Welcome

Unit 239, known for its hospitality, welcomes three new members. Unit members, please take the time to greet:

   Catherine Harned of DeKalb

   Vent Carlston of East Dundee

   Brian Hamilton of Rockford

Carol Emme, Emerald LM

An emerald life master (7500 master points) is now in the membership database of Unit 239, Carol Emme of Naperville. Now this accomplishment did not happen overnight. Carol has been playing bridge for 35 years. She reports her favorite partner is her husband, Harold, who is nearing the emerald life master mark himself. The two of them not only partner at the bridge table, but they owned a bridge club in Carbondale, Illinois for 25 years. In addition to promoting bridge in their local community, they were educators at Southern Illinois University and Carbondale Community High School. Family brought them to Unit 239 after they sold their club to another bridge player.

The two of them participated in many regionals and sectionals until health and age slowed them down. They are content to play in club games twice a week. The Aurora Bridge Club is their “home” club, but they occasionally play in Naperville and Yorkville. The Emme’s have a winter home in Brentwood, California. There they can play bridge every day of the week, but limit their games to twice a week.

The Emme’s taught bridge at their Carbondale club and taught bridge on a three-week bridge cruise. Carol reports that she and Harold are happy that they have survived their bridge partnership and remain in marital bliss, as bridge is a stressful game. She reports that the couple enjoys the challenge of bridge and it has been a fun way of life. Their friends are bridge friends and these friendships have made life very enjoyable for the Emme’s.

Carol’s advice to new players is to try to establish a good partnership with someone who is willing to discuss the game afterward. Together, work out the things that went wrong and return to the next game ready to play and concentrate. Carol believes that concentration at the table is the key to a successful game (count out the hands and stay alert). If you concentrate, Carol believes that the masterpoints will just come along.

Rank Advancements

New Junior Masters: Van Stone, Geneva; Mary Ann Wham, Rockford

New Club Masters: Cindy Ferguson, Harvard; Richard Houde, Charlotte Irvine and Michele Taylor, Huntley; Tressa Anderson and Sandra Mulligan of Rockford; Kendall Tokarski, Saint Charles; Bonnie Caswell, Sugar Grove

New Sectional Masters: Greg Maccoubrey and Raymond Tower, Crystal Lake; Ida Velasco, Rockford; Terry Gehrke, Winnebago

New NABC Master: Gary Brigel, Aurora; Mary Dolak, Belvidere; Ann Martin, Oregon; Fran Fey, Rockford

New Advanced NABC Master: Judy Bonardi, Arlington Heights; Rudolph Bruntyn, Huntley

New Bronze Life Master: Peggy Anderson, Elgin

New Sapphire Life Master: Lucille Jenkins of Rockford

New Emerald Life Master: Carol Emme, Naperville
 

       Early Spring Silver Sectional

             March 31 - April 2, 2017

         Elgin Center Heritage Ballroom, Elgin IL
    100 Symphony Way (across from Hemmens Auditorium)

Tournament Chairs: Julia Kelley – 630-886-7430 or juliakelley1939@att.net and Linda Jacobson – 630-372-6453 or jacobsonericl@aol.com

Partnership Chair:   Janet Brandt – 847-840-5146 (cell) or 847-888-4450 (home) or janetbrandt@sbcglobal.net