|
ACBL Board
Meeting at Fall NABC |
||||||||||||||||
|
The ACBL Board of Directors met in Phoenix, AZ, November 23-26, 2002. Items of interest on the agenda were as follows:
Joan Gerard, Jim Kirkham, Nadine Wood and Jonathan Steinberg had previously declared their candidacy. There were no other declarations of candidacy. By secret ballot Joan Gerard and Jim Kirkham were elected as ACBL representative to the World Bridge Federation for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. Item 023-193: 401k Trustee Dan Morse previously declared his candidacy. There were no other declarations of candidacy. Dan Morse was elected as 401k Trustee for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2006. Item 023-197: ACBL Laws Commission President Retek appointed Jeffrey Polisner, Chip Martel and Ray Raskin to the ACBL Laws Commission for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2007. Item 023-194: ACBL Honorary Member of the Year Frank (Nick) Nickell is appointed as the 2003 ACBL Honorary Member of the Year. Carried without dissent. Item 023-195: ACBL Masterpoint Regulations (Second Reading) For a summary of the changes in masterpoint awards, see my report on the Washington D.C. meetings. Effective date: January 1, 2003. Carried without dissent. Executive Session The following resolution was reported out of executive session. That the Board of Directors declare the first sentence of Article VIII, Paragraph E of the ACBL Bylaws, "ambiguous" as the term is used in Roberts Rules of Order. Motion defeated. As a result of action taken in Executive Session, the incumbent District 20 First Alternate Director is recognized as the District 20 Director for the remainder of the resigning Director’s term beginning December 3, 2002 through December 31, 2004. Comment: Here is the situation that called for this ruling. Bob Lix is the current District 20 representative to the ACBL Board of Directors. His term expires 12/31/04. His district just completed a contested election for its First Alternate to the ACBL Board of Directors. In that election, Jeffrey Taylor defeated the current incumbent, Jade Barrett. Mr. Taylor will assume the First Alternate position for a 3-year term beginning 01/01/03. After the results of the election were known, Bob Lix announced his resignation effective 12/03/02, with the intent that Mr. Barrett, not Mr. Taylor, would assume the District 20 position on the ACBL Board of Directors for the remainder of Mr. Lix’s term. Mr. Taylor and the District 20 Board of Directors interpreted the ACBL By-Laws in a manner that would allow Mr. Taylor to assume the District 20 Representative position to the ACBL Board as of 01/01/03. They requested the ACBL Board of Directors to resolve the dispute. Since the disposition of this question took place in executive session, I cannot reveal the vote count or how I voted. Charity Foundation Membership Meeting The membership meeting of the Charity Foundation convened. Jerry Fleming, Charity Foundation Trustee, gave the report on behalf of the Foundation, which included the announcement of the 2003 Charity of the Year, the National Hospice Foundation. An election to fill the expired term of one Foundation trustee was held. Georgia Heth was elected to a four-year term beginning January 1, 2003 and ending December 31, 2005. The meeting adjourned. Educational Foundation Membership Meeting The membership meeting of the Educational Foundation convened. Barbara Nist, Educational Foundation Vice-President, gave the report on behalf of the Foundation. The election to fill the expired terms of three Foundation trustees was conducted. Richard Anderson, Nell Cahn, Sharon Fairchild, Dewitt Hudson, Eugene Kales, and Don Mamula were the declared candidates for Trustee. By secret ballot Richard Anderson, Eugene Kales and Don Mamula were elected to serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. Item 023-35: Presidential Election Item 021-46 is rescinded and the presidential election is returned to the fall meeting. Effective date: Immediately Motion defeated. Aye: 3, 4, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22, 25. Abstain: 7, 10. Item 023-36: ACBL Bylaws Committee The ACBL Board of Directors will establish a permanent bylaws committee. The purpose of this committee is to review the ACBL Bylaws as needed and suggest appropriate revisions. The committee will consist of seven people appointed as follows: Four members (one of whom will be the chairman) to be selected by the ACBL President and approved by the full Board; One member to be selected by the Board of Governors; Two members to be selected by the