Unit 114 Board Meeting - Atlanta 12/2003 Sectional

The Unit 114 meeting was called to order at the Atlanta sectional on December 27^th, 2004. The following members were in attendance:

Larry Rich, Nancy Hetsko, Barbara Heller, Bob Heller, Joe Sherwood, Janet Sherwood, Josie Mitchell, Sandy Barrow, Mary Ann Bateman, Betty Myers, Dick Myers, Ken Parker, Ann Hedden, Josie Mitchell, Mike Kovacich, Beatrice Kemp, Susan Wolfe, and special guest-Eldon Clayman.

The minutes were approved as read. Nancy Hetsko moved and Betty Myers seconded. The Treasurer reported a balance of $137,943.37. The Treasurer’s Report was filed for audit.

Ann Hedden reported on the NAP. Last year we had 32 ½ tables. ACBL is decreasing the sanction fee from $1.75 to $1.00 per table to increase participation. Every club can run 2 games a month instead of one. The unit wishes to encourage each club to do so. Liz Swanson was not in attendance so Ann reported for the GNT as well. Make sure that your clubs are scheduling games. April 3^rd there will be a B & C district semi-final held at Nancy and Larry’s club in Alpharetta.

Old Business: Pips ‘n Tips-The board decided to continue running our publication in the District 7 insert. Joe Sherwood moved and Dick Myers seconded that we purchase 4 pages for the May publication. It was unanimous. Mary Ann Bateman will be coordinating any news to include. The Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs winners will be included as well.

Trophies-Beatrice Kemp gave the report from the trophies meeting. This is the report as was given by Beatrice for the committee:

TROPHY MEETING NOV 7th, 2003 at 6PM
(Present: Beatrice Kemp, Dick Myers, Betty Myers, Barbara Heller, Claudia
Feagin, Susan Wolfe and Gabriel Fadel).
A brainstorming meeting was held to address the possibility of reinstating the GA State Championship trophies.

SUMMARY:

The committee recommends reinstating a limited amount of trophies, wall plaques and an updated web archive to display current and previous State Championship winners.

BACKGROUND FINDINGS:
It was determined that the trophies were discontinued due to administrative overload.

At the time the unit had a large multitude of trophies. This resulted in extensive administrative efforts. Additionally some of the trophies required hand-engraving causing increased expenses.

DETAILS:
There will be 7 events with trophy awards. 5 of the old trophies and 2 wall plaques can be used. Two new trophies and 5 additional wall plaques will be purchased with a $1000 donation .The donor requested to stay anonymous.

(New trophies matching the existing trophies run about $150- 200, plaque engraving is about $7.50/plaque, the price for the wall plaques have to be determined by Dick) The trophies themselves will not be engraved but a wall plaque/picture will carry a small Silver plaque with the winner’s names.

Dan Plato agreed to have the 7 wall plaques displayed at the wall of the Atlanta Duplicate Bridge Club.

Our trophy display case is large enough to house the additional 2 trophies.

Dick Myers volunteered to purchase/engrave and maintain the unit trophies and plaques.

The events will be scheduled by the tournament coordinator (currently Bob Heller) who will determine with the suggestions of the various tournament chairmen where the events/ presentation would take place.

At the end of each event Dick Myers or Larry Rich will present the actual trophy and take a digital picture of the trophy and the winners.

Our webmaster (currently Larry Rich) will then post these pictures regularly on the web)

Larry Rich will also create an archive of winners for the past and Barbara Heller volunteered to help him to collect and reconstruct the database for the previous winners.

EVENTS:
1) OPEN PAIRS (two session event which will be stratified but the trophy will be awarded to the overall winners). The old trophy can be used and we will need to add a wall plaque.

2) NON LIFE MASTER PAIRS (two session event which will be stratified but the trophy will be awarded to the overall winners

3) SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR (existing trophy and wall plaque can be used but the plaque needs to be updated) any sectional tournament can apply to host the trophy presentation to the winner.

4) MIXED PAIRS the event (stratified) will be open to all pairs but the trophy will go to the overall mixed pair. The existing trophy and wall plaque can be used.

5) OPEN SWISS. A trophy exists but we will have to buy a wall plaque.

6) KO EVENT: The Billy Barrett KO trophy will be used and we will purchase a wall plaque for this event.

7) NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS: (TWO SESSION EVENT) we will need a trophy and a wall plaque. The event will be held wherever the unit finals will take place. Meeting adjourned 7:30 PM (Presentation of the results will be during the Holiday Sectional in Atlanta.

Respectfully submitted

Beatrice Kemp (trophy committee chairman)

The committee recommended that we reinstate a limited number of trophy events. The following events will be held as trophy events each year in the future:

Open Pairs-a one-session stratified

Non-life master pairs—a one-session

Sportsperson of the Year – this would be voted on at a unit meeting in the first half of the year.

Mixed Pairs

Open Swiss

Knockout

NAP Pair Winners

Nancy Hetsko suggested that we publicize each trophy session to generate excitement for entering.

Bob Heller said the coordination of trophy events should NOT be a duty of the tournament coordinator. The Tournament coordinator's job is NOT to manage each individual tournament; further, because the Unit itself is not the sponsor of a single tournament, it would be difficult for the Unit coordinator to insist that anything in particular be included.

