February 2010 - 9

From the CEO
The American Contract
Bridge League
President
Richard DeMartino
Chair, Board of Directors
Jerry Fleming
Chief Executive Officer
Jay A. Baum
ACBL Counsel
Peter Rank
Chair, Board of Governors
Mike Kovacich

Board of Directors
District 1 * George Retek
District 2 * Paul Janicki
District 3 * Joan Levy Gerard
District 4 * Craig Robinson
District 5 * Sharon Fairchild
District 6 * Nadine K. Wood
District 7 * Bob Heller
District 8 * Georgia Heth
District 9 * Shirley Seals
District 10 * Bill Cook Jr.
District 11 * A. Beth Reid
District 12 * William Arlinghaus
District 13 * Suzi Subeck
District 14 * Sharon Anderson
District 15 * Phyllis Harlan

Winning streak
As noted in last month's message, the ACBL and bridge enter the new
year with momentum. For the first time in a couple of decades, active ACBL
members number more than 165,000. With new members for 2009 still being
counted, the number stands at 15,358 - a 31% increase over the 2008 total.
I'm also waiting for final numbers on table count for 2009. As of mid-November, the count at clubs was well north of 2.5 million. Combined with final
tournament table count for 2009 - a record 480,385 - we are sure to record 3
million-plus for the third straight year.
This didn't happen by accident, and it's gratifying to see our marketing efforts pay off in a greater awareness of bridge. We made a lot of headway, for
example, with our Bridge Bites promotion - free bridge columns for weekly
newspapers that include information from local teachers and club owners. Our
cooperative advertising program has also produced excellent results.
Our amnesty reinstatement program - lapsed members could re-up by Dec.
31 and get unrecorded masterpoints credited at no charge - also helped.
An ACBL presence at the AARP convention in Las Vegas last year produced
a surprising result. During the convention, we highlighted the availability of
free Learn to Play Bridge software on the home page, and shortly after the
convention ended, the number of downloads quadrupled.
Bridge is alive and kicking, to be sure, but we must not rest on our laurels.
Imagine the benefits if each one of us recruited just one new member. Even if
we don't do any recruiting, we can help by just being a goodwill ambassador,
especially with new players.
Of course, the majority of the credit for our winning streak goes to club
managers, teachers and club directors - the sales team and promoters of the
ACBL. Let's all recognize their good efforts in 2009.

District 16 * Dan E. Morse

Youth served

District 17 * Jerry Fleming

Don't forget that February is Junior Month, which means special games that
benefit the Junior Fund. Among other things, the fund provides subsidies for
our young players - up to age 26 - who compete internationally. A club may
make any sanctioned game a Junior Fund game, which awards black points at
100% sectional rating. I encourage you to support this worthwhile effort.
On the subject of young players, don't forget that the third Youth NABC is
coming up this summer in New Orleans. Visit www.youth4bridge.org to find
out more.

District 18 * Claire Jones
District 19 * Donald Mamula
District 20 * Jeffrey Taylor
District 21 * Bruce Blakely
District 22 * Ken Monzingo
District 23 * Rand Pinsky
District 24 * Alvin Levy
District 25 * Richard DeMartino
To contact your district director,
address your e-mail to
district#director@acbl.org
(Enter the district number
where you see #.)

Coming attraction
Also on our to-do list should be making plans to
attend the 2010 Spring NABC in Reno NV. Our big
tournaments are for everyone, even true beginners.
All we need to do is show up and plan to have fun.
See you there!

Jay Baum, CEO
February 2010 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.youth4bridge.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2010