ACBL CEO from among ACBL staff. Carried without dissent. Comment: Management submitted this agenda item. As with the Disciplinary Code, the ACBL By-Laws should be a living document with scheduled reviews. Our current By-Laws are outdated, and, in many cases, do not reflect current practices. Item 023-37: Ethical Oversight Committee A. The membership of the Ethical Oversight Committee will be increased from 15 to 20. Motion defeated. Aye: 2, 3, 5, 10, 13, 15, 16, 20, 21, 24, 25. B. Term of office will be increased from 3 years to 5 years beginning with the January 2003 terms and appointments. Motion defeated. Aye: 2, 21. Comment: Management proposed this change at the request of the Ethical Oversight Committee’s Co-chairs (Karen Allison & Larry Cohen). They wanted a larger pool of players from which to select committee members in each case, and to increase the terms so as to promote continuity. I felt the first request was reasonable considering player availability, conflicts of interest, etc. Not so with the second request. Three reasons: There are many players out there who are qualified to serve on this committee. Many might agree to serve only if the term was not too long. Continuity is only good if the committee’s output is worthy. Even three years is too long if an appointment proves to be disappointing. The good ones can always be re-appointed. Item 023-38: ACBL Mailing List The regulation covering the use of the ACBL mailing list is amended as follows: ACBL Mailing Lists (913-103) (942-44) (973-68) (003-195) Effective immediately, the policy regarding lists, mailing labels, and discs shall be as follows: A. LISTS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE: 1. ACBL Board of Directors - Any name, address, M.P. list available 2. Chairman, Board of Governors - Any name, address, M.P. list available 3. Unit/District Board - His/Her Unit or District Directors Board Members names and addresses 4. Candidates for ACBL Elections - Unit/District Board Members names and addresses 5. Unit Membership Chair - Unit Members names, addresses, and masterpoints (Once a year) 6. Club Mgr. - Unit Members names, addresses, and MP’s (1/yr., upon request, for local units) 7. Unit/District/Conference Publication - Names and addresses of all mbrs receiving publication* *Must be published at least twice a year, and all incidental costs (postage, materials) will be the responsibility of the user. B. CHARGEABLE LABELS/LISTS, DISCS: Carried without dissent. Item 023-39: Computer Bridge Competition and Demonstration The ACBL’s annual computer-bridge competition and demonstration, established by Board Directive 963-69, will be conducted at a site and time designated by management. Management will determine the format and Conditions of Contest. Carried without dissent. Item 023-40: Transfer of Unit 438 and Dissolving of Unit 494 A. Unit 438 Longview, District 19, is transferred to Unit 452 Vancouver, District 20. B. Unit 494, Pendleton, is dissolved and its membership is distributed as determined by Management into one of Units 442, 453 or 485 by zip code. Carried without dissent. Item 023-41: Hall of Fame Charter Sections 7, 8, and 9 of the Hall of Fame Charter are approved. Deferred to Philadelphia Spring 2003. Without dissent. Comment: Many of the items that were submitted simply do not belong in a charter. Thus, it will be remanded back to the Hall of Fame Committee for revisions. Item 023-43: CEO Review Committee Term of Office The term of office for each CEO Review Committee shall be from the end of the Spring Board of Directors meeting to the end of the Spring Board of Directors meeting of the following year. Carried without dissent. Comment: This was one of my agenda items, and I recommended the change after chairing the committee the past two years. A significant portion of the evaluation of the CEO is based on calendar year performance and much of that data is not available until after the calendar year ends. New members appointed by the new president could then sit in on the committee’s deliberations as observers. This would provide them a better understanding of the prior year’s evaluation and the items covered with the CEO. Item 023-44: Hall of Fame Committee Appointments ACBL members Roy Green of Carlisle, Massachusetts and Jan Martel of Davis, California, are approved as members of the ACBL Bridge Hall of Fame Committee. Their terms will expire December 31, 2005. Carried. Nay: 23. Item 023-01: Disciplinary Cases In the matter of the request of Marianne Keller of Reno, Nevada, ACBL number J752774, to lift her permanent probation: Her request was approved. Her permanent