♠  THE GREAT SIZZLIN’ SUMMER ILLINOIS REGIONAL  ♠

Remember to use your free-play postcard when you attend! There are still positions for volunteers.

Annual Meeting and Awards

Everyone had a great time at the Unit 239 annual meeting on April 8^th at Del Webb in Huntley, Illinois. The board members reported on events of the year and awarded McKenney and Ace of Club Awards. I was happy and proud to be given the Good Will award for the year. We had an excellent lunch, and Will Engel directed the three-section game.  

Gena Hartlieb and Francis Buhler had a 72.37% game to take Flight A. Neil Whittle and Ardythe Edwards won in Flight B with 66.28%. Kyle Larson and William Carpenter won Flight C with 55.24%. The limited game was won by Steve and Lela Lowe with a 65.05% score.

Several Unit members were recognized because they have the distinction of being 90 or older and still active at bridge clubs. They are an inspiration to us all:
   Helen Anglemire (Rockford)
   Dorothy Berg (Bartlett)
   Donelle Brousseau (Sleepy Hollow)
   Kay Burda (Huntley)
   Hank Chakoian (Crystal Lake)
   Pat Green (Rockford)
   Jan Howard (Rockford)
   Bob Irwin
   Joan Jackson (Glen Ellyn)
   John Jackson (Glen Ellyn)
   Phyllis Seeman (Rockford)
   Roberta Size (Elgin)

♠ Welcome to new members of Unit 239:  John Carbaugh (Polo), Patricia Elsner (DeKalb), Bruce Mackennie (Huntley) and Cathleen Strawser (Rockford).

♠ Congratulations to the many members who have achieved new ACBL ranks:

Club Master:  Tom Looman (Crystal Lake) and Craig Stitzell (St. Charles)

Sectional Master:  Jon Clemmons (Freeport) and Joseph Lepscier (Aurora)

NABC Master:  Ray Towner (Crystal Lake)

Bronze Life Master:  Matt Sinkovits (Plano)

Silver Life Master:  Ardythe Edwards (Huntley)

Ruby Life Master:  Carolyn Likou (West Dundee)

Sapphire Life Master:  Robert Volsted (Elgin)

"Of course I’m happy to have reached a bridge milestone and to have received the certificate with the silver border. But I know that, for me, bronze-silver-ruby (if I live long enough) will always pale compared with getting that last gold for Life Master. THAT was elation.

"And I’m happy too that I’m still playing with Kay Burda, who helped me get those last pieces of precious gold, and with Neil Whittle, who agreed to play with me when I had few points.

"Why DO we return, as often as possible, to those tables? I like that every hand is a new puzzle to try to solve (or a little gift to unwrap, as one friend calls it) and I especially like being in a room full of friends/ acquaintances/ strangers. Those robots just won’t say hi or tell jokes or talk about a world of interesting stuff. Go bridge!"
 

Carolyn Likou wrote about becoming a Ruby Life Master!

"I played bridge all my life but started playing duplicate about 30 years ago. My husband and I play together. We have been retired for 12 years and rarely play in local clubs. We travel a lot and spend the winter in Puerto Vallarta where we play in the Puerto Vallarta Bridge Club. We prefer playing regional tournaments. We like to travel in our RV. If we can hit a regional, we will play a couple days."