Letter from the President Shuffle Board - Boulder Bridge

Boulder Unit 359
BoardTalk
November 2008
Letter from the President
First – to everyone who brought food (or donated cash for
food) to our October Kay McKenna Fall Sectional, a huge
THANK YOU ! Personally, I thought the goodies were the
best ever this time. Our food czar Kurt Simmons outdid himself.
Also, Sally Ann Rhea deserves our gratitude for arranging for
us to borrow chair cushions from CU’s Shakespeare Festival.
S.A., we appreciate it !
We are considering some substantial schedule changes for the
May 2009 Boulder Bonanza. Foremost among them is probably that the Saturday Pairs games will be at 10:00am and
3:00pm, not the customary 1 and 7pm times. Also, few players seem 100% satisfied with the 8:45am start time for the
kickoff Knockout Team event on Friday morning. We will
consider some adjustment here as well. A later start might
draw a larger field, but we do need to allow sufficient time for
lunch between the morning KO and afternoon Pairs/KO sessions. We also want to leave a comfortable dinner gap between the afternoon and evening games, while at the same
time starting the evening game at a decent hour. The proximity of many restaurants to the Fairgrounds should help us in
our planning.
On the subject of change, we have implemented a new
“Suggestions”
feature
on
our
Unit
website,
www.boulderbridge.org. You will see the ‘Suggestions’ button in the upper right when you arrive at the site. Just click
the button and follow the link from there. This “Suggestions”
feature was in fact suggested by one of our Unit members.
So, we suggest that you use the new Suggestions feature to
suggest to the Board any suggestions you have toward improving our collective bridge experience. See you at the Holiday Party on December 7!
Bill Brackett, President
Shuffle Board
2008 has seen many changes for the Unit Board. We started
the year with Sally Ann Rhea (aka BT Editor) taking over
Jeanne Grays’s term which runs through 2009. Early in the
year our former president John Bortins moved to Florida
which created another vacancy for his term which was due to
run through 2008. Bill Brackett took over the presidential
role, but we were unable to fill John’s position until recently
when Karen Renne agreed to serve. In addition to John’s (now
Karen’s) expiring term, two others expire at the end of 2008,
Reiko Raese’s and Bill’s. President Bill and Karen have decided not to run for another term. Confused yet? The bottom
line is that we have three open positions and three enthusiastic, qualified members of 359 willing to serve. Although most
of you know them, we provide the following biographies
which may help you appreciate their talents even more. The
current board recommends that you approve all three by
bringing the ballot at the botto of page 5 to the annual membership meeting, known more fondly as the Holiday Party. If
you prefer, you may mail the ballot to our Secretary, Mary
Roble at 3475 Longwood Ave., Boulder CO 80305.
Gena Brooks started playing bridge in
college but says it wasn't even good party
bridge. In 1970 she took her first duplicate lessons in old-style Goren with 4card majors. She didn’t play much then
and when she re-started in 2001 discovered that practically everything was different. Her favorite thing about the game
is that her husband Bill enjoys it as much
as she does so it is something they can do
together. She also appreciates the challenges, the people, and the opportunity to have a reason to
travel to fun places with like minded people.
Both of their daughters live in the area so two years ago she
and Bill sold their ranch in Texas and headed north to get here
in time for the birth of their granddaughter. When asked what
she does when not playing bridge she responded that it seems
as if they spend most of their time moving or preparing to do
so. She hopes that this November when they move to Anthem
will be the last move for a long time. Having been in the restaurant/catering/hospitality business for 30 years, she and Bill
seem to gravitate to those areas if they think they can be of
assistance.
Anne Fenerty started her bridge career
playing with her parents in Hungary.
However, when she came to Canada on a
scholarship she did not play bridge at
University at all. She started playing
duplicate when working at her first job,
300 miles north of Montreal, Quebec,
where she was working as a chemist in
an electrometallurgical research lab for
Alcan. During the long, cold winters
new arrivals at the lab were invited to join a friendly game of
bridge. Things were complicated by the alternate use of
French and English. She once doubled the wrong game when
she thought it was “coeur”, instead of “carreau” as pronounced by a gentleman chewing on a cigar.