probation is lifted immediately. In the matter of the appeal by the ACBL of a Decision of the District 16 Appellate Committee which reversed the Decision of a NABC Disciplinary Committee of March 11, 2002 suspending and placing on probation Dr. M. L. Ginsberg, of Eugene, Oregon, Player #0791239: The Decision of the Appellate Committee is reversed and the Decision of the NABC Disciplinary Committee is reinstated. Findings of the Appeals and Charges Committee: (1) the complaint in this matter may have been made within the 60 day Statute of Limitations; and (2) although technical errors were made in receipt of the complaint and documentation of the charges, Dr. Ginsberg’s opportunity to receive a fair hearing process was not jeopardized. Item 023-02: ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations A. The revised ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations (effective 01/01/03) is approved as attached. (NOTE: Copy of revised CDR is available on the ACBL Website.) B. An ACBL Disciplinary Committee will be established with the Board approval of the amended Code of Disciplinary Regulations in Section 1.9. The Committee will consist of nine members appointed by the President for three year staggered terms. Initially this will be done by giving 1-, 2-, and 3-year terms to those appointed. The Chair of the Committee will be selected by vote of the Committee each year in January. Should there be a need for this Committee to hear a case per the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations, management shall notify the Committee Chair. The Chair will seat a committee of five or seven members from among the membership of the Disciplinary Committee to hear the case. Carried Comment: The ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations ("CDR") is a living document and is constantly being updated. These latest changes were an attempt to clean up some problems with the CDR, and to reduce political influences from the process. While the effort was commendable, there are still some areas in which the CDR needs work. I intend to offer further revisions to the CDR at the Spring 2003 meetings in Philadelphia. Any suggestions you may have in that regard would be welcomed. Item 023-20: 2003 Budget The 2003 budget as presented at the Board meeting is approved. Carried. Nay: 1, 16. Comment: We made a profit it 2001 and it appears that we will be about $800,000 in the black for 2002. Thus, rather than raise fees and/or dues, the board approved a proposed budget for 2003 with a scheduled $300,000 deficit. We can do this and still stay well within the financial safety guidelines established by the board. Item 023-21: Household Membership The ACBL resolves to discount the household membership as shown below:
Motion defeated. Aye 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24. Comments: The Board of Governors proposed this change. We need to simplify our membership dues structure, not further complicate it (We have more than 15 different membership dues rates.) Besides, our annual dues are already a bargain at current levels. I voted against this change. Item 023-23: Annual Marketing & Education Budget For the Marketing and Education expenditures, the ACBL CEO has authority to direct funding authorized in the annual budget from existing programs to new or other existing programs. This would not include funding in those areas specifically mandated by the Board of Directors regulations. Carried without dissent. Comment: The number one priority for the ACBL is to reverse the decline in membership over the past 30 years. This can only done by marketing. This motion gives management the flexibility to try different marketing programs without seeking prior approval by the board. As long as they stay within the very generous marketing budget that has already been approved, management has complete discretion to move funds from one marketing program to another. Item 023-24: 2002 Main Frame Management has the authority to purchase an upgrade to the existing mainframe computer as a 2002 capital expenditure. Cost not to exceed $115,000 before taxes. Note: There will be an increase of $20,000 for the software maintenance and an increase of $30,000 in depreciation for the 2003 operating budget. Carried. Nay: 6. Comment: Management sought approval for this purchase because it exceeds the approved 2002 capital budget. Because of a special deal offered by a computer firm, management wanted to purchase this equipment this year rather than later. Item 023-145: Convention Card Laws (022-145) The Board of Directors recommends that the ACBL Laws Commission