Minnesota Bridge

McKenney Musings from Our Muse in St. Cloud - Connie Nelson

Yet again, we are extremely grateful to Connie Nelson and her superlative reporting on bridge happenings in St. Cloud!  In this post, Connie focuses primarily on the 2019 results for Mini-McKenney winners in her area.

Connie is such a smart cookie, she's going to vacate the frozen tundra for warmer climes. So wish Connie a fun (and warmer!) vacation - and we will look forward to her return when it's safe to come back to Minnesota!  Thank you, Connie and congratulations to all the players who achieved so much in 2019!  (Which you will note does indeed include our Connie!)

 

Starting out 2020 as Mini-McKenney Winners

 

On January 7, 2020, when ACBL updated the results of the 2019 Mini-McKenney Masterpoint Races for Unit 103, three St. Cloud Bridge Club members were happy to learn that they had won First Place in their respective categories. 

I expect you will continue to hear their names.  Through this blog post, I hope to introduce these players to the larger bridge community. 

 

The 0-5 Masterpoint Race: “Rookie of the Year” Nancy Schnepf

 

I pronounce that our Club’s newest member deserves “Rookie of the Year!”  Nancy Schnepf learned how to play bridge from her in-laws when she and her husband George would visit them in Iowa.  Then, late in 2018, she decided she’d like to play more often, and she “wanted to advance my game.”  She looked up the Club online and called Director Kory Solarz.  She remembers he was very welcoming and encouraged her to come to the Club and play. 

Nancy recalls: “I went for the social aspect of bridge; I wanted to play for fun.  However, after only six weeks at the Club, I started to really appreciate the “challenge” offered by the game.” 

Nancy was very eager to learn.  She attended the free lessons given on Tuesdays by Roger Melaas; she asked for and welcomed feedback on her bidding and regular club play; and she continually adjusted her game.  She says, “Fairly soon, everyone started telling me that I should join ACBL and ‘earn points.’  I didn’t even know what that meant exactly, but I signed up for an ACBL number in January 2019.”

Nancy muses, “I never set out to win the Mini-McKenney race and never really thought I would win.”  However, by mid-year, she had started winning a game or two.  She recounts: “In early July I went out to ACBL for the first time, and saw that I was in the top 5 of the Masterpoint Race.  I decided to “kick it up a notch.”  Both Nancy’s enjoyment of the game and her constant learning paid off.  Nancy earned 71.4 Masterpoints in 2019.  She placed first in Unit 103, and leapfrogged the next two categories in the Mini-McKenney Races.  Congrats Nancy!

Nancy gives a lot of credit to our Club. She said, “I want people to know that I never would have achieved this award without this Club.  There are wonderful players and mentors here…. many mentors who are willing to play with me, teach me, send me home with articles, and even call me up outside of Club times to mention a suggestion or two.” 

 

The 50-100 Masterpoint Race:  International Player Robert Nairn

 

 

Earning 112.3 Masterpoints in 2019, Robert Nairn achieved First Place in Unit 103, as well as across all of District 14.

Robert is one of St. Cloud’s international bridge players.  While a lad growing up in Scotland, he learned to play bridge sitting at the card table’s corner watching his parents and their friends play.  In his youth, he became the only non-Jewish member of a Jewish bridge club in Glasgow.  He often played in tournaments on weekends, as well as in Club vs. Club Team Matches (events that he wishes we offered here).  As a young man, he moved to New Zealand, and played there.  Then, he met his future wife and married.  She was not a bridge player, nor a card player of any kind.  He said, “I didn’t attempt to teach her to play, and if I had, I would not have celebrated my 50-year anniversary last year.”   For many years, he set bridge aside.

He and his wife moved to St. Cloud fairly recently to be closer to their grandchildren.  In early 2018, Robert started to play bridge again at our Club.  He said he found the Club filled with a number of good and helpful players.  He quickly picked up the game again.  He earned over 50 points his first year back playing, winning the 2018 0-5 Masterpoint Race in Unit 103.

Robert describes bridge as “the best card game that ever was.”  Robert says he’s played many a card game and loves poker.  “But, bridge beats poker hands down!”  (pun intended, I’m sure.)  He explained: “While there is an element of luck involved regarding which pair you happen to meet for a hand, I love that duplicate bridge at its essence makes everybody equal.” 

By the way, Robert is also a Shakespearean actor and Actors Equity member.  We have no Actors Equity theater companies in St. Cloud, so if you happen know of one in the midst of casting, remember Robert!

 

The 300-500 Masterpoint Race:  “Genghis” Connie Nelson 

 

 

It’s tougher to write about myself.  I learned bridge from my husband, Jim Schnepf.  I remember keeping a “cheat sheet” by my side about the points I needed for different levels of games.  One of my first hands I ever bid, I opened 6 No Trump.  Jim blanched before saying, “We’ll have to work on communicating a bit more with your bids.” At the time, I thought I had communicated very well, as it was the one and only time I have ever been dealt a square 31-point hand.  (I figured 31 points was “close enough,” which started me on my long history of believing bids are “close enough.”)  Jim and I played years of party bridge, but our game really improved after starting at the Club about six years ago, where – as mentioned - the competition includes many, many fine players and coaches.