Subsequently Anne completed an MS in inorganic chemistry,
taught at a community college in Michigan and, after her husband was transferred overseas, started a PhD at the Imperial
College in London. On returning to the US, after two years in
(continued on page 2)
Shuffle Board (cont.)
the UK, she worked at an industrial lab in Colorado and
briefly taught at a community college in Denver. She
moved to Colorado in 1971 when her husband was offered
a job here. She has been involved with a number of social
and political organizations, boards, and commissions. She
and her husband hike, ski, and travel. They have two adult
sons who live in Louisville and in San Jose, CA, respectively.
Reiko Raese has been an active and
dedicated board member for the past
two terms. She is currently the Partnership Chair, facilitating partnerships as needed at all of our sectionals and unit games. Her hope for
bridge in the area is that more young
people and retired people start playing the game.
She moved to Boulder when her
husband got a job at Ball Brothers. He earned his graduate
degree at CU while Reiko earned an undergraduate degree
in Math. They started playing at their home here in Boulder when her husband’s great aunt told them that being
able to play bridge was simply a matter of good social etiquette. Jack played socially but really prefered riding his
bicycle (and this year was able to participate in Ride the
Rockies as part of the USGS team). Reiko however, echoing Anne’s concern, became addicted to the game. She
enjoys the social aspect and being able to meet many interesting people and having some of them become good
friends. On the rare occasions when not playing bridge,
Reiko and Jack attend performing arts in Boulder and Denver and are subscribers to CU concerts, Opera Colorado,
Central City Opera, Denver Center attractions and the
Colorado Ballet.
Recent Results
It seems that not many 359 players traveled to the more
distant Colorado sectionals this fall, or if they did, they
didn’t fare well, as we had no winners at the Glenwood
Springs 299er event. Only two placed in Pueblo—Suzanne
Jones placing 1st in the Saturday KO and 2A in the Sunday
Swiss and Joanna Chau 1B in the Swiss. At the Montrose
Sectional, two pairs from Summit County placed in the
stratified pairs—Hans & Sandra Kischnerus Friday evening 1/2C-3/4B and Stephen & Tamara McCammon 3C on
Friday and 2C on Saturday. Brigitte Shaw placed 2A in the
Saturday event.
Closer to home our I/N players did very well in the Denver
299er tournament. Hans & Sandra placed 1B/3A Saturday
afternoon, followed by Phyllis Coelho & Jean Ingram 2B,
and Joyce Bograd & Judy Walker 3C. That evening Jane
Baryames & Kurt Simmons placed 1A, Thad & Mindy
Smith 1/2B & 2/3A, and Joyce & Judy again captured 3C.
In the Sunday Swiss Sunny Gilbert, Barbara Yoshimura,
Karen Herz & Ellen Vineski were 1A/B and John Childs,
Don Lilley, Phyllis Coelho & Nancy Hertfelder were
1C/2B/3A. Phyllis placed 3rd overall in the tournament
with Unit 359 players in 7 of the 10 top spots!
In the recent Northern Colorado Nov 1st 299er event our group
did well Saturday afternoon. Kurt Simmons & Scott Needham
placed 3A, Phyllis & Nancy 3B, Carol & Tad Koch 1C, Bob
Martin & Rosemarie Getsie 2C, and John & Pam Rifkin won the
0-20 section. At our own 300+ Unit Game that day, we were
bested by some of our favorite Denver players as Spencer Jones
& Peggy Ware won overall. However, our pride was restored as
our own players, Vincent Bates & Andrea Kutscher, won the B
strat.