Sandy Barrow will appoint a trophy committee with Dick Myers as the chairperson. Dick will see that the current trophies are brought up-to-date. Plaques will be used to update the winners. Dan Plato has agreed to hang these at the Atlanta Duplicate Club. A special thank you to Dan. A determination will have to be made as to when each of these events will be held. Tournament chairs may ask to host any of these trophy events at their sectional.

Hall of Fame committee—Ken Parker gave the report of the Hall of Fame Committee and thanked the committee for their hard work. Here is his report:

MEMORANDUM

TO: Unit 114 Board Members

FROM: Hall of Fame Committee

DATE: December 1, 2003

RE: Hall of Fame Guidelines Review

A committee consisting of Barbara Heller, Josie Mitchell, Ken Parker, and Liz Swanson has reviewed and revised the Hall of Fame Guidelines. The consensus opinion of our committee follows.

Please note that certain opinions of our committee members could not be accommodated in these revised guidelines as the revision represents just the majority opinion. Divergent views were expressed in these areas:

· Maximum number of inductees in a given year – we chose to not have a limit, while an opinion was expressed that there should be several inductees each year.

· Induction celebration – we chose to recognize/introduce the inductees at the Atlanta Spring Sectional, while an opinion was expressed that there should be a separate black tie dinner party.

· Eligibility – we chose not to exclude current Board members, while an opinion was expressed that they should be excluded from consideration.

Please review these revised guidelines and the above opinions, give the matter some thought, and come to the December 27 Unit Board meeting prepared to discuss and vote on this subject.

Revised 11/18/2003

HALL OF FAME GUIDELINES

Eligibility:

1. Accomplishments as a player to be considered are achievements in Regional, National, and International events. Accomplishments in local tournaments and club play shall be considered, but to a much lesser degree.

2. A person may be eligible without regard to player accomplishments if he or she has made outstanding contributions and service to the game of bridge.

3. Sportsmanship and behavior as a player is to be considered.

4. A person must have been a member of Unit 114 for a minimum of 10 years.

5. If the person to be considered for nomination has died, at least one full year must have elapsed before the Induction Vote.

6. Neither age nor disability shall be part of the eligibility consideration.

7. Board members are eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Nominations:

1. At the first meeting of the new Board, the new President shall appoint a 5-member Hall of Fame Nominating Committee to serve a 2-year term. The President shall also appoint a committee chairperson.

2. Any member of Unit 114 may submit a Hall of Fame recommendation to any member of the Board. Any Board member receiving a recommendation shall forward it to the Hall of Fame Committee Chairperson for consideration.

3. Additionally, the Hall of Fame Committee shall independently identify players and/or persons for consideration.

4. Prior to the last Board meeting of the year, the Hall of Fame Committee shall review all names submitted and vote to Nominate those worthy of consideration by the entire Board. Prior to the Committee’s final vote, the Committee may employ straw votes to ascertain where committee members stand on related issues.

5. A favorable final vote of at least 3 of the 5 committee members shall result in Nomination.

6. At least 30 days prior to the last Board meeting of the year, the Chairperson shall submit to the Unit Secretary its Nomination Report (the list of Nominees, along with a written explanation of the accomplishments of each). At least 2 weeks prior to the last Board meeting of the year, the Unit Secretary shall distribute the Nomination Report to all Board members.

Note: The procedure described below has the potential for more than one nominee to be approved for induction. However, the Nominating Committee has the responsibility of limiting the number of nominees presented for the induction vote.

Induction Vote:

1. The Induction Vote shall occur at the last Board meeting each year.

2. The vote shall be done by secret ballot. All Board members present, including the President, shall vote. A quorum must be present.

3. At least 75% of the Board members present must vote in favor of induction for a Nominee to be approved for induction.

Induction:

1. New Hall of Fame inductees, if any, shall be inducted and recognized at the annual membership meeting, i.e., at the first Atlanta Sectional tournament of the year.

2. New Hall of Fame Inductees shall play free at the sectional of their induction. They shall also be added to the Unit website with photo, biographical information, and a summary of their bridge achievements.

Inductees to Date:

1. Margaret Wagar, 1983.

2. Edgar Gay, 1984.

3. Lou Bluhm, 1989.

4. Richard Freeman, 1991.

5. Jack Feagin, 1996.

Barbara Heller thanked Ken for all of his hard for this committee. The committee report was accepted for future Hall of Fame nominations.

New Business: The next meeting will be held at the Atlanta Hilton NE on Saturday immediately after the afternoon session on March 14^th. Sportsman of the Year will be voted on. All clubs are encouraged to submit nominations for that award. Send them to Barbara Heller. If possible, send a letter of recommendation and a picture of the candidate.

Before the meeting was adjourned, a vote was taken to induct Randy Pettit into the Hall of Fame. He received at least 75% of the vote and thus will be inducted at the Annual Meeting at the Atlanta Hilton NE on Saturday, March 13^th before the 2:00 session. The Mini-McKenney and Ace of Club winners will be honored then as well. The meeting was adjourned.