President-Bernetha Henry                                                                                                                                  May   2007  Vol.   XXIV No. 5

Editor – Patrick Lauterbach                                                                                                                                All the news that fits, we print

 

                           TRICKS AND TREATS  

                  For Members of the Columbia Duplicate Bridge Club  

                                           ( on line at www.cbcbridge.com)

 

The birthday party with hosts Harriet Blasetti and Bob Woodham, was a ten table Charity game.  It was close all day with Lou Riddle/Brent Holcomb pulling out the victory by less than half a match point.  Those great cakes almost pushed Harriet or Bob over -look at those top three pairs.

                            N/S            Charity Club Championship_______E/W________________________

1) Lou Riddle/Brent Holcomb                 129.50            1)  Bob Woodham/Elaine Wade            129.13

2) Pat Webb/Roni Keisler                        125.00            2) Harriet Blasetti/Rosa Shaw               128.00

3)  Fran Jenkins/Ellie Hack                      121.00            3) Joyce Lauterbach/Brian Lipscomb    116.80

4) Katie Langston/Jackie King                 113.50            4) Harold Moore/Butch Maybin            115.63

 

We have several important items for the month of May.  Our annual membership meeting is Monday May 14 at 6:45 before the game.  There will be the election of officers for the coming year and two new Board members who will serve three year terms.  There are also a few housekeeping changes to the club by-laws to be considered.  

There will also be a general membership meeting 6:00, Tuesday, May 22 at the club.  This meeting will concern the possibility of selling the current site and moving to a new location versus remodeling the current club.  The remodel would take in the bathrooms, storage, counters and kitchen cabinets..  Including the new roof we need-about $12-15,000.  Then there is the heating unit which has been classified as terminal pushing the bill to well over $20,000.  We have a serious offer of $140,000 on the table for the current site.  We also have an offer to build a new building on the site of our choice for $50-60/sq. ft.  With paving for our parking lot-we would wind up with a mortgage of approx $150,000 with monthly payments of  $997.   We would also have a 3500 square foot facility easily reachable from any place in town where we could finally justify using the McMann Fund on a teaching area, plenty of nearby parking with no irritated and irritating neighbors.  As you can see from the choices, it’s unlikely, no matter which you choose, that the price of bridge in Columbia is staying down.

Notes on the choices:  We can make the club look pretty good-though we can’t do much about the parking-our committee already tried.  A lot of the evening players will still be walking two blocks to the club.  The bathrooms would be larger, handicap accessible and two stalls in the ladies room.  Those who come to the Saturday Birthday parties can imagine what the reduced playing space would be like.  The proposal is to store our excess tables and chairs off site at @ $100/month.  

If we move, we’re going to rattle around in that much space for a while-we’ll need a few open houses like we did two years ago to recruit new members. It’s an idea we have to pursue whether we go or stay.  Volunteers?  If we vote to sell, the developer will give us time to get our club built in a new location if we use him as our contractor.  (references and previously built buildings available)

The $140,000 offered is more than twice what real estate pros figure the property is worth.  (The commercial zoning is grandfathered-if the building goes, so does the zoning-back to residential)  Our most motivated buyer is right here-turn him down and we’re here for ever.  Selling and renting?  Not feasible.  The return on $140,000 does not pay the monthly rent on space with enough nearby parking.

Whatever the choice, we ask that those in the minority take it with good grace and remember we are a club-not just Columbia, but Hopkins, Cayce, Irmo, Lexington, Chapoin, Blythewood and many others.

The club is the people who play, not the playing site. 

Coming up in June:  Our annual anniversary party.  There is a flyer attached-SAVE IT.  There is a map on the back to get you out to the Wildwood Country Club….Be sure to sign up for dishes to bring-the signup sheets are on the front  cork board.  If Eloise asks, give her a hand.  Enjoy!

 

Congratulations:  Top Master Point winner in Gatlinburg (230+) Bob Hampton!!

Up the ladder: Jr. Master: Mary Ivey Club Master: Zan Edmunds Sectional Master Sue Harrington Regional Master: Tom Gabriel, Susan McFadden NABC Master: Jan Ripley

 

Facts of Bridge Life (Eddie Kantor)   #19  When RHO uses Stayman or a Transfer bid and you have five or more of that suit with three of the top five honors, double to alert your partner you want a lead of that suit against any eventual contract.  The double of an artificial bid is a lead directing double!!

You hold:   S- xxx   H-  xx  D-xxx   C-AKJxx

 

Bidding              West        North          East      You

                         1 NT        Pass             2C           ?

Double.  You want a club lead against any eventual contract opponents land in.  DO NOT double with such holdings as (Kxxxxx) that do not have the necessary honor strength.

#20  Also use the lead directing double when opponents go through Blackwood.  If the response to 4NT is a suit you want led, double!  Important!  At the four level or higher, a double of an artificial bid can be make with a strong three or four card suit (KQxx(x), KJxx(x)) If you don’t double an artificial bid, partner may well take a negative inference that you don’t want that suit led.

 

Starting Next month:  Kantar’s tips on defense. 

 

Do not miss: Wednesday afternoon (11:59 start)  May 9-ACBL-wide International Fund Game.

Duplicated hands, analysis book cost is $6/player.  Best point rating short of the Gold point event.

 

 0-1000 Unit Game 4/19  1) Mary Riley/Mary Hayden  2) Henry Momand/Jim Chianelli

0-100 Charity 4/20 1-3-tie! Ann Langtry/Norma Pickard, J. Scott/Pat Wills, Lib Odom/S. Robinson

Open Charity 4/4                                  Open Charity 4/5                        Open Charity 4/9

1) Ken Fasching/Sue Harrington    1) Roni Keisler/Butch Maybin    1) Alice Moore/John Mac Gregor

2) Patrick Lauterbach/Ellie Hack    2) Pat Lauterbach/Bob Hampton 2) Roni Keisler/Pat Webb

3) Cathy Steinacker/Elaine Wade   3) Marj Edens/Lil Hopkins          3) Mirza Baig/Mike Bitonti

 

0-1000 Charity 4/12                                0-1000 Charity 4/17                    0-1000 Charity  4/20

1) Dodi Defiori/Fran Lawton             1) Henry Momand/Sandy Geis    1) Ginny and Jim Chianelli

2) Brent Holcomb/Sallie Blackwell   2) Emily Lamphere/Jan Ripley    2) Frazer and Roy McCrorey

3)George Trotter/Mary Norton          3) Fran Lawton/Mary Nichols      3) Tom Gabriel/Susan McFadden 

 

It’s that time again: Dues by June 1, please. Singles are $15 and couples are $28.  Send it in now while you think about it.  Or give it to the director at the club (but write a check now) and attach the coupon.

 

Name(s)____________________________________________________Birth month(s)____________

 

Address____________________________________________________ Phone___________________

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