CENTRAL OHIO BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

BOARD MINUTES

TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 6:10 pm at the Columbus Bridge Center in Columbus, Ohio, by the president, Linda Rice. Calling absent members to try to reach a quorum delayed the usual 5:30 pm starting time.

Members present: Suman Agarwal, Jeanne Griffin, Nancy Moore, Linda Rice, and Lenore Smart.

Absent: Pat Bacher, John Fleeman, Bob Jiobu, Steve McCafferty, Russell Peffers, Kathryn Pyant, and Cheryl Schneider.

Treasurer’s Report: Jeanne Griffin presented the COBA Financial Statement as of March 25, 2008. Current club assets are $43,933, including $16,850 in prepayments to Haimerl Center for rental of the facilities through 2010. The balance on hand is $27,083--$7,083 in cash and $20,000 in CD’s. Income was $110 for Awards Dinner reservations. Expenses were $2,750 to Haimerl Center for the Spring Sectional, and $4,040 for the Playbridge Card Dealing Machine and transaction charges, for a total of $6,790.

Linda Rice asked how much a tournament costs in outlay of money because she wanted to be sure we had enough liquid assets at all times. Jeanne responded that they average about $6,000. This will change because of expenses but not a lot. Awards Dinner outlay is about $900. The CD’s can be accessed if necessary with little loss of Interest.

Unfinished Business:

Awards Dinner: As Cheryl Schneider was absent, Tom Fletcher was asked if the Award’s Dinner is on track. Tom said he is ordering the food. Cheryl will direct the game. Linda will present Awards, Cheryl will present Medallions. Jim Bachelder will print programs and Emcee. Linda will work on tributes to Jim Bachelder and Paula Justl. Tom will handle napkins, paper plates, soft drinks, tea, etc.

Spring Sectional Tournament, March 28-30: .We were told John Fleeman would not be at the Tournament this coming weekend because he was leaving for Michigan for two weeks, but we contacted him and learned he would be at the Tournament and would take care of all his responsibilities, with help from Bob Jiobu. Lenore Smart will take care of hospitality. When Linda called Mark Bullimore, he told her the caddies were scheduled.

COBA has agreed to subsidize the $1 per table fee at COBA Sectionals to pay for the Louisville National Tournament to be held in 2010. Jeanne said ACBL bills us for it.

The pancake breakfast was discussed. Linda will purchase the sausages; Suman will cook them. The club has one pancake grill, and Linda asked if anyone had a second one they could use. Discussion continued on how much pancake mix and sausages were needed. Linda and Suman will take care of these issues. Dorothy Baroff has agreed to help.

Linda insisted that we have signs directing players to the proper sections, since she has received complaints about not being able to find the sections easily during team games. Suman said that he would figure out a system to make the signs that Linda purchased stand up and be stable during the tournament.

Summer Sectional, June 20-22: Lenore stated she would not work that sectional as hospitality chair. We will discuss the next Tournament at our next meeting. Upcoming Sectionals are October 17-18, 2008 and January 5-7, 2009.

Information Sheet on Sectional Procedures: This sheet contains answers to the many questions Linda has received from newer players. She requested the sheet be posted on the COBA website and be sent to COBA clubs. Suman agreed to see that this was done.

Card Dealing Machine: Suman said that there were instructions for operating the machine and he would provide Jay Albright, Director of the Spring Tournament, with copies. Jeanne agreed to draw up a contract between COBA and the clubs wanting to rent the machine.

Election Committee: John Fleeman will handle notifying others about the election of COBA officers.

Linda expressed disappointment in the small number of board members at today’s meeting. She said that she did not call members as she usually does. When she notified them about the cancellation of the last meeting, she told them it was being rescheduled to March 25^. Linda asked Suman if he could post the board meeting dates on COBA website. Suman agreed. Suman said that some members expect to be called. Nancy Moore volunteered to call members one week before the next board meeting.

Next Meeting: April 29, 2008

Respectively submitted by Nancy Moore, Recording Secretary