a newsletter for

CLUB MANAGERSSpring Edition, May 2003

TO: ALL CLUB MANAGERSFROM: Carol Robertson,

Manager of the Club Membership Department

T he summer North American Bridge Champion- ships will be held July 17–27, 2003 in Long Beach, California. We hope you will be able to attend.

ACBL will host a reception for all club managers, owners,directors and teachers on Friday, July 18, from 5 to 7 pm(between sessions). This is our way to say “Thank You” forall you do for the great game of bridge and ACBL.

I hope you can join us on Saturday, July 19, at 10 am to learn what items werediscussed by our ACBL Board of Directors and to get an update on what’s new withclubs. Come meet other club officials! If you have any questions regarding theACBLscore program, you may meet with Rick Beye, ACBL’s chief tournamentdirector and Guillermo Poplaswky, associate national tournament director, from 11am to noon. We look forward to meeting you!

ACBL president Al Levy will be attending the upcoming tournaments listedbelow. He is interested in any comments and/or concerns you may have.

Ste. Foy, Quebec City Regional, May 15–19, Eastern States Regional, NewYork City, May 21–26, Nebraska Regional, Council Bluffs, Iowa, August 4–10,Fargo Sectional, Fargo, North Dakota, August 29–September 1, Tunica Regional,Tunica, Mississippi, September 15–21, Jacksonville Sectional, Jacksonville,Florida, October 2–5, Marco Island Regional, Marco Island, Florida, October 6–12 Ocean City Regional, Ocean City, Maryland, October 20–26.

David Blaylock, Assistant Manager of the Club Membership department hasaccepted a position in Computer Services Department. David’s new job is PCSoftware Specialist and Help Desk Technician. We wish David good luck in hisnew position!

Look What’s Inside

NEW STARTEACHER PROGRAM

T he ACBL is redesigning its Star Teacher Program to both recognize andappreciate more of the bridge teachers who work to ensure thefuture of bridge and the ACBL.

The new “Find-a-Teacher” pages at the ACBL web site will list teachers whoare actively teaching bridge and will give more information about those includedin the list.

To be listed, bridge teachers need to submit an application to the ACBLEducation Department at 2990 Airways Blvd., Memphis TN 38116 or by e-mail.The application for an online listing can be found at www.acbl.org(Go to “Quick Links,” Teachers, Star Teacher Program.) Applications submittedand approved by June 15 will be posted to the new “Find-a-Teacher” pages thissummer.

Club Managers should encourage all teachers working with their clubs toapply for this online listing. It will help direct potential new customers to yourgames.

American ContractBridge League

2990 Airways Blvd.Memphis TN 38116

www.acbl.org

Seminars andProgramsof SpecialInterest ........... 2

ACBLscore ...... 2

The CooperativeAdvertisingProgram ........... 3

Junior FundGames ............... 3

Who are You? .4-5

Club Manager’sBurnout........... 5

Passed by theACBL Board ..... 6

2003 Inter-clubChampionships.. 6

Jane JohnsonClub of theYear Awards ..7-8

Special Events .. 8

Club Manager’s Newsletter

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Seminars and Programs of Interest to

Club ManagersLong Beach, California

2003 Summer North AmericanBridge Championships

Thursday, July 17 – Sunday, July 27

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 15, 16 and 17Club Directors Course — Priscilla SmithThis is a comprehensive course designed to introduce prospective clubdirectors to all phases of running a successful club and club game.Fee: $100 at the door, $80 if you pre-register e-mail: Joyce.Stone@acbl.orgTimes: 1–10 pm Tuesday with dinner break.

9 am–10 pm Wednesday with dinner and lunch breaks.9 am–noon Thursday followed by lunch break and testing.

