Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes to all Unit 223 Members

Another bridge year is wrapping up. So much has been achieved in Unit 223. Many Unit 223 members have risen in rank, and some have made the coveted Life Master goal. To reach those milestones, we've attended club games and Unit sectionals and STaCs, (and made plans to have a better-than-ever 2015 regional). We all know how important bridge is in our lives and how valued are our bridge friends.

Many thanks to the volunteers in our Unit who make it possible for us to enjoy the ACBL events which we all so enjoy: the club-level managers and directors, the sectional and regional tournament chairpersons and all the volunteers who support them, and the people who serve on the Unit Board and Committees. I would also like to send greetings and wishes for a happy holiday season to the ACBL tournament directors who have served us so well in this Unit during the past year.

Here's wishing all of you a happy and successful New Year.

Good Will and Jo Echols Award Winners

At the Caseyville Sectional tournament in early November, the Unit Board met and selected Paul Quayle (left photo) of Gilbertsville KY as the 2014 Jo Echols Award recipient. The Jo Echols Award is awarded each year to a Unit 223 member who has contributed significantly to bridge education in our Unit. Paul is being honored in recognition of the support and contributions he has made to bridge education and novice players in Paducah.

Also selected in Caseyville to receive the Unit's 2014 Goodwill Award was Bill Rotter (right photo) of Glen Carbon IL. The Goodwill Award is presented to members who contribute significantly through volunteerism and general good example. Bill is a well-liked and well-respected Unit member who has served as Unit President, Unit Board representative and in clubs in his area.

Congratulations to Paul and Bill on this much-deserved recognition.

New Board Member

At the Unit Board meeting in Caseyville, the Unit Board accepted with regret the resignation of Bill Rotter from the Unit 223 Board. In accordance with the Unit By-Laws, President Ron Brotherson then appointed Pamela Ames of Marysville IL to fill the remainder of the term of office of the retiring member.

♣  Rising in the Ranks

The following Unit 223 players have advanced in rank:

New Junior Masters

  Carl Edwards, Benton KY

  Linda Key, O'Fallon IL

  Debbie Noah, Harrisburg IL

  Maxine Schimp, Eldorado IL

  Linda Steele, Paducah KY

New Sectional Master: Jane Herman, Effingham, IL

New Club Masters

  Jared Amason, Centralia IL

  Sherry Paxton, Princeton KY

New NABC Masters

  Ann Lazerson, Glen Carbon IL

  Brenda Stephenson, West Paducah KY

New Life Masters

  Pamela Fee, Paducah KY

  Dorota Jarosz, Edwardsville IL

New Bronze Life Master: Dorota Jarosz, Edwardsville IL

New Silver Life Master: Sherry Brodsky, Benton KY

Mark your new 2015 Calendars!

April 10-12 -- Pioneer Sectional Tournament, Effingham IL

May 29-31 -- Sectional Tournament, Edwardsville IL

June 22-28 -- Crossroads Split-Regional Tournament, Effingham IL

Sept 4-6 -- Irvin Cobb Sectional Tournament, Paducah KY

Late Oct / early Nov -- Caseyville Sectional Tournament, Caseyville IL