Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

May 26, 2021

The board meeting was called to order at 10:40 am.

Present: Faye Guidry, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Del McDaniel, Mary Seggerman, Kathy Snodgrass, Wendy Valentine and guest Phyllis Culp

The minutes of the April 7, 2021 board meeting were approved by voice vote.

The meeting was called to order at 9:35 a.m.

Welcome

Ian welcomed the board and the new members. Ian then thanked outgoing board members Tom Chambers and Woody McHarg. Both have agreed to be available to answer any questions to assist the new board. Ian also thanked Phyllis Culp for attending to discussed shared interests.

Election of Officers

Ian stated that we need a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. For the present, Ian will continue as President with the caveat that as F2F play resumes, The Bridge Studio might require a President who is full-time in San Miguel. Ian further suggests that Del continue in the role of Vice President, and he also nominated Wendy Valentine to continue as Secretary. Tom Chambers, outgoing Treasurer, has brought Keith Gunn up to date on all financial matters, and Ian suggests that Keith take on the Treasurer role going forward.

Ian noted that the Game Director position is important, and Woody did an excellent job of defining that role. Ian suggests that Mary Seggerman assume the role of Game Director.

The Club Manager will be especially important as The Bridge Studio resumes F2F play. Mary added that the ACBL regularly communicates with the Club Manager. Some clubs pay their managers, but this is not necessarily a board position. Phyllis indicated that the Club Manager should be a person who can take complaints from the players and disseminate information from the ACBL. Keith added that the Club Manager will also oversee the housekeeper. Provisionally, Faye agreed to be the Club Manager and may want to contact former Club Manager Ellen Snyder. Ian suggested that in the interim, he will resend the Club Manager’s handbook, which defines the tasks.  Mary asked whether Isabel, our former housekeeper, might wish to continue, and the board agreed that Faye can look into Isabel’s availability.

Committees and Committee Assignments

Ian noted that we haven’t had a Membership Committee or Communications Committee for quite some time. Ian said that a Membership Committee is a high priority as F2F play resumes, and our ACBL District 16 would like all clubs to establish this committee. Ian stated we need to reach out to new members. We have about 85 current members, but 100 members were required originally to form a unit.

Del said that he has reviewed all the San Miguel bridge websites, and they’re very outdated. Del asked whether it’s possible to spend some money, in concert with the Communications Committee, to update existing websites and consolidate them as needed. Ian said that now that we have a unit-sponsored club, where the unit is an umbrella organization, the Bridgewebs website should include game times for The Bordello as well as The Bridge Studio.

Mary said there are two ways to post game results: (1) the ACBL website and (2) the Bridgewebs SMA Bridge website. She noted that Bridgewebs is a rigid site and, for this reason, the Puerta Vallarta bridge club prefers the ACBL service, which is easy to use. Faye suggested that Keith and Kathy might come up with a suggestion for updating the website(s) and hire a person to continually update the websites. Phyllis agreed to help. Del suggested this is urgent, and Wendy suggested that Al Kacourek had recommended the professional he uses to update the Feed-the-Hungry website.

Kathy suggested more than a year ago, The Bridge Studio compiled a Member Directory. Faye said that Linda Wynman was involved in this effort. Keith reported he had a list of names and contact info that is updated, and these lists might be helpful in creating a new directory. Keith will give Kathy access to Mailchimp so she can look at the names. Kathy offered to write a letter to Atencion, reach out to the Civil List, contact Lou Christine at the VIP Club, etc. Wendy mentioned that bridge lessons create a significant opportunity to build membership. Mary led the educational programs pre-pandemic and has offered to help Kathy re lessons. (See the Survey discussion below re bridge lessons.)

Keith suggested that Joan Arnold may have prior drafts of policies, including disciplinary actions. Mary said she felt the board should address future disciplinary issues, as it has in the past. Faye asked if Ian would check on ACBL guidance with regard to discipline. Ian said the ACBL recently updated its guidance with regard to disciplinary issues, and he will look into this issue and share pertinent information with the board.

Sectional Tournament(s)

Ian said the Bridge Studio plans to hold a Sectional early in 2022, and we need lead time to form a committee and complete the planning required to promote the tournament and ensure it is well managed and implemented. We can now request a date and sanction status from the ACBL. Del will head up a committee to plan the Sectional. Wendy volunteered to talk with Del about prior promotional efforts.

Survey

The survey will undergo one more iteration of updates before it is sent to all San Miguel bridge players early in the summer in order to inform the phase-in of F2F play and to learn more about the preferences of players.

Phyllis suggests that bringing together Virtual Games and F2F games would be advantageous, as Virtual Games will continue to be an important component of duplicate bridge post-pandemic. Mary suggested that cheating on BBO is rampant, and it’s evident even in the SMA Virtual Games. Mary prefers to play F2F, because she thinks online cheating is a problem that is difficult to eliminate. Phyllis has heard this from a limited few at The Bordello. Incidences of possible cheating may be reported to BBO and to the ACBL.

Survey Monkey is a good tool for sending out the survey. Faye suggested that we have a deadline for returning the survey.

Return to F2F Play

The Bordello has scheduled its first face-to-face game outdoors on Friday, June 4^th. Phyllis noted there’s also an informal group of fully vaccinated, unmasked players that meet at the Bordello on Wednesday mornings for an unsanctioned game. Faye noted that clubs in Louisiana have begun F2F play. Kathy reminded the board that gatherings are subject to local and state regulations.

Keith said it would make sense to start with The Bordello’s Friday game and move forward from there. Ian said we currently pay The Arcada to store our supplies and furniture, but we don’t have a formal lease. We haven’t yet asked The Arcada about a gradual phase-in, but Ian agreed to approach the manager of The Arcada regarding a possible phase-in of in-person play and at least explore our options.

A second option would to be to test sharing a common space with the Bordello as F2F play begins. Mary stated we generally have between 3-7 tables at The Bridge Studio during the summer months, but she suggested that we collect the names of players in SMA in the summer and ask them how they would like to proceed.

It was agreed that Mary would approach Barbe Poole at Casa de La Noche, and Ian will approach the manager of The Arcada to explore our options. Also, the space we used to occupy on Stirling Dickinson is vacant.

Phyllis suggested that Faye, as Club Manager, should check with the city about SMA Covid regulations. Ian said that the manager of The Arcada would also be knowledgeable about city restrictions relating to Covid. Also, the space we used to occupy on Stirling Dickinson is vacant.

Ian stated that when we became a unit-sponsored club, the ACBL set up rules about when and how we can play. Private clubs, like The Bordello, have more autonomy than The Bridge Studio, which is a unit-sanctioned club. Mary said the ACBL is still operating based on guidelines issued in October 2020. She has written to the ACBL regarding the status of the guidelines but has not yet received a response.

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.

The next meeting of the board is scheduled for Monday, June 14, 2021 (SMA time).

Respectfully submitted,

Wendy Valentine

Secretary

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

April 22, 2020

The board meeting was called to order at 10:40 am.

Present: Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg, Del McDaniel, Wendy Valentine and guest Phyllis Culp

The minutes of the March 9, 2020 board meeting were approved by voice vote.

The following officers were appointed by the new board, which was voted on by the Bridge Studio of San Miguel (BSSMA) earlier this month:

Ian Irving:                              President

Del McDaniel:                      Vice President

Keith Gunn:                          Club Manager

Tom Chambers:                 Treasurer

Wendy Valentine:            Secretary

Woody McHarg:                Club Game Director

Tom asked whether Phyllis would like to participate in future board meetings, and she said she would like to join us when the board is considering issues of interest to the Bordello charity game. The board agreed by voice vote.

The board discussed the importance of re-establishing a communications committee to periodically communicate with the members via newsletters and other outreach. This is not a board position, and Ian indicated he would explore the committee first with Linda Whynman, as she and her committee had done an outstanding job before they resigned.  Ian will report back at the next board meeting.

Member Feedback and Survey:  Wendy reviewed comments from two members received during the board voting process. The board indicated that a survey of all BSSMA members, along with players at the Bordello, would have the benefit of being both balanced and informative. For example, a survey could ask such questions as: best times for games; equal opportunities to participate; location of games; suggestions for improving bridge in San Miguel, etc.  The board will check to see whether there have been prior member surveys, and Phyllis suggested that the ACBL might have some ideas regarding member surveys.

