ACBL BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING

LAS VEGAS, NV

JULY 14-17, 2008

REPORT FROM BILL COOK, JR.

DISTRICT 10 REPRESENTATIVE

Board actions were as follows:

· Jerry Fleming of Los Alamos, NM, was elected unanimously as the ACBL President for 2009.

· Management was authorized to negotiate contracts for the following NABCs:

o Summer 2013 – Atlanta, GA

o Fall 2013 - Phoenix, AZ

o Summer 2014 – Las Vegas, NV

· Approved the recommendation of the Real Estate Committee for ACBL headquarters to remain in the Memphis area, subject to obtaining satisfactory incentives from local and/or state government (I have been very active on this committee for the last two years and currently serve as it’s vice chairman).

· Defeated a motion that would have closed the president’s suite at NABCs to the general public.

· Approved a motion that Board of Director members who want reimbursement for the additional nights and perdiem for attending the Board of Governor’s (BOG) meeting may not play in any bridge event that will or may preclude their attendance at any part of the BOG meeting.

· Approved that a STaC session may be held in lieu of an ACBL wide special event.

· Removed the requirement that 25% of NABC entry fees would be allocated to the local host on a per table basis.

· Defeated by a vote of 12-13 a motion to allow ACBL Tournament Directors (TDs) to hear & rule upon all bridge appeals filed in NABC + events. (I was one of the sponsors of this motion and strongly believed the time had come to eliminate the National Appeals Committees whose members, in many cases, were subject to having conflicts of interest or were not qualified. The TDs have been making the rulings in all other events held at NABC for more than 10 years and management supported extending their authority to the NABC + events).

· Modified the NAP/GNT guidelines for exceptions to the residency requirements..

· Amended the GNT Conditions of Contest for 2009-2010 that states every member of every team must play in at least half of the scheduled boards of each day of the event (exclusive of playoffs) in order to continue participating on the team for the remainder of the event. The team captain may submit an application for exceptions with the Director in charge but must do so prior to entering the team.

· Approved the formation of a new unit that will encompass Glynn County in Southeastern Georgia.

· Approved the transfer of Reno Unit #473 and Carson/Tahoe unit #465 from District 20 to District 21.

· Modified Section 2 & 3 of the ACBL Handbook dealing with Unit Requirements, Privileges and Responsibilities.

· Approve a motion that advises the ACBL World Bridge Federation (WBF) representatives that ACBL opposes any by law changes that would reduce the decision making power of Zone 2 (US, Canada, Mexico) within the WBF.

· Approved that the per diem meal rate for authorized travel by ACBL representatives to the WBF, members of the ACBL Board and its President is set according to IRS standards or, where applicable, to State Department standards accepted by the IRS for the destination city.

· Require a report to the Board of Directors from representatives to the WBF 15 days prior to each meeting of the ACBL Board on five specific items of information requested.

· Approve the establishment of the Platinum Pairs, a new annual NABC event, subject to a BOD approved schedule starting in 2010. This will be a six session qualification pair event open to members who have won 50 or more platinum points in the three years prior to the event.

· Approve unanimously New Life master Requirements effective January 1, 2010 as follows:

The requirements for Life master are modified to include earning 500 point, of which 250 must be pigmented as follows:

50 must be gold or platinum

50 must be red, gold or platinum

75 must be silver

75 must be black

These requirements do not apply to people who are ACBL members as of December 31, 2009 and maintain continuous membership in the ACBL until they achieve Life master status. These players will attain Life master status upon earning 300 points, of which 150 must be pigmented as follows:

25 must be gold

25 must be red or gold

50 must be silver

50 must be black

(The rules in effect July 1, 2008)

For members achieving Life Master under the modified rules, the rank of Bronze Life master is abolished. For these members, a new rank of Advanced NABC Master is created. The requirements for this rank are 300 master points, of which 150 must be pigmented as follows:

25 must be gold or platinum

25 must be red, fold or platinum

50 must be silver

50 must be black

(These are the requirements for Life master in effect July 1, 2008)

jay baum, acbl ceo, reported

· The 2008 upward trend in membership continued in June. Year-to-date gains are over 1300 and June 08 vs June 07 is + 1,800.

· There are now fewer than 5000 unpaid active Life Masters and ACBL continues to clean up its membership by dropping those that are inactive for 24 months or longer.

· New Members continue on a good pace (+60%). He expects 12,000 new members for 2008.

· Net income for the period Jan-April, 2008 was $490,777, compared to the 2008 budget estimate for the same period that projected a $125,828 loss. All income categories exceeded budgeted amounts and most expense categories were less than anticipated.

· Zero Tolerance citations in Detroit were proportionate to the smaller table count. Citations at the last three NABCs are Nashville-24; San Francisco-12; and Detroit-7.

· Total regional tables year-to-date, show an increase of over 6% due primarily to more regional’s being completed this year than last. Average table count of 1460 tables is still healthy attendance.

· Sectional tournaments are averaging 174 tables. Projections indicate 2008 total tables will be flat compared to 2007.

· STaC tables are just about flat this year with an average table count at 1310 per sanction number.

· He thinks 2008 will continue on a pace to be a “good” year, in spite of the price of gas and other economic factors.

· The percent of sanctioned club games reporting with the ACBL score program is 88%.

· Club tables with additional fees (special games) have increased 30% and on-line tables over 44%. Overall club tables continue to be impressive with a year-to-date increase of 5%.

· Steps have been completed to certify ACBL e-mails as spam-compliant. This should keep our e-mails going out without some of the interruptions we have experienced in the past.

· Booth and presentation stage assignments are confirmed for the AARP convention to be held in Washington DC, September 4-6. Bob Levey, a poplar Washington writer and outstanding player, will be giving a presentation on Friday, September 5. ACBL will be running a 5x7 ad in the convention’s daily newspaper.

· Patty Tucker , ACBL’s Junior Bridge Co-coordinator, has identified 109 existing youth program teachers (not including ACBL’s School Bridge Lesson Teachers) in North America. Twelve people have contacted her in the last two months concerning starting new programs.

· A website is “in the works” which will consolidate all youth information contacts, funding information, existing programs and lesson plans in one place.

· Plans are to create a “Teaching Youth” Tap; Complete the bridge teachers of youth website; Document funding opportunities for youth efforts and how to apply for these funds.

· The first ever Youth North American Bridge Championships were a huge success. Children from 21 states and 3 Canadian provinces came to Atlanta in June played bridge and made new friends.

The final table count was 210 tables over the course of 7 sessions. 198 children and youth attended the event; most were in the 10-14 age range.

Every out-of-town parent, player and teacher indicated they would be in Washington, DC in 2009 for the next event.

PETER RANK, LEAGUE COUNSEL, REPORTED:

· Peter Marcus and Susan Patricelli, ACBL tournament directors, filed a lawsuit against ACBL in November 2007 in US District court, Connecticut District, alleging that (1) the ACBL failed to pay overtime as required by Federal law and (2) ACBL retaliated against Mr. Marcus for his efforts to obtain overtime. Motions to dismiss and transfer the case to Tennessee were filed by ACBL but were objected to by the Plaintiffs. The court has denied ACBL’s motions and so discovery will now begin in the lawsuit.