Minnesota Bridge

Making Minnesota Bridge Great Again!

If I were to guess, my guess would be that a great many of us have been confounded by bridge in Minnesota during the last couple of years.  Some of us, without clubs holding games, went to online bridge in an effort to be able to play.  Others went to different states, maybe to grab some weather warmer than minus 15 - or because those areas had more "freedoms" to play at the table instead of from our bedrooms.

Frankly, some of us decided to simply engage in other activities; any sort of bridge became
"less" because current bridge became less familiar.

Some decided to take the current change as an opportunity to take a trip somewhere, learn new activities - or simply decided that they would wait until things calmed down - and then they'd decide what made the most sense for them.

It does seem like improvement IS beginning to come to bridge!  Won't be the same everywhere; we can't predict what coming months will do.  Yet, I do think it IS a good time to at least cogitate on a variety of ideas.  For many of us, bridge has been a highlight - or THE highlight - of our lives!  So if we can "pump it up again" - that would be super.

If we could all take a bit of time and think about what we - and others - could do to "save bridge"  - that would be fabulous.  I'm betting there are all sorts of fine ideas.

We could get some of our newby juniors to learn bridge.  Elite players could "do good" both by teaching some, meeting those who are new to the game - or just trying to "up" their game and get better and better.

I recall how - many moons ago - this newby player (yours truly!) would meet people, be helped, be thrilled when something went great - and not so much when I didn't know what I was doing, etc.  

Whoever would like to participate in such adventures, meet new people, start again to be with friends At the Table instead of their bedroom... I'm betting that not only would it be loads of fun - but - we could start building up again - irrespective of age, ability, free time, willingness to help - and so forth.  Sound appealing to you?  I hope so!  And if you have ANY fine ideas for making bridge great again - BRING IT ON!!  I and others will be SO THANKFUL!!

Peg

Great News from Steve Gaynor - The Minnesota Gopher Regional in May!!

Minnesota Gopher Regional May 23-28, 2022 sanction # 2205105

Fully vaccinated players only (must show proof of vaccination).
We follow ACBL protocol for masking for the safety of all.

CROWNE PLAZA AIRE HOTEL @ MALL OF AMERICA.
(Please park on the top level of the Parking Lot).

Walking distance from the recently expanded and Fabulous MALL OF AMERICA
American Blvd & 34th Ave S (3 Appletree Square) Bloomington, MN 55425
(I-494 and 34th Ave. So.) 952-854-9000.

Ask for the MN Gopher 
Regional Bridge Tournament (Code –MGB) rate: $99 sgl/dbl; Suite - $129
 Book by phone or on-line Reserve rooms by May 8, 2022.

Do not accept a higher room rate – call or e-mail Patti with problems.
Daily Hospitality: Snacks and FREE COFFEE & TEA every session

MONDAY, MAY 23
10:00 MONDAY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
MONDAY BRACKETED SWISS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
MORNING SIDE GAME SERIES #1
2:30 MONDAY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
MONDAY BRACKETED SWISS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
AFTERNOON SIDE GAME SERIES #1

TUESDAY, MAY 24
10:00 MARY MEINECKE OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
TUESDAY BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
MORNING SIDE GAME SERIES #2
2:30 MARY MEINECKE OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 2nd OF 2 SESSIONS
TUESDAY BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS 2nd OF 2 SESSIONS
AFTERNOON SIDE GAME SERIES #2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
10:00 WEDNESDAY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY BRACKETED SWISS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
MORNING SIDE GAME SERIES #3
2:30 WEDNESDAY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY BRACKETED SWISS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
AFTERNOON SIDE GAME SERIES #3

THURSDAY, MAY 26
10:00 LARRY OAKEY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
THURSDAY BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
MORNING SIDE GAME SERIES #4 (FINAL)
2:30
LARRY OAKEY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
THURSDAY BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
AFTERNOON SIDE GAME SERIES #4 (FINAL)

FRIDAY, MAY 27
10:00 FRIDAY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
FRIDAY BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
WEEKEND SIDE GAME SERIES #1
2:30 FRIDAY OPEN AND GOLD RUSH PAIRS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
FRIDAY BRACKETED SWISS TEAMS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
WEEKEND SIDE GAME SERIES #2

SATURDAY, MAY 28
10:00 BRUCE BOJE A/X & BCD SWISS TEAMS 1ST OF 2 SESSIONS
WEEKEND SIDE GAME SERIES #3
2:30 BRUCE BOJE A/X & BCD SWISS TEAMS 2ND OF 2 SESSIONS
WEEKEND SIDE GAME SERIES #4 (FINAL)

I/N PAIR GAMES: MORNING AND AFTERNOON 

SINGLE SESSIONS MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
LUNCH AND LEARN TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IN I/N PLAYING AREA.

