MDBC Celebrates 11 Years!
In 2012 few bridge players would have believed that they would soon have a sanctioned, popular, semi-weekly duplicate game in McKinney, Texas. The club was the brainchild of a handful of avid duplicate players looking for a game in the North Dallas area. It took an act of faith for those founders to start a new club with no money, no director, no location, and no supplies. They contacted fellow bridge players and soon had enough generous donations to get started.
With the help of Dorsey Shaw who donated supplies and became the fledgling club’s first director, the founders discovered an ideal location for holding games at the south McKinney Salvation Army facility with ample parking, conveniently located just a mile east of Central Expressway. At the outset the small number of players were almost overwhelmed by the size of the gymnasium they played in, but today attendance can reach as high as 16 tables and the airy venue is ideal with plenty of room to maneuver.
Currently the McKinney Duplicate Club averages 10 tables or more every Tuesday and Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. Annual membership dues are $10. Director extraordinaire is Reg Watt. The club has bylaws and a board consisting of directors and officers, meeting all ACBL requirements. The players are a wonderful variety of individuals including doctors, lawyers, engineers, IT specialists, retired military officers, homemakers, teachers, and professors, to name just a few of their backgrounds. (One table recently boasted four players with a total of 5 doctorates!)
This dynamic and friendly group includes members from India, England, France, Hong Kong, a variety of states--and even a few native Texans! The bridge expertise in the group ranges from beginners to Platinum Life Masters. One person quipped, “Playing here is like having a free lesson with every game.” Yet the atmosphere is warm and congenial—a real community of friends who love the game of bridge and welcome new players.
The 11th anniversary celebration included 14 tables. Rather than the usual fee of $8 per member and $10 for nonmembers, free play was offered and a buffet lunch was served. Several door prizes were awarded and participants acknowledged the privilege of being part of this wonderful bridge family. If you haven’t played in McKinney yet, it’s worth making the trip. Come join us as we kick off our 12th year!
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