I guess I should also explain my nickname shown above.  It was given to me by my goddaughter who once said to me, “You are so nice until you start playing games.  Then your competitive twin “Genghis Connie” shows up.”

Earning 202.69 Masterpoints this year, I came in first in both the Unit and across District 14.  Jim and I had a very good year – representing District 14 as both Flight C National Pairs and as one pair of our Flight C National Team.  By midyear, I was “counting my chickens,” believing I had a lock on first place.  But, Paski Paskaradevan from the St. Paul club also had a fantastic year, especially in the last half.  He came within 10 points of me for the Mini-McKenney, and he won the Unit 103 Ace of Clubs race.  Congratulations to Paski!  (Actually, Unit 103 was very competitive inside this category. The top five places in District 14 were all from Minnesota and Unit 103!) 

 

Other St. Cloud Top Ten Mini-McKenney Finishers

 

Several other St. Cloud players placed among Unit 103’s top ten Mini-McKenney finishers.

• 20-50 Masterpoints Race: Elizabeth Hammer came in second, with St. Cloud players David G. Hanson and Shari Pretzer placing in the top ten.
• 200-300 Masterpoints Race: Married partners Sue and Roger Knauss finished second and third respectively, in their category.  Also in the top ten was Mark Doucette.
• 300-500 Masterpoints Race: Jim Schnepf finished second, with St. Cloud players Tom Buttweiller and Greg Nastrom also finishing in the top ten.
• 500-1000 Masterpoints Race: Scott Krupke finished in the top ten.  Scott still works full-time.  Just wait until he retires.  You’ll be hearing more of him.
• Roger Melaas and Maurice Evans finished fifth and sixth in the 1500-2000 Masterpoints Race.
• Last, four St. Cloud players finished in the top ten in these uppermost categories: Charlene Thul (2500-3000 Masterpoints); Dennis Dufner (3500-5000 Masterpoints); Kory Solarz (5000-7500 Masterpoints); and John Koch (Over 10,000 Masterpoints).

The Awards Banquet for Unit 103 will be held May 2^nd in St. Paul.  I hope many of you can attend, and if you run across these “winners” there or at a tournament, please extend to them a hearty congratulations for a good showing in The Greatest Game! 

Falling in Love

 

Each of us has our own unique bridge story. Some of us learned as a child or in college; some of us took up the game in retirement.  Some enjoy mostly social bridge at a local club.  Others like to attend tournaments - and some play at the most challenging levels around.  

There isn't a "right or wrong" way to choose the bridge activities of your choice. But what we all wish for the game is for bridge to continue to grow and flourish - irrespective of our personal goals.

As some of you know, I have the honor of being the "bridge coach" at one of our elite liberal arts schools, Carleton College.  I am so delighted that students there are learning the game - and that a number of the students already have a passion for bridge, coupled with their talents.

One of the first Carleton players I met, Jackson Wahl, sent me this absolutely wonderful email! Not only is Jackson, along with his partner, Sarah Emmons, achieving remarkably well at our game - Jackson is embracing bridge to the fullest!  

Please read Jackson's wonderful letter below.  Big thanks to Teri and Chip for aiding Jackson in achieving this big goal  - and to Jackson, for becoming a "bridge lover" AND director/promoter!  The Greatest Game has captured Jackson - and - we hope his love lasts and grows for decades, as it has for many of us.

**************************************************************************************************

I'm writing to give some updates regarding my bridge life!

 

First of all, I've become a Club Director. Teri and Chip Blu started teaching me in the summer, and I passed the test in September. Over this winter break, they've been having me at the TCBC five days a week directing, and I really love it!

 

I've also decided to bring ACBL bridge to Carleton! Now that I can direct, I applied for and was granted a sanction by the ACBL for Saturdays at 1:00 PM. We plan to hold open games most weeks during the winter term and are inviting college students and the general public alike. I've attached our flyer - would you be willing to put an announcement about the new game on your blog?

 

I'm still getting to play a lot, too! I've just crossed 300 masterpoints. Sarah and I are attending the North American Pairs at the spring nationals and we plan to play in the GNT district finals and the collegiate qualifiers again this year as well. I've really fallen in love with bridge :)

 

Thanks!

 

Best,

Jackson Wahl

 

Please be sure to look at the great flyer Jackson has for upcoming sanctioned events at Carleton!  (See below the line)

“Mastering” New Heights!

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 26^th.  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 7^th, 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.

Bruce Boje - 1948 - 2019

 

The past week was filled with family and friends gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving - shopping, eating - and battling the elements.  Unfortunately, however, this week also has been one of deep sadness for our Minnesota community.  Yet again, we have lost a treasured member of our bridge world:  Bruce Boje.  

I received a call yesterday from one of Bruce's regular partners, Judy Nassar.  Apparently Bruce had a sudden heart attack, went to the hospital, was getting treatment - and - died.  Only 71, and seemingly in fine condition; a shock to all.

Judy kindly sent me some thoughts about her good friend and partner.  We have memories from other bridge players - and also from Bruce's "main man" at the table - Vern Swing.  I am most grateful for their kind, caring, positive and warm thoughts about Bruce.

