November 2014 - 6

IN FIRST SEAT
Unfavorable vulnerability

The	great	Edgar	Kaplan	quipped	that	bridge	
teaches	us	how	to	endure	misery.	Imperfection	is	
in	the	DNA	of	the	game,	and	the	sooner	aspiring	
players	learn	this	truth,	the	sooner	they'll	make	
peace	with	the	inevitability	of	the	occasional	bad	
result.	There	are	some	things	we	just	can't	control.
What's	true	in	bridge	is	often	true	in	life,	and	the	
ACBL	Headquarters	staff	got	a	lesson	last	month	
on	dealing	with	adversity.	Several	days	of	rain,	followed	by	an	extended	torrential	downpour,	caused	a	neighboring	retention	pond	to	overflow,	sending	several	inches	of	water	rushing	throughout	the	entire	building.	Although	only	a	few	inches	deep,	water	untamed	
can	be	a	powerfully	destructive	thing,	as	anyone	who	has	experienced	a	
flood	can	attest.	
The	ACBL	moved	quickly,	and	companies	that	specialize	in	disaster	recovery	were	on	site	the	same	day	to	begin	removing	everything	
from	the	building.	Carpet	was	discarded,	and	drywall	and	cubicles	were	
removed,	along	with	anything	else	that	might	provide	a	haven	for	mold.	
Extensive	ventilation	and	multiple	cleanings	followed.	Several	key	ACBL	
staffers	worked	around	the	clock	to	create	a	makeshift	office	space	with	
functioning	computers	and	phones,	and	12	days	after	the	flood,	the	entire	
staff	was	back	at	HQ	to	resume	business.
This	interruption	in	the	work	schedule	affected	the	Bridge	Bulletin
staff	in	a	particular	way.	Cut	off	from	access	to	our	computers,	the	
magazine	staff	was	deprived	of	almost	two	weeks	of	valuable	production	
time.	If	you	receive	your	magazine	on	time	this	month	(I'm	crossing	my	
fingers	as	I	type	this),	it	will	largely	be	due	to	the	efforts	of	Cindy	Hill,	our	
graphic	designer,	and	associate	editors	Sue	Munday	and	Rob	Clark,	all	of	
whom	worked	extensively	from	home	to	get	the	job	done.
This	is	my	first	issue	as	editor	of	the	Bridge	Bulletin,	and	I	hope	I	can	
be	forgiven	for	wishing	that	the	beginning	of	my	tenure	had	been	less	
anxiety	producing.	I've	had	a	good	teacher	for	the	past	18	years	who	
taught	me	the	benefits	of	a	no-drama	approach	to	handling	the	unexpected.	Brent	Manley,	who	retired	as	Bridge	Bulletin	editor	at	the	end	of	
August,	is	an	expert	in	the	world	of	bridge	publications,	and	his	expertise	
is	coupled	with	a	gentle	disposition.	I've	thought	a	lot	about	Brent	these	
past	few	weeks,	mainly	to	keep	my	blood	pressure	in	check.	
About	a	week	after	the	flood,	I	received	a	note	from	Brent's	predecessor,	Henry	Francis,	who	edited	the	magazine	for	25	years.	Henry,	now	88,	
sent	me	an	instant	message	on	Facebook	to	ask	how	things	were	going.	
I	told	him	that	the	magazine	staff	was	going	to	convene	at	a	local	Starbucks	to	figure	out	what	we	needed	to	do.	He	replied	by	telling	me	that	
when	he	moved	to	Memphis	with	the	ACBL	staff	in	1972,	the	office	was	
not	yet	built,	and	the	first	few	issues	of	the	Bridge	Bulletin	during	that	
transition	were	produced	in	a	rented	room	at	a	nearby	bank.	Somehow,	
that	made	me	feel	better.	Thanks,	Brent	and	Henry.
Paul Linxwiler, Editor

6 Bridge Bulletin November 2014

American Contract Bridge League
6575 Windchase Blvd.
Horn Lake MS 38637-1523
662-253-3100 (ACBL operator)
Fax: 662-253-3187
Website: www.acbl.org
Automated Customer Service Line
800-467-1623
Leave a message for a return call
within two business days for:
*	 Masterpoint	information
*	 Dues	status
*	 Bridge	Bulletin	non-delivery	notice
Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Member Services: 800-264-2743
Call and speak to a member
services representative to:
*	 Join	the	ACBL
*	 Renew	your	membership
*	 Change	your	mailing	address
*	 Get	questions	about	MPs	answered
*	 Report	Bridge	Bulletin	not	received
Available Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST
Email	Customer	Service:
service@acbl.org
More contact information on page 82.

Bulletin
BRIDGE

Editor: Paul Linxwiler

Associate Editors: Sue Munday
Rob Clark
Graphic Design / Layout: Cindy Hill
THE BRIDGE BULLETIN (ISSN 1089-6376) is published
monthly by the American Contract Bridge League,
Inc., 6575 Windchase Blvd., Horn Lake MS 38637-1523,
662-253-3100. $5 per copy, $39 annually. Yearly subscription paid with annual dues. Periodicals postage paid at
Horn Lake MS and at additional mailing offices (USPS
488-430). Printed in the USA.
Canadian Publication rate paid at Windsor ON, Permit
#40040955. CANADIAN return address: c/o American
Contract Bridge League, P. O. Box 875, Stn A, Windsor
ON, Canada N9A 6P2.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE BRIDGE
BULLETIN, P. O. Box 289, Horn Lake MS 38637-0289
http://www.acbl.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2014
