Yet again, big thanks from your webmaster, moi, and from all the rest of our bridge community for another excellent report from Our Woman in St. Cloud - Connie Nelson.
We appreciate all the stories, the great photos - and - we congratulate Connie herself for achieving that goal to which all bridge players aspire: Life Master!
Connie's story and others who have attained great heights are below!
The year 2019 might be unprecedented for the number of St. Cloud Bridge Club members who became new Life Masters, or achieved other Bridge master point milestones!
New Life Masters
Club Director Kory Solarz & Life Master Connie Nelson
Kicking off the year, I reached my 500th point at the Winter Tournament in St. Paul on January 26th. After earning three silver points there and having more than enough colored points, I remember frantically asking Director Kim Hayward: “Do Silver points count for Black?” When she answered “Yes,” I was thrilled. Kim interrupted the play to introduce me as a new Life Master. Back in St. Cloud, I brought in a home-baked cake to celebrate with the Club.
Life Master Jim Schnepf and Director Kory Solarz
In March 2019, during regular club play, Jim Schnepf hit the magic number of 500 points. He has always said that points don’t matter to him as much as playing each hand well, but he also brought in a cake to celebrate!
Life Master Tom Buttweiller
Tom Buttweiller became a Life Master fittingly at our own St. Cloud Sectional in June. With his philosophy of “live one day at a time,” he took it in stride - modestly saying it was just another day. However, he later sponsored a pizza and cake party for the whole club to enjoy, so it must have been a somewhat special milestone for him.
At the Rochester Regional in September, Club Member Beverly Berg received the final gold points she needed and was announced as a new Life Master.
Life Master Bev Berg
Sadly, Bev left for her winter home of Florida before the St. Cloud Club could celebrate with her. But, we celebrated her with a cake and sent her a picture across the miles.
Bev kiddingly responded, “Sending me a picture of you all enjoying a cake to celebrate my Life Master is kind of like having a going away party for me -- and not inviting me!"
Carol Ross hit her magic number during the Worldwide Instant Match Point Game held Halloween afternoon at our local club. Carol and her partner Jane Curtis came in first East-West, garnering 3 points – including the one Gold point Carol needed. When I asked Carol what becoming a Life Master meant to her, she answered, “Now I don’t have to run all over chasing that last elusive Gold point. I can sit back and have fun playing bridge. I am smiling today!”
Life Master Carol Ross
For Carol’s partner Jane Curtis, that Worldwide Game gave her the last Gold Point she needed as well. But, Jane still had 2.6 Silver Points to go to achieve Life Master. Just as the year was drawing to a close, she accomplished that at the St. Paul Winter Sectional. Her team came in first overall on December 7th, and Jane became our sixth Life Master of 2019!
Life Master Jane Curtis
New Heights
One of our Club Directors - Joe Lisbon - announced at our Halloween party that he achieved Ruby Life Master during regular October Club play. Unfortunately, Joe took off for Florida the very next day, so we haven’t had a chance to celebrate his achievement with him.
Ruby Life Master Joe Lisbon
Also at the Rochester Regional in September, Paul Sitz became a Gold Life Master! Paul drives up to play at our Club from Ramsey MN, and volunteers as a mentor for others. We all appreciate his weekly journey…. as well as his heart of “Gold!”
Gold Life Master Paul Sitz
Cheers to all these 2019 “Masters! And here’s wishing all a happy and blessed 2020.
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