Ian suggested that Survey Monkey is an effective online tool and volunteered to lead the technical part of a survey. Wendy volunteered to collect survey questions from board members and from Phyllis, along with questions the board might identify from prior surveys and/or ACBL member surveys.

Virtual Games

Phyllis reported that the first SMA Virtual Club Game on April 21^st had 44 players for a total of 11 tables. Fourteen people were unable to join the game on the first day, and Phyllis sent further instructions to the 14 to help them join the Virtual Game on April 23rd.  Phyllis said the ACBL provides some support in ironing out problems. A major issue was that many players did not send their exact BBO screen names to Phyllis in advance or didn’t have specific screen names for themselves or their partners. Phyllis noted that the playing part of the BBO system is excellent, but the administrative portion isn’t always as robust at this time. 

Revenue from the Virtual Club Games is shared by BBO, the ACBL and the Clubs that sponsor the games. The revenue from the first game was:

• 44 players x 3    =                               $ 132.00 USD (100% of revenue)
• BBO’s share         =                               $   26.40  (20% of revenue from players; 20% of total revenue)
• ACBL’s share      =                               $11.00  ($1/table x 11 tables; 8% of total revenue)
• BSSMA and BB to share  =            $94.60

- Bridge Studio                                    $37.84  (40%; will be 60% when TBS directs) 29% of total revenue

               - Bordello Bridge                            $56.76  (60%; will be 40% when TBS directs) 43% of total revenue

Four people who play in the BSSMA and/or the Bordello wanted to invite partners from other places where they also play, and Phyllis denied this request for the time being. Phyllis said that there is some sense that accepting others might mean that more advanced players would compete. In the future, Phyllis might re-evaluate this policy, but now she’s focusing on getting the San Miguel Bridge game up and running and creating a social space for San Miguel players.

We could also add more games in the future, but Woody and others suggested that we need to get the game established first.

Unit Sponsored Club

Tom noted that Del is planning to develop, with input from the Board, a presentation to send out to the membership, including information about unit-sponsored clubs and the pros/cons of such a merger in San Miguel. The board agreed to contribute ideas to Del, and he would draft a presentation or report that could be vetted and edited by the board, then send to the membership for its consideration and ultimately for a vote. Del suggested that Phyllis be involved. Phyllis responded that she would like to continue to be cooperative but prefers that Bordello Bridge remain an independent club.

Del agreed to put together a draft and request comments/edits from the board.

Phyllis reported that some players have approached her about the creation of a Bridge Center in the event space at the Bordello is available. Tom asked whether we would have to pay rent. The BSSMA is currently paying $15,500 pesos/month (at a 50% discount during the pandemic), at the Hotel Arcada. The lease is in effect through November 2020. Tom recalled that Casa de la Noche previously wanted $20,000 pesos/month with a 2021 to $21,000 pesos/month to reflect the increase in Casa de la Noche’s lease on the structure. Woody mentioned that there were also parking issues associated with the Bordello location. Tom says he’d like to see the two clubs getting along, and that people should play in both places. Many people agree.

The board agreed not to take this issue up at present since our lease at the Arcada does not need to be renewed until November 2020.

District 16 Go Fund Me

Sherry McHarg, Unit 254 president, reported that the president of District 16, Nancy Strohmer, was at the SMA March Regional and has been helpful in advising Unit 254 re financial assistance during the pandemic. The district is offering clubs matching funds through Go-Fund-Me accounts, but operating as a non-profit in

Mexico creates problems for the receipt of these funds, because PayPal (a conduit for Go-Fund-Me) does not include Mexico in this initiative.

The BSSMA currently does not have non-profit status in Mexico, because the reporting and tax requirements are onerous. The Mexico City club also does not have non-profit status (requiring an identifier called an EIN), but Ajijic does maintain non-profit status in Mexico.

The District 16 president has enlisted the help of an attorney in Texas who has agreed to advise Unit 254  regarding banking arrangements in Mexico and facilitating a process where the BSSMA would be eligible to participate in the ACBL’s Go-Fund-Me initiative. In addition, Wendy agreed to check on whether the BSSMA can legally pass funds through the San Miguel Community Foundation to make the Go-Fund-Me project viable for San Miguel.

Appointment of a Standing By-Laws Committee

Woody clarified that we need new by-laws only if we consolidate into a unit-sponsored club. First we need a vote on the consolidation. Ian added that we still need to look at the by-laws, but it isn’t an urgent matter, so we can defer this to a future meeting.

Budget

Tom offered two budget scenarios, each of which includes assumptions aimed at controlling costs and generating revenue that will ensure the Bridge Studio’s financial viability. The assumptions in both scenarios were that game fees would be increased to $120 p/game and $1000 p/book, rent would increase 5%, table count would be down 5%, and annual membership fee would increase to $500p.  The first scenario assumes that the club will open in July.  Based on these assumptions, we would have a yearly deficit of $16,000 p.  The Second scenario assumes that the BSSMA was open in March/April/May. Under this assumption, we would have had a $100,000 p surplus.

Del said that some experts think the virus won’t peak until May, so he believes we shouldn’t assume we’re going to open in July. September might make more sense, according to Del, so perhaps we should use the latter assumption.

Woody asked about the potential impact on the budget of funds from BBO’s “Support Your Clubs.” These are different from ACBL Virtual Games. The cost of these special games is $6. It might be a good idea to publicize these with our members, as they could generate a significant revenue stream. At present, these games are scheduled 3x/day. Phyllis agreed to forward the SYC player participation report she receives revenue to the board, and Wendy will email Susan Cumming re same.

Next Steps

The board agreed to schedule a meeting in one month. Wed., May 20 at 9:30 am Central time was suggested.

Respectfully sumitted,

Wendy Valentine

BSSMA Secretary

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Director Meeting February 24, 2021

The meeting was called to order at 9:55 a.m.
Present: Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg, Del McDaniel and Wendy Valentine The January 2021 minutes were approved.

Finances

The Bridge Studio had a surplus of $12,441p in January. Our virtual table fees from the Bordello Virtual Games were $15,010p. Other income includes $7,649 from ACBL for return of membership fees; $4,387 SYC fees, and a small amount of interest earnings from the Bridge Studio’s account at O’Rourke.

Expense items for the month include a $10,000p to The Arcada for January and February storage at the hotel and a small loss from our Intercam account due to appreciation of the peso.

The Unit and Bridge Studio funds will be consolidated on next month’s statement when the final balance number is available from the Unit account at CiBanco.

2021 Annual Meeting

The Bridge Studio needs a three-member nominating committee as soon as possible in order to add the appropriate number of board members to a slate prior to the Annual Meeting. Woody indicated that he would like to retire after four years, and Tom would also like to pass the baton as treasurer but would be happy to help the future treasurer. Consequently, there will be three board positions open. Four of the 7-member board are halfway through their terms. We need a list of potential nominating committee members who can serve specific functions, including heading up the 2022 sectional and assuming the treasurer functions. Keith indicated he could fill the treasurer role if needed and could be a co-signer on the Bridge Studio accounts in the future. Lynn Chambers will be the contact for the nominating committee.

The By-Laws state that we should hold an Annual Meeting in the first quarter, but given the pandemic, we may need to push the date back a month in order to prepare for a Zoom meeting. The board agreed to Wednesday, April 28th at 1:00 pm central time for the Annual Meeting. A notice will be sent to members re the time and date of the Annual Meeting, the names of the nominating committee, and a request that members contact the nominating committee chair if they are interesting in being on the slate. The members will be asked to confirm their email addresses in order to notify them of the Zoom meeting.

The board must also appoint a head teller and two additional tellers (a total of three) to conduct an election process. The members will be asked to vote on the slate by responding to an email prior to the meeting. We can ask for nominations from the floor in advance so we know how large the slate of candidates is. We would have to send out the email with the slate at least a week in advance, with a request for nominations from the floor. Wendy will draft the meeting notice to members.

A Q&A will be included with questions submitted in advance, then there will be questions from the floor.

In the future, the board will develop a list of benefits for membership in the Bridge Studio. Ian suggested that we should send a simple email to members inviting them to join.

Star Award

The recipient of the ACBL District 16 Star Award is Phyllis Culp for her contribution to establishing and running the three Virtual SMA Games each week during the pandemic.