We also represented our unit well at the Colorado Springs Regional. On day one, in the KO’s Suzanne Jones placed 3/4 in
bracket 1 and Brigitte Shaw won bracket 2. Mary Ellen Nickodemus & Jane Baryames placed 3D in a 199er event and 2C in a
Swiss that night. In the open pairs Robert Sherman & Gary
Steiner were 3A. On Wednesday Marie Kruse placed 3C in a side
game and Arlene Hunter & Patricia Soukup placed 2C/3A/B. In
Thursday side games and open pairs Ole Nordhild placed 2C,
Sally Ann Rhea & Karen Herz placed 3C, and Jim Hoerlein &
Charlie Anderson placed 2A. Jim & Charlie, along with Jeanne
Gray, also placed 3/4 in bracket 2 of a KO that day while Jean
Grunwald won the Swiss. In Friday side games Mary Roble &
Judy Bowers placed 1C-2/3B/A, Arlene & Patricia placed 1B/C3A, and Ellen Vineski & Karen Herz placed 2C. In compacts
concluding Saturday, Sally Ann Rhea, Kelly Wawrzynek, Mike
Stabler & Ole Nordhild won the Monarch bracket 2 while in the
Climax Vincent Bates, Anne Vincent, Paul Flanders & Andrea
Kutscher placed 2nd in bracket 2, Nettie Ashbee placed 3rd/4th in
bracket 3, and Mary Roble, Judy Bowers, & Gena Brooks placed
2nd in bracket 4. Tamara & Stephen McCammon won 1D in the
Saturday afternoon 199er. And finally, in the Sunday Swiss
games, Jim Hoerlein, Jeanne Gray, & Charlie Anderson placed
2X, Vincent, Anne, Paul & Andrea 1C/2B, and Carolyn Spicer,
Joyce Bograd, Phyllis Coelho, & Nancy Hertfelder placed 3rd in
the 199er.
Wow—that’s a lot of wins in a lot of places!
McKenna Results
Friday Bracketed Kos, Bkt 1
1 Tom Stack, Richard Laver,
Gary Greene, Robert Sherman
2 Steven Cooper, Kitty Cooper,
Tom Breed, Kenneth Stuckey
Friday Bracketed Kos, Bkt 2
1 Margaret Jones, Maud Greer,
Carter Dorrell, Joan Stern
2 Ralph Cox, Molly Kienker,
Karen Williams Cox, Michael Zimmerman
Friday Bracketed Kos, Bkt 3
1 Edward Halteman, Laurie Simons,
Patricia Hoadley, Judith Bowers
2 Phyllis Coelho, David Briggs,
Douglas Madison, Wilhelmena Haynes
Fri Aft Open Pairs Strat A
1 Chuck Henke, Donald Vancil
2 Allen Kane, En Hay
3/4 Marilyn Eber,James LaForce
3/4 Barbara Meier, Martin Gutschenritter
Fri Aft Open Pairs Strat B
1 Susan Wong, Marie Smerjac
2 Leona Schuler, Betty Jacobson
3 Douglas Watt, Norman Watt
Fri Aft Open Pairs Strat C
1 Leona Schuler, Betty Jacobson
2 A Hunter, Patricia Soukup,
3/4 Ellen Tallman, Peter Tallman
3/4 Sally Ann Rhea, Kelly Wawrzynek
Fri Aft 299er Pairs Strat D
1 Theo Meyer, Joanne Berger
2 Paul Nelson, Janet Nelson
3 Jeff Kitman, Sheryl Siegel
Fri Aft 299er Pairs Strat E
1 Theo Meyer, Joanne Berger
2 William Jeffers, Gene Kuehn
3 Rosemary Getsie, Jean Hupka
Fri Aft 299er Pairs Strat F
1 William Jeffers, Gene Kuehn
2 Karen Lamb, Shirley Brown
Fri
1
2
3
Fri
1
2
3
Eve A/X Str-Flt Pairs, A
Allen Kane, En Hay
Susan Grauer, Alice Kinningham
Dennis Goldston, Bonnie Bagley
Eve A/X Str-Flt Pairs, X
Susan Grauer, Alice Kinningham
William Brackett, Jim Johnson
Barbara Meier, Martin Gutschenritter
Fri
1
2
3
Fri
1
2
3
Eve B/C Str-Flt Pairs, B
A Hunter, Patricia Soukup
Nettie Ashbee, Julie Leman
George Varra, Elizabeth Varra
Eve B/C Str-Flt Pairs, C
A Hunter, Patricia Soukup
George Varra, Elizabeth Varra
Barbara Yoshimura, Sunny Gilbert
Fri
1
2
3
Fri
1
2
3
Eve 299er Pairs, Strat D
Joyce Bograd, Judith Walker
Thad Smith, Mindy Smith
