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With Richard Solomon. Bridge Development Officer
The New Zealand Bridge Board met twice during April, firstly by Conference Call and then face to face. The two new Board members, Akarana’s Carol Richardson and Havelock North’s Noel Woodhall took their places for the first time.
In the recent election, they replaced the retiring Shirley Newton and Anthony Hopkins. It is very appropriate to acknowledge Shirley and Anthony’s contribution to the Board. Shirley should take great pride in the Marketing Manual she assembled for clubs’ use. The manual is very readable and relevant for our clubs in their quest for following New Zealand Bridge’s maxim of “growing the game.” Clubs have been crying out for valuable resources for some time. This manual is really valuable. Well done, Shirley.
Shirley has also been Chairperson of NZ Bridge’s International Committee, the committee which now manages the country’s four year international events’ cycle. She has also been heavily involved in the Teaching modules which appear on the New Zealand Bridge website and in initiating New Zealand Bridge’s new cinema advertising campaign.
With her breezy very approachable personality, Shirley will be missed at Board level but will hardly be lost to the game. She contributes hugely to bridge in Christchurch through teaching while with her partner of 20+ years, Jenny Wilkinson, will once again be playing international bridge for New Zealand this year. She will remain on NZ Bridge’s Teaching Committee. The “curls” at the Board table will be left to yours truly. Thanks, Shirley.
Shirley Newton Anthony Hopkins
Anthony has made a major contribution in a relatively short time. This can be seen most clearly in the revamped New Zealand Bridge website for which he has been a driving force. While no longer on the Board, he will continue to contribute to the website’s development. His vision is for a “one stop, one place” for bridge in this country where not just up-coming tournaments are advertised but where one can enter, see results etc, a big vision that will attract not just all players but advertisers who can provided a much needed financial input into our game. We are but a short way along that road at present. In addition, Anthony is a challenger. If something works, that is fine but he is constantly asking the question and the answer is not always “yes”. Time to improve.
As you can see, while neither Shirley nor Anthony is on The Board any more, they will still be working hard for our game.
Carol Richardson will become the Chairperson of The International Committee and the very important Tournament Task Force which will be carrying out a review of our tournament structure, from National Events down to local club tournaments. She and Noel will be involved in the Marketing and Development Group while Noel will also be chairing the new Audit and Risk Committee of The Board and will be involved in Regulations.
A full make-up of Board Committees will appear in the official minutes later this month.
Volunteer of the Month your chance to get a deserving volunteer nominated.
This is a new initiative of The Board. It is designed to recognise just a few of the very many people who give so much of their time and energy to the game of bridge in this country for no reward, just the satisfaction of making our bridge clubs welcoming places for our players to enjoy the game.
That help may come in many different forms. It could be a member of a club or regional committee, a bridge teacher, someone who is on stand-by at a session of bridge, someone who makes the teas, a club administrator, director, anyone. “Would a small payment for all the work a person has done disqualify them from this title?” It really should to keep within the true meaning of the term “volunteer”. However, a small payment to a person who has contributed for a long time will not automatically disqualify that person.
We would like nominations to come from Regional Committees and clubs. It is of course no reflection on the hundreds who “do their bit” but who are not nominated or even those who are nominated but whom do not get selected. Everyone is valuable. Only a few will feature here. They are your representatives.
They will receive a certificate, a small token and a write-up on the New Zealand Bridge website. So, come on, do not be shy. Tell us about your nominee…in no more than 200 words. We will start this feature in June. Please send nominations to me at richard.solomon@nzbridge.co.nz
Membership Numbers Fall
We cannot always report on good news. The sad recent news was that the figures at the end of the March quarter showed a decline in membership by some 450 to near 13,500 Home Club members. To a degree, a decline in this quarter may be expected where clubs get new players to join and the players themselves do not want to continue playing after their first experience out of classes.
The Board wants to know the reason for the fall which has occurred at most clubs throughout the country. It will be surveying clubs to try to discover the real causes. Death we cannot avoid but if there is something wrong that keeps potential players away from our clubs, then the issues must be addressed.
Health and Safety Issues.
There is new government legislation in this area which affects our bridge clubs. NZ Bridge’s Honorary Solicitor, Fergus More, will be making some information on this issue available to all clubs soon.
International Representation.
Two teams applied to represent this country in the inaugural Mixed Teams competition, which is part of this year’s world international event in Poland. Congratulations to the team which the international selectors chose:
Andi Boughey - Tom Jacob (playing captain)
Ella Pattison – Nick Jacob
Ellena Moskovsky – James Coutts
James and Ellena
National Conference is close
Each year, the Board organizes a National Conference which involves Board members and officers and Regional Committee members. June 11th in Wellington is the day. The Board’s Business Plan is bound to be high on the agenda as will the question of membership retention referred to above. Another likely topic is the future of the Interprovincial Championships.
Watch out for the next issue after the May Board Meeting on May 22nd.
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