Minnesota Bridge

Spring Has Sprung for Tony Ames - and Bridge for Us!

Tony is not only a master playing at the bridge table--
He's also superb at organizing bridge for everyone!
Check out all the details below!

 

Face-to-Face Games

Monday - 11:45 Edina Senior Center - 5280 Grandview Square

Tuesday - 12:15  Lesson - 12:45 - 0-750 average - 6001 Lyndale Ave S.  Mpls

Wednesday - 11:45  Edina Senior Center

Thursday - 12:00  Maple Grove Community Center - 12951 Weaver Lake Rd 

Friday - 1:00  Edina Senior Center

Saturday - 1:00  6001 Lyndale Ave S.  Mpls

 

Online Games

Monday - 12:30

Wednesday - 12:30

Thursday - 9:30 (0-500)

Friday - 7:15 pm

Tony Ames

Minutes of Unit 178 Board Meeting, March 2, 2022

Our Thanks to Board President Steve Gaynor
And Those who Help All Unit 178 Members
Who Improve Bridge for Us!

Subject: Minutes of Unit 178 Board Meeting, March 2, 2022
**********************************************************************

Date: March 30, 2022

To: Steve Gaynor

The ZOOM meeting was called to order by Board Pres. Steve Gaynor 

Board Members Present: Cass Weil, Jane Schmidt, John Schlundt, Sue Sanger, Vicky Smith, Richard Cottle

Guests: Teri Blu, Deanna Liddy

Financial Report: Approved

Gopher Regional: May 23—May 28, Monday—Thursday

Championships: 2 sessions, bracketed

Gold points in side games (2 games required)

Lunch and Learn: Tuesday—Friday

Free coffee

 

Sectionals: Who is financially responsible? Possible dates: Aquatennial and Labor Day. Mayflower will have space available for Sectionals.

Deanna suggests: Ask membership, elect committee, elect a chair, list responsibilities.

 Compensation for Sectional game operators: Operators are “owners”/managers of sectional games. Question: Should other Unit 178 games be closed during sectionals? Game operators, if asked t close during sectionals, could be paid to direct IN games. No need for action at this time.                                                                                    

Face-to-Face events: Attendance could increase as Covid declines. On-line Alliances in ACBL (5), have as many as 40 tables per region. 

Elections: Board members are needed to help find candidates. 

North American Pairs/Grand National Teams: Money is available to help pay costs. Coordinator needed to help get players. 

Miscellaneous: Social game players should be encouraged to join ACBL. Non-stress games (Saturday nights?) with ACBL mentor might be played. Chip Blu has designed a website— https://unit 178.com 

Next meeting: April 6 

Adjourned

 

The MN Gopher is Back! - By Connie Nelson

Connie Nelson Gives us The Scoop!
The MN Gopher is BACK!

 

Co-Chairs Patti Stuhlman and Warren Nelson are happy to announce that the 2022 MN GOPHER REGIONAL is back for face-to-face tournament play.  Everyone is welcome!

Six days of tournament play will start on Monday, May 23^rd and run through Saturday, May 28th.  We have a streamlined schedule, with sessions starting at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily. 

Each day offers both two-session and single-session events that pay Gold and Red points.  Open Pairs, Gold Rush Pairs, and Bracketed Swiss Teams will be held each week day, as well as single-session I/N Pairs and Open Side Pairs.  On Saturday, we will have offer Stratiflighted  A/X and B/C/D Swiss Teams, along with the I/N Pairs and Open Side Games.  Regardless of your experience level, or whether you can play two sessions or only one, a game is waiting for you! 

The tournament will be held at the Crowne Plaza Aire Hotel in Bloomington (34^th Avenue South and American Blvd), near the Mall of America.  Our bridge tournament rate is only $99/night for single or double rooms ($129/night for suites).  This special rate is available through May 8^th by phone or online, using code MGB --- so reserve your room now!

To ensure the safest and most hospitable playing environment, all ACBL protocols regarding proof of COVID vaccination and masking in effect at tournament time will be followed, and Zero Tolerance enforced. 

If you need a partner, no problem!  Please contact Tom or Sue Grue at ([email protected]) or call 702-454-5352.   Let’s pack the tables and showcase Minnesota's great bridge community.  

We can’t wait to see YOU back at the tables! 

“Go-Pher” the Gold!   “Go-Pher” the Fun!

____________________

For more information, check out: bit.ly/gopherregional, or go to “ACBL Tournaments.”

Bridge Birthdays and Wishes from St. Cloud Bridge Club!

Bridge-Related Birthday “Wishes”

By Connie Nelson

Once again, we are SO fortunate to have Connie Nelson alert
to what's happening in St. Cloud's neck of the woods!
Connie - we are so grateful to you for the news you share - 
The applause you deliver to those who are doing well.

AND - we are DELIGHTED that a fun and exciting 
success on your part is popping up on YOUR birthday!

Enjoy, everyone! Here's CONNIE!!!  
*************************************************************

On February 10, Robert Nairn of the St Cloud Bridge Club turned eighty-nine years young.  You may recall that I’ve written about Robert before. He was our “Rookie of the Year” in 2018, when he won the Unit 103 Mini-McKenney race for the 0-5 master point range.   In 2020, he won the 50-100 Mini-McKenney race not only for Unit 103, but across all of District 14.  In 2021, he was one of four St Cloud players who became District 14 GNT Flight C Champions, and represented District 14 in the National GNT competition.

So what’s he done lately?

As I mentioned, his 89^th birthday was on February 10.  On that day, Robert shared that his “birthday wish” was to partner with each and every member of our St Cloud Club.  He said, “I hope to accomplish this before I turn 90!!!” 