Websites

Keith can add new information under Announcements on the Unit Website, and he can also add the same information to the Bridgewebs website.

Survey

Wendy reported that, with input from Phyllis Culp at the Bordello and the Bridge Studio board, she is developing a draft list of questions that could be included in a survey to San Miguel bridge players prior to the re-establishment of in-person games.

The next board meeting will be Monday, March 22nd at 9:30 am central time.

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

January 13, 2021

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present:  Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg, Del McDaniel and Wendy Valentine

The November 2020 Minutes were approved.

Finances

Tom is waiting for the ACBL numbers from Phyllis for the BBO Virtual Games. Based on early numbers, December income is $14,680 pesos from table fees vs a $25,000p deficit last year. Table count was 168 vs 130 last December, so table count is up. Year to date surplus is $40,000p vs a $75,000p deficit through December of last year.

Tom still hasn’t gotten confirmation of our Intercam balance as of the end of December. These funds are in a non-interest bearing account. Tom will continue to communicate with Intercam and then will prepare the statements.

Tom asked when he should include the Unit funds in the financial statements for the new Unit Sponsored Club. The board agreed the funds should now be combined. Woody will use petty cash from the Unit to pay expenses. Sherry joined the meeting to report on the Unit funds. The funds are in CI Banco in an investment account. There are currently funds in four places, and Tom will combine all funds when he returns to San Miguel.

The board further agreed to continue to pay to store our furniture and supplies at The Arcada.

Status of Sectional

The ACBL has decided that there will be no in-person Sectional or Regional Tournaments through April 30, 2021. Therefore, the Bridge Studio will not hold a Sectional until 2022.

Invitation to Participate in Unit 173 Online Tournament

This virtual tournament is hosted by Unit 172 in Mexico City. The cost is $120 USD per person for the week, times a minimum of 20 teams. The virtual tournament is from February 7-14. The board agreed to send the Unit 173 notice to its members, with a request that interested parties contact the unit president. The board will notify the Unit 173 president of our plans and wish them the best of luck. Wendy will send the notice to membership.

The Star Award

The board selected an individual to receive the ACBL Star Award. The recipient will be announced in February 2021.

Website Maintenance

Wendy spoke about the importance of updating our Bridge Studio and Unit websites, especially as we approach the time when we can again play bridge in person. Keith said that the Unit website is very flexible, and he can write language to update the site. Already Keith has posted the announcement by the ACBL about playing in the Nationals. The club website is primarily to post game results and routine notices, as this isn’t possible on the Unit website. For this reason, Keith suggests that we need to maintain both websites. Opportunities to post to the club website are limited, but Keith said he would talk with Bridgewebs about its flexibility.

Woody asked how many players use the Unit website, and Keith said he does have usage numbers. Ian reported that he receives approximately 6 notices from the ACBL per month, and these can be posted on the Unit site. Keith said he would post them but also asked that we announce the link to the Unit site on the club website. Keith will also talk with Phyllis about using the Unit site to announce Bordello notices and news.

Wendy suggested that, since the Bridge Studio does not have a communications committee, we use some funds to pay a webmaster to add notices and news items to the Bridge Studio site. Al Kacourek has, in the past, recommended a graphics person in San Miguel who works with Feed the Hungry and might be helpful to us.

Before acting on this, the Board agreed to wait for Keith to report back on discussions relating to the flexibility of the Bridgewebs site we are currently using. The ACBL just recently offered to post club news on their Facebook website on a monthly basis. Their new page is only a month old, so the board will look at the site and discuss possible submissions to the site in the future.

Survey of SMA Bridge Players

Wendy volunteered to contact Phyllis to discuss a potential survey, including questions to be asked and the timing of the survey.

Annual Meeting

Tom said we would normally have an annual meeting (i.e., 3^rd Wed. in March), and some board members’ terms are ending. Ian asked whether we could stay in place until the winter of 2022. We need to make a decision and announcement to the members in the near future. Efforts to hold the annual meeting via Zoom will also be explored.

The next meeting will be February 17, 2021.

The meeting adjourned at 11:55 am.

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

November 18, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present:  Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg, and Del McDaniel (Wendy Valentine was unable to participate)

Follow-up from October Board Meeting

Ian was to approach a prospective board member as discussed last meeting. The member was not available to serve.

New Business

• Ian requested a summary of our financial holdings reflected in our monthly statements. Tom has sent out the information to all board members.
• Sherry asked to briefly join our meeting to review financial arrangements she made as Unit president. Investment funds on deposit will mature in February 2021. The board received the information, with thanks, and Sherry left the meeting.
• Keith outlined his activities in creating a US bank account with the BCSMA attached as the “fictitious” name. Payments from BBO and ACBL are received here at minimal expense (no wire fees). Tom has access to review transactions remotely in this account.
• Woody has been paying the club’s bills in SMA in the absence of our treasurer. He is currently owed (at the time of the meeting) approximately $60,000 pesos. Payment will be made when Tom returns to SMA in January. A full report will be made available to the board on Tom’s return to SMA.
• Cancellation of the 2021 Sectional was discussed. The board accepted Woody’s suggestion to review this matter in early 2021 when we will have more information, including whether the ACBL would permit face-to-face tournament play.
• Mary Katherine’s email was discussed and her suggestion was accepted. The board will recognize an exceptional contribution to our community with one of the two awards at the district level. The other will not be presented this year. The name of the award winner will be submitted to District 16 prior to the end of the year, and the winner will be notified. The details will be reflected in the next set of board minutes in January 2021.
• Ian announced that there is some uncertainty as to when he will return to SMA. He suggested it may be appropriate to have another board member serve as President in the event his return is delayed. Del suggested that no immediate action was required.

Action Items

Ian will take the necessary steps to give effect to the board’s decision on awarding a district level recognition.

Next Meeting

Our next board meeting will be held at 9:30am (SMA time) on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.

Respectfully submitted,

Ian Irving, President

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

October 7, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present:          Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Del McDaniel, Woody McHarg, and Wendy Valentine

Minutes of the August 2020 meeting were approved by voice vote.

By Laws

The members’ approval of the Unit Sponsored Club necessitates revision of the By Laws to reflect the new club status. Unit 254 has By Laws, as does the Bridge Studio. They are similar, but they need to be combined into a new set of By Laws that reflect the consolidation. Once the new By Laws are completed, a membership vote is required at the next Annual Meeting.

Ian suggested that utilizing the current Unit 254 By Laws makes the most sense as they are the most complete.

Other Consolidation Issues

The board discussed additional issues related to the consolidation of the Bridge Studio and Unit 254:

• Annual Membership:  Will the Bridge Studio continue to have an annual membership fee, or can we maintain adequate funds through game fees, still allowing for a discount by purchasing a book of player coupons? Keith noted that fees vary from place to place because the costs vary. And, San Miguel is not the most expensive place to play bridge. Tom suggested that we wait until we know what our future rent and other associated costs will be before we make decisions relating to annual membership and game fees. The board agreed.

• Website(s):  Ian suggested that there are advantages to maintaining both websites. ACBL looks to the Unit 254 website, and players most often seek information from the Bridge Studio website (Bridgewebs platform). However, in the interest of simplifying communication, Keith suggested that we can find ways to better integrate the two websites. The Unit website currently costs about $130/yr to maintain, and the Bridgewebs site costs about $30/yr. The Bridge Studio/Bridgewebs website is geared to club matters, and is not very flexible, which may make it difficult to merge the two sites.

Lease Agreement with the Hotel Arcada

Ian contacted the new manager of the Arcada to discuss the future of the Bridge Studio’s location at the hotel. Because the earliest in-person play has been postponed until at least March 1, 2021, the board has agreed not to continue to pay rent to the Arcada.

However, Ian’s discussion with the new manager included both the possibility of storing Bridge Studio furniture and supplies at the Arcada with the idea that we might resume in-person play at the hotel when it’s safe to do so. Ian negotiated a monthly storage rate of $5,000p to continue to hold our space and store our furniture/supplies. Tom indicated that at a minimum, based on storage rates in SanMiguel, we would have to pay $2,500-3,000p/month, plus relocation costs if we don’t accept the Arcada’s offer. Woody agreed to pay the manager at the Arcada for November for storage and to hold the space. The board agreed.

