Duplicate Bridge Association of Atlanta

Board of Directors – Meeting Minutes

December 3, 2008

 

Present:  Jack Feagin, Judy Fendrick, Dick Browne, Kevin Collins, Ralph Folkerts, Barbara Heller, Bob Heller, Marty Nathan and Dan Papineau

Absent:  Allison Milhem, Susan Wolfe and Richard Holland

 

The meeting was called to order at 5:55 p.m. by President Jack Feagin.

 

Prior Minutes

MOTION:  Dick moved to approve the November 5 meeting minutes.  Motion approved.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Allison previously sent the November Treasurer’s report on e-mail for review, reflecting a bank balance of $36,717.08 and CD balances of $22,427.85, for a total of $59,144.93.  MOTION:  Judy

moved to approve the Treasurer’s report.  Motion approved.

 

Judy inquired as to the status of the financial review being conducted by Ed Foran.  To date, we do not have the report. 

 

ACTION ITEM:  Jack or Marty will check with Ed during the tournament.  Ed was given copies of the 2006 Treasurer’s Reports.

 

We need to secure better rates for the CDs.  Allison is authorized to move the CDs.

 

ACTION ITEM:  Allison will check on better rates for the CDs from research on websites and local financial institutions.

 

ACTION ITEM:  For the December 6 membership meeting at this tournament, Allison or Judy will prepare an annual financial report. 

 

Elections

The Unit and DBAA elections will be held during the February 25-March 1 tournament in Roswell.  The Unit will oversee its election process, and DBAA will provide someone to monitor the DBAA ballot box.  One administrator will oversee the elections that will include two separate ballots and two ballot boxes.  The four Unit rep positions currently held by Bob Heller, Kevin Collins, Richard Holland and Dick Browne will be on the Unit ballot.  The DBAA ballot will include the four officer positions.

 

A DBAA officer may also serve as a Unit rep.

 

Upcoming Sectional Tournaments

The Hilton on Peachtree Industrial is available for the July sectionals in 2009 and 2010.

 

We have a contract offer from the Holiday Inn on Buford Highway that is $1,000 less than before for the December 2009 tournament.  The board had mixed views on whether we should go back to the Holiday Inn or try and stay at the Doubletree.  A decision will be made based on players’ feedback from this tournament.  The board also discussed the dates for the December tournament; December 2-6 seems to be the best time, considering other tournaments and holidays. 

 

Sectionals at Clubs – Jack is still working on a formal proposal.  Dan Papineau presented some options for holding sectionals at clubs, which will be considered in Jack’s proposal.  It was noted that Knock-Out events were held at clubs in prior years.  After Jack finalizes the proposal, a committee will be formed to iron out the details.

 

Bridge Classes at Sandy Springs

Jack is finalizing a written agreement with the director and will put up signs in Sandy Springs and post a notice in the local newspaper.  We will also post the announcement on our website. 

 

Mary Jo will teach.  We have boards and bidding boxes.  Marty volunteered to help Mary Jo when he is available, and Elaine may go over as well.  We may need more volunteers to assist, depending on the turnout.

 

Dan indicated that ACBL will contribute up to 75% of the cost of advertising for free beginner lessons.

 

ACTION ITEM:  Jack will investigate getting reimbursement from ACBL, as well as District 7 and Unit 114 for the costs associated with providing free beginner lessons.

 

Website Updates

Jack will solicit teacher information during this tournament and request that information be sent to Dick Browne.  Barbara is our unofficial website coordinator.  Judy will send Barbara the file in .pdf format that she prepared for the Novice/Intermediate game schedules at the clubs.

 

The DBAA web domain is done – atlantabridge.org, but we are still working to finalize some of the information for the links. 

 

Pictures for Website

Charlie Davis volunteered to take pictures at this tournament and send to Larry Rich.

 

Duplicating/Dealing Machines

Duplicating machines are being used at tournaments in Florida and other parts of the southeast.  The machines now use regular cards, and there is a high degree of accuracy.  Someone has to feed the cards into the machine to be dealt.

 

The cost is around $4,500, with an annual maintenance cost of $250.  If the cost of the machine could be spread to different organizations that could benefit from the machine, then it might be more feasible. 

 

Jack believes the benefits now exceed the costs.

 

The board explored some of the issues, but did not reach a consensus.

 

Issues discussed:

·         Number of boards needed ahead of time may not be known.  Playing 24 boards in pair games at tournaments has become the standard.

·         The pre-made boards must be brought to the tournament if the machine is not brought to the site.

·         Presumably the cards will last longer.

·         The machine is portable, but it is our understanding that the clubs in Florida do not take it to the site in case there is a malfunction.

·         Would the machine be used by clubs, sectionals and at regionals?  The Unit has nine or ten sectionals per year. 

·         Quantifying the benefits of the machine is part of the issue to be addressed.

·         MABC is exploring options for using the duplicating machines.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

 

Next meeting:  Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. at the Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Center. 

 

Respectfully submitted,