 

 

Bruce was my favorite bridge partner because he was almost always calm and kind.  We had a lot of fun playing together for many years.  We won more than our fair share of the time!  In addition, he was the best teammate because he never focused on the errors of teammates -  only his own.

Bruce also had a wonderful sense of humor and he would occasionally tease me.  His death is a huge loss to me.

 

Judy Nassar

 

 

Bruce Boje was always a very nice opponent to us.  And he took time to talk to us about pickleball and all sorts of other topics.

 

Diane Henson

 

 

In every encounter at the table, Bruce was always a really nice guy!!

 

Judy Schwarz

 

 

                                                                               

Bruce and Vern competing at the NAP Nationals 2018

 

In the fall of 2013 Judy Nassar approached me about developing a partnership with Bruce Boje.  I knew Bruce as a fellow traffic engineer at a rival company, but didn’t realize he also was fine bridge player.  We hit it off immediately.  Bruce was fierce competitor, but never criticized his partner or teammates, always focusing on how he could have improved a play, a defense, or a bid regardless of whether the result was a top or bottom. 

Bruce was passionate about life, his wife and family, his career and his hobbies.  He was an avid cyclist, loved pickleball, enjoyed his techy toys, loved Mexican food and beer, and loved bridge.  Bruce relished the coming of spring so he could get on his bike again and get his 50-mile rides done on the days he wasn’t playing pickleball.  In his younger days he raced throughout the summers.  When Bruce was introduced to pickleball he dove headlong long into the game.  He and Joyce played many tournaments and were considered experts.  He was generous with his time and knowledge and encouraged anyone to start playing and offered to teach newcomers the basics, and at the same time was active in the local organization as President, then Treasurer. 

Bruce loved his gadgets and could tell you how to remotely open his garage door from his phone, remotely control the temperature in his house from his phone, and how the Tesla he and Joyce bought was getting bi-weekly software updates and what those updates did.  He was passionate about alternative energy, and as was always the case with Bruce, if he was passionate about a subject, he was very well studied.  Bruce could explain to you in detail how solar panels worked and what to expect in the upcoming decades.

Bruce loved Mexican Food and loved beer.  When we attended out of town tournaments, whether in Fargo, anywhere in Iowa, in Toronto or in Vegas he would always choose Mexican Food for dinner between sessions if given a choice.  Beer was a requirement after the evening session and if Nachos accompanied it, life didn’t get better than that. 

Bruce approached bridge as a partnership game and spent hours developing symmetric wrinkles in our methods to handle all hand types.  When we decided to play the Attack System, Bruce converted the Soloway-Goldman notes into a spreadsheet we could modify easily and then insisted we practice bidding on BBO.  We spent countless hours bidding hands to improve part score decisions, game decisions and slam bidding.

Needless to say, I was devastated when I received the call from Joyce in the evening of the November 30^th, that Bruce had passed away.  I will greatly miss you - my good friend - my partner.

Vern Swing

 

Our bridge community is not enormous. Every player matters; every one is meaningful and plays a role in how we enjoy our game - and our friendships with one another.

Bruce was another of our "bridge jewels." 

Our deepest sympathies go to his wife Joyce and other family and friends.  And one last look at Bruce - gentleman and student of our game, having a blast playing the game we love with the people we treasure.

                Peg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grateful for Longevity

BIG thanks - yet again - to Connie Nelson from St. Cloud!  Connie has been superlative in sharing a wealth of wonderful stories about our game!  This time?  One of Minnesota's finest - and classiest - players:  John Koch.

Enjoy!

 

 

Quite a number of our St. Cloud Bridge Club are over ninety years old.  One evening, several of us “younger” players started guessing which of our players had been playing at the Club the longest.  I thought it was going to be Rosie Mettenburg.  I knew she started playing after retiring at age 55, almost 40 years ago.  And, she still plays every Friday at Whitney -- you’ll find her sitting south at table number 5! 

But, it turns out Rosie hasn’t been playing the longest.  That honor goes to John Koch. 

 

 

Many of you must know John Koch, as he is one of the highest ranked Master Point players in Minnesota.  But, you may not know his back story.  Here is what I found out:

John’s Mother taught John to play bridge when he was nine!  His father had died that year, and it was something the two of them could do together.  They lived in Milbank, SD and would play at the local duplicate game held every other Monday.  A highlight for his Mother was when the two of them won the very first tournament they entered.  For winning this two-session, non-life master event held in Aberdeen, they received a trophy over two feet tall.  His Mother proudly displayed it. 

Sadly, John’s Mother died six months after that tournament. 

 

                                                          John, his Mom – and their trophies

 

The first time John played at the St. Cloud Bridge Club was in 1967.  A junior at St. John’s University at the time, he simply called up the local Bridge director who was Paul Hoffman (later District Judge) and asked for a partner.  John was lined up with a 50-year old homemaker named Dodie Schrafels.  The two of them paired up for a while until John met another St John’s sophomore who played bridge.  This Johnny was ---- Tony Ames. 

