More than a few in the bridge community are not positive about the future of our game. "Only old people play now." "Younger people aren't interested in bridge anymore." "Too late to fix what is wrong." And so forth and so on.
Yet in Minnesota, we have a positive attitude! A number of us think just the opposite. We know that bridge is the greatest mind game ever. We know that people of any age can learn and enjoy it. We know that many of us have played since we were teenagers - and decades later, still love bridge and are continually intrigued and amazed and fascinated by the game.
So here are stories about the people who have been promoting our game, sharing the discovery of bridge and its competitors to students - and making an enormous difference in the future of bridge!
AND ... the story of the many students who already have fallen in love with bridge, are learning and succeeding and proving that new generations of bridge stars are on their way!
Fundraiser Extraordinaire Professor Eric Hendrickson
Some bridge playing professors at the University of Minnesota wanted to grow our game. They brainstormed about what to do to encourage students at the U to get involved. It was not an easy process to get rolling. But they did not give up. And eventually, with the efforts of Honors Dean Matthew Bribitzer-Stull and Professor Eric Hendrickson, bridge actually became a course study at the University! Now, over 150 students at U of MN have received instruction in how to play our game, thanks to Matt and Eric's faith in its future, along with other professors Paul Gutterman, Leon Hsu, Nita Kevans, Glen Meeden and Harry Sapienza.
Honors Dean Matthew Bribitzer-Stull (right) and husband & bridge pard Jason Bribitzer-Stull
Along the way, students at Carleton College, about an hour south of the Twin Cities, also had students who started playing. Math Professor Mark Krusemeyer worked with the students and their bridge club. And then two years ago, the students asked your webmaster if she would be their official coach. I gladly accepted - and became so very proud of both the interest in bridge and the talent of students at this fine liberal arts school.
Eric had yet another superb idea. Although two teams of students, one from each of our schools, had won trips to the Collegiate Bowl in 2018 - and a team from U of MN and a pair from Carleton won trips to the events upcoming this summer in Las Vegas - Eric wanted to help more of our students participate. So Eric worked tirelessly to drum up interest and support - culminating in a fundraiser at the 81 year old Minneapolis Grand Slam Club last night.
What a superlative success! We had a great show of students from U of MN PLUS the Carleton students managed to finagle travel north from Northfield, too. Loads of our "regulars" were there; a big, fun Friday night duplicate with players of all ages!
MGSC President David Neiman - appreciating the evening as we appreciate him!
Additional truly fabulous news is that Eric has managed to get over $6,500 in donations for our students - so far! Big thanks to all who donated - and a special "thanks" to Mitch Dunitz for a quite handsome donation - even though Mitch is quite the distance from the upper Midwest.
Yet - there is much more. Not only was last night a great game for all and a huge help for getting our students to Las Vegas - we had additional celebrations. Sharon Anderson served up a delicious spread of Chinese delicacies for us - and then - we celebrated her hubby, Roger, for entering that select group of Platinum Life Masters by going over 10,000 masterpoints. Extra cherry on top is that Roger himself was a Carleton grad!
Linda and Barry
The Rock!
And no - I am not done. We in our bridge community don't just share our love of this amazing game and the endless fascination and challenge it delivers. We share friendships, social gatherings - and now and then - even love! So it is with two of our long time players; Linda Gruesner and Barry Purrington, now engaged to be married!
Our 14.5 table turnout was superlative - and two of our players who give so much to our game had a superlative game. Congrats to Kerry Holloway and Cezanne Martin, winning overall with almost a 65% game. Mr. and Mrs. "Platinum" Andersons scooped up 2nd place - while many of our students showed their stuff, too!
Lots more photos to share below the line. Yet before I go, just a few more thoughts. What sometimes seems near impossible to achieve isn't. People who are willing to donate time, sweat and energy - rally the troops - and then find bright students who want to challenge themselves with a game that challenges for a lifetime - can make the difference. The people at the MGSC club Friday night - and all those who have been contributing for years now, demonstrate that it is so.
My deepest thanks to you all. And - may you, our next generation of competitors who may win NABC titles, travel around the world competing - or - simply enjoy fine camaraderie and mental challenge for decades - stay "in the game" for a long time to come. Your webmaster has 40+ years of bridge competition and friendships under her belt now ... and I am looking forward to loads more.
Hope you do, too - and enjoy our shots of Minnesota bridge!