Playing in our games matter.  It is what I think of a "Critical Mass" everyone's participation is what makes the club work and the games fun.  Here is the honor role for October 1 to December 31 of 25.  57 total players, but these folks all played 9 or more times..

During the 4th Quarter of 2025 49 players won points while playing in our local games.  Here is the top half of the field preserved before I reset for a brand new start in 2026: 

December closed the year for SDBC.  We had 42 players playing at least once and four players playing in 7 of the 8 games they were eligible to play Congratulations and thank you to Barb Willis, Jerry Levi, Charles Tarvin and Scott Sorensen.  Here is the December table counts across the state:

But wait for it here are the Year to Date numbers for 2025:

As a single franchise Siouxland is leading the state in attendance.  Yes Urbandale, still has five franchises and I believe, play at a single site, with a total table count of 1430 tables. But the Des Moines metropolitan statistical area has 4.7 times the population of Siouxland. Factoring up we would have over 2800 tables with the same population density.  I am proud of us!!

November at SDBC.  Four players should receive kudos for supporting our club during November.  Charles Tarvin, Barb Willis, Jerry Levi, and Cathy Vellenga all played seven times.  We had  43 individuals playing at least once during the month as the effect of snowbirding takes it's annual toll.  Table counts 281/2 in the open and 11 in the 299 game were down as well. But in defense of all of us, the month was shortened by Thanksgiving claiming two two games. Watch this space for "coming attractions" in Janaury I'll post some year over year comparisons for 2024 and 2025.  Any guesses on what will be shown?

October at SDBC. We booked 55 tables during October including 19 tables in the Wednesday 299 game.    Forty-eight individuals played during the month with Arlene Milbrodt being the most consistent with 10 games,  Rob Davis, Barb Willis and Cathy Vellinga all played nine times.  Club members also participated in Sectionals in Sioux Falls, Council Bluffs, and Davenport in addition to the N/I Regional held with the Bluffs Sectional.  The 19 tables at the Wednesday morning game are a tribute to the support Leon gives this group. Thank you to everyone for the outstanding support of our club.

September while "losing" the first Monday game to the Labor Day holiday we finished strong on a fifth Monday STaC boasting six local  tables.  During the month, 52 individuals played at least once.. Rob Davis led the pack with 10 games and 8 players (Jean, Karen, Diane, Wayne, Charles, Monica, Molly, and Glenn) played eight times.  By the way, the Wednesday 299 game racked up 18 tables during September, up from 16 1/2 in August. 

Club statistics for the month of August.  Fifty-four (54) different people played in one or more of our club games  during the month of August. Three people played in eight games.  Thank you, Karen Bourne, Jean Darrnell, and Rob Davis.  Six people played seven times, five played six times and twelve played five times, all during August .  This is what support for our club looks like!

Some times Happy news has a tinge of sad news mixed in.  Looking at YTD Table counts for our Unit

If the idea is to win the Table Count metric.  Well we won and not really at anyone else's expense. BUT the state of the unit is not good.  Then I look at the clubs with no games at all.  Sure, some of them are here, and we have merged and operate under a single franchise.  But then there are clubs that are just gone: Storm Lake, Algona, Estherville are the recent ones but going back further almost every town and berg had a game.  We should be thankful for Leon, Diana, Jean, and Kurt all doing the heavy lifting to keep our game going.  I think out reach  is a critical consideration for our club's success.  At present we are not drawing in new players nor launching new games.  Just my  thoughts and it barely qualifies as news.  Perhaps I need a page captioned "Gripes and Fears."

Just for fun check out this article from 1961 Sports Illustrated on Bridge. SI-Vault

Not my image.  Looking at it certainly generated by AI.