St Petersburg Bridge Club, St Petersburg, Florida, USA

November Calendar

Club Manager


Paul Friedman (651) 983-1846 SPBC@paulmfriedman.com

Partnerships

Looking for a Partner?

Our partnership coordinator for pairs games is

Elaine Garofalo (727-348-6183)
For our Sunday team games, whether you need a partner or a team

call Pam Gorbics (201-247-1595)
If you would like to post to our message board, then

Click Here

Sunshine Committee Contact


Babs Thacker (727) 686-7439

Who Is Our New Club Manager?

I learned bridge in 1967 during my freshman year in college. It is more accurate to say that is when I began to learn bridge. One of the great draws of bridge is that there is always something new to learn and ways to improve. I did this by borrowing every bridge book from the college library and then sat down in the never-ending rubber bridge games in the student union. Of course, I had my head handed to me while handing over money to cover my losses. (Rubber bridge frequently includes stakes based on the final difference in the score.) I started playing duplicate bridge the next year and immediately fell in love with the game. I have been learning the game ever since.

For those interested in my non-bridge life, my first job out of college was teaching in middle school. As a secondary job, I taught driver training to adults and, after leaving teaching, managed the driving school. I then became a group medical reinsurance underwriter, a career path I stayed with until I retired. I ended up as vice-president overseeing underwriting, actuarial, and product development. This included managing our remote offices, including one in Buenos Aries, Argentina. I also earned my nickname, Guido, during this time.

Back to the important topic, SPBC. Like all bridge clubs, the Covid crisis greatly impacted our club. We started a virtual club on BBO shortly after this option became available. This provided a limited sense of community and an income stream for the club. It was our only choice at the time. However, much of the social aspect of club play was missing.

The club reopened (hurrah!) and Jack was hired as the manager. Under his and the Board of Directors’ direction, participation has increased, and in-person lessons were restarted and expanded. However, play at our club, as is true of all ACBL clubs, has not returned to pre-Covid levels. Reasons for this include:

Some players find on-line play “better” for reasons that include no need to drive. This has been particularly true for newer players (aka 499ers).
Some newer players, having learned on-line, see that version of the game as the normal way to play bridge.
The perception by some that in-person games are not welcoming to newer players. Social interaction while theoretically being a huge positive can also be negative.

Continuing to increase the number of players is a primary goal. My assessment is that we will not entice many more of our former experienced players to return. Some can’t (they have passed away or have physical reasons making joining us at the club difficult). Some prefer on-line play at this stage of their lives.

Our future lies with creating new players and enticing 499s to return to club play. To do this we need to ensure that our club is welcoming to players of all skill levels and experience. Fun is good; playing at SPBC needs to be more than “just” bridge. We also need to continue our lessons for beginners and advancing players and find additional ways to interest these (potential) players in bridge in general and our club in particular.

To succeed, we need an active membership that welcomes newer players and volunteers for various tasks. If you have a question, suggestion, or concern, I can be reached at SPBC@paulmfriedman.com or simply find me at the club.

--Paul "Guido" Friedman

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I learned bridge in 1967 during my freshman year in college. ..........

Weekly Email

Do you get the weekly email?

If not, email stpetebridge@gmail.com to get on the list.

Release 2.19q

Pages viewed in 2023

Welcome to St Petersburg Bridge Club

St Pete Bridge Club 9103 US 19 N, Pinellas Park, FL Call 727-544-5040

We provide an enjoyable and comfortable experience for bridge players of ALL levels in the St. Petersburg area. We have many class offerings, as well!

December Calendar

Upcoming Events


Friday, December 8	Friday, December 15	January 6	Sunday, January 14

Barbara Returns!

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Barbara Returns!

Barbara Seagram has offered to present another seminar this year at our club!

This seminar is entitled Hocus Pocus with the Trump Suit.

Friday, December 8 beginning at 8:45 am. For $50 you will get to learn from one of the greatest bridge teachers.

The seminar fee includes a free lunch and an entry to the afternoon game (Click to Read More). ..........

Nominees for 2024 Board of Directors

We are pleased to present the 2024 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nominees.

Don Aschenbrenner

Jack Brawner

David Rodgers

Babs Thacker

Lee Taylor

Catherine Vogel

Click to Read their Resumes!

Our election will take place in January at the Annual Meeting (date to be determined).
Nominating Committee
Marianne Timmons (Chair), Elaine Garofalo, and Lee Taylor

Current Week at St Pete Bridge Club

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This week at SPBC

Nov 26 through December 2

Games

Sun. Nov 26 1:00 pm Team Game 8 is Enough Club Championship

Mon. Nov 27 12:30 pm Open Pairs Unit Game

Tues. ..........

Current Game Schedule at the St Petersburg Bridge Club

Open Games

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 12:30 pm

FREE 30 minute "Chalk Talk" mini lesson!

Tuesday is a Mentee/Mentor Open Game

"Mentee Focus" (players are encouraged to play with a Mentee

499er Game on Friday at 12:30

(occasionally blended with the Open during off-season, but 499ers will still have their own category!)

Sunday: Handicapped TEAM Game at 1:00 pm

Learn with Jack

Learn with Jack

A NEW CLASS/GAME on Thursdays at 12:30 pm

This is recommended not only for newer players but for ANY non-expert!

We will play a few RANDOM hands -- one at a time with each table playing the same hand -- and at the conclusion of each hand, Jack will lead a discussion. Bidding. Play. Defense. We never know what will come up!

We will start with a mini-lesson and be done around 3 PM

NO, you do not need a partner! The cost is ten dollars; tickets accepted.

2023 Board of Directors

2023 Officers and Board of Directors

Don Aschenbrenner

Howard Braun

Elaine Garofalo

Pamela Gorbics

Sandy Peterson

Bruce Philipoom

Genie Skypek

Lee Taylor

Marianne Timmons

Jack Wilde

President,

Howard Braun

Vice-President,

Elaine Garofalo

Secretary,

Sandy Peterson

Treasurer

Bruce Philipoom

Results

Wed December 6, 2023

Wednesday Afternoon Pairs

Tue December 5, 2023

Tuesday Afternoon Pairs

Mon December 4, 2023

Monday Afternoon Pairs

Seagram Seminar December 2023


Click to Register

Membership 2024

We are now taking membership dues

Click to Join or Renew!

Our Online Store

Taco with Jeff

SLAM-Quick Reference Books


Click to Purchase

SEBCC On-Line Games

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On-Line Games Available at (Southeast Bridge Club Consortium)

SEBCC offers a great opportunity for you and your partner who can't (yet) come to the club or want a game at a time when a face-to-face game is not available. ..........

* * ALERT - Viewing Our Website by Phone **

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How to View our Website Homepage or Results using your Cell Phone. ..........

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