RABA BOARD MEETING – March 22, 2006

PRESENT: L. Allen, A. Booke, J. Bridges, D. Folwell, M. Griffin, W. Marsland, L. Meacham, G. Ride, L. Sanders, and M. Spence.

ABSENT: L. Ackerman

The meeting was called to order at 7:15 p.m., Jim Bridges presiding.

The minutes of the October 18, 2005 meeting were approved as distributed.

Warren Marsland provided two reports; a detailed treasurers report for the minutes and a spreadsheet with data on sectionals for the last six years. The total assets are $8,355.85 and cash on hand is $6,777.73. In the discussion, Michele Griffin asked if the cash on hand is sufficient. Lois Sanders reviewed the history of RABA for the last several years and noted that approximately seven years ago the treasury was reduced to almost nothing. Recent Boards have strived to increase the assets and believe that the funds are adequate for current needs but the intent is to continue to grow them if possible.

Jim Bridges has contacted Norm Gath and an annual audit will be conducted in the near future.

Committee Reports:

Alex Booke noted that a Newsletter will be published in mid April. Several suggestions were made for items that could be included. The next issue should be targeted for mid August in order to publicize the Fall Sectional and to include election material.

The web site has been active and Ed Reppert will meet with the Unit 112 Board on Saturday to discuss interaction between the two web sites.

Margie Spence asked if the Awards committee should continue present coffee mugs to event winners. The consensus is that the mugs should continue and that more should be purchased as needed. The color was left to her discretion.

Spring Sectional arrangements have been made for March 24 - 26. The tournament will be in Lakeville as voted in December. The only concern is that there may not be enough tables if attendance is high. Bruce Toder is expected to serve as an assistant director on Saturday; he will be asked to bring five tables from his garage.

The Summer Sectional is scheduled for August 5 and 6. Warren Marsland and Dick Folwell are co-chairs. Dick asked if there is a check list for tournament chairpersons. Margie said she and Lynn would put one together. Warren suggested that we publicize the tournament earlier than we have been; especially outside of our playing areas.

There was a discussion of the playing site and the perceived problems with the location. A committee of Jim, Michele and Alex was formed to investigate alternative sites for future tournaments.

The Ann Hoylman Award, provided by Ross McCann and a group from the Country Club of Rochester, will be presented to the winners of the Choice Pairs on Saturday which in the future will be called the Ann Hoylman Pairs. This trophy will be funded by the sponsoring group in perpetuity.

The Life Master/Non-Life Master Pair Championship was to be held at the Green Lantern but no dates are available in May. Jim agreed to check with Bruce Toder on possible dates and then check on available playing sites. The Executive Committee will then decide when to hold the event.

As reported in the October 18 minutes, Bill Foster was asked to fill the Board vacancy created by Doug Bradley’s resignation. Bill declined. The Board agreed to leave the position vacant until the next election. Bradley’s term ended in 2006.

New Business:

Warren presented information on Duplimate, a machine that generates hands, deals cards, places them in boards and generates hand records. Information is available at http://www.duplimate.us/. Warren proposes that RABA purchase the machine and a set of boards to be used at local tournaments and possibly at clubs and for teaching purposes. The cost of the machine with 5 boards with cards would be approximately $5,000. A member of RABA has agreed to advance $3,000 towards the purchase, to be repaid at the rate of $1,000 per year over three years. After considerable discussion, a committee composed of Warren, Lois and Dick agreed to develop a proposal for how the machine could be used in RABA. They agreed to report within a month and have the issue presented to the Board by e-mail for a vote.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at the Geneseo Bridge Club at Morgan Estates. The Board will meet at 5 p.m. with dinner provided then stay to play in the game at 7 p.m. Carpools from Rochester should be arranged. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lew Allen, Secretary