Friday, July 18Reception for Club Officials and Teachers — This is the ACBL’s “thank you”reception for all club officials and teachers who work so hard to recruit andretain our members. All teachers — Accredited, Registered, Easybridge!,Certified — are welcome, along with club directors, managers and owners.Pick up some promotion and marketing tips and network with others!FREE of charge.Time: 5–7 pm

Saturday, July 19Club Managers Morning — FREETwo programs designed just for you.Coffee with Carol — Join Carol Robertson, manager of the ACBL ClubMembership Department, and the ACBL staff for an update on what’s newwith clubs. Come network with other club managers and find out whathappened at the Summer Board meetings.Time: 10 amACBLscore Q & A — If you have been using ACBLscore at your club and havequestions, meet with chief tournament director Rick Beye and associate nationaltournament director Guillermo Poplawsky. They will address the new and oldfeatures of this program. FREE copies of the latest program will be available.Time: 11 am

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday July 22, 23 and 24Club Directors Continuing Education Course — Your games will growas you update and improve your skills as a club director. Attend one, twoor all three sessions. Directors will receive a certificate if they attend allthree sessions.Tuesday: Ruling the Game — A review of frequent rulings.Wednesday: ACBLscoreThursday: The Proprieties — Player communicationSingle Session Fee: $10: All Sessions: $25 at the door,$20 if you pre-register e-mail: Joyce.Stone@acbl.orgTime: 9 am–12:30 pm

ACBLscoreFor information and

to download thelatest version of

ACBLscore you caneither go directly to

66.147.103.154/acblscore/index.html

or go ACBL’swebsite at

www.acbl.org andfollow the quick links.

If you submit yourmonthly report

by disk please makesure that a label is

applied with the clubnumber and month.

If submitting byhardcopy pleasemake sure thatyou include the

player numbers onthe report

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Spring Edition, May 2003

The Cooperative Advertising Program Our Mission

To subsidize ACBL teachers, clubs and units for expenses incurred in advertising programs and lessonsdesigned to recruit students into the ACBL’s Bridge Lessons Program and to promote the game of bridge.

Your Headquarters ContactJean Patterson, Manager Marketing ServicesAmerican Contract Bridge League2990 Airways Blvd., Memphis TN 38116phone: 901–332–5586, ext. 295fax: 901–398–7754e-mail: jean.patterson@acbl.org

It’s Easy to Receive SubsidiesThe Cooperative Advertising Program (CAP) will

reimburse 50% of your advertising expenses up to amaximum of $250 (U.S.) each time you promote bridge tonewer players. Media options include, but are not limitedto, newspaper, radio, television, Yellow Pages, direct mail,magazines, fliers, and billboards!

The CAP is available to club managers, teachers, unitsand districts. Just be sure to use the ACBL logo or thewords “American Contract Bridge League”.

ACBL logo art — electronic or hard copy — is availableat no charge from the ACBL.

TimingCalendar year 2003**Subject to change without notice

Reimbursement MethodThe ACBL will issue checks in U.S. funds.

Claim Documentation RequirementsAdvertising SpecificationsPrior approval of electronic ads and media spots is

required. The ACBL logo and/or words “American ContractBridge League” must appear in printed materials and inall electronic media.

NEWSPAPER MAGAZINEPaid media invoice Paid media invoicePre-approved Pre-approvedlayout & copy layout & copyFull page tear sheet Full page tear sheet

RADIO TELEVISIONPaid media invoice Paid media invoicePre-approved Pre-approvedscript scriptFinal tape of spot Final tape of spotANA/RAB electronic ANA/TVB/CABtear sheet electronic tear

sheet

DIRECT MAIL FLIER/HANDBILLPaid invoice Paid invoice(printing, processing Pre-approved &postage) layout & copy Pre-approved Sample oflayout & copy finished pageSample of finished piece

STATEMENT INSERT YELLOW PAGESPaid invoice Paid telephone bill/Pre-approved media invoicelayout & copy Pre-approvedSample of layout & copy

finished piece Full page tear sheet

OUTDOORPaid invoicePre-approved layout & copyPhoto

Thanks for holding Junior Fund Games !!!ACBL’s eighth annual Junior Month was another huge success!

Thanks for your support for ACBL’s Junior Program.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: In addition to the February games, clubs may hold up to four Junior FundGames per sanctioned session every month throughout the year. Junior programs are entirely funded by theJunior Fund Games. Please help build the future of bridge by holding Junior Fund Games in your club.

For more information, contact Charlotte Blaiss at1–800–467–1623 or by e-mailcharlotte.blaiss@ACBL.org.

Club Manager’s Newsletter

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WHO ARE YOU?by Marti Ronemus

W hen we were growing up, my girlfriends and I were always being reminded to “be careful of our reputations.” We were told to watch

where we went, who we were with, what we said, howwe dressed. (Ladies, remember rolling our skirts up afterwe left the house? We were so cool, weren’t we?)

And we knew just what our parents meant. After all,we all knew who the girls with the “reputations” were,didn’t we?

