NEW MEMBERS

Lyla Lockhart, Notre Dame; June Reisinger, Hobart; Margaret Mohar, Chesterton; and Kathryn Tyler, Granger.
Welcome — as you join us in this most fascinating ACBL-sponsored pastime!

RISING IN THE RANKINGS

Junior Master:  Nora Allen, Elkhart; Alan Filler, Highland; Lynn Miller, South Bend

Club Master:  Martie Black, Granger; Indra Gupta, Munster; Janet Wagley, Winona Lake

Sectional Master: Kenneth Bisson, Angola

Life Master:  Richard Bredemeyer, Fort Wayne; Carol Spackman, Monticello

Silver Life Master:  Manuel Silverman, Fort Wayne

Congratulations on your new status in the bridge world!

MEMBERSHIP

As of the beginning of September, Unit 154 has 604 members in the following categories:

 70% + GAMES

 Nora Allen, Elkhart and Carol Kraabel,  — 83.33%   WOW!

 Pat Cressy, and Maureen Conbay — 79.17%   WOW!

 Phil and Sherie Kolski, Elkhart — 75.00%   January 15   WOW!

 Phil and Sherie Kolski, Elkhart — 75.00%   June 18   WOW!

 Sara Marcus, Granger and Cappy Gagnon, Notre Dame — 73.40%

 Norm Muller, Granger and Jim Fitzpatrick, South Bend — 73.02%

 Irene Singleton, South Bend and Jo Ann Steigmeyer, Granger — 72.71%

 John and Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka — 72.12%

 Irene Singleton, South Bend and Leroy Boser, Elkhart — 71.67%

 Connie Hebron. and Geri Maenhout, Mishawaka — 71.67%

 James Feinstein, South Bend and Donald Wertheimer, South Bend — 71.06%

 Dave Fred, Granger and Rony Adelsman, South Bend — 70.99%

 Mike Slaven, Elkhart and Howard Piltch, South Bend — 70.88%

 Bud Hinckley, South Bend and Charles Clarke, South Bend — 70.83%

 Frank Yoder III, Goshen and Donald Wertheimer, South Bend — 70.51%

 Donna Bach, and Bob Knoblock, Mishawaka  — 70.36%

 John and Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka — 70.00%

 Dave Bigler, Hobart & Lou Nimnicht, Crown Point — 70.54%   August 10

 Dick Stanley, Kokomo and Bob Hawley, Peru — 76.79 %   August 23   WOW!

 John Aumiller, Fort Wayne & Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne — 70.83%   September 9

MUSINGS FROM A BRIDGE TEACHER

As I recall, I never intentionally set out to become a bridge instructor. The opportunity arose when a fellow church member approached me, knowing that I played bridge, and asked if I could teach him and some of his neighbors. I agreed to do this and went about researching teaching materials. The only material I found in 1974 was a teacher’s manual for 4-card majors. This was a small challenge since I, personally, was playing 5-card majors. It did not prove to be that great an obstacle.

Through word of mouth, I was soon contacted by sororities, neighborhood associations, and women’s clubs. I also taught at our local YWCA and continue to teach at our regional university. Teaching is a very gratifying experience — namely:

•  when a student told me that it was because of her bridge knowledge that she was welcomed into a new community.

•  when a bridge player thanked me for teaching his partner to play bridge because they had such a good bridge partnership.

•  when one of my beginning students asked me to edit a bridge flip chart that she had designed. (It was so good that I offered to market it for her.)

Since the inception of my lessons, I have used Shirley Silverman’s textbooks. My students really enjoy them because they negate the need for much note taking. The student text also has a workbook with questions and answers for homework assignments.

The greatest challenge for me is trying to instill a love of this fantastic game to my students. Approximately 25% of the duplicate players in our local clubs are my former students. My payback are the smiles, hugs, and greetings when I encounter former students, and they tell me that they are still playing and loving the game.

   -- Rose Ferguson, Fort Wayne 

PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT — UNIT 154

Over the past fiscal year our unit continued to financially support local STaC, North American Pairs, and North American Team events. More than $7,000 was spent on our members. We will continue to support these events in the following year. The amount offered to North American Pairs has been reduced to $50 per person from the $100 previously provided. We will discuss this further at our next board meeting.

Another goal of ours is to maintain a good financial base from which we operate. The balance in our unit bank accounts has fallen below $20,000. We need to maintain this level to guarantee support for advance expenses that may be required for regionals. Hopefully, we will generate enough revenue from our remaining sectional and regional this year to maintain this balance.

Finally, for the good of any organization, it is important that a constant flow of new members be added each year. One way to attract new members is through education and training of new players. South Bend has done very good job in this area. We continue to support all education efforts made by individual area clubs.

Let’s have a good time at the bridge table this coming year.

     -- Chuck Briggs, President, Unit 154

RECAP OF THE RECENT REGIONAL IN FORT WAYNE

Bob Carteaux and Joe Shull were co-chairman of the tournament which ended on September 27. They did a great job — as usual! Joe Shull was in charge of partnerships. He has been providing this service for many years. He is always at the partnership desk and superbly matches players with compatible partners. Michael Clegg was in charge of the hospitality room, which was a popular place to meet and enjoy the camaraderie and the food. Many of the Fort Wayne players pitched in and helped to make this another successful tournament — over 1000 tables in play!

The directors were excellent, under the capable leadership of Chris Patrias. They all contributed their expertise, ensuring smooth-running games.

All participants seemed to enjoy the tournament, with 605 of them earning masterpoints. The Grand Wayne Convention Center has good lighting and acoustics and is a very desirable place to play bridge. Fort Wayne has many excellent restaurants, which was another plus.

Eric Rodwell and Jeff Meckstroth were at the regional. They recently returned as winners in a World Team Championship in Brazil earlier in September. Jerry Fleming, President of the ACBL, was also in Fort Wayne for a few days of the tournament.