Paul Nelson, Janet Nelson
Eve 299er Pairs, Strat E
Joyce Bograd, Judith Walker
Robert Martin, Debbie Shaffer
Kamilla Macar, Raymond Cole
Sat Open Pairs, Strat A
1
Susan Grauer, Tom Breed
2
Earl Tackman, Larry Dolan
3
Marilyn Eber, Bonnie Smith
Sat Open Pairs, Strat B
1 Vincent Bates, Andrea Kutscher
2 Robert Lupton, Robert Paris
3 Ginny Macey, Yvonne Quintal
Sat Open Pairs, Strat C
1
Ole Nordhild, Gerdur Kristjansdottir
2
Karen Williams Cox, Cornelia Snyder
3
William Greeley, Gail Greeley
Sat
1
2
3
Aft Strat Side Pairs, A & B
Douglas Watt, Norman Watt
Kristi Endelicato, James Endelicato
Barbara Ellington, Bill Hendrick
Sat
1
2
3
Aft Strat Side Pairs, C
Barbara Ellington, Bill Hendrick
Michael Lee Stabler, Robert Martin
Mary Ellen Nickodemus, Laurie Simons
Sat
1
2
3
Sat
1
2
3
Sat
1
2
Aft 299er Pairs, Strat D
Tony Allitto, Kathleen Allitto
John Hall, Brian Agnes
William Arkin, Donna Arkin
Aft 299er Pairs, Strat E
Tony Allitto, Kathleen Allitto
John Hall, Brian Agnes
Vicki Hamende, Jerry Potter
Aft 299er Pairs, Strat F
Tony Allitto, Kathleen Allitto
Pamela Rifkin, John Rifkin
Sat
1
2
3
Sat
1
2
3
Sat
1
2
Eve 299er Pairs, Strat D
Robert Dean, Sherry Levitt
Ellen Vineski, Kelly Wawrzynek
Brian Agnes, John Hall
Eve 299er Pairs, Strat E
Ellen Vineski, Kelly Wawrzynek
Brian Agnes, John Hall
Jane Henninger, Donald Henninger
Eve 299er Pairs, Strat F
Brian Agnes, John Hall
Tony Allitto, Kathleen Allitto
Sunday A/X Str-Fltd Swiss, A
1/3 Brandon Sheumaker, Bill Allegar,
Dom Di Felice, Donald Vancil
1/3 Jan Janitschke, Spencer Jones,
Peggy Ware, Garth Yettick
1/3 Ernest Skolnik, Donald Boyarsky,
Marilyn Eber, Dan Marthaler Jr
Sunday A/X Str-Fltd Swiss, X
1
Brandon Sheumaker, Bill Allegar,
Dom Di Felice, Donald Vancil
2
Jim Johnson, William Brackett,
Jeffrey Brown, Audrius Mizeikis
3
Clinton Heiple, Paul Haynes
Woody Dillinger, Katelin Yates
Sunday B/C/D Strflt Swiss, B
1
Andrew Johnson, James Zuboy,
Judith Hardie, Denise Desbarats
2
Emil Dimitrov, David Macey,
Ginny Macey, Yvonne Quintal
3
Bob Reinman, Robert McKenzie,
Michael Schneider, Joanna Chau
Sunday B/C/D Strflt Swiss, C
1
Graeme Hennessey, June Bock,
Thad Smith, Mindy Smith
2
Bill Hendrick, Barbara Ellington,
Robert Butcher, Judith Butcher
3
Richard Webster, Margaret Webster,
L Yudien, Bill Dorin
Sunday B/C/D Strflt Swiss, D
1
Graeme Hennessey, June Bock,
Thad Smith, Mindy Smith
2
Douglas Madison, Wilhelmena Haynes,
Brian Moore, Rebecca Ruttenberg
3
Ross Passarelli, Carolyn Passarelli,
Karen Lamb, Pat Carrick
Kitty Cooper’s
Top Ten Tips for Teams
Kitty Cooper who moved to Ft. Collins last year is one of
Colorado’s three Grand Life Masters (ACBL members who
have more than 10,000 points and have also won a national
championship) and its only World Champion. Last summer
when my GNTeam was preparing for the national contest we
consulted Kitty. For a very reasonable fee she met with us for
an afternoon, advised us via e-mail, and has been a steady
cheerleader ever since. Much of her advice had to do with
social, emotional and physical preparation for developing the
esprit de corps and stamina needed for a long contest such as
the GNT. However, I also distilled the following top ten tips
for practical play that apply to any team event. Most will be
familiar to experienced players, but a few may surprise you.
