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This is a new award, to be made monthly, to someone in our bridge community who “gives”, a true volunteer. So many people volunteer to help make our game so enjoyable. New Zealand Bridge wants to highlight, say “thank you” to just a few of these volunteers.

This does not make them special amongst all others but highlights all the hours so many give to our game. Whether that is 20 hours or just 10 minutes a week, their efforts are much appreciated.

Although the award relates to a month, the person involved has often contributed for months/ years before that.

So, to our first award.

Rona Driscoll, Taupo.

Rona is a wonderful person to have for our first “Volunteer of The Month” as she encompasses the full range of bridge activity both at club and national level.

Rona will be very well known to all those at our clubs and on Regional Committees who co-ordinate tournaments at their clubs, that is when they should be, what type of tournament they should be, whether they conflict with any other club in their area. If those people think they have a hard job fulfilling that role on a club or regional basis, try doing it on a national basis. That is just one role Rona fulfils in our bridge community and what a full-time difficult task that must be. So many tournaments, so much to co-ordinate. That, though, is just one way Rona helps out our bridge community.

Initially a committee member, she has now taken over as President of the Waikato Bays Regional Committee.

A Typical Week for Rona

However, we want to take you through a typical recent week for Rona at her local bridge club in Taupo, her Home Club, the club which nominated her for this award.  

Monday evening saw her act as director and mentor for some of new players at a 3 1/2 hour session.

Tuesday evening saw her run Beginners Classes for 2 hours.

On Wednesday afternoon, she ran a two hour supervised session on card play.  As well as playing, in the evening, she organized and directed a full 31/2 hour Swiss Pairs session.

On Thursday, she both directed a session at Putaruru Bridge Club and then played a session at Rotorua.

On Friday evening, she repeated the Wednesday two hour supervised card play session.

That is all in addition to her regional and national roles.

All the above are voluntary roles with Rona spending far longer involvement than just the session times. She’s there to open and close up, set up the computer, overhead projection and has to spend time preparing for the lessons she gives. She’s a Tournament Director, has been club Treasurer and tutors for supervised play as well as directing for beginners.…and, as you see, sometimes she finds time to play, mainly with husband John.

Bridge is very significant in Taupo and offers itself as a wonderful activity for many in the community. Rona and others at the club take a lot of credit for the effort they are putting in to the local club.

Rona is committed to the game of Bridge, to getting more to play nationally, regionally and locally. She does far more than her bit…and that is why we are delighted to make Rona New Zealand Bridge’s first “Volunteer Of The Month”, for June 2016.

Rona received a certificate and a little token of appreciation.

Please, let’s hear about someone at your club. Click here.

Richard Solomon

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