MAY 2010
Firstly, thanks must go to all those who have played a part in the 4 plus years of planning and preparation for the move to C&NW’s and to the members who have patiently awaited the move.
The closing night at Spon Street was well attended, thanks to David for the Fizz and to Mary T for organising refreshments. It was wonderful to have 23 ½ tables on the opening night, and thanks go to Darren for borrowing the Bridgemates from West Mids. and for running a very successful night. News of the ‘Official Opening’ is later in the newsletter.
Following the move, the Committee have reviewed a few housekeeping arrangements:-
A 15 minute break in the evening playing session is on trial. The purpose of the break is to enable members to collect pre-ordered tea and coffee and to allow for a comfort break. The Committee recognises that some members may not be 100% behind this idea, but feel that it is an excellent way to start to integrate our bridge section into the wider C&NW club. To accommodate this, TD’s have been asked to keep play moving and to keep us to ‘2 boards in 15 minutes’ this should allow for 26 boards, with a break and to finish by no later than 10.30.
Drinks of course can be purchased from the bar at any time, glasses should be returned to the bar or placed on the tray in the break-out area. Water is available from the machine in the break-out area.
Bidding boxes should now be left in the centre of the table at the end of play.
Table money will be collected by the TD or a member of the Committee. If neither of the above is playing, please complete a Table Money sheet, and place this in an envelope with the money and post into the safe in the Stationery Room. Table money for club nights remains the same but a £2 per head rate has been introduced for members who may wish to play Rubber Bridge.
The building has not officially been handed over from the contractors, hence the bare walls, nothing will be put anything on the walls until agreed by the Committee. The budget is a bit tight at the moment and although new notice boards are in the pipeline the first purchase will be a new board for displaying results, until then, they will be on one of the flip charts in the break-out area. All necessary notices will be displayed but may be a bit haphazard at the moment.
Should you wish to advise that you may be delayed, the telephone number for the bridge club is 024 7644 7014.
Please let a member of the Committee know if you have any suggestions concerning arrangements at the new club.
Host system
The new method of allocating ‘Host’ duties will be introduced from 7th June – commencing with surnames starting with a ‘W’ This will be displayed on the Secretary board, (and emailed to members) please beware that most members will be expected to act as a host and to arrange their own swaps. You will be required to host less than once a year. For those who have not hosted before, you do not pay table money on the night & if you aren’t needed on that night, you do not need to pay next time you play at the club.
TD Training & allocating a TD to club nights
In previous newsletters, volunteers to be trained to run a duplicate club night were invited. If you expressed an interest in this, David and John have arranged to run the training on Weds 2nd June at 7.00pm.
The Committee will allocate TD’s to club nights at each committee meeting for the month ahead and dates will then be emailed to those concerned.
The new Calendar is about to be published, it is likely that the Anglo Polish Competition will be moved to 2nd Tuesday in the month. Once confirmed, it will be available in the club and emailed to members.
Anglo Polish won by John Kelly & Alan Richardson
Pro Am – was won by Anca Kranenborg & Chris Mayer
Coventry Pairs League
The fourth session will be held on 27th May, the final session is the 17th June.
WCBA - AGM & Cock & Chick of the County - to be held at C&NW’s on 20th June commencing at 1.45pm.
All C&NWBC members are now members of WCBA, so your attendance at the AGM will be welcomed.
Members will recall from the information sent out with the subscription reminders that the Bridge Club is now the 4th Section of C&NW’s – the other 3 being, Cricket, Squash and Tennis. Our table money will be used to pay the EBU P2P fees, and for the normal running costs associated with the playing of bridge. We will no longer be responsible for such expenses as utilities and repairs, but obviously have to make a contribution towards these costs and that is done partly by bar takings and our excess income over expenditure going to the over arching account. We will still have our own Committee, and David and or Mike plus another Committee member will attend the whole C&NW’s Committee once a month, where decisions are taken that affect the whole club.
We urge the bridge section to support the greater club as much as possible.
Should members wish to book the Function Room for any parties / functions etc, please see Mick or Deb Blyth – the Club stewards.
Teaching
Frank Deakin is running evening beginners from June & Mike Sallis & Brian Osmond are planning to bring their day times lessons to the club from September.
Please check the notice boards.
There were 4 proposals for new members at the May Committee, all were accepted as new members.
Welcome to:-
Clifford Ward, Stephen Yardley, Barry Kimberly, Chris Lewis
A further 8 members are pending and will be advised in the next newsletter.
2010 Membership
The club now has 162 full, 10 Country & 4 student members
The EBU has sent the Club a list of EBU membership numbers. Once a couple of queries are sorted out, a list will be displayed in the club. Please make a note of your number, as once Bridgemates are used, members will be asked to enter their number at the start to play, this will save TD’s from having to do this before sending results to the EBU. Members will also be able to go onto the EBU website, change address details, email contacts etc. More info will be on the next newsletter. Don’t forget to let Ann or Pam have any change of details for the our records.
Official Opening
The date of the ‘Official Opening’ is still to be confirmed. To enable any teething troubles to be ironed out, it will probably be towards the end of July. Representatives from the EBU and neighbouring clubs will be invited, as will all members. The format of the day is likely to be the ‘Opening’ a reception buffet, followed by a session of Barometer Pairs and then an optional evening meal. Once the arrangements are finalised, a notice will be posted on the notice board & emailed, with a list for those wishing to attend.