I may be dating myself, but I don’t thinkthings have changed all that much in thelast (never mind how many) years. Infact, I received an e-mail from awoman recently in which shelamented that her club was oncenasty, but that it wasn’t trueanymore. She wondered how tochange their reputation.

Nowadays, a business“reputation” is called its BRAND. Abrand means much more than justthe name on the label. It is also theassociations that the name calls up.Let’s do a little test so you’ll knowwhat I mean. I’m going to list a fewbrand names, and ask you to seewhat ideas, emotions andthoughts pop into your mind.

Snapple, Enron, Cartier,Dell, Banana Republic, Rolex,Timex, Stephen King, JaneAusten

See what I mean? A wholeset of images arise, dependingon your experience with the brand and your exposure totheir advertising and marketing. Edith McMullin sent mea great quote on branding. It said, “Brands are likechildren. You can try to shape them, mold them, directthem, but ultimately they have a life of their own.”

Now let me tell you something, folks, you may not thinkyou have a brand but guess what? You do!! That poorwoman who e-mailed me is dealing with a brand that haddeveloped a life of its own, despite the reality that her clubwas now a nice place to play. Our entire world of duplicatebridge is dealing with a brand that maybe at one time wedeserved but certainly don’t anymore.

So, let’s take a look at what creates YOUR brandand see if the image it creates is the one you want the

public to perceive.First of all, look at your facility. I was in a very big

club not long ago, and it was actually DIRTY. The carpetneeded a serious bath, there were grimy fingerprints allover the woodwork, the coffee area had dried glop spots.Ewwww.. We club managers know keeping a public placeclean is a real problem, and any place bridge players areis bound to be even more untidy than usual (sorry folks,

but we all know it’s true). BUT you can see the brandemerging for this particular club, even

though the people were very nice and thecaliber of bridge was exciting.

Next, take a long look at anymaterials that have your name onthem. Announcements?Advertisements? Membership lists?Bulletin boards? So often materials Isee do the job. What I mean is, theytell the time, the place, the cost. Butthey are so ho-hum that the brandis GREY. They scream BORING

BORING BORING. You may not thinkit’s that important, but then “notimportant” is the brand you aredeveloping. This is so very important.

Have someone whose business acumenyou respect take a look at your media and

tell you what image it calls up. Anddon’t think it doesn’t matter. Ascompetition for the leisure dollarincreases (the baby boomers arecoming, the baby boomers arecoming!!), people you would liketo come to your clubs are

deciding how their fun hours are going to be spent. Yourmaterials are going to identify your brand in their minds.

Not many of us have the money to call in anadvertising consultant, but there are some very low-costalternatives. All the good desktop publishing programshave wonderful templates of pre-designed stuff, whereall you have to do is plug in your name. You can do that,can’t you? I recently bought a program with 525,000pieces of clip art. Surely somewhere in all that, you canfind images to dress up your media. (My advice is to buythe one with 125,000 pieces. When I go to selectsomething I am totally paralyzed with indecision!)

In the Easybridge! accreditations, we showpresenters how to do cartoons for their media. It is so

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Spring Edition, May 2003

I f the enthusiasm of a new club manager neverwaned, it would be great, but what happens, inreality, is that a new club manager comes in all

raring to go with new ideas and excitement only to getburned out in some length of time. The best way toavoid this is to start delegating right from the start. Aclub manager cannot do it all alone! He or she needshelp in many areas: directing, teaching, partnerships,hospitality, planning schedules, planning parties,cleaning, promoting novices and new players,promoting in general. That is in addition to all theadministrative tasks to be done. If all these duties fallon one person to “do it all”, it won’t be long at all untilBURNOUT takes place. The more games per

week a club has, the more important it is that thesetasks get delegated, but even for one game a week,these tasks need to be spread out. A club managerneeds to be ubiquitous before a game. He or sheneeds to GREET players, answer questions aboutrulings/masterpoints/partners/classes/ethics, etc. Inaddition he or she has to help get the game started ontime. It can be a very stressful time. A club managershould let others register players so that time can bedevoted to answering questions and making newplayers feel welcome. Does your club have a

by Brian Nelson

welcoming committee to greet new players? Do youremember how awkward it was the first time youwalked into a club? A club manager or director whonever plays bridge loses sight of what it is like to be aplayer. So it is important for a club manager to playbridge regularly. And it is important that a club managerhave things set up well enough with others so thatthings run smoothly when he or she can’t be there. It isimportant that the manager of a full-time bridge clubhave time off away from the club a couple days a week.