During his sophomore year, Tony organized an ongoing bridge event at St. John’s which drew almost fifteen tables!  Those games eventually withered away, but John and Tony ended up becoming roommates at college and partners at bridge.  They would bring at least one or two tables of college “kids” to the St. Cloud club every week to play.  So… while John is not the oldest player at our Club by a long shot, he started out when he was the youngest.

What was the St. Cloud Club like back in the 1960s?  The games were played at one of the same locations we use today – that is, the lower level of the Labor Home, a building owned by the trade unions of St. Cloud.  John describes going there as a college junior, “It wasn’t anything like it is today.  The bar was open, and there were glasses of liquor at every table.  And, everyone smoked!  A layer of blue smoke just hovered.”  He added, “In fact, it was so bad that after I was married, my wife made me undress in the garage and hang my clothes out there before coming in the house.” 

John said another striking difference from today were the volatile arguments that used to break out at the tables.  He added, “Today, that doesn’t happen -- unless it’s between the partners of Koch and Duffy!”   He said that while arguments have lessened, what hasn’t changed is the ‘fierce competition’ here.  He said there have always been great players – from Al Brink, the Chair of the Math Dept at SCSU “who was 150% into bridge,” to Clara Henning “a diminutive housewife with killer instincts.”  

My last question to John was what bridge has meant to him in his life.  He answered that he’s had wonderful partners with whom he’s enjoyed going up against some of the best teams in the world, and sometimes beating them. 

“There have been times,” he said, “where my partner and I have played a regional a week, stopping on Sunday and starting again on Tuesday.  Sometimes, we’ve played every day for thirteen days straight.”  He encouraged any player to simply play, go to tournaments and build that confidence that they can compete. 

“Because,” he ended, “just when you think you are totally exhausted, a hand will make you feel like you’ve caught lightning in a bottle!  That is the beauty of Bridge.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halloween in Rochester!

The Autumn Sectional had its Halloween, as did St. Cloud.  Rochester joined in the fun, too!

Below is a stupendous report on this beWITCHING holiday from our fine reporter down south:  Sue Greenberg.  Thanks, Sue; so glad the Rochester folks had a great day, too!

 

 

What a day at Rochester DBC!  The Instant Matchpoint game, a Halloween costume contest, and then happy hour after the game! 

 

This year's costume winners - June Lamb Kmiecik (as the fallen angel), Mary Funk (as Gloria Georger - infamous in our club), and John Woog (as Omar Sharif or perhaps Grouch Marx). 

 

 

 

Rochesterites play tough bridge, laugh at themselves, and have a great time as a wonderful bridge community.

 

 

 

And the happy hour after the game brought out some of our players culinary talents - sausages, peppers, and onion, persimmon wrapped in prosciutto, salmon pate, queso fundido cheese dip....... 

 

We invite you all to come and join our hospitality. 

 

 

 

Check out our website for special games and after game parties.  We'd love to see you!

 

Sue Greenberg, Club Manager

 

 

 

St. Cloud Bridge - Our Howling Halloweens

Roger Melaas recounts that several years ago, the St. Cloud Bridge Club was known to be a bit too serious and intimidating.  But for the last many years, and especially after Kory Solarz became the manager, the Club’s atmosphere has turned more playful and welcoming.  Roger has dubbed our culture now as - “we are family.”

We certainly have fun together.  Often, we carry that fun over into get-togethers outside the official Club games.  Halloween is one such time.  Club members Eileen and David Johnsen have hosted a bridge party at their home for seven years.  Eileen says of the party’s origin: “I have always loved entertaining.  We used to hold an outdoor pool party in the summer.  One year, Dennis Dufner said, ‘What?  No bridge!’  So, we switched to Halloween in order to combine partying and playing.”

 

“Incredible” Eileen and David Johnsen

Each October we dress in hair-raising costumes, eat a pot luck meal together, and then play bridge – for points, but mostly for cackling rights!  If you dare, following are the spooky pictures of us from the last three years.

Halloween 2017

 

 

Seated in front:  Hosts David and Eileen Johnsen, and leaning in, Roger Melaas.  Seated, second row: Jenee Nederloe, Barbara Johnson, Jane Curtis, Marlene Schroeder, Ginger Hinkenmeyer, Mary Labernik, Judy Knutson, and Kory Solarz.  Standing, back row: Ruth Sundby, David Boushek, Sue Knauss, Joan Pickard, Judy Reynolds, Char Thul, Wayne Reynolds, Greg Nastrom, Connie Nelson, Roger Knauss, Jim Schnepf and Amy Roske.

 

Halloween 2018

 

In 2018, many from the Club attended the Omaha regional tournament held in October that year. 

 

 

“Haunted” because we were missing the Johnsen Halloween party: Jim Schnepf, Jane Curtis, Greg Nastrom, Darlene Nastrom, Sue Knauss, Judy Knutson, Paul Sitz, Connie Nelson, Wayne Reynolds and Roger Knauss.

 

Back in St. Cloud, these devilish players had a good time anyway.

 

 

Front row:  Hosts Eileen and David Johnsen.  Second row, seated: Judy Reynolds, Barbara Johnson, Roger Melaas and Char Thul.  Third row, standing: Wayne Reynolds, Jim Mustain, Joan Pickard, David Boushek, David Warne, Sandra Hatch, Jon Hatch and Saundy Fedor.

