Several clubs and units around D20 have been successful launching new lessons. The
Vancouver Bridge Club had a very successful eight-week beginner class in January and
February taught by Lynda Hirst. Attendance was greatly augmented by an article in the
local newspaper, The Columbian.

The timing of the article was an accidental result of a reporter wanting to do a feature
story about the struggles that nonprofits like ours have had trying to recover from the
closures caused by COVID. The article appeared late in December, so the VBC was
able to highlight the upcoming class.

The results were wildly beyond expectations! Over 40 folks participated, and upon
completion, most continued in a supervised play session free of charge. Seven
volunteers helped Lynda at various times, and all say that the students (and teachers
alike) had fun while learning our great game. Some of the students even brought
relatives, like grandmothers and grandsons, to observe.

The club is starting a 0–100 game (only players with fewer than 100 masterpoints can
play) in April (Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm) and expect a lot of these new players to
attend. Tim Rilling will direct.

Another eight-week beginner class is starting in May. It will be held on Thursday
evenings at 6:30 pm and taught by Michael Walker.

In Redding CA, July Ratley started bridge lessons in February. “I am teaching and
currently have about 28 students, said Ratley. “We had five students already beginning
to play in our restricted group. Also, several of the students are starting to say that they
think they are getting bitten by the bridge bug. We are very hopeful as our new players
are growing.”

Ratley generated such a great response with the following tactics:

• Advertised in the local paper and received some financial support from the
  ACBL.
• Produced flyers and posted them in gated communities’ rec rooms and club
  houses, the YMCA, Senior Hall, Elks Club … (to name a few).
• We called all the past students that we had before covid and let them know we
  were starting up again.
• We had members post on Facebook and take flyers to friends, especially those
  playing party bridge.

The Portland Bridge Club has had tremendous success with its Sunday Social Bridge –
NINE tables showed up one Sunday in March. The PBC also held its first “Four is
Enough” pair game on a Saturday and fielded 13 tables. Similar to “Eight is Enough”
team games, this format is for pairs. Flight A players count as three points, Flight B
players count as two points and Flight C players count as one point. No pair can add up
to more that four points, so Bs can play with another B or a C, and Cs can play with
anyone, but As can only play with Cs.