One can do seven-day weeks only for a short timebefore it becomes REAL old. This time off every week isneeded for rest and renewal. A club manager needsbalance. He or she must work/play/rest/get away.

Sometimes a club manager becomes overzealousin trying to build a game that they actually wind upwasting time trying to get players who already play alot to play more. Spend that time and energy workingon new players, novices, players who have droppedout or those who you know would play more if theyjust had a compatible partner (there are a lot of those).

The important point to remember is that a manageris not a manager until he or she delegates to others.So get others involved and burnout can be alleviated.

easy, and it adds such a charming, fun touch. There’s noexcuse for boring.

Another option is to call on the local educationalfacilities. Here in York PA we have a very nice school ofthe arts, and the students are always looking for “reallife” projects. They do a nice job, too — very professionaland very free.

It all starts, however, with what image you want toproject. Have you developed a mission statement? Howdo you want your customers to view you? Fun? Serious?Friendly? New folks welcome? Prefer experience? Onceyou’ve determined that, you then have the values youwant to project in front of you. Keeping in mind that your

brand is like a child you are sending into the world, if youhave a clear view of the values you want that child tohave, at least you have a starting point.

The woman who e-mailed me might start branding herclub from scratch. She might even elect to rename it,redesign all her visual images and media and start over.

It reminds me of Three Mile Island. I live very close tothat facility (that explains so much, no?). Before it blew, allthe company trucks had GPU on them — General PublicUtilities. Immediately after, those trucks disappeared andwe started seeing new ones: Metropolitan Edison, YourFriendly Electric Company. Hmmm. Same old girl, sameold dress, but the skirt was rolled up!!

Who are you? (continued)

Club Manager’s Newsletter

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Fees for ACBL Affiliates —Effective January 1, 2004management is authorized tocollect fees for ACBL services toaffiliated organizations.

ACBL MasterpointRegulations — For all Club/Internet games with 30 or moretables (60 pairs), awards forpositions lower than first will be

determined using the scale for overall awards for4-session events.

To provide a smooth transition from 15–60 pairs,the following will apply for 16 to 59 pairs:

1. Calculate the placing award using the scale foroverall awards for 4-session events.

2. Calculate the placing award using the existingclub scale for first place without a cap. For anopen game first place = pairs x 0.1.

3. Compare the placing awards from #1 and #2above and use the lower award.

Effective date: Immediately (when clubs installACBLscore version 7.10 or newer).

Hard Copy Materials for Volunteers — Volunteerofficials who need copies of various ACBL materials willbe notified by ACBL that they may request one copy ofthe necessary documents, free of charge, once eachyear. The communication should include a description

Passed by the ACBL Board of Directors in Philadelphiaof all appropriate documents for the particular official, astatement of which documents have changed in the last12 months, and a postage-free reply card that requeststhe appropriate documents from ACBL.Note: These are the officials and documents that arereferred to above.

DOCUMENT DISTRIBUTION LIST

Handbook of Rules All unit secretaries,and Regulations all district presidents

Code of Disciplinary All unit and districtRegulations disciplinary chairs and district

appellate chairs (or to the unitand/or district president whenno official is named). All unitand district recorders.

Handbook for Appeals All unit and district appealsCommittees chairs, (or to the unit and/or

district president when noofficial is named)

Recorder Regulations All unit and district recordersand procedures &a copy of a PlayerMemo Form

NABC+ Events EligibilityEffective July 1, 2003 in order to participate in an

NABC+ event, a person must be an ACBL memberwhose service fee or dues is current.

2003 Inter-Club Championship Game Schedule○

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The Internet has unlocked many opportunities forbridge enthusiasts, and now clubs can take advantageof this technology to offer their players a fun, new wayto earn masterpoints.

ACBL-sanctioned clubs may participate in Inter-Club Championship Games (ICCG). It works like this:clubs that register to participate in these contestsreceive hand records by e-mail. Using these deals, theclub game is played and scored in the usual fashionwith the normal masterpoint awards. In addition, thegame is scored across the field of all clubs that partici-pate on the same date. Overall awards are given inaddition to points earned at the local club.