 

Halloween 2019

This year, the party was held on Sunday October 27^th.   Not as many were able to attend … it was just a “skeleton” crew. 

 

 

Front row:  Eileen Johnsen and Connie Nelson.  Second row, seated: Kory Solarz, Joe Lisbon, Jane Curtis, Jim Mustain, Barbara Johnson and Char Thul.  Third row, standing: Jim Schnepf, Bobbi Eich, Judy Knutson, Shannon Quinlivan, Sandra Hatch, Roger Melaas and David Boushek.

 

Care to join us for Halloween 2020?

 

BIG thanks to St. Cloud intrepid reporter Connie Nelson for the spooktacular Halloween report and photos!

St. Cloud Bridge Club Mentoring Initiative

Connie Nelson from St. Cloud has been simply marvelous in sending us updates and photos about activity at the St. Cloud Bridge Club.  Please join me in thanking Connie and all the others who are devoting time, effort and fun to players in their area!

Connie has offered to write future stories about bridge in St. Cloud.  Please give her and everyone else doing their best to grow and improve Minnesota bridge!

And my best to all the players who are ramping up their games, learning and having a wonderful time with it all!

 

Do the best players at your Club partner with only other good players? 

This seemed to be the norm at our St. Cloud Bridge Club – which meant that those players on a learning curve were left playing with others who were also learning.  But earlier this year, we decided to shake that up a bit!  “What if we intentionally paired the learners with more experienced players?” 

That question became the impetus for six months of Mentoring Games that Wayne Reynolds has spearheaded since May.  Wayne explains his original intentions, “We were hoping to improve the quality of our learners’ bridge play.  Roger Melaas and I were already teaching lessons each Tuesday.  With this new program, we hoped that an experienced player could help the learner apply those lessons and improve their skills as part and parcel of playing a sanctioned game.”  

Shown here, from left: Sue Knauss, Wendy Hennes, Saundy Fedor and Wayne Reynolds.

 How did Wayne and Roger go about organizing the initiative?  People were first asked if they were interested in either being a mentor or being mentored.  The learners were given the opportunity to request a particular mentor.  Wayne and Roger then arranged all the partnerships, trying to match those requests whenever possible.  The response was overwhelmingly positive!  Wayne reflected: “I expected about 7 or 8 people to express an interest in being mentored, but the response was much greater.  We ended up with twenty partnerships!”

Each pair was asked to make a six-month commitment - to play together at least once a month on the third Thursday.  Six months of Mentor Games were then organized. 

Each month’s Mentor Game started with a half-hour lesson.  At the initial session of May 16, the first half hour was used by each partnership to complete their pair’s unique convention card.  At each subsequent month, a singular topic was covered:

• June 20 John Koch                                    IMP Strategies
• July 18 Dan Finn                                        No-Trump Bids
• August 15 Kory Solarz                               Negative Doubles
• Sept 19 Roger Melaas                               Responses to                                                                                                           Take Out Doubles
• October 17 Wayne Reynolds                     Planning Your No-Trump Play

The October 17^th game will be the final game of this first six-month mentoring commitment.  Wayne is eager to start the next six months!  (Care to join us?) However, because the St. Cloud Club loses many of its members in the winter months, he knows the program will need to be reconfigured or taken to a smaller scale.  He’d like to retain the six-month commitment of partnerships. He’d like to see the learners try out new mentors.  Otherwise, he’s open to suggestions.

I decided to ask a sampling of both mentor and learner participants for their “lessons learned” (i.e. what they liked and what they’d like to see different).  I wanted to capture ideas while they were fresh to both inform our club’s future program, and to possibly be useful to another MN club wishing to start a Mentor Game program.  

 

Lessons Learned - What Worked Well?

People were universally positive.  Following are the key themes of what was appreciated:

The dedication shown

• “This program proves the overwhelming interest and devotion to bridge in St. Cloud.”
• “The commitment! People made a six-month commitment. There was no turn-over.”
• “Marvelous that so many good players were willing to give their time so freely.”

Starting with a shared convention card at the level of the learner’s play – and then build!

• “A key to success was a “one step at a time” philosophy, where we added only one convention at a time from the initial level of the learner’s play.”
• “Avoid throwing too many things at a learner in a single game.”

 The short, focused lessons

• “I loved having a lesson each time, and appreciated the hand-outs.”
• “Dan Finn’s No-Trump lesson was perfect.”
• “John Koch was instrumental behind the scenes, helping to prepare the lessons.”

 The pairings

• “Pairing experienced players with less experienced was brilliant.”
• “I appreciated the “more balanced” pairings and a chance to win some master points!”

Teaching at the “instructional moment” in the play

• “I greatly appreciated my mentor’s approach: ‘let’s ask questions or explain as we go.’ Some of our opponents didn’t allow it, but others did.  It was so helpful to process as the bidding and play was going on.” 
• “I really liked hearing about strategies and techniques right at the moment when they came up in the play.”

