Hard to believe that in just a few short weeks we ll be saying goodbye to 1996. What better way to say "adieu" than with the New York Winter Regional? Our five day tournament (December 26 through December 30) has been planned with a wide variety of events designed to provide enjoyment and challenge to all levels of players.
Based on player preferences expressed in previous tournament surveys, we ve added some new events to our schedule: morning continuous pairs, compact Knockout teams, a four session Board-a-Match and early-start senior events. These events are in addition to afternoon and evening continuous stratified pairs, morning knockouts, Swiss teams and the always popular Jim Becker Stratified Pairs. The complete schedule is provided on pages 12-13 and there will be flyers in the clubs very soon if not already.
To add to the festive spirit of the year end wrap-up, we will be distributing tournament mementos every day during the afternoon or evening sessions. And of course, we ll have prizes for first overall event winners and section top winners.
The various tournament committees have worked hard to put together a crackerjack event, the success of which will be measured by your attendance. It s not too early to start making dates!
Even as we finish off our plans for the December tournament, we re already busy making plans for the Eastern States Regional in May. Many of you may have heard rumors that we re moving the tournament to the Sheraton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. It's true. And the reasons are purely economic. The rental rate for hotel space in Stamford is negligible, as opposed to daunting as it is in New York. Holding the tournament in Stamford will give us an opportunity to build a "war chest" so that we can come back to New York in December 97 with the resources needed to run a really first class tournament. At the same time, we can provide amenities to our players in Stamford that have been absent from New York-based tournaments for the past several years: complimentary food, entertainment and an affordable hotel room rate ($90/night).
To help get New Yorkers to Stamford, we will be arranging car pools which will be coordinated in the clubs and on the Internet. We ll also make train schedules available and will provide escorts for the ten-minute walk to and from the train station for those who request it.
Would we prefer to hold all our tournaments in New York? Yes, absolutely! But since that has become economically unfeasible, the GNYBA Board has devised this practical solution.
On the subject of the GNYBA Board of Directors, on page 7 of this issue you will find the names of the Unit members who have been nominated to serve in 1997 as well as the proposed slate of officers for 1997. By way of explanation, Continuing Directors are current Board members who will be serving the second year of their two year appointment. Newly Nominated Directors are those who will be elected to a two-year term at the GNYBA Annual Membership meeting to be held at 7:15 on the evening of Saturday, December 28 during the Winter Regional. Many of these are incumbent 1996 Board members. New to the Board, if elected, will be John Boyer, Doug Hsieh, Roberta Magnus, Perla Minond, Brady Richter, Susan Wexler and Anna Zagaloff.
Naturally, if these seven people will be new to the Board, there are some current Board members who will be stepping down. It seems appropriate to me to take some space here to publicly thank the outgoing Board members for the contribution they have made to the GNYBA during their period of service: Jesus Arias, Reba Cole, Margie Gwozdzinsky, Aaron Silverstein, Sandy Stern and Ira Zippert. I reserve special thanks for Christine Evron who has served as Treasurer of the GNYBA for more years than she probably cares to recount and for Robin Kay who in addition to other roles, served as GNYBA President for two of her eight years of service. Robin continues to further the cause of bridge as our District President, an appointment made in 1996, but the energy she brought to the Board will be missed.
And finally, they say that charity begins in the home. The Jim Becker Memorial Game, however, proved otherwise. This special charity club event, held at The Beverly Bridge Club in October, raised more than $6,000 for the Gay Men s Health Crisis (GMHC). Kudos to all who participated in the event and to Joan Dziekanski for organizing such a fun and successful evening. Congratulations also to Kathy Anday-Fallenius on her appointment as a lifetime member of the ACBL Goodwill Committee.
See you at the tables...
Bonnie Gellas