We have weathered the storm! Or have we?  It’s so important to get things into perspective and to keep everything in proportion and not forget to count our blessings.  Like many other Bridge club’s in the area, getting back to some semblance of normal after the pandemic lockdowns has had its problems.  But thanks to your support and that of the committee we are now enjoying weekly sessions albeit with reduced numbers.  The Thursday afternoon Bridge sessions have now stopped due to lack of support but a big thank you to those who did attend and who enjoyed playing in a small group.

Jane Mitchell, with the help of Mark Robertson and Jane Parry, has taken over the operation of Bridgemate.  This has been invaluable and I would like to personally thank them for doing this otherwise we would not have been able to continue in the way Fred had intended before the lockdowns.  

One of the casualties of the long closure has been we no longer have a Host System.  Before we were very fortunate to have Fred who was our TD and would also partner anyone attending on their own; this meant no one was discouraged from coming to the sessions.  I would like to see some kind of replacement system operated and welcome suggestions from anyone who might have some ideas on how this could be done.

As your chairwoman for the last 11 years, I have taken some pride in managing the club, along with the various committee members and being able to keep up the standard set by Pamela Edwards before that.  It is now my intention, in a few months’ time, to step down and hand over the reins to Diana Hill.  This leaves a vacancy on the committee for another member to volunteer to help run this club.

Treasurer’s Report: Richard has prepared copies of his Financial Statement for you to comment on if you wish. He is very happy to report that our Debt to Fred has now been paid off.  This was money owing for the purchase of Bridgemate by Fred on our behalf in 2019.  Mainly due to the increased Table money to £3 per session our finances are very healthy.  As you all know, in the past we made frequent donations to various, mainly local charities, but because of our Debt to Fred this was stopped.  We might see fit to again make Donations in the future.  We were able to have our usual Christmas party last year paid for out of club funds and hope to do the same this year on 19th December!

Refreshments: Diana has re-started this facility by making sure the necessary are available.  However, to insure continuity one or two volunteers are needed to help her by offering to bring the fresh milk each week otherwise we may have to resort to the dried variety.

Thank you, Gill Harrand 
 

POINTS MADE ON THE REVIEW OF THE RUNNING OF BURLEY BRIDGE CLUB
BY GILL HARRAND 4TH OCTOBER 2021

1. The successful running the Bridge club has taken a little while to master since the re-opening after the ‘lockdowns’.
2. Thanks go to Jane Mitchell for taking on the responsibility of programming Bridgemate.
3. Thanks also to all members for showing patience and understanding during this difficult period.
4. It is important for members to arrive by 6.45pm so that the required programme can be set up on the computer which takes a little time.  Once this is done it is difficult to alter.
5. Bridgemate then dictates how the session should progress and lets everyone know when the session has ended.
6. The session should end before 10.00pm when we have to vacate the Hall.  Jane will tell the members how to make entries onto the hand-held machine if some Boards are not played.
7. The session will progress at a steady pace if members don’t take too long in the Bidding process and playing the cards.  
8. Bridge is considered to be a SILENT game especially during the Bidding and Playing of the cards.
9. Talking, cogitating, pondering and post-mortems at other times should be kept to a minimum and done quietly.
10. As your Chairwoman for the last 10 years and now Acting-Director, I would be very grateful if all members followed as far as possible what is in the yellow book ‘Duplicate Bridge Rules Simplified’, to make my job easier.  Let me know if you need a copy.  
11. Duplicate Bridge etiquette should be practiced at all times. Do welcome new members. Please use the ALERT card or ANNOUNCE if partner is making an unusual bid and the STOP card for un-natural or jump bids.
12. No kind of communication should take place between partners whether it be verbal, sign language or facial expression, which might influence the Bidding process.
13. Members should make sure that they don’t cause any unnecessary noise which might disturb others.
14. I am in charge in the running of the Club and in the management of the evening, but if there is a problem with Bridgemate, please ask Jane.  
15. Members were reminded to look at the Burley Bridge Club Waverton webpage for further information about the club.
16. If you have any queries about any of the above points, please contact me personally.

Thank You.

A REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE BURLEY BRIDGE CLUB
MARCH 2021 INSTEAD OF AN AGM

The committee held one meeting last year, during a lull in the Lockdowns.  None of us thought we would be so inactive for so long but we hope the end is in sight.  I know quite a few of you have been playing ‘On-Line’, thanks to the sterling efforts of Jane Mitchell – what a Star -  I’m sure you’re all very grateful to her!

We are all sorry that our Secretary Ann Blake has now left us but we were able to give her a lovely leaving present of a specially commissioned water-colour painting of Burley Hall by local Waverton artist Peter Nell, which she thanked us for and said she would treasure – also a ‘Sorry you’re Leaving’ card which some of you were able to sign personally and others had their names added to it.  I have taken back the Secretarial duties as before.  The other members of the committee are all happy to remain on board.

Our Treasurer, Richard, has written a Report on our finances.  On the 28th February 2021 our funds amounted to £290.97.  If anyone should wish to have a copy of the accounts please contact Richard on ricgom12@gmail.com  The outstanding debt to Fred is £300 and will be repaid as soon as funds allow.

Although we’ve been unable to hold any further committee meetings Fred, Richard, Jenny, Eric and myself have communicated quite often via email and phone.  When we are able to re-start our Bridge sessions, it has been agreed that an adjustment will be made of the £10 Annual Subscription paid by some members last March but not by all i.e.  those members who paid £10 in 2020 will not be asked to contribute again this year.  The table money will be increased to £3 per session for the time being until we get on our feet again as we will have some expenditure such as Insurance, Bridgemate and Bridgeweb fees which have to be met. The cost of the hire of the Hall also has to be covered.  However, we are filled with optimism that all will be well after a few months!

We would welcome any member who might like to take on the task of helping Fred with Bridgemate at our sessions.   Fred will, of course, train up any volunteers nearer the time.

We have discussed the possibility of having afternoon sessions on Mondays or Thursdays.  The outcome from the questionnaire sent to all of you, thanks to Jane Mitchell, was very interesting as about one third said Monday, another third said Thursday and the other third said Monday evening which wasn’t given as an option!  What we eventually do is not entirely up to us as we are in the hands of the Burley Hall Management for any new hiring arrangements.  However, Monday evening sessions will certainly continue, as before.

In the meantime, we would like to welcome you all back on Monday evening 21st June 2021, to celebrate Summer Solstice if nothing else - all being well!

Kind regards to all, Gill Harrand  
March 2021