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President’s Message
by Cynthia Clark – President, Calgary ACBL Unit 390
June 2025
I am pleased to report that the Membership of Unit 390 increased from 934 to 946 over the period from April 1st 2024 to March 31st 2025. According to the Spring 2025 ACBL National Board Report, overall membership decreased from 130,600 to 124,076 year to year. However, the new and guest member numbers are trending up significantly with an increase in new memberships of approximately 25% over last year. This new increase is great news and is a result of the ACBL’s efforts with the assistance of the Units to promote interest and involvement in the game of bridge.
Unit 390 has contributed to this significant growth of new participants thanks to Delores Hedley’s concept and collaboration with Karen Mitchell to start up the Supervised Bid and Play Program. Along with her crew of 18 volunteers who are mentioned in the May Kibitzer, (Dan Dover, Michele Hyndman, Ted Lobley, Gerry Marchant, Dave Marchant, Agnes Maze, Jan McLeod, Susan McMahon, Paulette McWilliam, Jim Murphy, Freda Nychkalo, John Prance, Dave Ross, Corliss Ward, Barbara Webster, Richard Weinberger, and Garth Wiggins), Delores has done an exceptional job in getting new players involved in bridge. Delores’ program offers a no pressure learn and play experience where discussion and questions are encouraged. This is great for beginners who might otherwise feel overwhelmed with the rules, conventions and strategies of the game. Bid and Play has been a win/win situation. The program has increased players in the Sectionals and at the Club games and generated $6931 for the Calgary Bridge Centre. Many thanks to Delores for initiating and running this program.
For the year ending March 31, 2025, Sectional Tournaments had an attendance of 236 tables in April of 2024, 198 in the Fall of 2024 and 271.5 in January of 2025 for a total of 705.5 tables, up from the 692 in the previous period. The organization of these tournaments is due to the efficiency and hard work of Lois Matton and her volunteers who have given many hours making these events a success. Thank you Lois.
There was one 299er Sectional last year in October of 2024 with 34 tables, up from 28 tables in May and 27 tables in October of 2023.Of note was the recent May 299er Tournament which generated 42.5 tables. This is a 43% increase over the average table count for the past 3 tournaments. Expansion of 299er Sectionals to accommodate more than 25 tables, using both upstairs and downstairs of this building, is planned for 2025-2026. Thanks to Roger Bolton for his work in organizing, upgrading and running these events.
Unit 390 is part of District 18, known as WASUMI, Wyoming, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Utah, Montana and Idaho. Dan Dover of Calgary is the newly elected President of District 18, formerly the Treasurer and Alberta representative to the District. We look forward to working with Dan and congratulate him on his new position.
At this time I would like to acknowledge every member of the Board and the many unseen volunteers that support this Unit, past and present. It would be impossible to name them all. They have contributed many hours of their time to work with and assistance you, the Unit members. I know many of you have donated time and energy to Unit 390, the Calgary Bridge Centre and the bridge community. However I would like to bring awareness to everyone, that each time you attend a Tournament with a room set up to play, read the Kibitzer, visit the Unit 390 website, attend a Special Event, see a new player with a mentor and many other services we may take for granted, know that it all happens because a volunteer generously gives their time. Thank you all.
This concludes the report.
Cynthia Clark
President
Calgary ACBL Unit 390