give sponsoring organizations more latitude in deciding their own rules. Our specific interest is for allowing players at clubs to refer to their convention cards. Carried. Nay: 16, 21. Comments: One of the problems in ACBL is that we have one set of rules for all levels of play. For instance, rules made for competitive bridge at the highest level are simply not suited for typical club level play. In fact, many of those rules are deterrents to attracting new players or those interested primarily in the social aspects of the game. We all know that many clubs already alter the rules to suit their own clientele. The Board would like to help clubs develop a set of guidelines that suit their players, but cannot do so without a change in the Laws. This motion is the first tentative step in that direction. Item 023-155: Bridge Education Status Report Management’s education status report is received. Carried without dissent. Item 023-156: School Lesson Membership ACBL will offer a School Lesson Membership (current price of $5.00 for first time members) to students under the age of 19 who are graduates of, or enrolled in, a School Bridge Lesson Series program funded by the ACBL and/or the ACBL Educational Foundation. Carried. Nay: 10, 15, 22. Comment: Although this agenda item seems like "Mom and apple pie", it offers membership benefits to junior players at a price on par with a school lunch. In my opinion, ACBL’s inability to attract and retain junior players has little or nothing to do with the cost of memberships. Sooner or later, management and my colleagues on the board will realize that giving away memberships is not the way to solve our long-term membership growth problem. Item 023-157: Club Director’s Course A Spanish translation of Club Director’s seminar materials as used by Guillermo Poplawsky will be authorized. NOTE: No vote was taken. Comment: After discussion of the matter, it was determined that management could accomplish this without board action. Item 023-165: Junior Fund Money Effective immediately, all junior fund money collected in the U. S. shall be treated as funds specifically targeted for ACBL Junior programs and ACBL junior players. ACBL management shall have discretion over how the money is spent. Any unused Junior Fund money will be carried forward to the next year. Deferred to Philadelphia Spring 2003. Nay: 10. Abstain: 8. Comment: This motion merely confirms what we have been doing over the last several years. I voted against deferral because I was ready to vote for the motion without further delay. Others had concerns as to whether junior funds might be spent for juniors in international competition. Item 023-166: The Junior Fund The report from Joan Gerard and Jerry Fleming is accepted. Carried without dissent. Item 023-175: Marketing & Publicity Report Management’s marketing & publicity report is received. Carried without dissent. Item 023-176: 2003 Goodwill Member of the Year Bill Breeze is received as the 2003 Goodwill member of the year. Carried without dissent. Item 023-10: ACBL Bridge Bulletin Reduced Fee Policy ACBL members who reside in Mexico or District 1 may opt out of receiving the Bridge Bulletin as part of their membership benefit with a corresponding decrease of US $5.00 in their annual dues. Deferred to Philadelphia Spring 2003. Nay: 3, 14, 17, 22. Item 023-86: Conditions of Contest Conditions of Contest for all qualifying Swiss Teams of four sessions (two qualifying and two final) and six sessions (two qualifying, two semi-final, two final) are amended to reflect the following carryover formula with no limitations to spread between the top and bottom qualifier: C = S * (Q/E + 1)/2 Where C = carryover S = raw score Q = # qualifiers E = # of entrants In addition, there is a cap of 1 ½ matches (of Victory Points) for Swiss Teams of four sessions (two qualifying and two final) and from the two qualifying to the two semi-final of six session events. For six session events there is a cap of 2 matches (of Victory Points) from the two semi-final sessions to the two final sessions. Effective date: 1/1/2003 Carried: Nay: 8 Item 023-90: Eligibility for WBF Championships (022-116) An ACBL NBO is encouraged to nominate a player for invitation to play in all WBF Championships only if he or she: is a citizen or a resident of the United States according to ACBL Management criteria or a citizen or resident of Canada, or Mexico, as appropriate, is a member of good standing of the USBF, CBF or Mexican Bridge Federation, meets WBF criteria and/or conditions for nomination, ignoring participation in multinational events, will not, at the