And, I’m here to tell you…. he is making great progress.  As of March 17, he has played a Club game with thirteen different partners – and there were only fifteen games held during that time period!   He also has ten more players already scheduled for a game.   I think he’s going to make sure his birthday wish is granted, don’t you?

You know that old saying, “Leave a legacy for bridge.  Encourage others to follow suit!”  To me, Robert is blazing quite a living legacy exemplifying the love of bridge  --- as well as sharing that love of the game with many different partners.

The second birthday “wish” involves me, Connie Nelson.  My birthday is February 29^th, and I had a milestone birthday coming up… one of those where the front number changes.  To state it plainly,  I was turning seventy and I had my sights set on making my Silver Life Master before I did.  On February 28^th, I received my 1000^th point in Club play and accomplished my birthday “wish” in the nick of time.  That was really fun! – and made that front-number change a little easier to take.

So make some bridge-related birthday wishes yourself!   It turns out they are quite attainable.

Nice News for March and April - Games at Plymouth Bridge!

PLYMOUTH BRIDGE

Edina Senior Center
5280 Grandview Square

Fridays - 12:45pm

MARCH
18TH - GNT Qualifier and Practice ($8)
25TH - Stratified Pairs ($6)

APRIL
1ST - Stratified Pairs ($6)
8TH - Swiss Teams Fundraiser ($7)
15TH - Sectional at Clubs ($8)
22ND - IMP Pairs Club Championship ($6)

Directors & Partners - Tony Ames
952.200.3871

Special Event Sunday, March 20TH - 1PM
Please bring something good to share!

On-Line "Last Chance Qualifier & Practice"
Thursday March 31ST - 6:30PM

Proof of Covid vaccination must be provided.
You can email a copy of your vaccination card to
[email protected] or bring it to your first game.

 

Looking for a Unit Secretary for Unit 103 Board Meetings

Unit Secretary:

Take the minutes of the Unit 103 Board meetings (currently on Zoom 4 to 6 meeting per year), email Board correspondence, announcements, keep unit records and digital documents current.

Position receives a small stipend and reimbursement for any related expenses.

Contact Patti Huiras 651-343-2078 or email [email protected] to apply for this position.

 

 

 

Are You a Beginner Bridge Player?

Then YOU are In Luck!

 

Long time Bridge Instructor, Teri Blu, Is Offering an 8 Week Beginner Bridge Course!

 

The course will be held at the Edina Senior Center - and shall be held from 
Tuesday, April 5th, through May 24th

For information and registration, please call:  952.833.9570

(Additional classes will be held in Summer and Fall)

Bridge is an incredibly fascinating, challenging and amazing game!

Be certain to look into this marvelous opportunity; you'll be delighted!

 

 

 

2021 Unit 103 - Masterpoint Race Awards Celebration!

Sue Greenberg Has NEWS!

Unit 103 is Having It's Masterpoint Race Awards Celebration!

Let's ALL Celebrate!

At the Bridge Center of St. Paul - 2603 6th Avenue East
                                                         North St. Paul, MN  55109

WHEN?
Saturday, April 23, 2022

TIME?
11AM 
Free Lunch for All Players
Awards presented

A Unit Championship at 12:30PM Will Follow

Entry Fee is $6.00  (Award winners play for free)

Please RSVP by April 15, 2022 to the Bridge Center of St. Paul
651-490-5430
[email protected]
Or use the sign-up sheet at the Bridge Center

Questions?
Please contact the Bridge Center or Sue Greenberg
[email protected]

Proof of vaccination and ACBL/CDC masking in place

Looking forward to seeing EVERYONE there!

 

 

 

Bridge - The AMAZING Game!

Bridge offers a wealth of fun, fascination, learning, friendships - and sometimes WINNING!  And part of all this (plus plenty more) is a function of bridge being unique for each of us.

When I first learned bridge, I was in college in Madison, Wisconsin.  I played a myriad of different card games.  Oddly enough, bridge was NOT one of them - until some encouraged me to learn a bit.  I might have remained in the "oh, I'll play a game or two every few weeks" status. But others "took me on" - and I got hooked.  

Some of us have such amazing abilities, their game "clicks" and they become talented "faster than a speeding bullet!"  Joey Grue was one of those people.  I remember watching him play a hand, get doubled and go down some # of tricks.  Had it been me - I might have had some tears after that.  Joe?  No way!  It was on to the next hand.  And easy for those more experienced to see that this guy had talent and No Fear!

All of us who have played for some time are aware that abilities can be extremely different from one another.  Some - forever - stick to the "game every week or two" crowd - and that satisfied them.  Others became more and more intrigued.  They'd watch, they'd listen, they'd learn from those who had been playing longer.  And their games grew and improved.

The last couple of years, due to Covid - and more - have altered our bridge world more than we might ever have imagined.  Yet it doesn't mean that we should forget this fascinating game.  Neophite?  Frequently winning intermediate?  Another player with Grue "DNA" in their blood?  Whatever works well for our players - they should keep on!  

I'd love to see many of us express their feelings about a game that has intrigued millions for ages.  Have stories that thrilled you to no end?  Did you become a Life Master - or a Grand Life Master?  Did one of the most exciting aspects of bridge grab you - a WIN?!

Whether you are someone starting to stick their toes into this fascinating yet sometimes frustrating and challenging - or someone who has done so amazingly well, you are known around the world - realize this.  The game can be what YOU want it to be - which includes a lifetime of blasts!  And if you wish to do so, we'd love to hear YOUR experiences about this amazing game!  Please drop me a line - and grab your stories for those who are learning - and may one day end up a super star, too!