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6575 Windchase Blvd. Horn Lake, MS 38637-1523 Phone:662-253-3100 |
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Claire Jones District 18 Director 2708 Lakeview Ave. Regina, SK. S4S 1G3 Canada H: (306) 584-3516 F: (306) 585-1443 Email: stats@accesscomm.ca
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National Board of Directors Meeting St. Louis, MO. March 11-14, 2013 This February saw
one of the largest ACBL changes in recent years, the introduction of Tourney
TRAX. This is a major change in the way we do business when sanctioning
tournaments, listing tournament information on the ACBL web site, and finding
information about our tournaments. Initially there is a steep learning curve
but end result will be well worth the growing pains. Unit coordinators and
tournament chairs are now required to register under the Tourney TRAX section
of the ACBL web page. They will now have increased control over the
information published for their tournaments. Players will now have vastly
increased information available about tournament schedules, tournament
programs, and tournament results. The meeting
continued the tedious process of updating the ACBL codification and
operations manuals. Many of the motions dealt with rescinding previous redundant
motions. St. Louis also saw the introduction of a 10K Swiss event on a trial
basis. Based on success here consideration is being given to adding
additional 10K Mixed Swiss and 10K Pairs events to the NABC schedule. These decisions
will take place this summer in Atlanta. St. Louis had a
number of discussion items which don’t appear in the minutes. One dealt with
the removal of masterpoints for past members. This was unanimously rejected
and the League will continue to follow its present policy of maintaining
those records. Another discussion item dealt with online robot games.
Presently when robots win the contract they play the hand. A motion will be
introduced in Atlanta to have the human player play the hand when this
happens. It is felt this change will make the robot game an even better
completion. I am listing
motions passed in St. Louis I believe are most relevant to District 18 but
for a complete report on the ST. Louis meeting I have posted the complete
meeting minutes on the District 18 (wasumi.org) web page. As always, please contact me with any questions and may
all your finesses be successful, Claire Jones District 18 BoD (306) 584-3516 Complete: St. Louis Minutes Item 131-21: ACBL
Alert Chart The ACBL Alert Chart is amended as follows: 1.
A
weak jump shift by advancer is not alertable.
Advancer is defined as the partner of an overcaller. 2.
All
2D responses to a strong 2C opening are non-alertable. Effective January 1, 2014. This motion passed 24-1, I voted in favor. Item 131-40: ACBL
International Fund Game A motion from the BoG asked that this game be moved to the
Saturday before the Super Bowl. On recommendation from management citing
conflicts with existing tournaments this motion failed. I voted no. Watch for
it to be scheduled in March 2014. Item 131-53:
Playing Directors in STaCs This motion would allow STaC sponsors the option of
allowing playing directors to place in the overall awards for the STaC. It
was felt this option was especially important for smaller clubs. The motion
passed 18-5-2, I voted in favour. In the future sponsors must indicate they
wish to allow directors overall placing when they initially apply for their STaC. Item 131-54: Eight
is Enough Game A club may hold an ‘Eight is Enough’ game as an Open
Game. There must be no upper limit on the number of masterpoints
allowed for team members. Effective immediately. Clubs holding Eight is Enough games will now receive full
Open masterpoints awards for games that do not place an upper masterpoint
limit on any one player entered in the game. Carried unanimously. Item 131-56: Senior
Age The minimum age for ACBL sanctioned Senior events shall be
60 years of age. Those eligible under present rules on December 31, 2013 will
remain eligible in subsequent years. Effective January 1, 2014. Those players who are already 55 will continue to play as
seniors while players aged 54 will have a 5 year wait until they become
eligible. Carried: 20-4-1. I believe this change is long overdue and
voted in favor. Item 131-115:
Online Bridge The motion to create two separate lifetime totals for face to face and online bridge failed 1-23-1. I voted no. Management felt it would be better to publish separate listing that would highlight each of the venues (tournament, club, and online) separately in the bulletin. Lifetime totals will remain the same but watch for new lists that acknowledge achievements individually in the Bulletin. Item 131-152: ACBL
Membership required for ACBL Tournaments There was a great deal of opposition to this motion. Concerns were raised over how this would adversely affect new players coming to our tournaments. As a result of the opposition management withdrew the motion and submitted a substitute motion to increase the non-member surcharge from $1.00 to $3.00 at Sectionals and from $2.00 to $4.00 at Regionals. The surcharge would not apply to the novice sections of tournaments. This motion carried 23-2. I voted yes. The increased surcharge is an equitable way of having non-members pay their share of tournaments costs while the Novice exemption encourages new player participation. |
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