time of the event, be under ACBL suspension, will not, at the time of the event, be under ACBL probation where the period of such probation was more than 90 days, has not been specifically excluded from playing in such an event by an appropriate disciplinary body under ACBL jurisdiction, has not been refused nomination by the Board of Directors for reasons of personal hygiene, dress, deportment or ethics has not played in events in more than one NBO, in which he or she was eligible for qualification to represent that NBO in the same WBF Championship (same event and year), has submitted a signed and dated certification statement, provided by management of the applicable NBO concerning the use of illegal drugs and inappropriate behavior during the course of any event requiring nomination and approval by the applicable NBO credential committee, B. Attached are residency requirements for world competition that have been received by the ACBL as the Zonal Organization. (Exhibit ) We are sending them as information to our NBOs so that they may prepare for International competition accordingly. Carried. Nay: 9, 20. Item 023-105: NAP and GNT Events The ACBL President shall designate a committee that should include Board of Directors’ members, Board of Governors’ members and Management. The function of this committee is to evaluate the NAP and GNT events and determine what, if any, changes shall be made to bring them, or their replacement events, back to what was originally intended. The committee shall have a preliminary report with some potential ideas available for the Board of Directors to review and comment on at the Summer 2003 meetings and shall have a final report, including proposals, available for the Fall 2003 agenda. Carried. Nay: 8, 10. Comment: Over the past ten years the Board has, little by little, dismantled the prestige and importance of these events. First, the GNT was eliminated as a qualifying event for the team trials. Later, financial support of the GNT by the ACBL was withdrawn and placed upon the district organizations. The master points for both events were diminished in comparison with other national events. I fear that the end result of the above study will be a further reduction of support, if not elimination, of our only two grass root events. I voted against the motion. Item 023-106: NAP (North American Pairs) Event The proposal of creating a new flight of 2000 - 5000 MPs is referred to the committee established by resolution 023-105. Carried without dissent. Item 023-115: Mini Spingold KOs The mini-Spingold KOs are approved as permanent National Events. There will be a scheduled review by the ACBL Board of Directors at the 2005 Fall meeting. Carried without dissent. Comment: These events have been received well by the players during the initial trial period. I expect that they will continue to grow in popularity over the years. Item 023-116: NABC Speedball Championship (003-121) The National Fast Open Pairs is approved as a permanent National Event scheduled to be played the last two days of the Summer NABC. There will be a scheduled review by the ACBL Board of Directors at the 2005 Fall meeting. Carried without dissent.
Item 023-117: Reconsideration of Item 022-147, Table Rulings by TDs Item 022-147 is amended as follows: A. This item will be reconsidered upon recommendation of Management to the Board of Directors. Such recommendation will include confirmation that the Tournament Directors are ready to accept full responsibility for all rulings as proposed in the motion.B. The Tournament Director Education and Training Committee (a Management committee to be appointed by Management to include members of the Board of Directors) will serve as a focal point for input, suggestions, complaints, and information connected with this program. When Management determines that sufficient progress has been made in TD training and performance, they may recommend establishment of a new trial implementation date. Such implementation is subject to Board of Directors approval.Carried. Nay: 8, 11, 17, 20. Absent: 24 Comment: I voted against the original motion at the Summer meetings. We had been using this methodology for events below the NABC+ events for a couple of years. Until we had adequate feedback from this testing phase, I was hesitant to vote to extend it to the NABC+ events. This motion eliminated the required implementation date of 01/01/04, and allowed more time to evaluate the current test phase of the methodology. Item 023-118: Handicap Requirements The following shall be added as Item 4 under "Requirements for NABC Site Selection" found in