President’s Message
June 2024
Congratulations to Jim Wheeler, Tournament Manger, and Jeff Jacob, Director-In-Charge, for putting on a great regional in Redmond. Sherri and I had a chance to attend for a few days and we had a blast. The playing site at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center was outstanding. Susie Leo, our incredible Intermediate/Newcomer coordinator, had classes for the I/N folks – most days had over 20 attendees. Special thanks to Jeff Roman for his most generous gesture putting on a sequential series for folks. If you have never attended one of Jeff’s sessions, do it if you get a chance. The man has a gift. Decent lodging and food were just a 10-minute walk or three-minute drive. Attendance did fall off beginning on Friday, and the district will show a loss of around $4,000, though the final number is not yet available.
I think it is worth looking at making this a yearly event. Attendance will increase once it is on everyone’s yearly calendar, and maybe it is just a Monday–Thursday regional. I can see this event getting to a break-even point financially, though the district can afford some subsidy here. The final decision rests with the board, and it will be discussed, for sure.
Here is a feel-good story from the recently complete Eugene-Springfield Sectional I/N Regional. Roger McNay so likes this tournament that he gives up playing in the Sacramento Regional, which is at the same time. As a token of his appreciation this year, Roger offered Tournament Managers Ali & Martin Nice and the person responsible for the amazing, amazing food spread, Chef Ned Forman, a two-hour online session on BBO. But wait, there’s more. In a truly going-the-extra-mile gesture, Roger has offered yours truly a game at the upcoming Wilsonville Sectional. All of you out there who know my bridge game can appreciate how much this really is going the extra mile. Let it be noted that he did this willingly and of his own accord.
Elections were recently held for the three Advisory Council positions and because there were three applicants for three positions, it was a landslide in all three races. Congrats to Rich Carle, Sam Asai and Dennis Harms.
Book your rooms for Seaside. Coming sooner than you think.
Thanks for reading.
Don
541.228.4140