Tom asked whether Isabel still needs to clean or whether the hotel would clean the space? The board agreed we will end our relationship with Isabel, whom we have continued to pay since in-person bridge ended in mid-March. Tom will contact the attorney we used previously to determine the amount of severance for Isabel. The start date is August 1, 2020 for determining the severance payment.

(Note: Isabel was paid severance based on the attorney’s recommendation, and the board thanked Isabel and indicated we would like to rehire her when bridge is again in-person. Isabel thanked us.)

Sectional

A Sectional sponsored by Unit 254 has been scheduled for March 25-28, 2021. There is still a possibility that it will be cancelled if there is no in-person bridge in San Miguel. Additionally, the ACBLwill possibly cancel ALL tournaments in March because of the virus. If it is cancelled, there will unlikely be a Sectional until 2022.

The board feels it is too early to tell. In-person play has been cancelled through February 28, 2021, but is likely to be extended to the summer. The board agreed that a Unit 254 Sectional is unlikely in the winter of 2021.

Addition of a New Board Member

Phyllis was asked to suggest several potential candidates who play bridge at The Bordello for an open slot on the new board, and she offered her ideas for qualified candidates. At the last board meeting we discussed appointing a person with good social skills who could encourage new players. It would be a preference to appoint someone who spends a considerable amount of time in San Miguel. Ian agreed to reach out to potential candidates.

Unit Awards

There are two awards for people who are supportive of bridge in San Miguel. The two awards encompass 3 people. The board will discuss the awards further at the November meeting.

ACBL Offers an Online Teaching Course

This course for bridge teachers is available as a way to attract new members. Ian will share the various ACBL opportunities with the board to consider.

Finance report

Tom reported that our financials remain strong due to the ACBL/BBO Virtual Club Games. Last month’s table count was down a bit. With so little overhead, we continue to maintain a positive balance. We had about $16,000p in table fees and $4,010p in funds for “Support your Clubs.”

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be 9:30 am (San Miguel time) on Wed., November 18.

The board adjourned at 11:55 am.

Respectfully submitted,

Wendy Valentine

Secretary

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

August 26, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present:          Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg, and Wendy Valentine

Minutes of the July 2020 meeting were approved by voice vote.

New Unit Board

As a newly formed Unit Sponsored Club, we need a 7^th board member. Before considering specific individuals, we may want to match jobs with potential board members.

Ian reported that boosting membership is one area that will be important in the future.  Because there is a steady stream of people who come to San Miguel each year, we might need someone who can reach out to those people who are interested in learning and playing bridge. Ian suggests that Membership/Outreach is an important job to be filled. In addition, it is important to invite players at both the Bridge Studio and The Bordello to join Unite 254, as part of efforts to boost membership.  Ian noted that there is a meeting in September where the ACBL District 16 Board has formed a special committee to consider ways to boost membership. Ian will attend the meeting.

Ian suggested that we consult with Phyllis at The Bordello regarding a possible candidate to serve as the 7^th board member. It would also make sense to have a year-round SMA resident, who is outgoing. Tom offered to contact Phyllis.

Ian reported that there are two board members that must chair Membership and Tournament Committees. Keith is overseeing Membership, and Woody is the Tournament Coordinator.

By Laws

Ian said that we will need a By Laws committee to deal with the consolidation. We should add this issue to the September board meeting agenda, and Ian will provide a side-by-side comparison at that time.

Vision for the New Website

Keith reported that there are currently two websites – the Unit 254 website and the Bridge Studio Bridgewebs site. Ian said the Bridgewebs site works well for a club but not as well for the unit. The Bridgewebs site has a vast amount of custom coding according to Keith. There’s no template that allows customizing the site, so it’s irreplaceable. Keith said he might be able to find other clubs that don’t use Bridgewebs and who use less restricted formats. There are limits to Bridgewebs because of restrictions.

We could likely create a link between the Bridgewebs site and the unit site. However, one reason we wanted to consolidate the Bridge Studio and Unit 254 was to avoid duplication, e.g., two boards, two websites, etc. However, in this case, it might not be possible to combine the two. It would be good to integrate them better so it’s easy to go back and forth. Keith will explore website options.

Ian recalled that we recently paid a fee for the unit website, so there is a cost associated with maintaining a second website. Keith is on the Bridgewebs forum, so he can ask about combining the two. Ian suggested we maintain both until more information is available.

Wendy asked about possibility of updating the home page of the Bridge Studio website. Keith said it’s more difficult to be flexible with the Bridgewebs site, whereas the Unit site is easier to evaluate. Keith can update the front page, and Wendy will coordinate efforts to update the news items.

Wendy and Keith will confer on the details.

Arcada Hotel Update

Ian has a call scheduled with Pedro, the new manager of the Arcada regarding the future status of the hotel. Since we have no idea how long it will be before in-person games, it doesn’t seem reasonable to continue to pay the Arcada after the lease ends.

Because of the pandemic, there may be other opportunities in Centro in the future. Woody will pay Isabel for the next two months. We would have to look into severance for her if the Bridge Studio no longer maintains space at the Arcada. The amount owed to Isabel would be relatively small since we already paid her severance recently. Tom suggested we consult the same attorney we used previously, since he has all the records and the board agreed.

Ian will be exploring options on his call with Pedro. We are obligated through the end of October but going forward to November – December, we will not seek continued rental space. Ian will ask about storage options at the hotel and the right of first refusal for space in the future.

If the Bridge Studio no longer maintains space at the Arcade, we will need to move our items out of the hotel unless storage options are available in the existing site. Keith and Barry Berk both have garage space that might accommodate the Bridge Studio furniture and office equipment/bridge supplies. Keith will have his property manager take a photo of his SMA garage space.

Discussion of a Unit Sponsored Sectional in 2021

Ian asked whether we should reserve a 2021 Sectional date with the ACBL in the event that there is in-person play next year? Woody will contact the ACBL to find out what the possibilities are for dates. He will also need to ask about plans for the March Regional.

Virtual Games

Ian asked whether we’re looking for someone to run an additional virtual game? If we wanted more games, we would need to direct, and currently there’s no one who could direct. Last Friday, Tom and Lynn played in the 499ers game. There were only about 5 tables. There doesn’t seem to be a need to add games.

Financial Report

Tom reported that we have a fairly strong cash position, largely due to the $60,000p we have received since mid-April from the SMA Virtual Games. And since we aren’t going to be paying rent and Isabel, we have few expenses. We will still need to maintain funds for a future lease agreement(s), including moving expenses.

Next Board Meeting

The next board meeting will be 9:30 am (San Miguel time) on Wed., Oct. 7.

The board adjourned at noon.

Respectfully submitted,

Wendy Valentine

Secretary

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting July 15, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m.

Present: Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Del McDaniel, Woody McHarg, and Wendy Valentine (Ex Officio: Phyllis Culp, Bordello Bridge)

Minutes of the June 27, 2020 meeting were approved by voice vote with the following correction to the Financial Report:

Tom pointed out that the Minutes from the June 24th board meeting incorrectly stated that The Bridge Studio will be receiving $35,000p from the Regional Tournament in San Miguel in March 2020. This payment will be received by Unit 254, not The Bridge Studio. The Unit will be paying $16,825p to the club for equipment rental and lost revenue during the club’s closing.

Unit-Sponsored Club

Ian reported that we sent out the FAQ explaining the proposal to consolidate The Bridge Studio and Unit 254. The gist of member comments were whether this move would be negative for The Bordello. Ian responded and copied Phyllis so she could also comment as needed. Ian stated we have a lot of support, and we can now send an email to all members with a yes/no vote. Ian will draft the email, and Wendy will email the members of The Bridge Studio. A second email will go to the Unit members.

Pooling of Clubs for Virtual Games

Ian reiterated that the majority of members of The Bridge Studio play in a variety of BBO/ACBL Virtual Games. Ian acknowledged that Mary Seggerman would like to pool the Puerta Vallarta games with San Miguel’s games. Phyllis is concerned that when she looked at the opportunities available to players, San Miguel is well supported by its members. If we were to pool with all the Mexico clubs, our games may not be special to them, and they might play in other Virtual Games instead of the San Miguel games.

Pooling could give players more choices, but this might not help SMA Bridge. Phyllis is interested in the bridge community, not in the revenues. Woody expressed that the most important aspect is to support SMA Bridge. We have been invited to join Palm Springs, but Woody has not pursued this despite a 50/50% split in revenue.

