If you've let your ACBL membership lapse -- or if you're a new player who hasn't yet joined ACBL -- you should consider the benefits of paying your dues before the end of the year.
Effective January 1, 2010, the requirements for attaining Life Master status will change to 500 total masterpoints, of which 75 must be silver (sectional points), 50 must be red, gold or platinum (regional and national tournaments) and 75 must be black (club games). That's an increase from the current requirement (300 total points, 50 silver, 25 gold or platinum, 25 red or gold).
The new requirements will not apply to ACBL members in good standing whose dues are current as of the end of 2009 and who maintain continuous membership in the ACBL until they become Life Masters. If you're not yet a Life Master and you aren't a member on December 31, 2009 -- or if you fail to pay your annual dues any time after that date -- the new LM requirements will apply to you.
"Amnesty" offer: ACBL is also making a special offer to lapsed members. If you rejoin before December 31, 2009, ACBL will credit all unrecorded masterpoints you won during the time you were on inactive membership status. The customary charge for this service is waived.
So, if you are not currently an ACBL member, now would be a great time to join or renew! Click here to join as a new member or click here to renew your membership.
NABC Top Winners Directory -- Want to know who has placed first or second in past North American Bridge Championshipss? You can put your curiosity to rest by using a new search tool that allows you to search by event or by a player's last name. Click here check out this new feature.
New "Find a Club" Search -- ACBL's new Find a Club page offers more search options and more detailed information on bridge clubs in the U.S. and Canada. You can search by city or by zip/postal code and get a list of the ten closest bridge clubs. The list includes distance to each club in miles, contact information and game schedules. The locations are shown on a Google map, which allows you to zoom in and see the clubs at street level. Click on "Get Directions" for turn-by-turn driving directions to the bridge club of your choice.
MyACBL -- The most popular section of the ACBL web site is MyACBL -- a members-only portal that offers a wide range of services and interesting data about your membership. A number of new features have been added in the past year. Once you're logged in, you can:
Check your masterpoints. The site will display your total and year-to-date points, where they were won, a point-color breakdown (how many are platinum, gold, red, silver and black) and how many qualify for the annual Ace of Clubs race. Click the Total Points link for a breakdown of all points you've won since 1989.
Check your status. Learn where you rank in relation to other ACBL members and the number of qualifications you have for the national Blue Ribbon or Red Ribbon Pairs.
Check out Unit and District masterpoint races. Year-to-date updates on the Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs standings for your home Unit and for all five Units in District 8. Final standings from last year are also here.
Read the Bridge Bulletin. The entire issue is now available online.
Enter the "It's Your Call" bidding contest featured in each monthly Bridge Bulletin. Answer this month's questions and view results from previous issues.
Manage your membership. Check your status, pay dues, sign up for ebill notifications, submit name and address changes.
Manage your email and privacy preferences. Choose whether you want to receive member announcements, tournament ads, marketing messages, surveys and eNewsletters. ACBL does not share your email with outside parties unless you specifically permit it by changing your settings under the ePrivacy link.
Communicate with ACBL. The main page has direct links to ask questions about your masterpoints and make suggestions.
For club managers: The "My Club" links allow you to check your monthly financial and masterpoint reports, sign up for special games, review lists of suspended and expelled members, and make changes in club information.
If you've never used MyACBL, you can create a login on the MyACBL registration page (or click MyACBL link in the upper left-hand corner of the ACBL home page). Fill in your email address and ACBL player number and choose a password. You can then access MyACBL as often as you like.