UNIT GAME – Sunday, February 10 - POTLUCK

Lunch at 12:30 pm – Game at 1:00 pm NEW TIME

UNIT GAME: This month’s Unit Game features a Potluck luncheon, catered by YOU! Bring your favorite potluck to share – and your appetite. Always fun and with all our talented “cooks” there is never a shortage of chow. Oh, and don’t forget your partner. Game is at 1pm (our new Sunday afternoon time) so plan on being there with your contribution to the potluck by 12:15 so the “groaning table” can be full for the 12:30 lunch.

DECEMBER UNIT GAME RESULTS: Two sections of twenty-one tables vied for top scores in December’s Unit Game. Overall winners were: 1st, Betty Barton & Fran Israel; 2nd, Sue & Keith Hafen; 3rd, Jan Wagner & Marcie Evans; 4th, Irma Johnson & Cory Hand; 5th, Janet Ju & & George Wang. Flight C honors went to 1st, Sue & Keith Hafen; 2nd, Jean Eiber & Oliver Yildiz and 3rd, Eva Mroz & Penny Wentworth. Remember that Unit Games are worth more in MPs and the top winners in this game scored 2.98 MPs. Lots of points for one game.

NEW STATUS & NEW MEMBERS: We are happy to welcome one new member into our unit this month, Richard Dial.

Status changes this reporting period have Doreen Maes and Nancy Shook as our new Junior Masters. Sy Alban is a new Regional Master. Betty Houts is a new NABC Master. And we proudly introduce our newest Life Master, Barbara Frischkorn. Congratulations to each of you!!

               70+% GAMES through 1/13: Three pairs hit that magical 70% or more score this past reporting period. Loren Hilf & Larry Slutsky had a 70.14% game. John Farr & Mark Itabashi scored 73.38% and the big score was by John Hand & Gary Paugh when they brought in a 75.16% game. Wow! As you see month after month, these big games are scarcer than hen’s teeth so you players that hit that big score deserve to revel in the satisfaction of the planets aligned, your partner understanding all your bids and superior play. Well done!

THIS MONTH AT THE CLUB: There are lots of “special” games this month and many of them are going to cost you an extra buck. On February 2 at 12:30, the International Fund Game will be the first of them. The week of February 3 through February 9 is a week of Junior Fund Games – card fees are an extra dollar. The Unit Game on February 10 won’t cost extra but it is a Potluck so don’t forget your favorite dish to share. Starting on February 18 and ending on February 24 is a Sectional Tournament at Clubs – again the games will be an extra dollar. Included in that week is the monthly Team Game on February 18. And the month will end with the ACBL-Wide Senior Pairs at the 9:00 a.m. game on February 25 (an extra dollar for that one as well). Also make a note that the scheduled Monday and Friday morning games are now at an earlier time, 9:00 a.m. The Monday Bridge Plus game will remain at its usual 9:30 a.m. time.

CONDOLENCES & GET WELL: Jan Mann and Barbara Dicker’s mother both passed away after long illnesses. Barbara is a past board president. We extend our sympathies to both families. Get well wishes go out to all of you who have caught the cold, flu or whatever seems to be going around. As another reminder, if you are sick, don’t come to the club and “share” it.

UNIT BOARD: We want to acknowledge the “retiring” members (from the board, not bridge) for all their hard work. Merlin Hansen, Carol Murakoshi and Jan Wagner have completed their terms and are not retuning to the board in 2008. (Editor’s note: Carol has been enormous help to this reporter for column news and we thank her and will miss her input). We have four new board members on the Unit Board this year, Sharon Beran, Linda Carder, Fern Dunbar, Bernard Mann and Louise Sperr. Welcome and thank you in advance for your volunteer commitment to keep our Unit strong.

THIS AND THAT: The past year has seen a number of changes in our club – new owners, bidding boxes, etc. Most players are extremely pleased with them. This reporter frequently hears players commenting on the changes. From her perspective, we should not forget that the club was already a great club when Irma Johnson and George Welsh owned it. The new owners, Baum Harris and Loren Hilf made some changes – bidding boxes, new appliances, etc. but from our point of view the thing they most did “right” was hire Donna Wenberg as the Manager. Had they hired a manager that was not familiar with our club, it would not have continued as it was (something our players were very concerned about when the club was for sale). Donna does so much more than just direct (where she is most visible). The behind the scenes is a lot of hard work. And modest as she is, she will tell you that without the help of the players, it wouldn’t run as smoothly as it does. We have a wonderful club and we love that the changes have not compromised the place we love to play and acknowledge all that went before as the groundwork for where we are now and where we continue to improve and grow. And never forget all the unsung “helpers” that make us what we are - one of the best clubs in the country!

For any news items you would like in the column, my email is golfgal@charter.net and my phone number is 562-434-8993. Thanks again for all the reporters out there that give me bridge news.