Hats off  to players who have reached bridge milestones!

NEW REGIONAL MASTERS

   Harriet Davis, Marion IL

   David Williams, O’Fallon IL

NEW NABC MASTERS

   Daniel Hellrung, Troy IL

   Thomas O’Hara, Fairview Hgts IL

NEW SILVER LIFE MASTERS

   Judith Wagner, Belleville IL

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

There are nine clubs in Unit 223, one being in Mayfield KY. It is a small club and is run by Larry Lemon. The game is held on Friday nights and is typically a team game.

This is a photo of the group on a typical Friday night.
 

VIRTUAL BRIDGE HAPPENINGS

The Central Illinois and Southern Illinois/Paducah consortium is still offering several virtual games on Bridgebase Online ( http://bridgebase.com ). Currently, the games being offered are:

Open Pair Games

   Thursdays:  6:50 pm

   Sundays:  6:50 pm (Open -- 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays; Mentor/Mentee Pairs: 2nd & 4th Sundays)

Limited Pair Games

   Tuesdays (0-750):  6:50 pm

       Monthly (2nd Friday):  Limited Mentor/Mentee Game at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, visit http://virtual.illinibridge.com

The Mentor/Mentee Games are a great way to share your love for bridge with a player who is less experienced than you. Please consider becoming a mentor or a mentee. You all receive emails about these games. Just respond to them if you are interested. The Committee will match you with someone who is either trying to learn the game or is willing to share his/her knowledge with a less experienced player.

Winter/Spring Virtual Club Events

1.  Junior Fund games the last week of January

2.  NABC Fundraiser games 2/4-10

3.  “Pop Up” Valentines’ game Sunday, 2/11 (50% RED)

4.  Educational Foundation games 2/12 – 2/18

5.  “Pop Up” Daylight Savings game Sunday, 3/3 (50% RED)

6.  Charity Foundation games 4/7 – 4/13

7.  Stardust Week 4/22 – 4/28 (25% GOLD)

Face-to-Face Winter/Spring Special Events

1.  No extra Club Championships or Upgraded Club Championships in 2024

2.  February Educational Foundation games

3.  “POP UP” Valentine’s Weekend - use +RED+ hack in event title for 50% Red; 50% Black (2/9 - 2/11 - choose one day only)

4.  ACBL wide International Fund game Sat. afternoon, 2/17

5.  “POP UP” Daylight Savings time - same hacks and points as above (3/1 -3 /3) – choose one day only)

6.  ACBL Senior Pairs, Mon. afternoon, 3/11

7.  ACBL wide Charity game Tues. afternoon, 3/26

8.  April is Charity Month

9.  STaC (4/8 - 4/14)

10.  More “POP UP” with a “Split” Weekend of “April Showers” either 4/14, 4/19 or 4/20

11.  Stardust Split Week (25% Gold) using hack +GOLD+ (4/22-23; 4/25-28)

12.  ACBL-wide charity game - Wed. afternoon 4/24

For both the Virtual Clubs and the Face-to-Face clubs, you may notice these “POP UP” games. These are special games that have to be held on certain days, but they do not need a special sanction. These games will award 50% red points and 50% black points.

Saluki Swiss Sectional

The Saluki Swiss Sectional was held at the United Methodist Church in Edwardsville on February 16-17. Total attendance was 50 tables, with 67 players earning a total of 197.76 masterpoints. A complete list of point winners is here.

Congratulations to the top five masterpoint winners in Edwardsville:

   Mark Boswell, Clarkson Valley MO (left)

   Aaron O'Banion, Bob Sievers, Lee Blocher & Kyle Blocher, Champaign IL (right)

Our Unit's Regional Tournament will be held in Collinsville IL at the Gateway Convention Center on September 10 – 14. A contract has been signed and a deposit has been paid. A tentative flyer has been created and a preliminary budget developed. Bob Holdeman will serve as the Tournament Chairperson. A BIG thank you to Paul Hartke, who has chaired several past tournaments that were held in Effingham. Paul, you are very much appreciated!

Election of Officers for the Fiscal Year (2023-2024):  Per our By-Laws, Kadie Davis moves from Vice-President to President.  Janet Jones was to move to 1^st Vice-President but requested to stay as 2^nd Vice-President. Bob Holdeman will serve as 1^st Vice-President. Donna Swick will serve as Treasurer and Pamela Ames will serve as Secretary.

BOARD MEMBERSHIP ROSTER FOR UNIT 223
    Area 1 – Maxine Wynn and Tom Wynn 
    Area 2 – Janet Jones and Chuck Wiese
    Area 3 – Donna Swick and Jay Coleman 
    Area 4 – Dan Evers, Bob Holdeman and Kadie Davis
    Non-Voting Members:  Pam Ames as Secretary and Mary Shaw as Education Consultant
        Kadie will appoint two representatives to the District 8 Board.

Unit 223 loses a board member

Joyce Clark, a Unit 223 Board Member died somewhat unexpectedly in October. She loved the game of bridge and will be sadly missed. Chuck Wiese has graciously agreed to take her place on the board.  Joyce’s obituary is below.

Marilyn Joyce Clark, known affectionately as Joyce, peacefully passed away on October 24, 2023, at the age of 84 in Herrin IL with her husband and children at her side.

She was born in Park River, North Dakota and will be remembered to many as the cherished wife of Ron Clark. Joyce was preceded in death by a brother, two sisters, and son Garrett Clark. She is survived by her children, Andrea, Lee and Mark, her husband Ron Clark, daughter-in-law Amanda and grandchildren Annie and Abby Clark. 

Joyce began her career in the field of education as an elementary school teacher. Later in life, she returned to school to earn a master's degree in the social sciences and became a school social worker and substance abuse counselor here in Southern Illinois. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Joyce excelled in the game of bridge, teaching many and honing her skills and participating in tournaments around the country, eventually achieving Bronze Life Master status in the American Contract Bridge League. She enjoyed time spent on the golf course, as well as time spent in the company of family and friends.

Contributions can be made in her honor to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at https://givenow.lls.org/. Joyce will be remembered for her unwavering dedication, kindness and the impact she made on the lives of others. May she rest in eternal peace.

ADULT BRIDGE CAMP -- April 9-12

Adult Bridge Camp will be held at Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville IL on 4/9 to 4/12. There will be hands-on classes for the 0-499 NLM, focusing on the needs of the improving players as well as those newer to duplicate bridge. The players will be able to earn silver points at sanctioned pair game. More details are here.