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SBU Council Report October 2013 |
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SBU Council Report Oct 2013
Ann Wickens – Highland Delegate
The new Members Services Group has been set up headed by Russell Frame. This group will incorporate, Membership, web site, education and publicity. The aim of the group is to coordinate all services to members and give a better service. The Group has had its first meeting and has formulated a work plan for each service area.
The members new database Mempad has been launched and many members have now registered. Our Master Point secretary Janet Rixon is urging people to tick the box to become paperless. Electronic submission of master points is now ready to go ahead, but only for clubs which register their members through Mempad. Registration can be completed by the treasurer or another nominated member eg the secretary.
The new website is up and running, there is some polishing required but the speed of updating is much improved.
As Education Convener, I have set up a Dropbox facility which contains all the SBU teaching resources including the new Powerpoint presentations. Anyone considering teaching should contact me to obtain access. If you know of any unaffiliated clubs in our area, please contact me with details. Highland District are taking part in a pilot scheme to allow people attending classes in non SBU clubs to affiliate to the SBU which would allow them to take part in various competitions. Such members will be Highland Associates. Members attending classes in SBU clubs are also urged to join Highland Associates (free) so that they can be informed of any events.
Disciplinary procedures have been revised and are to be published on website. The Better Behaviour campaign has been started with notes issued to clubs and adverts on web site. The campaign is to be progressed perhaps using power-point.
It is intended that the Tournament Committee and the Master Point committee will merge under the chairmanship of Ian Hunter.
Preparations for the Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship are at an advanced stage. Some sponsorship has been obtained, but help is still required for sponsorship/money/gifts/printing. If anyone wishes to contribute or has a suitable contact for sponsorship, please let me know or contact Fiona Greenwood (fionagreenwood@dial.pipex.com ), who is coordinating the organisation of the event.
The first stage of the open trials have taken place and I am delighted to say that Donald MacKenzie and Allan Whiteford have qualified for the final stages which take place this weekend.
The 2012/2013 National League was won by the ladies team.
16 teams have entered this year’s NL.
Lastly can I encourage clubs to consider entering the Celtic Simultaneous Pairs. Proceeds from these make a considerable contribution towards our teams. |
| Last updated : 29th Oct 2013 14:38 GMT | | |
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Lottery Award |
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Strathspey Bridge Clubs Dealt a Winning Hand by Awards for All
In 2009, Awards for All (Scotland), announced that the two Scottish Bridge Union affiliated clubs in the Strath had been awarded a grant of £2,230 towards the costs of their project involving the purchase of a Dealing Machine and ancillary equipment.
Such a machine, now commonly used in larger clubs and competitions worldwide, enables computer generated hands to be dealt in seconds into the boards which are used by duplicate bridge players. As well as removing the need for manual shuffling, which is often performed less well than is desirable, a prepared set of boards brought to the meeting makes the event organiser's job much easier in setting up the evening's play.
But the advantages of the dealing machine are in fact much greater than this.
Up until now, players have been able to compare their contracts and results with other competitors when the evening's results are displayed on the club website after play. The dealing machine means that a record of every hand will be displayed alongside the results, so that those who are interested can review any or every hand played, and as well as comparing their results with those of other competitors, they can see the cards held in each hand and consider how their bidding or play might have been improved. This is an invaluable aid to improving one's game.
Both local clubs enter competitions ranging from those run by the Highland District of the SBU to worldwide simultaneous events where the same hands are played at hundreds of venues on the same day. Files for these events can now be received electronically and the hands dealt easily by machine, where hitherto they have had to be prepared by a non participant in a time consuming and laborious process.
Both Grantown club and Cairngorm club have, over the past 3 years, been involved in running classes to introduce newcomers to the game of bridge, which is widely recognised as one of the finest, if not the finest, of mind games. It is an excellent pastime for young and old, and has a particular value in an area like Strathspey where there is a high population of retired people. Keeping the mind active and providing social interaction are two of bridge's many benefits.
The dealing machine will greatly simplify the preparation of class material, and the two clubs hope to continue conducting classes and seminars for members, non-members, and newcomers to the game. One of the main criteria for receiving a grant from Awards for All is to benefit as many people as possible, and so the clubs, while hoping to encourage new members to join, also aim to encourage those who prefer more relaxed bridge.
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| Last updated : 4th Nov 2013 15:07 GMT | | |
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The Official History of the SBU |
The Official History of the Scottish Bridge Union
176 pages of fascinating information and photographs for just £10. The book will also be for sale at all major SBU events.
Or contact your District Secretary, or Liz McGowan
(liz.mcgowan@blueyonder.co.uk) to arrange collection. |
| Last updated : 4th Nov 2013 15:27 GMT | | | | | |
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