1. Overtricks and extra setting tricks don’t matter—take safety
plays to insure your contract and cash setting tricks immediately; however, the shorter the match the less true this is.
2. Bid marginal vulnerable games but agree about inviting and
accepting aggressively, e.g. invite conservatively and accept
aggressively, but don’t bid aggressively in both directions.
3. Do not risk doubling part-scores into games but do double
games you think you can set.
4. Be conservative bidding slams, especially bidding grand
slams.
5. Be an active but thoughtful preempter—in 1st seat tend to
have a good suit when vulnerable, exercise discipline in 2nd
seat as you are likely to be preempting partner, get frivolous in
3rd seat because now you know whom you are preempting.
6. Don’t aggressively compete for part scores, especially in
minor suits; only balance if you have a reasonable expectation
of making the contract.
7. Claim early and often to avoid time trouble on the challenging hands.
8. Likewise, minimize socializing during play to avoid time
trouble later.
9. Play fast in a hopeless situation—it might induce opponent
error.
10. Don’t change your style based on results—when ahead
don’t switch to conservative play and when behind don’t become reckless.
Treasurers Report - 9/8/08 to 11/1/08
Jim Hoerlein, Treasurer
Last Checking Balance:
McKenna Sectional entries 295 x $32
site Bridge.KittyCooper.com.
9,440.00
McKenna Sectional non-member fee
1.00
McKenna Sectional Sunday food fee
1,296.00
Mckenna Sectional Donations
244.50
Membership reimburse
200.37
Total Income:
11,181.87
Expenses:
Spring Sectional Flyers
McKenna Sectional Flyers
McKenna Sectional Scorecard Ad
McKenna Sectional Fairgrounds Rental
9.00
18.00
75.00
1,187.60
McKenna Sectional Fairgrounds Deposit
296.80
McKenna Sectional Caddys
520.00
McKenna Sectional Kitchen Helper
450.00
McKenna Sectional Chef
750.00
McKenna Sectional Sunday Pizza
668.80
McKenna Sectional Food, Supplies
1,053.46
McKenna Sectional Directors
2,698.80
McKenna Sectional Sectional Surcharge
135.00
McKenna Sectional Sanction fee
843.70
McKenna Sectional Hand Records
150.66
McKenna Sectional Preduplicated Boards
136.00
McKenna Sectional Free Plays (0-5 MP)
200.00
McKenna Sectional Free Plays (Board)
56.00
McKenna Sectional Free Plays (Fillin)
48.00
Board Member Nametags
5.00
Newsletter Printing
89.12
Newsletter Mailing
136.00
Clipboards, Fairgrounds Signs
179.63
Senior Center Rent - Nov 1 unit game
150.00
Remembrance
Kitty doesn’t have time to advise bridge players on a regular
basis, but loves to help people improve and is especially interested in helping those who are teaching kids to play. She invites you to visit and download anything you like at her web-
5,953.67
Income:
50.00
Total Expense:
9,906.57
Final Checking Balance:
7,228.97
Final Savings Balance:
7,939.02
Total Assets:
15,167.99
Thanks from Kurt
I would like to thank everyone in the unit for their contributions to the success of the food at the Kay McKenna Fall Sectional.
Whether it was healthy food, a dessert, ingredients, time, attendance, or money all contributions were welcome and appreciated. The
only complaint I heard all weekend was about that horrid Green Tea Ginger Ale and I take full responsibility for that. As the face of
the kitchen I heard most of the compliments, but I know most of those compliments belong to unit members so I wanted to pass on the
thanks I received in the kitchen. (I'm going to keep the marshmallow compliments because those are such fun, but everyone can share
the rest.) — Kurt
Laughs from Larry
Several issues back I shared the brilliance of a partner who
opined during the pre-game interchanges that after
"Blackwood and Stayman, each system added, decreased
bridge judgment proportionately!" AND then took but 2 bids
to put me in 6S, down 1.
