MINUTES

Cleveland Whist Club

Board Meeting, Unit 125, Wednesday January27, 2010

Present: Bev Carter, Harriet Kitay, Eva Lefton, Ellen Miles, Sue Pisanelli, Frank Scali, Susan Stark, Roz Sukenik, Kathy Wolford, Kermit Wolford, Wayne Ward, Mary Lou Vermerris, Ginny Young,

Guest: Sharon Fairchild, Frank Aquila, James Stahl, Tommie Reuhr.

Absent: Geraldean Jones, Peter Miller.

The meeting was called to order by the president, Ginny Young, at 5:40 PM with a quorum present.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved with one correction. Frank Scali requested that it be noted that a carrying case was also given with the duplicate boards given to Doug Henderson for use in the Youth Bridge Program at Cleveland Schools. Harriet Kitay made a motion to accept with the correction and Ellen Miles seconded the motion.

Cathy Wolford gave the Treasurer’s report and passed out summary sheets for tournaments, budget status for 2 quarters, and the 299er tournament. We are losing money in our tournaments. The Buckeye State Sectional lost $1000+, Silver Bowl lost $700, and the 299er lost $1300+. Poor Turnout was cited as a cause for the losses. It was suggested that all Chairpersons make recommendations after a tournament is held. The 299er event Committee will provide recommendations for the next event.

Ginny Young discussed the Annual Awards Banquet. There is a need to know how much needs to be charged for the dinner. It was decided to charge $25.00 for the dinner and bridge game to follow. It is not the aim of the Awards Banquet to make money, rather to honor Unit Members, Vichill Winners, and Scholarship winners. The new Life Masters and the Scholarship winners will receive their dinners and game at no charge. The parents of Scholarship winners will be expected to pay for their dinner and game. Susan Stark will chair the Awards Banquet Event with the assistance of Roz Sukenik.

Scholarship Winners have not been chosen yet. Ginny is requesting a volunteer to chair the Summer IMP league. She also announced that New Duplicate Boards have arrived for Unit Events.

There was discussion of whether to have another Master/NonLifeMaster Game this year. The Master/NonLife Master Event was successful and profitable. Perhaps it could be held in June after the Tournaments are over. It was also suggested that we could hold an All Star Individual Tournament.

There were no further committee reports and no further committee business.

Discussion moved to the old business pending of the Wednesday Unit Game and the need for a new director.

Mary Lou Vermerris moved that the Wednesday Night Unit Game be moved to Thursday with provision that Sophie Novak run the game. This motion was withdrawn.

Eva Lefton made a motion and Roz Sukenik seconded, that the Wednesday Night Unit Game be moved to Sunday and have Jim Stahl run the game with terms to be negotiated. The motion was amended to read that the Sunday Game be given a try. Discussion followed. There are Sunday weddings at the hall. The question was called. The motion was defeated.

Tommie Ruehr and Jim Stahl were asked to present their ideas for improving the Wednesday night game should they be hired.

Tommie Ruehr reported that if the board wanted to continue game on Wednesday, there were places more central to the Unit that could be rented. She suggested that the game could be moved to the Holiday Inn or the Independence VFW hall. The VFW hall can be rented for $50 per night. She also reports that some units are using more charity games to give extra master points as an incentive for attendance.

Jim Stahl reports that the weekday games seem to be attended by retired people. Game sites and conditions need to address this population. He is willing to work out conditions to move the Wednesday Game to his Sunday Time and work as a paid director for the Unit.

Harriet Kitay moved that the board hire Jim Stahl to direct the Wednesday Night Unit 125 Game with terms to be negotiated and give the game a trial with Jim as director. Ellen Miles seconded the motion. The motion carried.

Frank Aquila has brought before the Board an appeal from his team, regarding the Vichill League Scoring. The Aquila Vichill League Team states that the Vichill League is using an Improper Handicapping System. The crux of the issue seems to be the 20,000 master point cut off point for handicapping. Per Frank the Vichill League is following ACBL policy for team games for the Conditions of Contest. Per Frank the current policy being used by the Vichill League was an informal practice used by directors at KO events previously. Further per Frank the official policy for the 20,000 master point cutoffs was not adopted formally by the ACBL until the December San Diego meeting. Frank Aquila states for his team that since there was no ACBL adopted 20,000 master point policy prior to December 2009, that Unit 125 must follow the previous years’ old Vichill League conditions. Frank Aquila feels that there should be no cap on master points.

Per Sharon Fairchild, the Handicapping System was adopted by the ACBL in July but there was a rule clarification in San Diego in December which was published in the January monthly ACBL Bulletin. Further discussion ensued. Ginny Miller closed the discussion by stating that before the board makes a decision on this issue that there is a need to talk with ACBL to establish exactly when the ACBL changed the Rules for Condition of Contest for Bracketed Swiss Teams such as the Vichill League.

The meeting was adjourned at 7PM following a motion by Sue Pisanelli and a second by Wayne Ward.

Respectfully Submitted

Sue Pisanelli

The next board meeting will be held March 3, 2010 at 5:30 PM at the Solon Party Center before the Vichill League Game, Hospitality will be provided by Ellen Miles.