July 2017 - 9

FROM THE CEO
The American Contract
Bridge League
President
Bob Heller
Chair, Board of Directors
Ken Monzingo
Chief Executive Officer
Robert Hartman
Chair, Board of Governors
Richard Popper

Board of Directors
District 1 * Leo Weniger
District 2 * Paul Janicki
District 3 * Carlos Muñoz
District 4 * Joann Glasson
District 5 * Sharon Fairchild
District 6 * Margot Hennings
District 7 * Bob Heller
District 8 * Georgia Heth
District 9 * Jay Whipple III
District 10 * Russ Jones
District 11 * A.J. Stephani
District 12 * Dennis Carman
District 13 * Suzi Subeck
District 14 * Sharon Anderson
District 15 * Phyllis Harlan
District 16 * Paul Cuneo
District 17 * Bonnie Bagley
District 18 * Claire Jones
District 19 * Marv Norden
District 20 * Merlin Vilhauer
District 21 * Roger Smith
District 22 * Ken Monzingo
District 23 * Kevin Lane
District 24 * Alvin Levy
District 25 * Mark Aquino
To contact a district director,
visit acbl.org/boardofdirectors.

The next step

Technology supports bridge operations in countless ways, from setting up
games, scoring and issuing masterpoints, to reporting results to your phone and
financial record-keeping. Technology is also one of the key avenues to keeping
the game vital for generations to come.
Just last month, Bridge Base Online celebrated its 13th anniversary. In 2004,
the ACBL sanctioned BBO's human games to award
ACBL masterpoints, and in 2009, the sanction was
extended to include robot games. Since then, more
than 23,000 ACBL members have participated in
robot games, demonstrating an enthusiastic acceptance of this form of play.
Brick-and-mortar clubs are experimenting with
BBO resources, using the robots to fill in games
where four- or five-board sitouts would strand
players for interminable between-round waits. Club
members are pleased with the results. See Mike
Giesler's article on pg. 32 on how the Bridge Club
of Center City in Philadelphia is managing sitouts
with robots.
Thanks primarily to District 9 Director Jay Whipple, online play made the
leap to tournaments. With some regionals offering an online game open to pairs
playing offsite. This form of the game is still in an experimental phase and we
continue to learn with each trial.
Now ACBL and BBO are partnering to present the 2017 NABC Online Individual - a four-session event which enables anyone in the world to compete for
an NABC title and masterpoints without leaving home. This, too, is an experimental event which will help us gauge members' interest in online championship bridge. See pg. 11 for more information, and visit acbl.org/nabconline for
the details.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of the members who have made my
six-year ACBL journey an incredible one. I was interviewed for the chief executive role during the Toronto NABC in 2011 and I will compete the circle at the
2017 Toronto NABC, working alongside new CEO Bahar Gidwani (see pg. 33).
I will never forget the selfless volunteers from all walks of life who want
nothing more than the best for the game: You work tirelessly at clubs, sectionals, regionals and NABCs; teach classes; and nurture our bridge-playing youth. I
aspire to be you.
And to ACBL staff at Headquarters and tournament directors in the field: I appreciate your diligent work to support our mission and all you do for the game.
Finally, I have to thank the best partner
anyone could ever want - my life partner,
Shane. Without his unwavering support, I
wouldn't be the man I am today, personally
or professionally.
Bidding you a fond farewell.
Robert Hartman, CEO
July 2017 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.acbl.org/nabconline http://www.acbl.org/boardofdirectors

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2017