RABA BOARD MEETING - 7/18/07

PRESENT: A. Barnard, A. Booke, J. Bridges, L. Fox, M. Griffin, W. Marsland, L. Sanders, M. Spence, G. Ride, S. Barocas

ABSENT:    L. Meacham, D. Folwell

Meeting called to order at 7 PM,  A. Booke presiding.  The meeting was held at the house of Michelle Griffin.

The minutes of May 1 meeting were approved.

W. Marsland distributed the treasurer's report.  Warren briefly explained some items on the report and answered questions pertaining to the report.

Warren also presented an analysis report of attendance and profit for the recent summer sectional at Geneseo along with recommendations for next years summer sectional.

There was a discussion as to low attendance at RABA events and and sectionals. Reasons given were the cost, players don't like two sessions and LAKEVILLE is too far. (The two sessions was meant mainly for RABA events).

S. Barocas reported on the marketing task force pertaining to the low attendance. Some ideas to increase attendance were to have more 199er events, more publicity, and recruit the "less experienced players". 

A. Barnard  presented a graph showing where our players come from based on zip code. She presented an analysis of our players by master point level. This showed that almost 70% of our players have 199 or less master points

There was a discussion on rudeness at games(also a possible reason for low attendance at RABA events).

M. Spence will put together a "guideline" on how to act at the bridge table.

A. Booke is chairman of the fall sectionl -- 9/28/07 thru 9/30/07 Motion by J. Bridges to make the Saturday pairs at the above fall sectional a stratified two session event - second by M. Spence -  passed

Motion by J. Bridges to change 0-100 events to 0-199 events - second by L. Sanders - passed

Upcoming  Raba events: 

        Open pairs    - Green Lantern 10/07/07

        Swiss teams - Green Lantern 2/24/08

        LN/NLM        - LAKEVILLE    5/4/08

        Men's/Woman's open pairs - Sally/Cheryl game July 2008

        Open pairs -     Green Lantern 10/05/08

The Green Lantern events will increase to $25.00/person(forn $23.00)

Two suggestions by W. Marsland - move the spring sectional 2009 to May and move STAC games 2009 to March.

M. Griffin reported on the RABA elections. There are seven people running -- Peg McFadden, Lois Sanders, Liz Meacham, Warren Marsland, Bob Rosenthal,

Charlie Adrion, and Bill Foster. The elections will be held from 9/3/07 - 9/28/07.

It was reported by many of the RABA board that there were quite a few positive comments regarding the duplimate machine.

A. Booke reported on the newsletter. It will go to the printer by August 15th.

A report on the bridge center will be held for the next board meeting.

L. Sanders brought up the fact that in two or three instances  money has been stolen at our games. Lois or Alex will put an article in the next newsletter alerting players to this.

The next meeting will be held at the home of A. Booke on Sat. 8/25/07 at 1 PM.

Motion to adjourn by J. Bridges - second by W. Marsland - passed

Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Gerry Ride, Secretary