News Update 6th May 2024 - Sovereign Harbour Bridge Club

1.  Membership
 New members welcomed to SHBC - Bruce Armstrong, Russell Calderwood, Mary Davidson, Paul Williams, Shizuko Bell, Chimi Notenboom, George Jaklinski and Jeanne Boydell.

 2.  EBU  Summer Meeting in Glorious Eastbourne in August 2024
 Fame at last! Members will be delighted to read that the May 2024 edition of the EBU’s English Bridge magazine gives national recognition to SHBC! It tells all EBU members attending the meeting that ‘Eastbourne has two thriving bridge clubs - Eastbourne and Sovereign Harbour - should they want to extend their holiday but not forego the pleasures of a simple card game’.

 3. Session set-up and direction

 Members are required to arrive by 1 p.m. for a 1.15 p.m. start, but there are occasions when circumstances prevent arrival on time - breakdown, traffic delays, etc. If so, every effort should be made to  inform Viv Morris (Mobile 07984 957 649) or Sarah Sanders, SHYC Office Administrator (Tel 01323 470888) that you will be late or just can’t make it.

 Every effort is made to accommodate would-be bridge players and, accordingly, shortly after 1 p.m. decisions have to be made by the session director as to:
 - the number of tables required (taking account of those present and ‘latecomers’ who are known to be en route) and
 - the movement to be played.
 Then, the director will instruct the designated scorer to proceed following which the session movement is announced and the Bridgemates, boards, etc. are distributed for action.

 If a session has started, but latecomers can be accommodated, the session director will consider whether:
 - to suspend play pending a decision to resume the session ‘as is’ or exceptionally
 - to abandon the session and issue fresh instructions.
 In these matters, it is the session director who decides how to proceed and to instruct latecomers, scorers, etc. accordingly.

 4.  Committee meeting on 2 May, 2024
 At its meeting, the committee:
 - approved the financial statements as of 31 March, 2024 for presentation to the members at the AGM on 28 May, 2024
 - approved the extension of our agreement with SHYC as from 1 July, 2024
 - approved the guidelines governing dealing, set-up and scoring processes
 - noted the progress of the teams events launched recently by Hilary and Mark
 - noted that membership is at full capacity with a waiting list.
 As always, the committee appreciates the ongoing support of the members. Thank you.

 Alan R. Middleton, Chairman SHBC

News Update 12 March 2024


1. SHBC Website
The long-promised revamp of our website has been completed thanks to the sterling efforts of Mark Elliott and Robin Levett. Members are invited to have a look-see and advise Robin of any further changes or improvements which might be made.

Further, it would be helpful if members could check their personal data (included in Members Only) and effect any changes which might be required (then, inform Christine Till, Membership Secretary, as appropriate viz email, telephone data).

2. Automation
It is now more than six months since Bridge Sorter (dealing machine) and Bridgemates were introduced. These innovations have proved very popular although, inevitably, there have been glitches from time to time. Documentation of the dealing and scoring processes (undertaken by Emma Whybrow and Mark Elliott) now needs to be refined in order to clarify the precise roles of the key persons involved in the management of each and every session viz. the dealer, the scorer and, most importantly, the director. The committee will oversee the refinement process now underway.

3. Host
At present, the schedule is full through end-April except for 18 April. Members should be alert as to when their turn to host is due and to advise Viv Morris accordingly - see Duty Officer Rota.

4. Dates for your Diary
28 Mar  Easter Teams
30 May  Annual General Meeting
26 Sep  Peter Wraight Trophy
24 Oct   Lupus Charity Day
28 Nov   EBU Children in Need Simultaneous Pairs
In addition, please remember that the due date for membership subscriptions of £20 is 1 April 2024. The receipt to date of some 50 subscriptions is much appreciated.

Alan R Middleton, Chairman SHBC
 

News Update 15 February 2024
Sovereign Harbour Bridge Club
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO MEMBERS

1. Membership

As members are aware, we have been at virtually full capacity in recent months in terms of numbers and tables per session. However, come 1 April 2024, there will be an opportunity to enrol new members as age, relocation and other priorities take their toll on our current numbers. Accordingly, if you intend to resign your membership of SHBC, please let Membership Secretary Christine Till or me know as soon as possible.

Effective 1 April 2024, the annual subscription will remain at £20 (and Table Money at £3.50 per session). Please make arrangements to pay your subscription, ideally via BACs to Metro Bank, Eastbourne, Sort Code 23-05-80, Account Number 34877173 in the name of Sovereign Harbour Bridge Club; alternatively, payment may be made in cash or by cheque (if absolutely necessary) when attending at SHYC. Payment receipts will be issued in due course. Membership will lapse if payment is not made by 14 May, 2024.

2. Hosting

While the system works very well, gaps in the schedule need to be filled from time to time. As of today, volunteers are required for hosts on 11 April, 18 April, 7 May and 21 May. Please contact Viv Morris if you are in a position to assist.

3. Competitions

As you will know from recent circulars, teams events are being organised by:
-Mark Elliott - an on-line SCCBA inter club tournament and
-Hilary Levett - an in-house league tournament to be held in members’ homes.
For further information, etc., please contact Mark or Hilary.

Further, there will be:
- a pairs event on Thursday, 27 March
- an as-yet-to-be determined event in September for the Peter Wraight trophy and
- a simultaneous pairs event in November in support of the EBU’s Children in Need campaign.

The Harry Shirley trophy (Improvers Award) and Yvonne Buss trophy will continue as previously.

Any questions you may have vis-a-vis competitions should be referred to Hilary Levett.

4. Please note that:
- a huge review of SHBC’s website is in progress (please bear with us as it proceeds)
- members are required by SHYC to carry their membership cards while at SHYC and
- the new dealing machine is fully operational although, as is to be expected, challenging as our teams of dealers come to terms with what it has to offer.

Alan R Middleton