Our game schedule for this week is as follows:

As many of you know, for a number of years now, ACBL has promoted special charity games in support of the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.acbl.org/clubs_page/special-events/the-longest-day/ . Initially, the plan was for clubs to hold games around the clock on "the longest day," June 21. This year all virtual club games held on June 20 and June 21 will benefit Alzheimers. The online games those two days will offer double the regular masterpoints. For games held those days, ACBL is increasing the table fee from $1 to $4 with the difference being the donation. Our game fees for those games will be $7 (instead of $6) to cover the increase in the ACBL table fee.

Speaking of our virtual club games, we have been getting inquiries as to how eligibility to play in our games is determined. ACBL calls the shots on this. ACBL has defined a club's members as anyone who has played at the club, in its physical space, at any time during the fourteen months ended February 29, 2020. This includes our regular club games as well as sectional tournament games held at our physical location.

ACBL recently changed the procedure for allowing guests to play in the virtual club games. There is now a 5% cap on the number of guests playing in those games. In addition, a guest must play with a member; that is, two guests may not play together. In order to manage the 5% restriction, we ask that, if you want to play with a guest, you contact our BBO director, VACB127001, as soon as possible after registration for that game opens. If there is room for your guest, the director will grant permission and you and your guest may register for the game. This needs to be done each time you and a guest want to play together. So far, we have not reached the 5% cap.

Knowing that some clubs in our area have reopened, you are undoubtedly curious as to where our club stands with its plans to reopen. A Reopening Committee has been formed consisting of Lee Taylor, chair, Pam Gorbics and Howard Braun. The Committee is hard at work identifying the risks inherent in our activities and recommending the appropriate steps to mitigate those risks. We will not reopen until it is safe to do so.

In their constant effort to meet the needs of our members and players, our BBO directors want to explore running a virtual club game with two sections. We will try this for the first time on Sunday, June 21, with a Limited Section, 0-499, starting at 12 Noon that day and the Open Section starting at 1 PM that day.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I want to thank everyone who is 

making it possible for our club to survive this crisis. Our BBO directors, our 

"Zoom teacher" and those of you who send us your generous donations 

are integral to our survival.

Our game schedule for this week is as follows:

As many of you know, for a number of years now, ACBL has promoted special charity games in support of the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.acbl.org/clubs_page/special-events/the-longest-day/ . ..........

Silver Week, May 25 through May 31, was a big hit with our players.  We had 152 tables in play in our virtual club that week.  With the points tripled by ACBL, our players received 253.75 silver points!  Congratulations to all.  I know of at least one player who was able to advance to his next ACBL designation as a result. 

At least three clubs in our general area are reopening between now, some as early as next week, and the beginning of July.  Although it is very tempting to join those who are reopening, we are showing our [heavy] mettle and exercising extreme caution.  We are reluctant to reopen until we are comfortable that we have taken the appropriate steps to make it safe for you, our members and guests, to return to the club.

Lee Taylor continues to head the effort to plan for our reopening.  He is in the process of forming a committee to work with him to identify the risks inherent in reopening and to take the appropriate actions to mitigate those risks.   ACBL recently published its Club Safety Considerations.  You can view that document by clicking on the following: https://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/F2F.pdf.  I have asked Lee to incorporate ACBL's recommendations in the reopening plan that he and his committee are developing.  Lee and his committee will keep you informed as to their progress.

I continue to be heartened by everyone's generosity.  We have a number of volunteers such as Merry Schainblatt, Dar Webb, and Lee Taylor who devote many hours working in support of our club.  Our three BBO game directors, Elaine Garofalo, Pam Gorbics and Paul Friedman, donate many more hours on the club's behalf than their director compensation covers.   

And last, but not least, contributions, very heavy metal, from you continue to arrive daily.

Joanne B. Wharton

President and Acting Manager

Our game schedule for next week remains unchanged.

Silver Week, May 25 through May 31, was a big hit with our players.  We had 152 tables in play in our virtual club that week.  With the points tripled by ACBL, our players received 253. ..........

The St. Petersburg Bridge Club is pleased to advise you that the June 2020 Bulletin is now available.

(Note that you can download the Bulletin in three different formats according to your needs. The new PDF format makes it easy to print any page for your records and bridge library,)

Thanks to Mike Jacobs and Carol Garnett for their hard work producing the Bulletin each month.

The St. Petersburg Bridge Club is pleased to advise you that the June 2020 Bulletin is now available.

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

Questions: contact Lee Taylor by phone (727.744.0406). The problem in Viewing came with the upgrade to a new version of the Standard BridgeWebs Software.

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