Phyllis discussed the way substitutes work and the benefits of having a person as a substitute, rather than a robot sub.

Ian confirmed that it is the sense of the Board that we should not pool other clubs in Mexico with the San Miguel club’s Virtual Games. Woody asked whether we could pool only with Puerta Vallarta, since their game is so small? The sense of the board is to continue the SMA Virtual Games without pooling with others.

Woody asked that we send an email to members to promote the Silver Linings BBO offer for a second week (July 27 – August 2). Ian will include this in the email to members when they vote on the Unit-Sponsored Club.

Financial Report

Tom stated that the Bridge Studio’s June 20, 2020 Income Statement shows a surplus of $32,207p in June. Our virtual table fees from the May Bordello games totaled $10,522p. We also received $10,125p from our Unit for reimbursement of expenses and lost income during the Regional, plus an additional $6,700p from Unit 173 for rental of equipment. We also had a foreign exchange gain of almost $5,000p.

The Other Expense of $333p was a wire fee to receive the virtual game proceeds. June rent and maid service payments were made in May and reflected on last month’s statement.

Ian mentioned that $500 usd came from District 16 to the Unit, and the Unit gave this to The Bridge Studio. The Unit matched the $500 usd gift, totaling $1,000 usd. Bordello Bridge did not receive funding because it doesn’t have any fixed overhead expenses during the closure.

Hotel Arcada

Woody reported that the owners have rented the Hotel Arcada to a group that also manages the Petra Hotel and the Hotel Santa Ana. Woody talked with the manager of the group, Pedro. Pedro was receptive and indicted The Bridge Studio can continue its lease under the new agreement through December and perhaps longer. However, this is not in writing.

Del stated that the reduced rent is about $372/month through the end of October. Tom said we were going to let them keep our deposit to cover our last two month’s rent.

The question is whether we want to extend the lease through the end of December? SMA is opening slowly, but cases of the virus are increasing. Del asked whether we can option the space and how much this might cost? Woody suggested that Ian talk with Pedro to seek a definitive plan as to what happens after the lease ends on October 31. Ian agreed.

Tom indicated that while Isabel will be paid through the end of the lease, we cannot likely pay Isabel after the lease ends. We might have to pay a severance, but it likely would not be much given that we paid her severance previously.

Survey of Bridge Members

Tom indicated that we could ask how members feel about the Hotel Arcada as a Bridge Studio venue. We should include a query about location. Keith said we should be concrete; not pie in the sky. The consensus of the Board is that we can wait until at least October to reconsider the timing and content of the survey.

New Business

The board recognized that long-time bridge player Dick Shaffer passed away in San Miguel recently.

Ian asked whether we should update the website. Keith will look into the site and let us know whether he can make the updates.

The next board meeting is scheduled for August 26. The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,

Wendy Valentine Secretary

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

June 24, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 9:40 am.

Present:          Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Del McDaniel, Woody McHarg and Wendy Valentine

Minutes of the May 27, 2020 meeting were approved by voice vote.

Unit Sponsored Club

Ian will draft a cover letter to accompany the FAQ to be emailed to the members, explaining the proposed consolidation and inviting them to do their own research and ask questions about the advantages and/or disadvantages of combining The Bridge Studio and ACBL Unit 254. We will then ask members to vote on the proposal.

If the proposal passes, the board will need to merge By Laws, adhere to the ACBL’s guidelines for re-opening The Bridge Studio, and establish a new board.

Finances

Tom noted that Guillermo, who oversaw finances associated with the March 2019 Regional Tournament in San Miguel, has completed the accounting, and The Bridge Studio will receive $35,000p based on the 40% of net the Mexico City Unit 173 earned from the Regional. These funds are to offset the closing of The Bridge Studio during the week-long tournament, rental of equipment, etc.

Woody will be meeting with the Arcada owners and Isabel, the maid, to pay two months’ recent and house keeping services. This will be the final payment during this lease period since the initial deposit covered the final month’s rent. Ian will attend the meeting. We will need to discuss payment of Isabel after the Arcada lease ends. Isabel has a key to the hotel and is working at a reduced level.

Ian asked whether all Board policies are on The Bridge Studio computer. Ian will check to be sure we have all important documents.

            1.  Virtual Clubs: Before The Bridge Studio is paid for its share of funds from the SMA Virtual Games on BBO, the ACBL is paid, then Phyllis is paid. The ACBL gets $1/table, and Phyllis splits the net 60%/40%, with The Bridge Studio receiving 40%. Phyllis provides 20% of her 60% to The Bordello to offset the Bordello’s overhead costs. There could be an expansion of the Virtual Games but for now, Phyllis feels additional games might dilute the Tuesday/Thursday Virtual Games. At present, The Bordello is not holding in-person games.

            2.  Lake Chapala has approached Phyllis twice to enable an interchange of players at the Lake Chapala, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico City and San Miguel games. Note that Lake Chapala charges $4/game, so this discrepancy would have to be resolved. Phyllis has said that if The Bridge Studio were to host games, the 60%/40% percentage would flip. Ian will speak to the Lake Chapala representative to introduce himself.

            3.  Charitable Contribution:  In FY 2019, The Bridge Studio agreed to disburse $36,000p in charitable contributions in 2020. This amount was determined by The Bridge Studio based on the proceeds it receives from regularly scheduled games held to support certain charities. At The Bridge Studio Annual Meeting, which was cancelled due to the pandemic, the members were going to select two charities. Since this didn’t occur, we can’t access the funds until Treasurer Tom Chambers returns to San Miguel. As soon as we’re physically able to disburse the funds, The Bridge Studio board will do so.

            4.  Virtual Game Deposits: One ACBL/BBO deposit from the Virtual Games has been received from Phyllis in the amount of $179 (less $15 transfer fee), which is reflected in the May financial statement, and we will receive $473 for May’s Virtual Games. This will be reflected in the June financial statement.  Woody asked whether we have received ACBL funds for “Support Your Clubs” games? At present, we don’t know how much this would be.

            5.  Non-profit Status: Tom suggested that we table this issue until the pandemic is over, and we have a better sense of the status of The Bridge Studio. Ian reported that Lake Chapala has set up a structure to simplify their non-profit status, but their system is inconsistent with the way The Bridge Studio operates. Ian has concluded that their structure cannot be replicated in San Miguel. For now, The Bridge Studio is a social club.

Survey of Bridge Studio & Bordello Bridge

Wendy proposed that we table the survey at least until the end of the summer when we have more information about in-person bridge and the pandemic.

Consideration of a Bridge Center in San Miguel

We have not yet contacted Barbe Poole, but the Board concluded that it is too early to act on this idea. Ian noted that when he and Woody meet to pay the Arcada the final two month’s rent owed under the current lease, they will discuss the future of the hotel with the owners.

Use of Member List

Ian said that there is a member email, in addition to the Board email (i.e., members@bridgewebsemail.com), that has occasionally been used by members who believe they are emailing the members. Both these emails come to The Bridge Studio Board.

The Board agreed that members should not be able to email the entire membership list of The Bridge Studio. (There is also a Unit 254 member list.)

Ian proposed that we table this issue of access to the member list until the decision has been made about the consolidation of The Bridge Studio and Unit 254 into a Unit-Sponsored Club.

New Business

Tom suggests that the website be cleaned up as it includes outdated information. Keith will contact Joan Arnold to learn more about navigating The Bridge Studio website.

The next meeting of The Bridge Studio Board is tentatively scheduled for July 15, 2020.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

            Correction re Profits from the 2020 Regional Tournament:

Tom  pointed out that the Minutes from the June 24^th board meeting incorrectly stated that The Bridge Studio will be receiving $35,000 p from

the Regional. This payment will be received by Unit 254, not The Bridge

Studio $16,825 p for equipment rental and lost revenue during the Club’s

Closure.

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

May 27, 2020

The meeting was called to order at 9:40 am.

Present:          Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg and Wendy    

                        Valentine (Absent: Del McDaniel)

Minutes of the April 22, 2020 meeting were approved, as amended, by voice vote.

Unit Sponsored Club

The Bridge Studio board is in favor of a unit sponsored club but recognizes that some members think there are potential problems with a consolidation of the Unit and the Bridge Studio, e.g., an effort to take over bridge in San Miguel. Ian, the board president, noted that Sherry McHarg, the current Unit president, plans to step aside immediately after any consolidation.

