| 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!
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| This MONTH at St Pete Bridge Club |
Every week presents numerous learning opportunities.
Remember, every great bridge player was once a beginner, and who knows, you might make a few new friends along the way—so let’s deal you in for some laughter and learning!
Thursday afternoon INDIVIDUAL GAME - NEW
Come early at 11:30 AM for a mini-lesson, then stay after the game for a hand review.
Fridays, 0-299 Helping Game 12:00 pm - NEW
11:00 am Mini-Lesson by Sheryl Hobbs
New Merry Schainblatt's Summer Classes online store
Bridge teacher Merry Schainblatt is passionate about helping her students learn to play bridge and love the game. In her Spring 2026 series, she offers classes for beginning and intermediate players who are looking to learn about bidding and play of the hand. She has plenty to offer intermediate and advanced players who are ready to move to the next level with more conventions and more solid bridge expertise.
Merry Schainblatt, beginner classes on Saturdays, 10-12 pm
The class begins Saturday, March 7, and runs 8+ weeks. The first 4 lessons are free. If they want to continue, the whole class is $80. The class meets from 10 am to 12 noon.
Merry Schainblatt, Intermediate class on Saturday, March 7, 1:00 pm
The intermediate class covers the play of the hand and common conventions, which will be great for newer players. s.
Tuesday's Play & Learn game for beginners.
A friendly way to practice new skills.
There is a mini lesson at 9. Play at 9:30.
Snacks available
Feel free to bring something as well
Donations welcome
Mentor-Mentee Focus pairs on Tuesdays.
We have mentors looking for mentees. Are you eager to level up your bridge game? We believe that having a mentor can be a game-changer. Join us for our Open game on Tuesday, where we warmly welcome players of all skill levels, and have a special focus on mentorship—because who doesn’t love a little guidance while trying to outsmart your opponents?
Plus, if Tuesdays don’t fit your schedule, many of our mentors are more than happy to play with you on other days too!
So, don’t hesitate— Reach out to Catherine Vogel to arrange your partnership for personalized mentorship opportunities.
Wednesday Mornings are for under-50 MP players!
Every Wednesday morning at 9, the St. Petersburg Bridge Club opens its doors for a delightful supervised play game where the atmosphere is as warm and inviting as a fresh cup of coffee! Asking questions is not only welcomed but encouraged! Plus, you don’t need to worry about finding a partner, so just grab your enthusiasm and come join the fun! It’s a fantastic opportunity to enhance your skills in a relaxed environment while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow bridge enthusiasts. And you can earn those coveted masterpoints in a friendly game. As long as there are two tables, the game is official!
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| Upcoming Events |
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Memorial Day Party
May 25th
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JUNE CALENDAR
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JUNE CLASSES
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July 3rd
Independence Day Extravaganza
September 5th, 6th & 7th
Labor Day Tournament
December 12th
Holiday Party
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January 22, 2027
Annual Meeting |
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| We Need Your Help |
Dear Members,
We want to remind everyone that our club is run by its members, and volunteers are vital to keeping our games fun and organized. Your support helps us maintain a welcoming environment for all.
If you’re able to help, please share your availability or just pitch in at our next game.
We need volunteers for each weekday game to put out coffee and snacks around 11:30 am before play begins. Afterward, we appreciate assistance with putting away the food, straightening up the kitchen and card room, taking out the trash, and restocking the drink coolers.
We don’t expect anyone to take on these tasks permanently, so even a little help goes a long way. Many current volunteers are feeling stretched, so sharing the workload would be greatly appreciated.
A sign-up calendar will be posted for kitchen and cleanup duties. Signing up for even a few games makes a big difference. And feel free to join in with those already signed up!
Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement.
Sincerely,
Pamela Gorbics, President
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| 2026 Board of Directors |
2026 Officers and Board of Directors
| Don Aschenbrenner |
Anita Barrett |
Russell Craft |
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Pam Gorbics |
Milferd Jones |
Amy Heckler |
Trudy O'brien |
Babs Thacker |
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President,
Pam Gorbics
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Vice-President
Babs Thacker
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Secretary,
Amy Heckler
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Treasurer
Don Aschenbrenne
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| Derby Party Thanks! |
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A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to our Derby Party! It was a delightful evening filled with laughter, camaraderie, and perhaps a few spirited wagers on our four-legged friends.
Your enthusiasm truly brought the event to life, showcasing the strong sense of community that makes the St. Petersburg Bridge Club so special.
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| Sally Meckstroth Celebration Pictures |
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| Barbara Seargram Videos |
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Barbara Seagram has found another great way to reach players and support the St Petersburg Bridge Club at the same time!