Now, I have a new bit of profundity; "When you and partner
have 16 low level responses to describe both length and honors in trumps and do not use them you will go down 3."
Case in point--holding, A109xx, AKxx, xx, xx, I responded
1S showing at least 5+S(s) and 8+ high card pts. to pard’s
Precision opening of 1C. He or she inquired 1NT, which
asks for controls (A=2, K=1), I proudly said 2S(s), showing 5
controls. NOW is (99.99% of the time) our arrogant use of
our 16!!! low level asking bids. BUT NO! he or she bids 6
NT. DOWN 3!
Softly, inquired I, “WHY??”
"My bad," he or she said, “I thought you had 5 Kings".
—Larry
Logic from Suzanne
Dear Unit Members:
For the past two years I've lobbied the Board to change the
schedules for the Boulder (Longmont) tournament. I'm told
the Board actually discussed some changes and decided to
"leave things as they were." I don't know their reasoning.
Boulder tournaments draw the majority of participants from
the Denver area, a few from Colorado Springs and Northern
Colorado and a stray or two from beyond the divide. Starting
the KO events at 8:45am effectively prevents many from
participating. Try driving from the south through Denver
in Friday's rush hour traffic and see if it promotes the any
desire to play in that event.
Other units (other than Denver, which has all the participants it apparently wants) have schedules that are far more
attractive. For example: Ft. Collins starts the KO at Friday
at 1:00pm, concurrent with a single session of pairs. If,
alas, you are knocked out, you can still play in the single
session pair event that evening. If you play your way to
the finals, you'll have to get up Saturday morning to play at
9:00am, a hardship that most would brave to be in the finals of the event. Another successful schedule (Pueblo,
which draws MOST of its participants from Denver): Two
single session pairs on Friday, the first starting at 1:00pm.
It starts its KO on Saturday morning at 9:00am (not much
traffic to fight); its double session pairs (with add-ins in the
evening, refugees from latter stages of the KO) starting at
l:00pm.
I don't know of any other unit which currently starts its KO
Friday mornings. And of course none at 8:45am. A couple
of years ago, a pair from Colorado Springs, staggered in at
9:05am but alas, were not permitted to play. Haven't seen
'em since.
Knockouts are a lot of fun for everyone. Larger turnouts
for KO's mean more masterpoints for EVERYONE. I
strongly urge you to convince the board of the desirability
of changing the present schedule.
Thanks,
Suzanne Jones
Questions? Comments? Ideas for articles or articles themselves? E-mail rhea@colorado.edu.
The BT editor wishes to thank Karen Renne for the excellent photography in this issue.
---------------------------------------------------------BALLOT for UNIT 359 Board Member Election
Please vote for 3 Board Members who will each serve 3-year terms 2009-2011
Yes No
Gena Brooks
Anne Fenerty
Reiko Raese
_________________
Please drop off ballot at the Holiday Party on December 7 or mail it to our Secretary, Mary
Roble, at 3475 Longwood Ave., Boulder CO 80305 before that date.
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
BOULDER CO
PERMIT NO. 769
Karen Renne
1325-D Bear Mountain Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
McKenna Sectional Winners
Swiss A
Judie Hardie & Denise Desbarats
not pictured-Andy Johnson & James Zuboy
Saturday Aft 299er D/E/F
Kathleen & Tony Allitto
Swiss T
ea
Corley F m
rie
Donna & sen, Marie Kr
use
Edward
Ozark
Friday Aft Open Pairs
Leona Schuler & Betty Jacobsen
Friday Evening
299er, D/E
Judy Walker
Joyce Bograd
Swiss B/C
Mindy & Thad Smith
June Bock, not picturedGraeme Hennessey
The 2008 Board
Bill Brackett
Mary Roble
Jim Hoerlein
Karen Renne
President
Vice President & Secretary
Treasurer
Membership
Reiko Raese
Sally-Ann Rhea
Darwyn Herbst
Mike Morter
Barbara Yoshimura
Partnership
Publications
Tourn. Chair/Special Events
Tournaments/Special Events
Tournaments/Special Events
Upcoming Games
Holiday Party—Sunday, December 7 Spice of Life Conference Center (Flatirons Golf
Course), 12:30pm celebration, 1:00 pm game time
Unit GNT Qualifier—TBA