 

Lessons Learned – Improvements To Consider

 

Points!  - A “Point” of Tension

A difference of opinion surfaced over whether to sanction the game.  Some thought that if the game was non-sanctioned (i.e. no master points), even more learning could occur because all tables would allow open, ongoing questions and discussion.  Others thought if points weren’t awarded, we would lose some participants.  One person suggested keeping the points, but playing fewer hands.

• “Play fewer hands, and add time to discuss the hands after each hand or set.”

 Align the Lessons with the Play Even More

• “I would like to see pre-dealt boards prepared to coordinate with the lesson of the month. Have at least 4 hands where you know the lesson’s topic will arise.”
• “Go deep on one concept. In other words, talk about one convention for several sessions in a row – going deeper each time.”
• “Give us the lesson to read ahead of time so we will be ready with questions as we walk in the door.”

Have Both Mentors and Learners Teach

• “I would love to continue the half-hour lessons before a game each month – even if the mentoring program does not continue. I am sure each of us has a lesson we could share.”
• “Having the learners teach a lesson might be an idea. Sometimes teaching someone else is the best way to learn.”

And - For something completely different!

• “We’ll have a smaller crowd this winter. How about having four good players play four-six hands while everyone else watches?  They could have a running commentary – ‘Why I am bidding what I am.  Why I am stopping.  Why I am making this lead.  What I know about the other players’ hands at this moment, etc.”

 

In sum, while we already offered lessons coupled with “chat bridge” on Tuesdays, this was the first time we tried formal pairings of experienced players with learners – across a half year.   To us, this has been one more example of the commitment to bridge excellence at the St. Cloud Bridge Club! 

__________________

The following picture shows mentors at the Sept 19^th Mentor Game.   Standing, front row:  David Boushek, Char Thul, Roger Melaas, Kory Solarz, Sandy Hatch, Steve White, Joan Pickard, Jane Curtis and Sue Knauss.  Standing, back row:  Greg Nastrom, John Melancon, Jim Schnepf, and Wayne Reynolds.  Sitting in front: Connie Nelson.  Not pictured: Rick Bredlie, Dan Finn, Gloria Mize, Paul Sitz and Jerry Westby.

 

The following picture shows individuals being mentored.  Standing, from the left: Ruth Sundby, Darlene Nastrom, Liz Hammer, Charlie Maternus, Amy Roske, Judy Mosford, Wendy Hennes, Ginger HInkemeyer, Bobbie Eich, Shari Pretzer, Saundy Fedor, and Marlene Schroeder.  Not pictured: Mark Anderson, Tom Allen, David G. Hanson, Judy Knutson, John Mahowald, Tom Minor, Rhonda Rossman and Nancy Schnepf.

Two New Life Masters!

 

The Big Goal for all duplicate bridge players is to become a Life Master.  Now?  Val McGrath of Wabasha and Lois Sperl, formerly from Wabasha and currently in Arizona, have achieved that title!  Big congrats to Val and Lois - and our thanks to Sue and Rich Greenberg for sharing this happy news with us!

 

Val McGrath, Wabasha resident that plays regularly in Rochester, recently achieved Life Master status, playing with friend Lois Sperl.  Val and Lois achieved this distinction playing at a regional in Phoenix.

 

As is the tradition in Rochester, we throw a Life Master party after one of our games.  Val has worked diligently to get her necessary "colors".  The picture shows the last "new" Life Master, Gloria Georger, passing the coveted paper tiara on at the party. 

 

The Rochester club so appreciates all those players that travel for 45+ minutes to make out club as vibrant as it is.  RDBC welcomes all to come and join our hospitality.  Congratulations, Val and Lois!

 

        Sue & Rich Greenberg

Minneapolis Grand Slam Club - 2019-2020

MGSC President Dave Neiman at a recent MGSC Function

 

Dave Neiman, President Extraordinaire for the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club, welcomes all bridge players to the new 20190-2020 season!

On Friday, September 6, 2019, the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club reconvenes for our 82nd consecutive season of friendly, tournament-quality bridge.

Join us Friday nights at the Edina Senior Center throughout the 2019-2020 season for a variety of duplicate pairs and team games. Most all games pay extra masterpoints without additional cost.

We welcome players of all skill levels who enjoy the competitive aspect of duplicate bridge.

You can find the schedule here.

 

 

Long Time MGSC Members Having A Ball!

 
New this year:  Game time is now 7:00 pm (15 minutes earlier).  Card fees for members remains at $6, while non-members pay $8. Extra fees for special games are paid by the Club. Card fees for full-time students remains at $5.

All games are stratified.

 

 

Juniors & Long Time Players at the MGSC

 

Not new but worth mentioning:  All games are single-session.  Where the schedule lists two games as #1 and #2, they are connected simply for the purposes of MGSC awards; you may choose to play in either or both of those games.

Once again, we will be running an extended team competition alongside the weekly game.  Format is under review and will depend on the number of teams registered. More information on this event will be provided soon. Team registration is now open.

The Club continues to offer the Player Pool, which guarantees a partner for all pairs games. We want you to come and play with us, and we don’t want the lack of a partner to stop you. (You can even volunteer to BE the Pool person; see below.)

Club membership remains at $20, $10 for full-time students.

 

 

Everyone Enjoys Bridge at the MGSC!