Appendix 6 of Chapter 8 in the Codification of Minutes. Accessibility All host facilities for North American Bridge Championships held in the United States must adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act. During negotiations a checklist (see attached) of handicap needs will be given to the hotel and/or convention center so they may indicate which of these needs are available. In addition, accessible transportation at rates commensurate with standard shuttle or taxi fares should be made known. When an NABC is held outside the United States, a description of accessibility concerns should be included with the recommendation to the board. And this shall be added as Item 7 under NABC Site Selection Guidelines: 7. Mobility-impaired and other disabled players are a growing percentage of ACBL membership. Special attention should be paid to access for disabled players and part of NABC tournament promotion should include "Disability Access Alerts". This will be particularly important in destinations where disabled players might face barriers to accessibility in transportation, lodging or playing space. Handicap information will be posted and updated on the ACBL Website. NOTE: Management is encouraged to place notices that players needing special accommodations should purchase their entry early and/or notify the tournament organizer beforehand of the events in which they will be playing along with the special accommodations they need (such as special lighting). Carried without dissent. Item 023-119: Conversion of WBF Points from Montreal Championships WBF points won by ACBL members at the World Championships in Montreal are converted to ACBL Masterpoints according to the formula in Item 943-33. Only the following events will award ACBL points for overall placing: Rosenblum Teams, McConnell Cup Teams, Open, Women’s and Mixed Pairs. No other conversions will take place. 3. These points will count towards the Barry Crane Top 500 Race in 2002. Carried without dissent. Item 023-120: World Junior Individual Bridge Championship The ACBL Board of Directors approves a World Junior Individual Championship to be held every other year in North America at the site of the summer NABC. This will be held on the final Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the NABC preceding the junior camp in North America. This will be a World Bridge Federation Event. The ACBL will cover the costs and supply personnel, where necessary. Deferred to Philadelphia Spring 2003. Without dissent. Item 023-121: Ribbon Qualification Appendix R Appendix R is approved as attached. Carried without dissent. Item 023-122: Masterpoints for European Open Bridge Championship 1. ACBL Board of Directors authorizes Management to issue a sanction to the European Bridge League to issue ACBL masterpoints to ACBL members attending the European Open Bridge Championship in Menton, Cote d’Azur, France, June 14-28, 2003. 2. Sanction fee will be $500 or $5 per table of ACBL players whichever is greater. 3. Points will be sectionally-rated red points. 4. This will be reviewed after the Menton Tournament to see if we believe that it is of value to bridge. 5. EBL will provide the ACBL a disc of ACBL members that attended and won masterpoints. 6. EBL will provide a promotional booth without charge. Carried. Nay: 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, 22, 25. Item 023-123: Non- NABC+ Nationally-rated Knockouts The first round bracketing for non-NABC+ nationally-rated Knockout events will be adjusted such that with odd numbers of teams there will be no bye. The bracket will have one all day three-way match with two survivors in place of the bye. Carried without dissent.
Item 023-125: X Strat An X-Strat within Flight B, either in a flighted or strati-flighted event is approved. Motion failed. Aye: 1, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 23. Absent: 24. Item 023-126: Masterpoints Earned in WBF Events Items 943-33 and 961-78 are replaced with the following motion: A. Effective immediately, WBF masterpoints won at WBF Championship Events will be converted to ACBL masterpoints for ACBL members using a conversion factor.* B. WBF masterpoints will be converted only for overall placings C. These WBF converted points will count towards the Barry Crane 500 Race of the year in which they were earned. D. The events that currently will be counted for the conversion are: The Bermuda Bowl; the Venice Cup; the Senior Bermuda Bowl; the Rosenblum Teams, the McConnell Cup Teams; the Open, Women’s and Mixed Pairs held at the World Championships; the Olympiad Open and Women’s Team World Championships.
