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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
Contact your District 4 board members.
PRESIDENT
Betsy Cutler
betsy2955@gmail.com
VICE PRESIDENT
Ala Hamilton-Day
alabridge@gmail.com
SECRETARY
Bill Bauer
william.baueriii@verizon.net
TREASURER
Pat Civale
patcivale@gmail.com
REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Joann Glasson
joannglasson@msn.com
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I am just back from a week in Gatlinburg and the rejuvenation of playing bridge at the tournament level gives me my high for the time being. It was great to see so many District 4 players at the event and for them to earn so many red and gold points. Gatlinburg is one of my favorite tournaments because it is so big and attracts people from all over North America. We played against lots of Canadians, and even a pair from Hawaii, all looking forward, as am I, to the NABC this summer in Toronto. | |
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Next up for me, and hopefully for most of you, is Bridge at the Beach – Rehoboth! This wonderful tournament is turning into one of my most loved places to play. The atmosphere is easy going and the food is great, plus bracketed team games every day are the best! It is a really nice time to be at the beach before the crowds and just get away for the week. I know Kim and Harold are working hard to make this event even better than the last one, which is a tough goal.
The District-wide online games seem to be catching on with our players. They provide a place to play with others from the district in the comfort of your own home. The plan was to have all the games offer some sort of extra points - due to scheduling conflicts it was impossible to hit every special game, but we did our best. Hope you will continue to come out to play each month.
I am also looking forward to the upcoming King of Prussia Regional at the end of June. Rex is hard at work making sure we all get wonderful lunches, and the bridge is top notch. We will once again be at The Alloy. There will be a free 0-20 game on Monday afternoon! Bracketed teams will be back on the schedule every day, so round up your teams and meet us at the table.
See you at the beach!
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Betsy
betsy2955@gmail.com
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D4 VP Ala Hamilton-Day says come on down to Rehoboth! | |
From the Regional Director | |
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As you read this, we will be enjoying the wonderful hospitality at the Rehoboth Beach Regional tournament. Rehoboth Beach offers everything a bridge player could ever want – terrific seaside resort location, a friendly atmosphere, wonderful restaurants within walking distance of the playing site, and terrific lunches every day – bridge at its best – hosted by Kim Holm.
It's not too late to join us there – the tournament at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center runs through May 3. There are also two online games (Mid-Flight and Gold Rush) for District 4 members only on Saturday, May 4 on BBO.
Click here for details of the tournament.
From the ACBL Board Meetings in Louisville, KY:
Finance
The ACBL financial picture is strong. We are seeing the result of the changes made over the last two years and the strong efforts of our Executive Director, Bronia Jenkins, to improve the financial picture while at the same time providing increased services to our membership.
ACBL Revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were $3,432,588 and expenses were $3,026,934, resulting in a profit from operations of $405,624.
Membership
Membership decline has been slowed. The ACBL membership at the end of the first quarter in 2023 was 132,034. Membership at the end of the first quarter of 2024 was 130,237. The rate of decline year-to-year was 1.36%, the lowest rate in recent history.
Attached is the complete board report of all actions taken at the board meetings in Louisville, KY.
Contact me with any questions or concerns or visit the Region 3 website and leave me a message. joannglasson@msn.com
Joann
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Regionals
Rehoboth, DE
April 29-May 3
King of Prussia, PA
June 24-30
Rochester, NY
August 5-10
Sectionals
D4 STaC
May 6-12
Allentown, PA NLM
May 12
Boalsburg, PA
May 31-June 2
North Wales, PA I/N
June 1-2
Rochester, NY I/N
June 14-15
Camp Hill, PA I/N
July 5
Rochester, NY
July 6-7
D4/Unit 135 STaC
July 8-14
Wilmington, DE
September 6-8
Oswego, NY
September 21-22
Cherry Hill, NJ
September 27-29
For the complete 2024 D4 calendar, click here.
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The 4Spot features fantastic contributors on a regular rotation: | |
January, April, July, October:
Larry's Learning Center by Larry Cohen
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February, May, August, November:
For Novices Only
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March, June, September, December:
Schwaidelson's Fractured Four-Hand Tales
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New Minor Forcing is not just for finding a 5-3 fit in a major. Even the most basic and standard version of this system includes ways to find a 4-4 fit in the other major, and even a minor fit when Notrump is not an attractive option. Robert Todd explains it very well here. Thanks Robert!
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Moderator: Nick Straguzzi
Those of us who play the robots on BBO know that a bid of 5C here guarantees that a robot partner will then bid 6C whether its hand is good, bad, or indifferent. Luckily our solvers are not robots. See what they came up with here.
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Visit the MSC website to read next month's problem and submit your answers online here. | |
News from Around the Units | |
Unit 112: Central New York
Betty Youmans
readsausten@yahoo.com
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Unit 112 Congratulates its Advancing Players:
Junior Master
Denise Burns, Rochester
Donald Marikovics, Oneonta
Club Master
Graham Meyer, Syracuse
Life Master
Mark Wheeler, Ithaca
Bronze Life Master
Mark Wheeler, Ithaca
Silver Life Master
Sharon Durr, Ithaca
Sapphire Life Master
Mike Spitulnik
The 2023 Masterpoint Races winners have received their certificates and the Mini-McKenney medallions. The Mohawk Valley Bridge Association honored its winners with a cake and celebration at a recent game.