Membership perks include discounted card fees, 4 free Club Nights, the weekly bulletin, and a hefty discount to the end-of-year Party.

The Club provides coffee free of charge at each game. We invite players to bring treats to the game to share with everyone.

The Club website is at http://grandslammn.org.  You can find the full schedule here as well as the team registration page and a signup sheet to volunteer to bring treats, sell entries, or be the Pool person.

 

We look forward to seeing you at the Best Bridge Game in Town!

 

Twin City Bridge Center - Go Fund Me Fundraiser

 

Barb Zipoy would like you to support Community Gem Needs Polishing by making a donation and spreading the word.

 

The Bridge Center has been a fixture in Minneapolis since 1960. There have been very few updates or improvements since it opened.  

The bridge center is in desperate need of an update & some cheerful renovation. The outside of the building is an eyesore and with some minor repairs and a fresh coat of paint it would be much more welcoming not only for bridge players but also for the community as a whole.

The structure is damp, windows are broken, the parking lot needs resurfacing, walls need paint, carpet is old & stained, ceilings leak, bathrooms need updating, chairs are torn, broken & don’t match, windows & doors are rotting, the office is in disarray, appliances are ancient & storage areas are messy & cramped.
 
With rising taxes, the cost of utilities, basic upkeep and efforts to keep the cost of playing bridge and using the center low for seniors, new retirees and students there is not enough money for upgrades.

Teri Blu and her husband own and run the Bridge Center and are there every day. Their daughter also fills in when she can.  It is a place not only for those who play bridge but also for anyone who wants a place to meet, talk or get away.  The bridge center offers a unique and valued service for bridge players and the city as a whole. 
 
 A Bridge Center, may not seem like a worthy cause, however, it an important place & worthy of a makeover.

  Volunteers spend countless hours working with people who come to the center & also taking care of the building.  The Center & those who use it are an important part of the community.  

The Bridge Center is the only place of its kind in Minneapolis.  It would be a shame if the 300 plus people who use it weekly would not have a place to go.

The refrigerator is always stocked & coffee is on.  If you need a place to go, all are welcome. There is always someone there with a smile and a kind work. 

Teri works tirelessly.  She goes to garage sales in search of items for the Center, coffee cups, pencils, furniture, etc. Teri takes time to make sure everyone has a bridge partner.  She is a fabulous bridge player but plays with beginners if they need a partner. 

All the faithful volunteers run tournaments, potlucks, daily games, birthday parties, gives lessons etc.  They call or send cards if you are sick. Various groups of worshippers use the Center on Sunday mornings for their services and Teri has even played the piano for them. She never says no to anyone.

The bridge community would love to recruit younger people and recent retirees to play bridge.  The bridge center would attract more players if it were more up to date.

For the senior and about to retire community the Bridge Center is a wonderful place to spend time.  It provides socialization, interaction, and caring. 

It is open 7 days a week.  Many lifelong friendships have been made.  There are games and events throughout the year to raise money for Alzheimer’s and many other charitable organizations.

Thanks in advance for contributing! 

Here is the link to the TCBC Go Fund Me Fundraiser 

 

The Bridge Center of St. Paul Celebrates The Longest Day

 

BIG thanks to Larry Huiras and all the others who made The Longest Day in St. Paul a HUGE success!

 

 

The Bridge Center of St. Paul celebrated the Longest Day on June 21st.  Funds were raised by our players to support the efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.  These monies will help to support research and raise awareness of the challenges that face those with Alzheimers and their caregivers.

Our Bridge Center hosted 3 games on the Longest Day!  Food and a pot luck were available between each session.  Gary Mulcahy generously donated and prepared yummy hamburgers for all between the morning and afternoon sessions. Dee Dee Lorentzen grilled great hot dogs for folks between afternoon and evening sessions.

 

Huge thanks to all our volunteers and to the many players who attended and contributed!  Overall, the three games had 47 tables of players - and raised $3,307.00 for the Alzheimer's Association!

 

 

A great day for celebrating and enjoying our great game - and doing great good, too!  Thank you!

 

 

Remembering Jack Rhatigan

 

Jack Rhatigan's daughter Shannon, was uncertain about how to celebrate Jack's life. Then - she came up with a concept that  was just perfect. 

Shannon is going to have a memorial celebration at the Twin City Bridge Center at 6020 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 15th.  Bridge players, friends, relatives; all are invited and welcome.

Shannon's invitation is below. Jack was one of our star players for decades - and - a star human being.

I hope that many of us can join Shannon and her family at the TCBC to share stories, tell tales, celebrate our friend Jack - and say goodbye.

 

Please join the family of Jack Rhatigan in celebrating his life and mourning his passing at Jack's favorite home-away-from-home, the Twin City Bridge Center. 

This will be a simple open-house style event, with no formal program. Please come share your stories and sympathies with Jack's family and friends.

If trekking to Minneapolis is a challenge for you, please consider visiting Jack's wife Marilyn in the coming months at Oak Meadows Assisted Living in Oakdale, Minnesota. The extra company will be appreciated as she adjusts to living alone after 59-3/4 years of marriage. You can arrange a date by calling Marilyn directly, or by contacting her daughter Shannon via Facebook.

