The Unit 114 meeting was called to order at the Macon Sectional meeting at 5:00 on Saturday, with the following in attendance:  Sandy Barrow, Barbara Heller, Bob Heller (proxy for Gabriel Fadel), Larry Rich, Nancy Hetsko, Mary Ann Bateman, Joe Sherwood, Richard Burton (proxy for Susan Wolfe), Beatrice Kemp, Ann Hedden, Harpe Suggs, Dick and Betty Myers, Josie Mitchell, Kathy Whidden, Mike Kovacich, Barbara Turner, Liz Swanson, and Tom Wight.  
 
Introductions were made and the minutes were approved as corrected.  The Treasurer's Report was approved.   
 
Tournament Coordinator, Bob Heller, addressed the issue of the lack of sectionals in our unit. Discussion was held.  The idea of possible redistricting of all of the areas in the unit was discussed with no action taken.  We are instructed to be thinking about this for the future.  It was discussed that we have a sectional every year sponsored by the unit in order to be assured that we have a place to conduct our annual membership meeting.   
 
Dick Myers moved and Beatrice Kemp seconded that we hold the 2006 meeting in Macon.  Beatrice then suggested an amendment that this be the fall back sectional if Atlanta cannot secure a site for a spring sectional.  Dick accepted the amendment. Motion passed with no opposition.  Beatrice volunteered that she will make sure the DBAA looks into this.   
 
Dick Myers reported on the trophies.  It was decided that the Swiss Trophy Game be held at the Atlanta sectional on Memorial Day. Bob Heller moved and Dick seconded and the motion passed. Dick requested that someone volunteer to be the photographer for the Macon non-life master tournament winners.   
 
Entitlement Committee Chair, Nancy Hetsko, reported that the Unit had a request for funds for a mentoring program at the AtlantaDuplicateBridgeCenter.  The unit all agreed that we encourage all clubs to run mentoring programs. Nancy moved that we grant his request to the sum of $250 to pay for prizes and extra costs.  Liz Swanson seconded.  Motion passed.  Sandy Barrow will appoint a committee to study mentoring programs for unit reimbursements for the future. 
 
Liz Swanson stated that she had not received any information from District 7 GNTeams. She asked that we investigate as to why.   
 
Barbara Turner reported on the Membership details. She has sent out 176 letters, brochures and free plays.   
 
Sportsperson of the Year- Now is the time to submit a brief description of your favorite nominee for Sportsperson of the year. Please submit your nomination and description by email to Barbara Heller at hellerb@mindspring.com or to any Unit board member. Unit board members are asked to forward all nominations to Barbara to be distributed to the full board before the voting at the Atlanta Memorial Sectional meeting on Saturday, May 28th. Beatrice Kemp moved and Mary Ann Bateman seconded that we vote for the Sportsperson at the May meeting. Motion passed.  Here is a copy of the guidelines to determine the winner: 
Good Sportsman Guidelines
1.  Observes both the laws and ethics of the game
2.  Plays competitively and is always fair
3.  Is gracious in victory as well as in defeat
4.  Is pleasant as a partner or opponent.
5.  Exhibits good manners at the bridge table and an awareness that pleasure is also a purpose for playing bridge
6.  Graciously abides by the ruling of the directors and does not give unsolicited bridge lessons during the game
7.  Avoids discussion of boards in the presence of new opponents
8.  Refrains from intemperate drinking and has regards about person appearance
9.  Does not become angered or quarrelsome
10.  Has a genuine interest in the preservations and development of duplicate bridge and the maintenance of its good reputation 
 
Please note that members of the Board of Directors of Unit 114 are ineligible for this award.    
 
District 7 Unit 114 Goodwill Members are to be chosen.  Mike Kovacich moved and Larry Rich seconded that the Unit 114 Goodwill members are to be chosen by the Executive Committee of the Unit Board.  This is to be done by the May meeting as well since the names have to be submitted to the District 7 Goodwill committee for recognition.  District 7 parameters state that our Unit will get 1 member for each portion of 1000 members, thus 0-1000 is one, 1001-2000 is two, 2001-3000 is three.  For this year only, each unit is being allowed to appoint one extra person to the Goodwill committee as well.  Therefore, our Unit Executive Committee will appoint 4 people this year to this honor.  If anyone would like to submit a name for consideration, submit it to either of these Board members:  Sandy Barrow, Nancy Hetsko, Barbara Heller, or Mary Ann Bateman by May 25th.  Please include a letter as to why the person you are nominating deserves the honor.  Remember, no one that is already a District 7 National Goodwill member is eligible.   
 
