The
Christmas
That time of the year is nearly upon us again. This year we are again holding a single "Grand Christmas Party". It will be on Tuesday 16th December and tickets will be available in the club shortly. The evening will take the form of a hot meal followed by a social bridge evening with the very occasional 'interesting' deal. Please come along - Chairman provides the first drink as an incentive!
Draw
For Partners
These tournaments are very successful and the next one is your last chance to enter one this year. It will be held on Friday November 7th at 6.45pm. The key features that make this a special evening are:
- Simple systems only
- Take your chance in the draw to play with the best in the club or bring along a partner.
- Everyone is guaranteed a game
- Everyone pays the normal table money
- Scoring is on the night and results available immediately.
The board has discussed the matter of experienced members playing with their regular partners in these events and wish to discourage this as far as practicable. In future events a handicap system may be introduced to further deter this.
BridgeMates
Following a successful evaluation of these machines and member consultation the board has decided that the Melville will move over to using them in all of its own tournaments starting in January 2009. To that end a second batch will be bought ready for deployment in the New Year and we may even try an "all rooms tournament" early in the New Year.
At the moment the best way to use them is still evolving. The board has decided following suggestions from members that before the first round the players will enter their SBU number. This has a number of advantages in making the scoring easier and quicker and helps our plans to automate the dissemination of master points. Visitors will be catered for by a series of 'dummy' numbers.
The key point to getting all new systems working is training of the users and the board is working towards running one or more TD training days when people are taught exactly how to use the new systems, briefed on the Melville processes and given a very short refresher how to deal with any problems that might arise and any rulings they may have to make.
We are also considering how much we should charge for non-Melville events when the organisers wish to use our scoring computers or the BridgeMates. The club has made a significant investment over the last few years and it is only right that the club should recoup part of that investment where appropriate.
Doors
Open
This was hugely successful with over 200 visitors. We had neighbours, a lady who was born in the building and a lot of people interested both in the building and in bridge. At one point we had three tables with people trying their hand. We were also approached by a film facilities company who wish to place us on the list of potential film locations. Having the mini-bridge players there was a real advantage. If you have never tried the game you should!
I sent on behalf of the members a good-luck telegram to the Scottish teams as the majority of the players were Melville members.
Absent
and Returning Friends
As I type this I have just heard the sad news that Cliff King has passed away. Cliff was not only a member for a long time (retiring only when ill health finally got the better of him) but also served on the board and did a lot of the decorating work for the club. He will be sadly missed.
Another past member, Alan Grieve, has also passed away. Alan has not played in the club for a few years but anybody who played against him will remember his cheerful outlook and charming manners.
Last month Tony Lamont from
Thea Teale is still recuperating from her accident and John Anderson is at home recuperating after his operation. We wish them both well.
Happily David Douglas has now returned after his heart operation and we are also glad to see Fred Short back playing in the club.
Social
Currently the Melville only runs one social event each year (the Christmas party) and I would like to see if members would like a second event - maybe something in the summer at the end of the season. Perhaps we could make use of the crescent gardens? Let me know what you think.
Board
Sets
The board have been discussing a way of ensuring that the cards we play with are as clean as members would like. We have many board sets: room sets, match sets and duplimate sets. The sets are reviewed and the cards changed periodically but what one person finds acceptable another does not. We are going to try an idea for the duplimate sets where a member can place a marker in a board asking for it to be changed before it is dealt again..
Table
Etiquette
We play a lot of tournaments in the club and the vast majority are competitive but friendly events. Very occasionally there is a misunderstanding which leads to unpleasantness.
The board are determined that " No member, visitor or employee shall ever be subjected to abusive or aggressive behaviour, be it verbal or otherwise, within the club".
The primary duty of the TD is to ensure that this policy is upheld in the playing room. Please remember that what you may feel is a harmless or even helpful comment at the table another person may not like.
If anyone feels there is an issue which has not been dealt with appropriately they may telephone me (07941383138) or e-mail me (chairman@melvillebridgeclub.co.uk) the next day. On the night, the sole arbiter is the Tournament Director and the directors and officers of the club will not get involved.
Thanks
One of the best parts of being chairman is seeing just how much people do for their club. This month I wish to publicly acknowledge the work done for the Doors Open day.
Firstly to David Briggs, Moyra Forrest and Anne Havard for their organisation and then to Norma Bain, John Bilsland, Donald Denoon, Sheena Frew, Mary Grant, Anne Laird, Jim Littlejohn, Laura Middleton, Julia Palmer, Deirdre Sanders, Gloria Stuart and Bob Williams who all gave up their time on the day.
Best wishes to you all.