*Committee will insert revised conversion formula here. Deferred to the Masterpoint Committee to report back with a proposal at the Philadelphia Spring 2003. Carried. Nay: 17, 23. Abstain: 25. Item 023-127: NABC Medals Medals will be provided at all NABCs for the first three placings in each event. Events must be at least two-session and regionally rated. Medals will be gold, silver and bronze color in four different sizes. NABC+; NABC Secondary; NABC Limited Event; and Regionally rated event. About 2,000 of the medals will be regionally rated. Motion defeated. Aye: 4, 5, 7, 9, 16 19, 21, 23. Item 023-128; North American Bridge Championships - Appendix 6 The newly amended Appendix 6 to the North American Championship Guidelines are approved as a living document with periodic changes being made as new information becomes available. Deferred to Philadelphia Spring 2003. Without dissent. Comment: The NABC Advisory Committee submitted This motion. It included many viewpoints about NABC site selection, rotation, preferred dates and guidelines that needed more examination and discussion by the board before approving them. Item 023-129: Amendment of Regional Tournament Allocations A. A Regional Allocation Committee will be appointed to review a proposal to change the membership numbers required for additional Regionals as well as the entire Regional Tournament Allocation Regulations and report recommended changes, if any, at the Summer 2003 meeting. Carried: Nay: 10. B. District 9 is granted one additional Regional sanction each year for the years of 2004 and 2005. Carried. Nay: 7, 10, 21. Abstain: 13. Comment: The Board currently has a policy to review regional tournament allocations every five years. Item "A" requests that this review be done sooner this cycle. Item "B" is a request by District 9 (Florida) that they be given an additional regional in 2004 & 2005, primarily to solve an internal political problem. Under the current guidelines, District 9 would not be eligible for these regionals. Obviously, they hope that the guidelines will be changed so as to allocate them an additional regional each year beyond 2005. I think there are too many regionals in ACBL already. Another regional in the southeast each year will adversely affect all other regionals in that part of the country, including those in Districts 7 & 10. Item 023-191: Executive Committee Member and Alternate A. The Central Zone reported the election of Jonathan Steinberg as Central Zone Representative on the Executive Committee for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. B. The Central Zone reported the election of Harriette Buckman as Central Zone Alternate Representative on the Executive Committee for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005. Item 023-70: Sponsorship Committee Items A. Management shall continue to develop a sponsorship package for NABC local sponsoring organizations. This is to include promotional material including demographics, as well as ideas, pricing guides, and past successes on obtaining sponsorship from clubs, individuals, and local business. B. Management shall develop a sponsorship package for clubs, units and districts. This is to include promotional material as well as ideas, pricing guides, and successful experiences on obtaining sponsorship from individuals and local business. Carried without dissent. Item 023-03: Audit Committee Report Audit Committee report as presented is received. Carried without dissent. Election of ACBL Treasurer Jerry Fleming and Jim Reiman announced their candidacy for the unexpired term of Bob Lix. By secret ballot Jerry Fleming was elected to serve as ACBL treasurer for the unexpired term beginning December 4, 2002 through April 2003. Carried without dissent. Item 023-196: 2007 and 2010 Site Selection Management’s recommendation for the site of the 2007 Spring NABC to the Renaissance Grand Hotel and Americas Convention Center in St. Louis, MO March 8 -18 is approved. Management’s recommendation for a change in location of the 2010 Fall Orlando, FL NABC to the Orlando World Center Marriott November 25 - December 5, 2010 is approved. 2003 ACBL Goals The following were adopted as the ACBL Goals for 2003: Adhere to board approved established financial guidelines and annual budgetary constraints. Grow net membership by 3,000. Increase corporate sponsorship and advertising. Document dramatic progress in Education, Training and Certification of ACBL Tournament Directors. Substantially improve the technological capabilities of ACBL operations. Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing plan that includes intermediate goals and timelines. Carried. Post-meeting News President-elect has announced his committee appointments for 2003. I will be serving on the following committees next year: Audit (Chairman) CEO Review (Chairman) Finance & Budget (Vice-Chairman) Marketing Board Operations Please contact me if you have any questions or opinions that you wish to share:
1806-B
Saint Ann Street |