For example in the most recent ICCG, 22 clubs —with more than 230 tables in play — joined the action,and the top pair earned more than 11 masterpoints(black). ACBL stratifies these contests A (1500+), B(500–1500) and C (0–500). (Clubs may use whateverstratification they wish to award “local” points.)

In order to participate, clubs must have a regularlyscheduled game for the date and session on which theICCG is held. Also, clubs must sign up in advance and

use ACBLscore 7.0 or higher. Participating clubs mustreport results within 24 hours. Please note that clubs mayhost only four ICCG events per sanction per year.

Players may access hand records online the next day,which include analysis by Deep Finesse on the maximumnumber of tricks available in each strain. Frequencycharts and recap sheets are also available.

The next ICCG is scheduled for June 9. For moreinformation click on "2003 ICC Games" under "Headlines"on the ACBL web site at www.acbl.org or e-mailiccg@acbl.org.

Below is a schedule for remainder of 2003.Monday June 9 EveningFriday June 20 MorningThursday July 10 AfternoonTuesday August 5 EveningWednesday August 20 AfternoonMonday September 15 MorningWednesday October 1 EveningFriday October 17 AfternoonThursday November 6 Evening

♣7

Spring Edition, May 2003

Aclub that enjoys overbidding for a good cause, a club that now boasts 10 or more tables on aregular basis and often includes a group of junior

high school students and a club where members frequentlybring friends and family members not only to play bridgebut to meet other club members — these are the recipientsof the second Jane Johnson Club of the Year Award in one-, two- and three-star categories.

Johnson, longtime manager of ACBL’s ClubMembership Department, died in November 2000. TheACBL Board of Directors named Johnson one of twoHonorary Members of the Year for 2001 (the other: NormanKay).

The Board also established a Jane Johnson Award forthe ACBL employee “who exemplifies extraordinary careand concern for our members” and the Jane Johnson clubawards.

“This is just one way to express our appreciation to ourclubs and the countless hours club volunteers spendpromoting our great game,” said ACBL CEO Jay Baum.

“I was a club manager myself and know it can be athankless job. But not today —THANK YOU to our starclubs! And if I or anyone here can help make your jobeasier, please let me know.”

Clubs must meet all the requirements for star status intheir category (see following story). To be considered forthe Jane Johnson award, they must meet additionalcriteria:

1. The club is part of the community. Its membershipdoes more than play.

2. The club works as a family. Members are responsiblefor the health of the club. They share duties such asdirecting, cleanup, scoring, partnerships and hosting.

3. Club members actively promote the club throughgood advertising, including word of mouth, and byinviting newcomers to visit and play.

4. The club provides service to new and needymembers, phone calls to missing members,assistance in transportation and welcomingcommittees.

ONE-STAR CLUB ★Cape May County Duplicate Bridge Club

Located in a summer resort community, the CapeMay County Duplicate Bridge Club in Cape May NJ —winner of the Jane Johnson Club of the Year award in theone-star category — is accustomed to a large number oftables during warm months and a drastic decrease as theweather changes.

Club president/manager Michael Mueller overseesthe day-to-day functions of the club, teaches a bridgelesson at the club once a week and serves as food andbeverage manager — providing a free, 20-plus snackitem menu for each of the five sessions scheduled perweek.

Club secretary Karen Sylvester says the club adopteda charity last year. “Love of Linda” is a fund that helpscancer victims with transportation and other costs notcovered by insurance.

“Our club displayed a large jar, designated as the‘Oops, I Didn’t Make My Bid’ jar, at each game. Playerswere encouraged, on a voluntary basis, to donate 10cents, along with their partners, each time they failed tomake a bid. One of our members pledged to match themonies in the jar, and we donated about $2000 to thisworthy charity.

“This calculates to around 3,000 unmade bids,”added Sylvester. “Yes, we are a fun club that enjoysoverbidding for a worthy cause.”

Another special event is a birthday celebration on thefirst Thursday of each month. “Each person receives ascratch-off lottery ticket as a birthday gift — no, nomillionaires yet,” said Sylvester.

TWO-STAR CLUB ★★Olympia Duplicate Bridge Club

The Olympia DBC in Palatine IL hosts only onesession per week but that session boasts 10 or moretables and often includes junior high school students.

