CENTRAL OHIO BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

BOARD MINUTES

 

                                                TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007

                                                           

The meeting was called to order at 5:38 p.m. at the Columbus Bridge Center in Columbus, Ohio, by the president, Linda Rice.

 

Members present were:   Suman Agarwal, Pat Bacher, Jeanne Griffin, Bob Jiobu, Steve McCafferty, Nancy Moore, Russell Peffers, Kathryn Pyant, Linda Rice, Cheryl Schneider, Lenore Smart.  Absent:  John Fleeman.

 

Secretary’s Report:  Linda Rice said we neglected to approve the September minutes at our last meeting.  Suman Agarwal made the motion, seconded by Pat Bacher, to approve the minutes for the September 11, 2007, meeting.  Motion passed.  Suman made the motion, seconded by Bob Jiobu, to approve the minutes for the October 30, 2007, meeting, as corrected.  Motion passed. 

                                                           

Treasurer’s Report:  Jeanne Griffin presented COBA’s Financial Statement as of November 13, 2007.  Currently the club assets are $48,017 (including $14,900 in prepayments to Haimerl Center for rental of the facilities through 2009).  At the Fall Tournament, we had 188 tables this year compared to 190 tables last year, and the profit was $402.  The profit was less this year due to increased Hospitality expenses, purchase of supplies, and charging one-fourth of the Midwest Monitor fee expense to the Tournament.  The MW fee has been reported elsewhere in the past, but our auditor suggested charging it here.

Jeanne purchased a 3-month $5,000 CD at 3% and a 6-month $15,000 CD at 5% for COBA.  She brought copies for the secretary to file.  Cheryl Schneider made the motion, seconded by Kathryn Pyant, to approve the treasurer’s report.  Motion passed. 

Jeanne and Linda will work on a budget for COBA and also determine how much of a reserve we should maintain.

 

Corresponding Secretary:  Suman Agarwal will send the letters to the Unit Clubs requesting input about how we may help them.  Linda gave Suman copies of screens from Cincinnati’s online partnership desk.

 

President’s Report:  Linda Rice and Jeanne Griffin reported on the District 11 meeting they attended at the Lexington-Louisville Regional. 

When we need to apply for sanctions and don’t have a name for the Tournament Chair, we can use the webmaster’s name until we know who it will be. 

Both Cincinnati and Dayton are looking for places other than their Centers to hold at least one sectional this year.  Cincinnati is looking into the Cincinnati Convention Hall or a Union Hall, and Cincinnati and Indianapolis are willing to help Dayton. 

A suggestion was made that a bus be available to transport players from Columbus to the NAP in Cincinnati next year. 

The American Bridge Association Regional will be held in Cleveland on March 24-29, 2008, at Crown Plaza Cleveland City Center on Sinclair Avenue.  Joint ventures are encouraged.

In 2011, the NABC will be at the Galt Center in Louisville, Kentucky.  All the units in the District will be helping to raise money to pay for it.  

Our website should contain a link to the District 11 website, www.district11bridge.com.

Rob Weidenfeld is the District Education Chair.  He wants to contact all the Unit Education Chairs and gather good ideas for promoting the game.  He will be contacting Cheryl Crawford and Bob Jiobu.  Some suggestions were to have a teacher who plays bridge start a bridge club at school and encourage 10 to 13-year olds to play.  A summer bridge camp, free games for students, and different ideas for mentor/mentee programs were discussed.

Linda asked Suman to remove Franklin Club from the website, per their request, since they are an invitation only club.

 

Old Business:

 

Card Machine:  Mike Hill’s proposal to purchase a Card Dealing Machine was discussed again at length.  Pat Bacher presented a detailed analysis and comparison.  Suman Agarwal made the motion, seconded by Pat Bacher, that COBA purchase the machine itself, use it at Sectionals and the Flying Buckeye Regional, and rent it to any club in the Unit for $1 per game.  Only specified people would be allowed to run the machine, after a training session.  The motion passed 9 to 2.   Suman will investigate the purchase and report back to us. 

 

March 28-30 Sectional:  Cheryl Schneider, Jeanne Griffin, and Suman Agarwal met before the meeting to discuss the schedule to be used at the Spring Tournament.  They did not come to any conclusions yet, but they are considering that instead of the three-session Knock Out game on Saturday, we should have a two-session Compact Knock Out game at 10 and 2, and have Partnership games at 10, 2, and 7:30.  They will meet again before the December meeting and bring their recommendations.

 

Money Management:   We ran out of time to thoroughly discuss how to use our resources to benefit the entire Unit.   Some suggestions were to help people with their expenses to compete in NAOP; to encourage bridge students to continue playing, perhaps by contests and recognition, or by letting them know the possibilities; to advertise more; etc.  It was suggested the Columbus Bridge Center hold lessons about Knock Outs so newer players know what to expect.  It was also suggested they hold two-session Knock Outs at the club on Saturdays.  Due to lack of time, the discussion was tabled until next month.

 

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, December 11, 2007, at the Columbus Bridge Center at 5:30 p.m. 

 

Kathryn Pyant moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Bob Jiobu.  Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

 

Respectively submitted by Linda Rice, substituting for the Recording Secretary.