AMERICAN CONTRACT BRIDGE LEAGUE

                                                                  2990 Airways Blvd. Memphis Tenn. 38116-3847

Richard G. Anderson

District 18 Director (901) 332-5586

2719 Jolly Place FAX: (901) 398-7754

Regina, Sk. S4V 0X8

Canada

H: (306) 761-1311

F: (306) 789-4919

Email: rgand@sasktel.net

April 6, 2004                                      Reno Report - “All Quiet on the Western Front”

      The 200 Spring meetings of the ACBL Board of Directors were held in Reno, March 15 - 18. The local organizers are to be commended on a great tournament. A new record was set with 14,954.5 tables taking part! A number of motions were defeated or deferred until the next meeting of the board.

Highlights

1. Financial - In 2003 the ACBL had shown a deficit of $203,000 vs a budgeted deficit of $292,000 and an actual profit of $939,000 in 2002. A major portion of the deficit was a negative adjustment of our investment portfolio of $249,000, along with an increase of $247,000 in Bulletin costs, $207,000 in salary increases and employee benefit increases of $203,000. On the income side, sanction fees from tournaments, along with more membership dues generated an additional $237,000 over budget. We have 1200 more members now than at the same time a year ago!! Club average table count is up 0.5 tables per session, which is a very large number over the period of a year! All in all, things are looking bright for our organization.

2. Tournaments and Clubs

a) As soon as it can be implemented by Management, at the option of a tournament sponsoring unit or district, the stratification level of a team in a Stratified Swiss Event may be determined by the average masterpoint holding of all team members. (eg. Three players with 900 points each, playing with a 3000 point player would qualify for Strat B that is limited to an average of 1500 point holdings.)

b) District/Unit Charity Game fee will be increased to CDN $8 (from $7) in Canada and to US $7 (from US $6) elsewhere. Probable effective date is January 1, 2005.

c) Contiguous Districts may co-host an NABC. The District Organization is the primary host organization, but may delegate the responsibility to a local Unit.

d) The dates of the 2005 Summer Atlanta NABC may be changed from July 21-31 to July 23 - August 2, 2005.

      e) Approved future NABC sites:

            - 2009 Spring: Houston - Hilton Americas Hotel - March 12 - 22.

            - 2011 Summer: Toronto - Royal York and Sheraton Centre - July 21 - 31.

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      f) Notable failures that were NOT approved:

            i) The request by the CBF that the ex-quota CBF Regional may be conducted as

                  a split site regional.

            ii) To gradually increase the senior age to 60 in accordance with recently approved

                  WBF regulations.

3. Odds and Ends

a) Jerry Fleming was re-elected to serve as ACBL Treasurer for the May 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005 year.

b) Unit/District Tournament Chairmen may now request mailing lists of names and addresses for potential tournament attendees from Memphis free of charge (but postage remains the responsibility of the user).

c) At the next meeting the Board will entertain suggestions to changing our By-Laws. Any interested parties may contact me for details.

d) The ACBL has drastically reduced the sanction fees for NAOP games at the clubs. The new fee is $4 US a table, which the old fee was $7US per table. I hope this will encourage more clubs to hold games!!

      I was pleased to see our snow almost gone when I arrived home from Reno. Lethbridge is just around the corner and I look forward to seeing you there! Shortly after will be Sun Valley. A busy bridge season is upon us. I hope to see you at all our Regionals.

The Best of Bridge to all!!

Yours sincerely,

Dick

Dick Anderson