Jane JohnsonClub of the

Year AwardsACBL spotlights recipients of the second

Jane Johnson Club of the Year awards.

away from the club and community involvement.“The club has earned a well-deserved reputation for

warmth and friendliness as well as for entertaining andenjoyable social activities that contribute significantly to afun family atmosphere,” says owner/manager PamelaSchaffer.

The club, winner of the Jane Johnson Club of the Yearaward in the three-star category, hosts eight sessions perweek. Bridge mini-lessons are offered before each game,the ACBL Audrey Grant lessons are offered throughoutthe year, parties are scheduled on all holidays andtrophies are presented for special games and a club-sponsored mentor program.

In addition, says Schaffer, “routine special teaching/learning sessions are designed not only to improve gameplay but also to qualify members for becoming bridgedirectors. This is provided by the club at no cost.”

Newer players are offered advice “prior to theirattending ACBL tournaments. Other pre-tournamentsupport includes help in finding partners and arrangingtransportation.”

Club members donate paperback books, playingcards, computer paper and money to local communityorganizations. They also participate in a complimentarygourmet lunch each Thursday and in periodic “at home”gatherings hosted by Schaffer. “I have a tea and inviteclub members to my home. It’s a way to get to know eachother better.”

Schaffer first encountered tea and bridge in Scotlandwhen her husband was stationed there with the U.S.Navy. “We used to stop for tea,” she remembered.

When the family was stationed in Japan, “I used to bethe only America to get on a train and ride for an hour toplay bridge. I found that in Japan bridge games follow anestablished protocol that begins with a humble request toengage in a pleasant game. I learned that the phraseessentially translates to: ‘May we play nicely together’.

“The game then proceeds in a very polite and relaxedmanner. At the end, when the winners are announced, allplayer applaud warmly with smiles on their faces.”

North American PairsStage 1, Club level, is held in June July and August.

Material has been sent to clubs, which held the eventlast year or requested material for this year. If you wish toreceive the NAP clubs kit, please call 1–800–467–1623or e-mail: Special.Events@acbl.org

Worldwide Bridge ContestGood luck with the Worldwide Bridge Contest in

June!

Club Clout (continued)

49er Pairs in SeptemberDuring the month of September clubs may run a 49er

pair games. If you wish to participate you may leave amessage for the Special Events Department on theCustomer Service Line 1–800–467–1623 ore-mail: Special.Events@acbl.org with your club numberrequesting the 49er material.

October Is Club Appreciation MonthOctober is Club Appreciation Month. During the

month of October your club may hold as many ClubAppreciation pair games as the club has sanctionedsessions. The games must be held at the time of a club’sregularly sanctioned session. There are no extra sanctionfees. Masterpoint awards will be black points at unit openpairs rating (85% of sectional open pairs.) Also a club mayhold one Club Appreciation Team game per sanctionedsession during the month.

Please see conditions of contest for both games inthis mailing.

“Our game has grown from just four tables with nospecial ACBL events to a game that holds as manyspecial events as possible and nine, 10 or 11 tablesweekly,” noted Sue Erickson. Erickson and her partner,Les Kent, are managers of the club, winners of the JaneJohnson Club of the Year award in the two-star category.

Youngsters from nearby South Middle School inArlington Heights IL are frequent players. They play attheir school each Monday and when school holidays fallon Monday, they often play at the Olympia club.

Regina Heller, facilitator of the South Middle SchoolBridge Club, commended Erickson and Kent for “acommitment to our youth bridge club that goes far aboveand beyond the call of duty. They have welcomed ourstudents to their game, extended personal attention andinstruction to the children, attended club practice games,provided us with materials and valuable suggestions andcontinue to offer their unconditional encouragement.”

Club member Fred Blaumueller, reflecting on his club,noted, “It’s a place where I would send a friend that wasnew to the game of bridge.”

Other club members praise Erickson and Kent for“caring management” and cite this example: “A disabledplayer plays regularly in our game. Before game time lastsummer, we were notified that the elevator to the lowerlevel, where the game is held, was out of order. Theyarranged to have one table play in the lobby of thebuilding. Fortunately, the elevator was repaired in time toprevent any inconvenience to other players having totake the stairs to make that one table work.”

THREE-STAR CLUB ★★★Severna Park Duplicate Bridge Club

Located in a shopping center behind a Chineserestaurant, the Severna Park Bridge Club in Severna ParkMD offers its own cuisine: bridge play, player activities