Rhode Island Bridge Association, Inc

Minutes of Unit 145 Board Meeting

December 10, 2008

Present: Joe Brouillard, Judy Biegner, Lois DeBlois, Chris DelSesto, Bill Shockley,

Bob Erwin, Sue Erwin, Nancy O’Donnell

Excused: Brenda Iemma

Absent: Bill Lang, Lou DiOrio, David Prentiss, Diane Lamparski

President Joe Brouillard called the meeting to order at 5:50 p.m.

Secretary’s Report

Sue Erwin’s report of the April board meeting was read and accepted by the BOD.

Treasurer’s Report

Joe Brouillard presented the treasurer’s report for Brenda, and the report was accepted.

Tournament Manager’s Report (Joe Brouillard)

September Tournament

• Excellent turnout: 90 tables on Saturday, 31 teams on Sunday.
• Turned profit, even with two directors on Saturday and Sunday.

Gala

• Expected loss
• More manageable number of attendees
• Convention card holders were appreciated. Unit is to sell remaining convention card holders at future sectionals

2010 Dates

• All dates for 2010 were approved at Nashua meeting. Sanctions have been received from ACBL.
• Johnston Senior Center has been reserved for all 2010 dates.

February Sectional

• The sectional will be held on February 7^th and 8^th.
• Directors and site are in place
• A motion was made to buy 10 complete bidding boxes; seconded and voted unanimously.

New Business

• Gloria Golden and Phyllis Chase have requested that a sectional be named after Bob Starr, a man prominent in early RI bridge. After discussion, the request was tabled in order to get more information.

Club Visits

• Joe Brouillard visited the Bridge Club of RI on November 6^th. He brought refreshments and answered questions of the attendees.
• Joe has been invited to make a visit to the Viking Bridge Club in Portsmouth on January 12^th.

Charity Donations

• Judy Biegner was selected to be on the ACBL Charity Committee.
• Submit any ideas for 2009 donations to Judy. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

Board Members

• Bill Niemi has resigned from the BOD. His game is in conflict with board meeting times.
• Nancy Rosenbaum (Bridge Club of RI) would like to join the board. A motion was so made, seconded and accepted by the board.

Bank Account

• Joe Brouillard’s name has been taken off of the unit account at Fidelity Investments due Fidelity’s Ethics restrictions.
• Lois DeBlois volunteered to have her name put on the account and will complete paperwork with Fidelity.
• A discussion was held that we reorganize our unit finances.
• A motion was made to put $8000 in a long term CD, $3000 in a 9 – 10 month CD (available at the time of the annual Gala, if necessary), and remaining monies kept in checking. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.

Tournaments

• We have been having two directors for our sectionals. It will be discussed with Kevin Griffin if we can have one director and a second person who enters scores, names, etc. The second person will be paid and be available for training at the February sectional, if approved.

• There was a discussion about placement of the I/Ns at our sectional. It would be ideal to have them in the same room, if possible. If the exercise room is sufficient, it would also leave room for more tables for other bridge players. We were quite tight at the last sectional.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:40

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Erwin

Secretary, Unit 145