Newsletter 6 September 2024
In our newsletter this week..
- Message from the Committee
- Charity Nomination
- BFACT AGM
- Celebrating Success
- New Rank Promotion
- Message from the Directors
- Volunteers Party
- John Brockwell's Column
- Canberra in Bloom
- Upcoming Events
- RESULTS
- Ian Morison
- Message from the Office
- Lighter Moments
Message from the Committee
The Committee is very keen for all members to understand the proposed changes to the Club’s Constitution so that they are well-positioned to vote in favour of it at the 2024 AGM. Accordingly, an information session will be held at 5.30pm on 17 September at the clubrooms. Jenny Bergin (Chair of the Constitution Sub-committee) and Deb Milner (CBC Public Officer) will lead the session. They have been working on the changes and will explain what will remain the same in the Constitution, and what changes are proposed and why They will invite and discuss members’ comments.
The latest draft of the new Constitution is different to the version circulated to members on 23 July. When available, the latest draft will be emailed to members to look at before the information session if they wish.
We strongly encourage members to attend the information session and look forward to seeing you there.
- Please note that the date for the Club AGM has been moved to 29 October 2024
- On 16th, 17th, 18th of September the top half of the carpark will be closed due to work done to replace the plumbing pipes.
Steve Geddes has increased the number of roles he has within the club. Not only is he directing and teaching but he has now agreed to take on responsibility for the management of the club’s financial services since Amik’s departure. Thank you very much Steve.
Charity Nomination
The committee asked members recently for nominations for a new charity that the Club could support. Members responded with a number of excellent nominations and the Committee selected Arthritis ACT from the nominations received.. So from now on all money from the produce table will go to them. A big thank-you to all who responded to the request. For members’ information the nominations received included:
( a) Arthritis ACT
(b) Make-A-Wish
(c) Anglicare ACT
(d) Save the Children
(e) Indigo Foundation
(f) Canberra Blind Society
(g) Communities at Work
(h) Alzheimer Research Australia and
(i) Dementia Australia
BFACT AGM
The Bridge Federation of the ACT (BFACT) AGM will be held this year at CBC, Wed 25th September at 6pm, and you are all invited!
Here are the links for:
- The Agenda
- The Nomination Form - please consider putting your hand up.
- The Appointment of Proxy Form - for those that can’t make it
- Contacts to talk to about the roles in BFACT - if you need more information.
The meeting will be a combination of face-to-face and electronic - see the following Zoom link for those that can’t be there in person:
Cathy Nichols is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Wednesday 25th September, 6pm.
Join BFACT Zoom AGM Meeting
Meeting ID: 351 180 5528
Passcode: BFACTAGM24
Complementary pizzas, juice and soft drink will be provided for all, especially for the regular Wednesday night players. It is envisaged that the meeting will not go past 40min, to enable people to attend to other commitments (mainly bridge!).
Celebrating Success - August
Continuing on with our “celebrating success” of our beginner/supervised graduates who receive a score of 55%+ in a standard duplicate in the previous month we would like to congratulate the following:
- Richard McIntyre and Juliana Wu-sun scored 65.49% on August 9
New Rank Promotions
Congratulations to the following members who have achieved a new rank in the month of August:
Graduate
- Gleeson, Terrie
- Kennedy, Lyndall
- Latimer, Kate
- Lawson, Lenore
- North, Julie
- Tomati, Lynne
Club
- Hitch, Clayton
- Hitch, Sharon
- Ralphs, Lisa
Bronze Local
- Becconsall, Craig
- Minogue, Liam
Silver Local
- Garland, Barbara
- Hancock, Aileen
Regional
- Mathie, Pamela
- Shilling, Penelope
Bronze State
- Hajela, Atul
Gold Life
- Tulpule, Ashok
Grand
- Boxall, Wendy
Message from the Directors
Reserving seats
Please note that only players with a disabled sticker or an obvious disability (eg. broken leg) can reserve seats. Unfortunately, if the reservation system is extended beyond this it becomes unworkable. So it is limited to those who without the stationary seat would be unable to enjoy their game of bridge. On Saturdays, if you need a stationary seat please inform the director; this is clearly especially important if you or the director is new to the session. The managers do not take reservations for particular sections; the allocation to different sections is up to the director.
Working with the director
A reminder that the director is in charge of the session and players are obligated to follow their instructions. The director has responsibility for running the session and this may include moving players between directions and sections. Clearly directors should, and hopefully always do, consider players preferences and try to accommodate them. But this won't always be possible. For example:
- In movements where more players wish to play NS than EW, the director will ask one or more NS pairs to switch directions. For practical reasons this is often a pair that comes late but it need not be. In small sessions, it may be fairer and more practicable to share it among all the able NS pairs.
- Pairs may be asked to move sections to prevent half tables or to facilitate movements. For example, even though a pair normally plays in section B you may be asked to move to section A for one week. When this becomes necessary the director will likely rotate between a group of players.
In these circumstances pairs do need to move as asked. If pairs have issues, please do discuss it with the director after the session. But remember that at the start of the session, the director is trying to organise up to a 100 players to start the session on time; it really isn't the time to have a discussion.
Directors rely on the goodwill of players and we greatly appreciate that the majority of you unfailingly exhibit both understanding and goodwill.
Volunteers Party
Do you volunteer at the Canberra Bridge Club in any capacity?