Feel free to pass along this invitation as appropriate. We hope to see you either at the TCBC Open House or at Oak Meadows soon!

 

        Shannon Rhatigan

It CAN Be Done!

 

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!

Share the Bridge Love!

 

 

 

Rochester has a fine and strong bridge club, with excellent players AND a socially active community!

 

Wednesday, Valentine's Day, their club had an Open Pairs event, with players wearing red to celebrate the sweet holiday and healthy hearts!

 

 

 

 

Thursday, a 0-499er game was held. Those players celebrated the holiday, too!

 

Our thanks to Sue Greenberg, for letting us know that the Rochester players never miss an opportunity to have fun while competing at our favorite game!

 

June is Busting Out in January!

 

Amongst our players in Rochester, we have a very talented artist - in all mediums.  During December, she had distributed handmade earrings to all the women in our club! 

So, we decided to have a "June Darring Appreciation Days" for June on January 21 and January 24!

 

In addition to being a talented artist, she makes convention card covers which she offers to  bridge players. June keeps the money to cover costs of production but donates the rest to our club treasury.  You may have seen her table at our Rochester Sectional.   

 

As an I/N player, we have discovered a gem!!!!  Her heart is huge, she loves bridge, and it's our excellent good fortune to have this individual become an active part of RDBC. 

 

The picture shows June, in red, seated in the middle of the of the "ladies" on January 21, Monday afternoon - 16 tables ( 10 open, 6, 0-300). 

 

What a delight she is!

 

              Sue Greenberg, RDBC Manager

Minneapolis Grand Slam Knockouts - Old Codgers VS College Up & Comers!

 

For roughly 40 years, your webmaster has been competing in the Minneapolis Grand Slam Knockouts. The KO event is held outside of regular September-May Friday night sessions. It is a super fun way to get in some extra competition against many of the top players in our area.  Above you see one of them; my team's captain, Kerry Holloway.

This year, we are very excited to have a team of students in the MGSC KO - five players from Carleton College and one from University of MN. While it is tough to face players who have played for decades when you yourself have only been playing a year or so - or less - the college competitors are tough and smart.  They appreciate that one of the most successful ways to improve your game is to play against good and experienced players.  And thus - that is exactly what they are doing.

 

Captain Thomas Scruggs, before the battle begins

 

Four members of my team (Captain Kerry, Mike Flader, Chuck Cummins and myself) headed down to Carleton last week. There, we played four of their six teammates:  Captain Thomas Scruggs, Jackson Wahl, Allie Clark and Owen Barnett.

 

Chuck Cummins and Mike Flader, finishing up their convention card and waiting for game time!

 

The teams sat the same direction each half, with Kerry and I competing against Thomas and Jackson, as Allie and Owen took on Mike and Chuck.

 

Allie Clark and Owen Barnett - reviewing notes and weighing their team's lineup

 

At our table, I was quite impressed with Thomas and Jackson. As the coach of their college team, I already knew that they had learned a lot with all their practice and study. Still, throughout our first half, they performed far better than one might expect from players without years of experience. Indeed; at the half our match was fairly close.

 

Kerry and Jackson, in the heat of battle

 

The second half went better for the Holloway team. Some of it I would chalk up to experience - and note that Owen is so new to the game I had not yet met him. Still, some of the reason our team won the match was that always present factor for every player:  luck.

For example, Hand #25.

BOO to YOU from Rochester!

 

What a day in Rochester! 

We had seventeen tables for our Instant Matchpoint Game!

AND... we had our annual costume competition!

 

 

Alice Ernster and June Lamb-Kmiecik as the Bridge Fairy and Queen of Card

 

  Marie Nelson as our resident witch

 

Our favorite Mountain Man, John Ryder

 

Genny Rice with her sticky web

 

Additional treats were people from Northfield, LaCrosse and other communities in southern Minnesota.  All, of course, were welcomed by the Rochester Players.

Dick Estry and Al Larson topped the field with a hefty 62.73% game!

Come to our club and join us for a great session!

 

Sue Greenberg, Club Manager

 

Non Functioning Links to Clubs

Many of you have contacted me to let me know that the links at MN Bridge for clubs are not functioning.  Thank you for letting me know.

I will search for solutions and get this repaired as soon as I am able.  BUT - I just arrived at the Nebraska Regional and may not be able to get this accomplished immediately!

In the meantime, if you go to this link at ACBL, you can search for your club and get results and other club information there.

Thank you for your forbearance; we hope for all links to be up and running as soon as possible!

 

Rochester Duplicate and IBM

 

For years, IBM has been a major employer in Rochester.  Many employees would gather over lunch and enjoy a bridge game!  As IBM employees retired, they became active members of Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club. 

Many play multiple times a week, and there is an evening game to accommodate bridge players still working.

Recently, a photo was taken of IBM alumni and spouses to send to the alumni publications/social media.  The photo shows only a fraction of those that play on a regular basis - but what a great sampling of engineers, programmers, technical writers, coders, administrative assistants, sales people, manufacturing, and more!

We are very lucky to have these individuals adding to the vitality of our club and state bridge scene!

Sue Greenberg, Club Manager