Each video purchase supports the club 100%. Thank you, Barbara!
Click to Purchase at our Online Store
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| Newsletter for JANUARY |
Newsletter for January
POINTS POINTS POINTS!
Every game in January will offer increased master point awards.
Most of the games are Junior Fund games, which award 81.8% sectional-rated games.
These games are used to promote bridge among players under 21.
Please support these games and the up-and-coming bridge wizards of the future.
ANNUAL MEETING AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS
January 12th at 11:00 "Be THERE or be SQUARE!" The 2025 Board, under the leadership of Catherine Vogel, accomplished many goals. The main goal was to improve the club's financial standing. Some things, from prior board efforts, came to fruition in 2025. Find out where the club finances stand now. There will be an announcement of the new board members. Also, find out who gets Kudos for winning the most master points at our club.
8 IS ENOUGH Team Game, Sunday, January 18th,
Swiss Team game every Sunday at 1:00. Pam is delighted to find partners and teammates. Call 201.247.1595
NATIONAL SWISS TEAMS Sunday, January 25th at 1:00 PM awards 50% red master points.
Dr. Bob is back for pregame lessons on Mondays @ 10:30. Merry will be teaching newbies on Saturdays beginning in February.
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| District 9 NAP Finals Results |
Congratulations! - To St Pete Bridge Club members who competed in Orlando at the District 9 Finals. They will represent District 9 and go on to the NAP finals in St. Louis next month.
Zenon and Elizabeth Wachowicz qualified in 1st place in Flight B. Sheryl Hobbs and Katie Burton qualified in 3rd place in Flight B. Jack Brawner and John Vega qualified in 2nd place in Flight A.
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| Candidate Nominations for the St Pete Bridge Club Board of Directors 2026 |
| Amy Heckler |
Trudy O'Brien |
Jim Young |
Annual Meeting Date is Monday, January 12, 2026
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| Looking for a Partner for a Face-to-Face Game (Copy) |
If you would like to Post a request for a partner, please enter the details below.
Our partnership coordinator for pairs games is
Elaine Garofalo - elaine.garofalo@gmail.com (727) 348 -6183 )
For our Sunday team games, whether you need a partner or a team call Pam Gorbics (201-247-1595)
Note that your email and telephone number will be viewable by all by others looking for a partner
You are encouaged to Directly contact others by Phone or Email also looking for a partner for the same date/time.
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| President's Message - September 2025 |
Dear St. Pete Bridge Club Members and all players and friends,
As we tally the results from our Labor Day tournament and head into peak hurricane season, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the last year.
In October 2024, Hurricane Milton damaged our club building, forcing us to shut down for two months. However, thanks to you, our members, we not only survived but also thrived. Despite the storm, we are in much better financial shape due to the hard work of many volunteers.
We made the difficult decision to dispense with a paid club manager earlier this year and run the club with volunteers. This has been an enormous effort by many members, who have donated their time to create our monthly club calendar, schedule our games, hire directors, maintain our facilities, and provide for our members. I can’t thank you enough for all your efforts.
We refinanced our 10-year building loan in June by taking out a 5-year mortgage with Regions Bank for just under $100,000. Many thanks to all those members who loaned us more than half a million dollars ten years ago to purchase our club building, and to those who so generously donated their remaining loan balances.
Last year, we were approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. This resulted in our receiving an exemption from sales taxes and our $13,000 annual property taxes. It also makes any donations to the St. Petersburg Bridge Club tax-deductible.
Despite getting our financial house in order, membership and game fees only cover about 80% of the costs to run the club. The remaining 20% is comprised of education revenues from our Bridge booklet sales and Bridge classes, as well as donations from members like you.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Club, whether it be an IRA donation as part of your annual Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), a legacy donation as part of your estate plan, or any other method of your choice, please get in touch with me or any one of our board members.
Thank you for all you do to contribute to our club, whether it be volunteering, bringing food, or attending our games. Without your continued support, we would cease to exist.
Sincerely,
Catherine Vogel, President
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Dear St. Pete Bridge Club Members and all players and friends,
As we tally the results from our Labor Day tournament and head into peak hurricane season, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the last year.
In October 2024, Hurricane Milton damaged our club building, forcing us to shut down for two months. ..........
..... see more |
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| 2025 Board of Directors |
2025 Officers and Board of Directors
| Don Aschenbrenner |
Anita Barrett |
Russell Craft |
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Pam Gorbics |
Milferd Jones |
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Lee Taylor |
Babs Thacker |
Catherine Vogel |
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President,
Catherine Vogel
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Vice-President
Babs Thacker
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Secretary,
Pam Gorbics
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Treasurer
Don Aschenbrenne
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