Joe Sherwood announced his official resignation as the Area 1 representative to the Unit Board.  He still wishes to represent the Unit on the District 7 Board and, of course, is still eligible to attend meetings if he so desires as a past president of Unit 114. (Since this meeting was held, a new representative from Area 9 has been named and Betty Myers has consented to represent Area 1 until that area comes forward with a representative.  The new Area 9 representative will be Martha Lucas Kaplan from Milledgeville.)   
 
Josie Mitchell asked everyone on the Unit Board to volunteer for the Nationals and to help us locate table prizes.  A total of 3000-4000 table prizes are needed each day.  If anyone has any contacts, please get in touch with Barbara Heller or Josie.  Thank you for any efforts you may do in this area.   
 
There was a rising motion to adjourn. 
 
The next meeting will be held at the Atlanta Memorial Day Sectional on Saturday between the afternoon and evening session.  Please contact Barbara Heller is you cannot attend.   
 
 
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Our Annual Membership meeting was held at 2:00 at the Almost Spring Roswell Sectional on March 5, 2005.  The financial report was posted for all to review.  Mini-McKinney and Ace of Clubs winners were given their medals and certificates as they were recognized.  The officers of the Unit, President-Sandy Barrow, Vice-president-Nancy Hetsko, and Secretary-Barbara Heller presided over the presentations.  Mary Ann Bateman-Treasurer was unable to attend since she is recuperating from surgery.   
 
A special thank you to Bill Marks, Bob Heller and the Roswell crew of volunteers who made the Roswell tournament such a successful one.  
 
I will attach the treasurer's report with the agenda that I send out for the May meeting.   
 
Other business that has transpired since our Macon meeting: 
 
Please be advised that Steve Meadows has resigned his Area 3 Unit 114 Board member position, effective immediately. Steve does not currently have e-mail capability, so he asked that Ken Parker,  as president of the Fayette/Coweta DBA, report this to you. Steve cited family health problems and other priorities as impeding his further participation in board matters.  The Fayette/Coweta DBA (Area 3) is pleased to recommend Curt Barbee as their representative to the Unit 114 Board.   Curt may be reached at 770-252-8797. His address is 30 Brookmere, Newnan, GA30265.  His e-mail address is cbarbee@summergrove.net. 
 
A special vote was taken by email to determine if a sectional tournament could be held in Gainesville over the 4th of July.  Due to the sense of urgency for publicizing the tournament, it was decided by the Executive Committee to hold an email vote of the full board.  The following message was sent out by email to all voting members of the board:  
 
At the Unit 114 meeting, we asked areas to look into places to hold other tournaments within our boundaries.  Ron Cadora visited the Lanier Rowing & Kayak facility and it is a wonderful facility.  Has plenty of space and parking. They agreed to $500 a day.  It is a mile or so past the end of I-985 in HallCounty on LakeLanier. 
 
After checking with Bob Heller for dates, Larry Rich (who will chair the tournament) told Ron to go ahead and put a deposit on it for the 4th of July weekend. The Gainesville people want the Unit to "sponsor" the tourney so they are asking that we hold a vote as soon as possible.  Therefore, Sandy has instructed me to send out this email for the vote so please respond yes or no to me when you receive this email   
 
The facility has a little under 200 chairs so we would probably want a few extra just in case and we will need tables.  They will let us bring in food and drink. And an added bonus, one of the Gainesville club players is a member their and will act as our "staff" person (locking and unlocking the bldg) avoiding a $10 per hour fee for such a person.  The Gainesville people will do all of the work but do not want to be responsible if the tournament does not make any money.  A "yes" vote will mean that the unit will be the cash recipient or cash loss center for the tournament.   Please answer with one word-yes or no as soon as possible.  
 
By a small majority, the unit board voted to sponsor this tournament.