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Rick Reynolds, Ace of Virtual Clubs winner in the 50-100 Masterpoint category, displays his certificate. | |
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Unit 120: Northeastern Pennsylvania
Doreese Torrey
doreeset@gmail.com
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Check back next month for Unit 120 news. | |
Stay tuned next month for Unit 121 news. | |
Unit 133: Lehigh Valley
Lois Fuini
lafuini@yahoo.com
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New Rank Advancements
Congratulations!
New Club Masters
Fred Griffith
New Sectional Masters
Joyce Bentrim
Dorothy Cockrell
Unit STaC Game In May
When: Saturday, May 11, 2024 @ 1pm
Where: Lehigh Valley Active Life
Why: Earn silver points at a local club
Fee: $9
Refreshments: Snacks and beverages will be available. Please bring your favorite snack to share.
Education Initiatives
Lessons
Thank you to Betsy Cutler for providing bridge lessons for more than 30 of our members to date.Please check our website for the complete schedule of lessons she presents in her home. There are certainly opportunities for anyone trying to improve their bridge game. Sometime in June, Betsy will offer a series “Bridge Basics” for our newer players or those who just want a review. There is no charge for these classes, but Betsy asks for a $5 donation for our unit.
New Lehigh University
Student Bridge Club
At the start of Lehigh University’s 2023 fall semester, LVBA members led by Mike Kohler, attended Lehigh University’s club fair, hoping to interest students in a weekly bridge activity.
Now, we have 8-10 students. Others join us when they can.
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Unit 141: Philadelphia
John Dickenson
dickenjb@gmail.com
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Unexpectedly, we find ourselves with three vacancies on our Unit board. We will meet May 13 to appoint new members to the remaining terms of those who left the board, so let me know ASAP if you are interested in serving! We especially need someone with the skills of Secretary to record and publish minutes of our meetings.
A warm welcome to our newest PCBA members!
Gail Bernstein
Vanna Chen
Katherine Domenick
Stuart Freemark
Deborah Geffken
Hazel Hannaway
Peggy Hatch
Debbie Kaplan
Rhonda Mendoza
Richard Perlman
Theresa Rollins
Roxana Sasse
Oana Vlad
Elaine Winder
Congratulations to our members who achieved a new rank!
Junior Masters
Deane Brennan
Patricia Collins
Chet Czerpak
Jane Etherington
Carolyn Fitzgerald
Gloria Gosnay
Ellen Kaplinsky
John Knight
Gail Powers
Cliff Retzlaff
Leslie Scheid
Barry Shrut
Jamisen Shrut
Gail Traub
Club Masters
James Aylsworth
Mary Chiovarou
Jeff Wilson
Sectional Masters
John Bakley
Stephen Potts
Carole Swartz
Dennis Swartz
Regional Masters
Pat Gallagher
Lisa Lamason
Mary Loielo
NABC Masters
Laura Breslin
Barbara Evans
Naomi Kessler
Connie Wenhold
Advanced NABC Masters
Kathy Heist
Ann Lawson
Life Master
Christina Carter
Bronze Life Masters
Sharon Lewinter
Jill Powell
Silver Life Masters
Linda DiLuco
Ruby Life Masters
Eva Starr
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Unit 168: Central Pennsylvania
Ben Hawn
bwhawn@bellsouth.net
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Congratulations to the following Unit 168 players moving up the ACBL rankings ladder:
New Junior Master:
Bozena Stine
New Club Masters:
Cathy Dileonardo
Ziyana Khan
Carol Schintz
New Sectional Masters:
Edward Ledwith
Tamara Stine
Freda Yocum
New Regional Masters:
Olga Karel
Barbara Roth
Elaine Smith
New NABC Masters:
Tom Anderson
Karen Davis
Jacqueline Page
New Advanced NABC Master:
Terry Shriver
New Life Master:
Daniel Droz
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JOIN US AT THE BEACH
REHOBOTH BEACH REGIONAL
APRIL 29 – MAY 3
Delaware Clubs
The Bridge Studio of Delaware, Wilmington
Harold Jordon
302-479-5431
club@bridge-studio.org
MOT, Middletown
Cheryl Shields
302-602-1638
c.shields@mehrs.com
Monday Morning Bridge Club
Friday Nooners
Dover
Clare O’Brien
410-310-0549
Clare758@outlook.com
Shore Bridge
Lewes
Monday @ 12:30
Wednesday @ 9:30
Anna DeLapo
302-236-0346
Anna7nt@gmail.com
Shuffles2
Ocean View Presbyterian Church
Thursday @ 12:30
Donna Heckscher
215-817-2465
Shuffles2023@gmail.com
ACE OF CLUBS RACE
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Now is really the time to invite you to join us for our Sectional, May 31 - June 2, 2024 at the at the Boalsburg Fire Co, 113 Pine Street, Boalsburg, PA. Hope to see you there. | |
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