Tom suggested that the next step is the presentation of the advantages/disadvantages of a consolidation in an email to members.  In this case, the board believes that “less is more” with regard to the email.  Ian will work with Del to prepare the report to members.

Ian said that the email would be in the form of a recommendation from the Board in favor of the consolidation resulting in a unit sponsored club, and the board is seeking membership approval to effect this change.

Finances

Ian stated that our current financial arrangements are serving us well, but we may still wish to reach out to the bridge club in Ajijic about their rationale for maintaining non-profit status in Mexico. As treasurer, Tom Chambers will contact Lou Crippin, president of the Ajijic board to further discuss this issue.

Sherry joined the meeting to discuss the requirements for applying for and maintaining non-profit status in Mexico. If we become a unit sponsored club, funds will be available to set this up and maintain legal status in Mexico.  

Sherry also noted that District 16 will be giving $500 through Unit 254 for the purpose of assisting the Bridge Studio with overhead expenditures due to the shortage of revenue during the pandemic. In addition, the Unit will match those funds with another $500 from Unit funds for a total of $1,000 US dollars. (Note: District funds are being provided only for clubs with ongoing overhead due to closures resulting from Covid-19. The Bordello was included in the offer but has declined.)

Phyllis Culp has set up the Bordello charity game under the umbrella of the Mexican non-profit, Jovenes Adelantes. In considering non-profit status, the Bridge Studio has three options: (1) we can seek advice from a U.S. based tax attorney re seeking non-profit status in the U.S.; (2) we can further explore setting up a non-profit in Mexico; and (3) we could organize under a charitable organization that already has non-profit status, similar to what the Bordello has done.

Ian reminded the board that it is required to send an annual budget for the Bridge Studio to its members. However, because of uncertainties relating to the pandemic, it is not possible at this time to create a budget. Action has therefore been postponed until further notice.

Virtual BBO Games

Keith Gunn, club manager, reported that the ACBL needs his bank account information in order to send him any proceeds from the virtual bridge games sponsored by BBO/ACBL. The Bordello, which is taking the lead with the virtual games, has not yet received any funds from the April games. Tom reported that we expect to receive approximately $180 for the month of April from these games.

At the same time, Keith is seeking a list of duties from the ACBL as the new club manager and will arrange to receive any funds generated by the ACBL/BBO online games.

Relationship with Hotel Arcada

Woody reported that the Arcada has officially closed, and the owners plan to rent it out, but would include space for the Bridge Studio in any rental lease. However, there is no guarantee that the Arcada can accommodate the Bridge Studio after the current lease ends.

Woody told the Arcada that we would continue to pay half the rent each month through the end of October when the lease ends. Tom confirmed that we have sufficient funds to continue these payments through October.  ACBL District 16, which is the Bridge Studio’s district, plans to give $500 to Unit 254 to help defray pandemic costs.

Ian asked whether we have access to our space since the hotel is technically closed, and we do with advance arrangement.

By Laws

Ian suggested that we should consider backup strategies for a variety of activities (e.g., annual budget) in the event that the Bridge Studio is not open, as has been the case with the pandemic. Any such by-laws changes are postponed at present but will be considered at a future board meeting.

Member Survey

The Bridge Studio and the Bordello charity game raised the possibility of surveying both games at the April 2020 board meeting.

In considering the timing of a survey, Ian noted that we don’t know how long virtual bridge will continue and whether and when we will begin to play again in person when it’s safe to do so. Other questions also persist, e.g., do we hold a sectional tournament when the membership is back in town?  (Note: There have been some questions/complaints regarding the ACBL’s holding of regionals and sectionals without consulting with the districts or units.)

Board secretary Wendy Valentine suggested that the Bridge Studio board, in consultation with Phyllis Culp of the Bordello charity game, build a list of categories for any future member survey, and she volunteered to collect input from the Board and from the Bordello to begin to compile the survey. Because there is so little known about how long the pandemic will continue to affect bridge in San Miguel, the board agreed to work on the survey but delay a decision regarding timing.

The meeting adjourned at 11:50 am. The next meeting of the board will be on June 24, 2020.

Respectfully submitted,

Wendy Valentine

Board Secretary

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 

Dear Members,

Minutes from the April 22, 2020 Board Minutes are below:

Bridge Studio of San Miguel

Board of Directors Meeting

April 22, 2020

The board meeting was called to order at 10:40 am.

Present: Tom Chambers, Keith Gunn, Ian Irving, Woody McHarg, Del McDaniel, Wendy Valentine and guest Phyllis Culp

The minutes of the March 9, 2020 board meeting were approved by voice vote.

The following officers were appointed by the new board, which was voted on by the Bridge Studio of San Miguel (BSSMA) earlier this month:

Ian Irving:                              President

Del McDaniel:                       Vice President

Keith Gunn:                           Club Manager

Tom Chambers:                     Treasurer

Wendy Valentine:                   Secretary

Woody McHarg:                    Club Game Director

Tom asked whether Phyllis would like to participate in future board meetings, and she said she would like to join us when the board is considering issues of interest to the Bordello charity game. The board agreed by voice vote.

The board discussed the importance of re-establishing a communications committee to periodically communicate with the members via newsletters and other outreach. This is not a board position, and Ian indicated he would explore the committee first with Linda Whynman, as she and her committee had done an outstanding job before they resigned.  Ian will report back at the next board meeting.

Member Feedback and Survey:  Wendy reviewed comments from two members received during the board voting process. The board indicated that a survey of all BSSMA members, along with players at the Bordello, would have the benefit of being both balanced and informative. For example, a survey could ask such questions as: best times for games; equal opportunities to participate; location of games; suggestions for improving bridge in San Miguel, etc.  The board will check to see whether there have been prior member surveys, and Phyllis suggested that the ACBL might have some ideas regarding member surveys.

Ian suggested that Survey Monkey is an effective online tool and volunteered to lead the technical part of a survey. Wendy volunteered to collect survey questions from board members and from Phyllis, along with questions the board might identify from prior surveys and/or ACBL member surveys.

Virtual Games

Phyllis reported that the first SMA Virtual Club Game on April 21^st had 44 players for a total of 11 tables. Fourteen people were unable to join the game on the first day, and Phyllis sent further instructions to the 14 to help them join the Virtual Game on April 23rd.  Phyllis said the ACBL provides some support in ironing out problems. A major issue was that many players did not send their exact BBO screen names to Phyllis in advance or didn’t have specific screen names for themselves or their partners. Phyllis noted that the playing part of the BBO system is excellent, but the administrative portion isn’t always as robust at this time. 

Revenue from the Virtual Club Games is shared by BBO, the ACBL and the Clubs that sponsor the games. The revenue from the first game was:

• 44 players x 3     =                                $ 132.00 USD (100% of revenue)
• BBO’s share       =                                $   26.40  (20% of revenue from players; 20% of total revenue)
• ACBL’s share      =                               $  11.00  ($1/table x 11 tables; 8% of total revenue)
• BSSMA and BB to share  =                 $   94.60

- Bridge Studio                                               $37.84  (40%; will be 60% when TBS directs) 29% of total revenue

- Bordello Bridge                                            $56.76  (60%; will be 40% when TBS directs) 43% of total revenue

Four people who play in the BSSMA and/or the Bordello wanted to invite partners from other places where they also play, and Phyllis denied this request for the time being. Phyllis said that there is some sense that accepting others might mean that more advanced players would compete. In the future, Phyllis might re-evaluate this policy, but now she’s focusing on getting the San Miguel Bridge game up and running and creating a social space for San Miguel players.

We could also add more games in the future, but Woody and others suggested that we need to get the game established first.

Unit Sponsored Club

Tom noted that Del is planning to develop, with input from the Board, a presentation to send out to the membership, including information about unit-sponsored clubs and the pros/cons of such a merger in San Miguel. The board agreed to contribute ideas to Del, and he would draft a presentation or report that could be vetted and edited by the board, then send to the membership for its consideration and ultimately for a vote. Del suggested that Phyllis be involved. Phyllis responded that she would like to continue to be cooperative but prefers that Bordello Bridge remain an independent club.

Del agreed to put together a draft and request comments/edits from the board.