The CBC's success is supported largely by the wonderful members who volunteer their time and expertise for all manner of tasks in running the club.
The President and Committee wish to acknowledge this valuable contribution and say thank you,
The Club will hold a Volunteers Party on Friday 27 September 2024 at the end of the afternoon session for all members who have helped the club in 2023-2024.
RSVP by Monday 21 September for catering purposes to
John Brockwell's Column
Green/Blue/Red Yellow
Elizabeth suggested that we discuss colour coding of systems. It will take about three weeks, so let’s get started.
There are four colours indicating increasing complexity. GREEN indicates the most basic system ─ Standard and Acol are common examples.
The defining characteristic of a GREEN system is that all opening bids at the one level are natural. By definition, “natural” means at least eight high-card points and not less than three cards in the bid suit. There is just one exception; with precisely four spades, four hearts, three diamonds and two clubs, it is permissible to open one club. (However, with that shape, most people would open one diamond.)
Virtually all major-suit opening bids show at least four or five cards in the suit bid. To open a 3-card major would be very rare indeed, and to open a 2-card club suit is slightly unusual. If either of these things is part of your GREEN system, don’t forget to inform your opponents when you tell them about your basic system before the start of play
Next week we’ll talk about BLUE and RED systems.
- John Brockwell
Canberra in Bloom
Canberra in Bloom is being held on 4-7 October with events catering for all levels. It is being played at Canberra Bridge Club, with morning and afternoon tea provided and prizes to win.
For further information, contact Roger Brake at rbrakebridge.com.au or 0466009426
Canberra in Bloom - Help Needed
House reserves
Are you able to reserve for any of the events at Canberra in Bloom? We are looking for players at all levels to fill in if needed. If you are called on at short notice, you will play for free! If you can help out as a reserve please email
Volunteers
We also need volunteers to assist with a range of tasks during the Congress (eg, with setting up for the day, assisting with morning and afternoon teas). Some of these tasks can be done by people who are playing the events (eg work needed to be done following completion of play). If you can help out, even for just an hour or two, please email
CBC Sessions cancellation due to CIB
Please note that due to Canberra in Bloom, the following sessions have been cancelled in our clubrooms:
- Friday (4 October) morning
- Friday (4 October) afternoon
- Saturday (5 October) afternoon
- Monday (7 October) morning
The Supervised session on Friday morning will still run in the Oliver Lott Room.
RealBridge sessions are to be determined by next week's newsletter.
Upcoming Events
Refresher Course
September 10 and September 11 - More about transfers
- Lesson 3 Showing a second suit
- Lesson 4 Super accepts
Remember, the Tuesday lessons are on at 10:45-12:00 and Wednesdays at 1:45 -3:00pm. The cost is $10 and anyone can just turn up on the day.
Youth Day
The next Youth day with Will Jenner-O’Shea will be held on Sunday, 8 September from 11:00am - 1:00pm at the Canberra Bridge Club. These sessions are available to anyone under 30 for free. And, if there are “Youth” who are not too far on the other side of 30, please let them know as they will also be very welcome, it’s always a fun time!
Please contact Mary
- Sunday: 8 September 2024
- Venue: Canberra Bridge Club, 5-7 Duff Place, Deakin.
- Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
~Youth Bridge is Bridge’s future~
Advanced Bridge Series
The next Advanced Bridge Series with Will Jenner-O'Shea concentrates on Signals In Defence:
♥ Attitude Signals on Our Leads to Know What to Do Next
♥ Count Signals, and How To Use Them
♥ Suit Preference Signals. What They Are? When They Apply?
- Workshop - Sunday 8 September 2024
- Time: 1:30pm
- Click here to Enter
Don't forget there will be a play session the following week to practice what you've learnt. You can also register for the mentored play session through the link below:
- Mentored Play Session - Sunday 15 September 2024
- Time: 1:30pm
- Click here to Enter
Alan Macarthur Teams
Our next Tuesday night event is a 3 Weeks Team Event. Please note that the Final - 1vs2 will be held on WED 2nd Oct 7:15pm
- 10 September, 17 September, 24 September
- Click here to Enter
Introduction to Teams
The two weeks will introduce the idea of teams and how the scoring differs from regular pairs play. There will be a few handouts and a brief talk by an experienced teams player on the different strategies and how bidding and play changes when playing teams. It will also be an ideal practice in the run up to Canberra In Bloom, for those entering the various novice, rookie or restricted events being offered there.
- Sunday 22nd and 29th September from 1-00pm until 4-30pm
- Entry fee is $24 for members. This event will need to be pre-registered but payment will be charged on the day by the director.
- Click here to register
if you have any questions or require clarification, please feel free to email
RESULTS
The Results for the Australia Wide Open Pairs 2024 are out now,
- FULL RESULTS: click here to view
- CBC RESULTS: click here to view
Ian Morison
Message from the Office
- On 16th, 17th, 18th of September the top half of the carpark will be closed due to work done to replace the plumbing pipes.
Lighter Moments
A man is flying in a hot-air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man below. He lowers the balloon farther and shouts, "Excuse me! Can you tell me where I am?"
The man below says: "Yes, you're in a hot-air balloon, hovering 30 feet above this field."
"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but it's no use to anyone."
The man below says, "You must be in management."
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are or where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's my fault."
Have a great weekend everyone!
Elizabeth