Any team, regardless of their MP holding, may request to play up in any team event. Please request this at least 30 minutes prior to game time.
 The directors retain the rights to divide the brackets where they deem appropriate. Team strata when applicable, will be decided
by the average of the top 4 MP holdings on each team.
Side game series pays Gold points for section tops and overall finishes as long as you play in two or more sessions of the same series.
 Overall awards are paid individually so you can have different partners.

Stratified Pair Events: Stratified by Average of both players
A: 0-unlimited B: 0-3000. C: 0-1500.
Team events: Stratified (when applicable) by Average of all team members
A: 0-unl. X: 0-5000. B 0-3000. C: 0-1250 D: 0-750
Gold Rush Pairs: A: 0-750. B: 0-300. C: 0-100.
(Gold Rush limited to players with 750 or fewer points).


Entry Fees: $15 person/session; $10 person/session for I/N events.
Unpaid ACBL members $4 more per session.
$5/person/session for current students under 25 with proper ID.
This event complies with ACBL non-smoking regulations.

Patti Stuhlman, Chair [email protected] 612-865-2527
Partnerships – Sue Grue [email protected] 702-454-5352 

Come one; come all!  We are thrilled to see everyone!

Breaking News! – 2022 Granite City Sectional

Our Thanks to Connie Nelson
And Kory Solarz
These Two Fine Players and Organizers
Have New Information for the Granite City Sectional 2022!
Come One - Come ALL!!!

 

New Dates & New Location

By Connie Nelson

The St Cloud Bridge Club is happy to announce that – COVID dependent – we are planning to hold our Granite City Sectional once again this year. 

At a New Location.  We will be hosting our tournament at a new venue – the Sartell Community Center, 850 – 19^th Street South, Sartell MN  56377.   Since returning to face-to-face bridge, we have been playing one of our local Club games here and really enjoy the setting.  The space is all one level and well-lit.

For most players, you will not be driving any further than our former location.  (But don’t put your car on auto-pilot and accidentally drive to the Whitney Senior Center!)  At the new location, there will still be free parking.  It also offers more nearby restaurant options for players between games. 

We hope many of you will come.  And, yes! – we will still offer some homemade goodies for which we are well- known.

On New Dates.  To make this happen, we had to change the dates of our Sectional.  We will be holding it one week later than in other years.  Our Granite City Sectional will now be Thursday, Friday and Saturday on June 23-25^th.    This has the added benefit that it will no longer be on the days immediately preceding Father’s Day Sunday, which we hope will allow many more to attend. 

So mark your calendars and hold these dates!  Start to line up partnerships and teams.  As usual, we will be holding both team and pair games.

If you have any questions, please Email Kory Solarz ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]).

 

Unit 103 Board - Updates as Available

 

President:  Patti Huiras

Vice President:  Sue Greenberg

Directors:

        Connie Nelson

        Matt Baylow

        Amy Dutton

        Rajiv Kapadia

        Tom Owens

        Keith Thompson

Financial Advisor:  Lance Chamberlain

 

Patti Huiras

Unit 103 Board President

[email protected]

651-343-2078

Platinum Shines for Cindy and Bob!

We are so thrilled that the Baldersons have now reached the second highest level of accomplishment in our bridge world; Platinum Life Master.  Not many ever reach those heights - and I am so grateful to Bob for his marvelous stories about he and Cindy's decades of success, fun, friendship and much more.

Yet, I must share some "Cindy experiences" of my own - both because they have been so meaningful to me - and because I've been blessed and awed at Cindy's multitude of achievements.  Not only is she a bridge star - but Cindy has "stars" for so much of life, too.
                                                                                                                                                                        I met Cindy at Dayton-Hudson Corporation in downtown Minneapolis.  Cindy managed a wide scope at DHC, and I became her backup helper for "the big guns", special events, travel and much more. Very rapidly I became amazed at Cindy's enormous range of skills and how deftly she handled EVERYTHING - including dealing with "the guns".  I was particularly impressed with how well she got along with everyone and everything and I felt so lucky to be learning from "the master".                                                     
One thing I learned is that Cindy knew how to play bridge, yet between work, her daughter Steff and more, she had stopped playing.  Knowing how capable she was, I immediately encouraged her to start again - and - she did!  We'd often play together, Cindy being wild and fearless and me hanging on for dear life...  But it sure worked and we sure had fun!

If I were to list all that Cindy could do, how much everyone appreciated her, that she was a charmer, hard worker... I'd be typing away for days.  The ultimate was when she and Bob met each other, married, and went on to yet again succeed at so much, be it work, family, friends - or bridge.

We are all fortunate to have Bob and Cindy in our bridge world in a myriad of ways. I look forward to being "wowed" by many more of their achievements... and being so lucky to have these truly special people in our wonderful bridge world.  Congrats again, Baldersons - our delightful, shining stars!