

New Regional Masters:  Lon Behr, Rockford; Kathleen Porter, Elgin.

New NABC Masters:  Ned Furst of Freeport.

New Life Master:  Barbara (Kay) Burda, Huntley; Charles Nier, Elgin.

New Bronze Life Master:  Barbara (Kay) Burda, Huntley; Charles Nier, Elgin.

New Gold Life Master:  Helen Anglemire, Rockford; John Javella, Huntley.

Thanks, Karl

Unit 239 extends its gratitude to Karl Dencker for the many years he has served on the unit board.

John Pree has been appointed vice-president and Ron Kohn has accepted the member-at-large position on the board. Unit 239’s leadership keeps duplicate bridge thriving in the area.

SPRING SILVER SECTIONAL

       MARCH 13-15, 2015

 The Elgin Centre Heritage Ballroom
     100 Symphony Way, Elgin IL

       Chairs: Julia Kelley  juliakelley1939@aol.com  and Linda Jacobson  jacobsonericl@aol.com

       Partnerships: Bob Quintin  rq4mulae2@yahoo.com