Newsletter - October/November 2012
Our President, Alan Jeffery, writes
The
Club
The members of our committee have passed
the halfway mark in their promise to look after us for another year and in my
opinion have been very successful in doing so. They began with a huge agenda
and wisely started an assessment of our building, which is 128 years old. Minor
problems including brickwork and subsidence have been successfully dealt with
and financial provision for eventual roof repairs assessed. Electrical
installations have been assessed and repaired to meet current electrical safety
standards. After many experiments the heating problem has been solved and
although it is a case of being unable to please all of the people all of the
time the results have pleased the majority.
Bridgewise they have excelled themselves.
New sessions, recruitment classes, mentoring groups and the huge success of the
Pro Am events have brought new life into the club. The happy atmosphere we lost
nearly two years ago has returned. Well done, indeed. Negatives? Yes and one they cannot do much about. There
are too few players, the lifeblood of the club. We can do something about this
if every member of the club tried to play one more session per month. Can you?
Finally as a happy out of work club
President, I shall be keeping my fingers crossed that Chairman Ernie Rivett and
his over-worked secretary Fran Thornton, together with their excellent team,
are willing to continue taking care of us when the AGM is held next spring.
The
Book 25 Bridge Conventions For Acol Players £11.95 from Chess and Bridge
published
in 2006 but given a simple title that failed to advertise the wealth of
detailed information concerning almost every aspect of our favourite game. A
perfect read for all newcomers who have successfully passed basic Acol or basic
standard bridge lessons with our teachers as well as all players who seek to
improve the standard of their bridge.
Bridge
Tips
I have stopped bidding 2NT when opening a
hand of 20-22 points. I open 2NT with 20 points, 2 diamonds ( multi,forcing) and
my rebid of 2NT shows 21 points. With 22 points I open an Acol 2 club and my
rebid of 2NT shows 22 – 24 points. I have found this change helps considerably
with the bidding after a 2NT opener particularly when reaching the slam zone. I realise it means bringing in the multi 2
diamond but this is a favourite of mine, because I believe it is loaded in
favour of the user. Give it a thought during the days leading up to a Happy and Merry Christmas.
Forthcoming
Events
Christmas Party
The work involved by Gillian last year over
several sessions, regarding the catering, was too much to repeat this year, so
the committee has decided to try and hold it on Friday 14th December
starting at 16.00 until 20.00 with a break for a finger buffet about half way
through the session. A charge of
£5/person will be made. A Bucks Fizz or
soft drink will be available within the price.
A notice is up, asking for the names of those interested to establish
whether there is sufficient member interest.
It is appreciated that some members will not be able to attend due to
day time commitments, but this is a compromise to try and accommodate evening
and afternoon members.
The
hands will be dealt using the Duplimate but a random draw for partners will be
made. The results will not be used for
any of the ladders as this is a one off event.
Sunday
Bridge
A bridge session is being held at the club
every alternate Sunday from Sunday 11th November, the next one being on the
25th. A number of members have shown an interest. Anyone interested should
contact Jerry Attwood for confirmation of the dates.
Pro-Am and
Mentoring Sessions
For those involved 2013 dates for both these
events are now on the notice board.
For
December this will be on 6th December at 2pm. We will be providing
Buck’s Fizz and Fran’s mince pies. We are intending to charge £2 but to donate
all takings to a local charity.
For
the pro-ams there is an issue with the large numbers attending. May we suggest
that members park at the west end of Shelley Road, only a short walk away,
where parking is 50p for 4 hours.
We are looking for a few more mentors to
help with the mentoring classes held every third Thursday in the month. If
available and interested could you add your name to the list on the notice
board clearly marking your name as mentor.
Promotions
October 2012
10* Premier Regional Jack Woodard
Master
7* Regional Master Avril Light
County Master Gillian Mayhew
Club Master Hilde
Collins
Caroline
Kemp
New
members
Welcome to
Cathy Glendinning, David Ellis, Pamela Duffield, Richard Duffield,
Duncan MacFarlane, Janet Roe, Norma Percival, Mike Percik, Anthony Bedell, Elaine Ann
Chandler and Rosie White.
From
Your Committee’s Meeting
Financial
The club finances have managed to survive heavy
expenditure in bringing the building up to a satisfactory state of repair over
the last 18months. It is hoped that this
will prevent further work in the next few years.
The new heating arrangement is expected to save
the club a significant amount of money each year now that a new three year
contact has been agreed with EDF which involves a saving of 20% on the daily
charge and unit price against what we have been paying. This new contract pricing starts on 1st
January.
There are two outstanding pieces of work still to
complete and that is painting the outside window frames now delayed until
better weather early next year. At some
point the downstairs playing area will need redecoration.
Your committee has managed to find ways to save
money over the last year. We are
therefore pleased to say that despite the high building expenditure, that table
money and the annual membership fee will
remain the same for 2013.
Housekeeping
It would be appreciated if members at the end of a
session ensure that all crockery and glasses used are returned to the kitchen
and not left for others to clear up. In
addition could you return chairs under the table. If any of the chairs from upstairs are
brought downstairs for use, please return them upstairs at the end of a session, as there is
not enough room for them to be left downstairs.
Now that winter is here can we please keep the outside door closed at
all times otherwise the entrance hall will continue to feel cold.
Your cooperation with these requests will be
appreciated.
We also have six plain white cups and saucers
missing if anyone knows why, can they let a committee member know.
Behaviour at the
Table
There have been a number of incidents of poor
behaviour at the table over the last few weeks.
I will repeat what I have said at the last two AGMs, that this is not
acceptable especially when less experienced players are on the receiving
end. If we are to encourage these
players into the club then some consideration should be given to them while
they are still gaining experience. If
you have an issue the director should be called, which will allow the matter to
be resolved in a calm manner.
Unauthorised
notice removal
A simple system description notice has been
removed from the notice board by someone. It is going to be replaced and the
committee would appreciate it being left on the board.
External Results
At a newly introduced mid week County Swiss Pairs
event, held recently at Henfield, that Fran Thornton and Tilly Hennings were
joint second and Elizabeth Hornsey and Avril Strong won the Non-experts prize. Well done!
Membership
A reminder that 2013 membership fees, will be due
from 1st January. If members
have an email address can they please let Rosemary Churchill have it to
simplify contact and avoid using the postal system which is becoming expensive
now that the price of stamps has risen significantly. Any email addresses given to Rosemary will
not be given out to anyone unless agreed first by the owner.
Judith Musgrove judith@musgroves.us
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