Phyllis reported that some players have approached her about the creation of a Bridge Center in the event space at the Bordello is available. Tom asked whether we would have to pay rent. The BSSMA is currently paying $15,500 pesos/month (at a 50% discount during the pandemic), at the Hotel Arcada. The lease is in effect through November 2020. Tom recalled that Casa de la Noche previously wanted $20,000 pesos/month with a 2021 to $21,000 pesos/month to reflect the increase in Casa de la Noche’s lease on the structure. Woody mentioned that there were also parking issues associated with the Bordello location. Tom says he’d like to see the two clubs getting along, and that people should play in both places. Many people agree.

The board agreed not to take this issue up at present since our lease at the Arcada does not need to be renewed until November 2020.

District 16 Go Fund Me

Sherry McHarg, Unit 254 president, reported that the president of District 16, Nancy Strohmer, was at the SMA March Regional and has been helpful in advising Unit 254 re financial assistance during the pandemic. The district is offering clubs matching funds through Go-Fund-Me accounts, but operating as a non-profit in

Mexico creates problems for the receipt of these funds, because PayPal (a conduit for Go-Fund-Me) does not include Mexico in this initiative.

The BSSMA currently does not have non-profit status in Mexico, because the reporting and tax requirements are onerous. The Mexico City club also does not have non-profit status (requiring an identifier called an EIN), but Ajijic does maintain non-profit status in Mexico.

The District 16 president has enlisted the help of an attorney in Texas who has agreed to advise Unit 254  regarding banking arrangements in Mexico and facilitating a process where the BSSMA would be eligible to participate in the ACBL’s Go-Fund-Me initiative. In addition, Wendy agreed to check on whether the BSSMA can legally pass funds through the San Miguel Community Foundation to make the Go-Fund-Me project viable for San Miguel.

Appointment of a Standing By-Laws Committee

Woody clarified that we need new by-laws only if we consolidate into a unit-sponsored club. First we need a vote on the consolidation. Ian added that we still need to look at the by-laws, but it isn’t an urgent matter, so we can defer this to a future meeting.

Budget

Tom offered two budget scenarios, each of which includes assumptions aimed at controlling costs and generating revenue that will ensure the Bridge Studio’s financial viability. The assumptions in both scenarios were that game fees would be increased to $120 p/game and $1000 p/book, rent would increase 5%, table count would be down 5%, and annual membership fee would increase to $500p.  The first scenario assumes that the club will open in July.  Based on these assumptions, we would have a yearly deficit of $16,000 p.  The Second scenario assumes that the BSSMA was open in March/April/May. Under this assumption, we would have had a $100,000 p surplus.

Del said that some experts think the virus won’t peak until May, so he believes we shouldn’t assume we’re going to open in July. September might make more sense, according to Del, so perhaps we should use the latter assumption.

Woody asked about the potential impact on the budget of funds from BBO’s “Support Your Clubs.” These are different from ACBL Virtual Games. The cost of these special games is $6. It might be a good idea to publicize these with our members, as they could generate a significant revenue stream. At present, these games are scheduled 3x/day. Phyllis agreed to forward the SYC player participation report she receives revenue to the board, and Wendy will email Susan Cumming re same.

Next Steps

The board agreed to schedule a meeting in one month. Wed., May 20 at 9:30 am Central time was suggested.

Respectfully sumitted,

Wendy Valentine

BSSMA Secretary

♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 

Dear Members:

The following is a clarification of the ACBL's support of bridge clubs during the pandemic, which was incorrectly stated in the minutes you received earlier this week:

"Please be advised that District 16 is NOT offering matching funds to the club or the Unit. It has donated $500 US to each Unit to set up its own GoFundMe account. The Board of Unit 254 approved the proposal from Sherry McHarg that the Unit match the District funds plus any additional contributions made by members. These funds are to help the Bridge Studio of SMA cover overhead expenses during the time the club is closed. 

The problem encountered here in Mexico is that the GoFundMe platform is not supported in this country. District 16 has been willing to work with the Mexican Units to see that the District funds are made available to help."

Wendy Valentine, Secretary

Bridge Studio of San Miguel
Meeting of the Board of Director
March 9, 2020
MINUTES
The meeting of the Interim Board of Directors* of the Bridge Studio of San Miguel (BSSMA) convened 
at the Bridge Studio at 10:00 am. The following board members were present: Tom Chambers, Del 
McDaniel, Woody McHarg, Ian Irving, Gerdur Kristjansdottir, Wendy Valentine, and guest Phyllis Culp, 
who runs the twice-weekly sanctioned game at the Bordello (Casa de la Noche).
The agenda item to discuss the pros and cons of consolidating the BSSMA and Unit 254, titled a “Unit 
Sponsored Club,” was moved to the top of the agenda at Phyllis’ request, along with a request that she 
also be present to discuss “Recent Bridge Studio Board Changes”.
Selection of Temporary Secretary
Wendy Valentine volunteered to serve as temporary Secretary.
Unit Sponsored Club
Woody has contacted the ACBL regarding Unit 254’s interest in combining the Unit and the BSSMA into 
a unit-sponsored club. The ACBL requires only an email stating our intention and reported there are no 
negatives associated with a consolidation. Initially, combining the two boards would suffice. Woody 
further reported that he spoke with Debbie Gailfus from a Unit Sponsored club in California, and she said 
the consolidation was “working well,” and there were no negatives.
Phyllis asked how the Bordello would be affected by the proposed consolidation and Woody responded 
that under the consolidation, the unit-sponsored club could not hold sanctioned games that would conflict 
with the Bordello’s Tuesday-Thursday games, so this would be positive. Phyllis further asked whether the 
Bordello would begin to receive some funds from the Unit under a consolidation, as this hasn’t happened 
in the past. Woody responded that this would likely occur in the future.
If the members of BSSMA were to approve the merger between the Bridge Studio and the Unit, the new 
Board would determine which of the following features it would like to adopt. The ACBL Handbook 
(Chapter 3, Section 9: Unit Club Relationships) states:
UNIT SPONSORED CLUB: A Unit Sponsored Club is a club which has any one or more of the following 
features: (a) a board which is the same as the unit board or which is appointed by the unit; or (b) a co-
mingling of funds with those of the unit; or (c) a placement of funds in a unit owned account; or (d) the 
appointment of a club manager or director by the unit. 
_____________
*With the recent resignation of three members of the BSSMA Board, the following “interim members” were appointed until 
the membership votes on the slate of nominees to permanently fill four vacancies: Ian Irving, Gerdur Kristjansdottir, Del 
McDaniel, and Wendy Valentine.

Minutes of the Bridge Studio, February 5, 2020

 

I. Call to order
 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am. In attendance were Susan Cumming, Woody McHarg, Tom Chambers, Teenie Gibson and Joan Arnold, guest.
 

II. Approval of the Agenda
 

The agenda was approved with one addition, website and technology.
 

III. Minutes of the January 8, 2020 Meeting
 

The minutes were approved.
 

IV. Website and Technology
 

Joan Arnold and Keith Gunn have been working to address some of the issues with our system/website. Joan feels that the two of them will be able to address these concerns. However, it is imperative that procedures for using the system are clearly spelt out in writing once the work has been completed. Training for the directors on the use of the system must be undertaken as soon as the procedures are done. This is the only way to ensure that the system works as it is supposed to.
 

The Board thanked both Joan and Keith for their work on this issue as well as others who have been involved.
 

V. Treasurer’s Report
 

The Treasurer’s report was approved with a correction to the accompanying notes that makes it clear that the deficit is a seasonal one. The Treasurer also noted that the cost of the food provided by Sherry McHarg will be reduced from 10p per person to 8p. Another shout out to Sherry for the nibbles that our members so love.
 

VI. Club Managers Report
 

Work is ongoing on a variety of issues:
 

Noise level: option to reduce noise level were considered including carpeting, insulation rolls and hanging baffles.

 

Chairs: safety concerns have been raised. Locking casters may be an option. Removing casters would result in chairs being too low for the tables. In the meantime, solid chairs are available and players will be cautioned to be extra careful with the tile floors.

 

Windows: tinting to filter the sunlight through the upper windows may be an option and will be investigated.

 

While all of these options will be investigated, the cost may be prohibitive especially considering our one year lease at Hotel Arcada. Discussions with management of the Hotel will be undertaken by the new Board at the end of March.
 

Reporting through ACBL live is now a requirement for all clubs. Monthly payments will be through the site starting at the end of February.
 

Overflow hotel parking in the lot beside The El Pato Barbacoa y Mixiotes restaurant across the street is now available for the cost of 50 pesos an afternoon. There is an attendant at the lot.
 

The sanctions have been completed with the ACBL for January, February and March.
 

We have about 65 members who have renewed their membership.
 

VII. Game Director Report
 

The issue of zero tolerance was discussed. It is the responsibility of the Directors and Game Director to deal with any issues that arise during a game. It was felt, however, that consistency was needed in dealing with disciplinary issues. Some felt this could be handled through a policy which outlines the process for disciplinary action. A special meeting of the board was set up for later in February to go over all of the policies.
 

The Game Director is working on getting some new directors. He has a couple of possibilities.
 

The Game Director also reported on the Sectional. It was felt that the Sectional was a success. The Unit will be reimbursing the Club for the extra fees for the back room, the staff person’s time and any extraordinary expenses that were incurred.
 

It was also noted that the Unit would help pay for the costs of new keypads if they are required.
 

VIII. Committee Reports
 

Membership Development
 

Bridge classes have been going extremely well. Intro to bridge had four tables. Other classes two. Feedback is very positive. Special thanks to Susan and her helpers. Kudos to Dave, Cindy, Bob and Misha.
 

Charity Committee
 

The report of the sub committee will go out with the minutes. Thanks to Teenie and Susan Curra and others who provided valuable input including Mary Katherine, Beth, Melissa and Kathy.
 

Nominating Committee
 

No report so far from the nominating committee. Rumour has it that two individuals have put their names forward.
 

IX. New Business
 

While a date for the AGM was set at the last Board meeting, the Treasurer would not be available on that date. The new date for the AGM is Friday, March 20, 2020 with a social to follow.
 

X. Date of next meeting.
 

Next meeting is Wednesday, March 11, 2020.
 

Meeting adjourned at 12 noon.
 

 

 

          Minutes of the Meeting of the Board January 8, 2020

 Present: Brigette Lewis, Woody Mc Harg, Tom Chambers, Sue Cumming

The meeting was called to order at 10 am.

The agenda was approved.

The minutes of the last meeting, December 4, 2019 were approved.

Treasurer Report was approved. 

Committee Reports

1. Membership Development- Keith has begun his Wednesday lessons which are well attended. Beginner lessons start January 26 with an all-day session. Basic Bridge begins Feb 3 with volunteer helpers to assist Sue with the lessons. The remainder of the program begins the same week.

2. Communication Committee-The December newsletter was well received by members. Many thanks to Linda, Faye and Kathy for their hard work.

3. Charity- Teenie submitted an update for consideration. The process suggested was agreed. The Treasurer will recommend any available additional funds in March. 

4. Discipline Committee- Sue and Woody will review acbl policies and recommendations prior to a committee beginning it’s work.

Old Business

1. Web site- Deferred until the next meeting. Joan has been working on our web site. It was noted that the new bylaws (approved in March 2019) are on the website.

2. Christmas Party- Thanks to Lynn for a successful soiree.

3. Windows- Thanks to Wendy for obtaining, and installing, curtains. Overhead sun continues to be a problem. Tom will investigate further options.

4. It was noted that the volunteer efforts of all members are much appreciated. Special thanks to our Partnership desk folks ( Mary K and Beth)

New Business

1. Annual Meeting- Scheduled for Wednesday March 24, to be followed by a Social Evening.

2. Nominating Committee- Names were suggested for committee members. Brigette will contact the individuals. Three board positions will be up for election at the annual meeting. 

3. Annual dues- Dues will continue at 100 pesos per year.

4. Sectional Tournament- The tournament is scheduled for Jan 30-Feb 2 at the Arcada. The Unit will pay costs of the second room. Tom will review prior years to look at the impact on club income of the closure of the Studio on those game days.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45. Next regular board meeting February 5 at 10 am.

   .

Minutes December 3rd, 2019 Board Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 10:00. Present were Brigette Lewis, Tom Chambers, Susan Cumming, Woody McHaig, Teenie Gibson and Mary Seggerman, Chair, Membership Development Sub Committee.

Approve the Agenda

The Chair asked if there were any additions or deletions to the agenda. Replacement for Club Manager and Christmas party were added.

Moved/Seconded that the agenda be approved with the additions. Carried.

Approve Minutes of October 23, 2019

Moved/Seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. Carried.

Approve Treasurer’s Report for October 2019

Moved/Seconded that the Treasurer’s Report be approved as presented. It was recommended that the items under “other expenses” be further defined. Carried with recommendation. If you would like to see the financial statements, they are available at the Bridge Studio.

Approve Treasurer’s Report for November 2019

Moved/Seconded that the Treasurer’s Report be approved as presented. It was recommended that the items under “office supplies” be further defined. Carried with recommendation. 

Committee Reports

Communication Sub Committee

The committee is in the process of creating the second newsletter. They are hopeful that the second edition will go out before the end of the year.  

Ads promoting the Bridge Studio have been placed in Atencion for the year.

Membership Development Sub Committee

The Sub Committee has developed a very creative strategy to attract new members and new players to the Club. As well as supervised play, bridge in a day, and talk bridge, the club will be running a full page ad. The ad will run on January 17, 24, and 31, 2020.

Moved and seconded that we approve the strategy developed by the sub committee as well as the associated costs. Carried.

Half of the cost of the full page ad will be covered by the ACBL. We will be asking the Unit to cover the other half.

Action: The President will contact the unit to ask for financial support for the ads.

Action: The treasurer will follow up with ACBL to determine if the ad has to go to them prior to publication in order to ensure funding.

The final ad will have to get to the Chair of the sub committee by the end of December to make the January 17 edition of Atencion.

It was noted that an evaluation on how successful the strategy was in attracting new members would need to be developed.

There was a discussion around the materials required for the delivery of the training for novice players. While some of the material had been received more needed to be ordered. This material will be ordered and received in time for the first class.

The issue of holding separate 299er games was discussed. A final decision will need to be made in the new year.

The Chair of the sub committee had two more issues to discuss.

First, the bridgeweb system was not showing the correct information on the individual hands. This needs to be cleared up before we begin our outreach to new players.  

Second, the aggressive behaviour of some of our regular players will have to be addressed. The Club membership as a whole is going to have to be more patient, supportive and friendly to any and all new players as well as to each other. If we are to be successful in attracting and keeping new members we will have to make a shift in our behaviour.

It was agreed that the work of the sub committee was completed and that the sub committee could now be disbanded. The Board thanked Mary Seggerman for the excellent work she and her team had accomplished over the last month. Thanks to Faye Guidry, Syndi McDougall, David McDougall, and Keith Gunn for all the work you have done and the work you will be doing in the future. We and the membership very much appreciate your efforts.

Old Business

Hotel Arcada

The move went well. Special thanks to Susan. The lease has been signed for one year. The owners have been exceptional so far.  

With the move, there is a surplus of items that the Club has no further need of. A list will be posted on the bulletin board. The items can be purchased for a reasonable donation.

Replacement of Club Manager

Ellen Snyder has formally resigned her position on the Board. The Board is sad to see Ellen leave. In many ways, Ellen was the backbone of the Board, taking on far more responsibilities than her position warranted. She did everything from purchase supplies to acting as our liaison with the ACBL. She will be missed not just as a Board Director but also as a friend. We wish her the best and a future filled with good health and happy times.

The Board will be looking for a new Club Manager. At the present time, the job will be shared between two of our members until a decision can be made. Ellen has offered to complete a number of tasks on our behalf, particular in connection with the ACBL.

The secretary will take on the task of keeping the membership list up to date.

Christmas Party

It was decided that we would host a small Christmas party with food and drink on Wednesday, December 18th, 2019.  

Other

The president asked that the directors identify when they will be out of town over the next few months.

Woody will be gone from Dec. 8 to January 6, 2020.

Tom will be gone from Dec. 21 to Dec. 29 and the last week of January, February and March, 2020. Tom will also be out of town from mid April until August 2020.

Susan will be gone from January 17 to 24, 2020.

Next meeting

The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

Moved/Seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Carried.