May 2021 - 9
A MESSAGE
FROM THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JOE JONES
At the meetings of the ACBL Board of Directors in March, I presented remarks on
the state of the League. These are some of the highlights from that report.
When I took over as executive director in 2018, it was a difficult year. The management team worked very hard to reverse the losses we accumulated early in the year,
and we managed to almost get back to break-even by November. In December, we recognized the loss from the Fall NABC in Hawaii, we wrote off a failed
software implementation project, and incurred expenses from legal
settlements which, together, resulted in a $2 million loss for the year.
At that time, I promised to run this organization as a business, and
I have kept that promise. I quickly started making key personnel
changes on the executive team and in key managerial positions. I
started with people because, in my opinion, the most critical success
factor in an organization is having the right people in the right jobs.
Over the past few years, I have built a smart, hardworking management team that, by any measure, is doing a great job. This team has
consistently exceeded my expectations.
In 2019, in reaction to the dismal 2018 results, the main topic of
conversation was finances. Due to several factors - mainly aggressive cost-cutting and successful NABCs - we managed to net $1.7
million in 2019, almost erasing the deficit from 2018.
The 2020 budget had us returning to a more typical year with a projected positive
bottom line of $300,000. My intention was to continue stabilizing our foundation,
making progress on improving our technology, bringing new leadership to operations
and, finally, to begin to seriously address our declining membership. With COVID,
all our plans went out the window in March; and management, strengthened by the
recent personnel changes, reacted quickly. We worked long hours, at reduced pay,
to transition sanctioned club and tournament play online. With only about half our
membership playing online, we managed to net $3.2 million. Financially, this was the
most successful year in the history of the ACBL.
I do not anticipate 2021 being as dramatic as 2020, but we still face significant risk
in returning to in-person play. My biggest financial fear was, and still is, our potential
liabilities associated with our NABC contracts. Coming into 2021, we were dealing
with canceling St. Louis, maybe canceling Providence, and were confronted with an
uncertain venue for our Washington DC tournament in 2022. Altogether, the potential liability of not successfully negotiating out of these contracts was huge. We told
the finance committee we needed to reserve $1 million for potential penalties, and I
was worried that amount would not be enough.
After months of hard work, we have successfully negotiated these contracts -
without penalties. While that is a huge relief, we still face the uncertainty of the
Fall NABC in Austin. I am anxious to see if it will be a great success due to pent-up
demand or if it will be a huge disaster due to poor attendance. Whatever happens, we
will be prepared to put on the best event possible, providing for the safety of our players and staff, and mitigating any potential losses.
With my background as a financial professional, I take great pride in our recent
financial success. But financial success does not cure the underlying issues that
existed before the pandemic. Our work this year, in addition to returning to in-person
play, has circled back to our pre-pandemic priorities: membership and technology.
To be continued.
May 2021 | Bridge Bulletin | 9
May 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021
In First Seat - Paul Linxwiler
Inbox -Letters to the Editor
A Message from the Executive Director
Brand Refresh
NABOBC Results
2020 Canadian Bridge Championships
How's Your Imagination?
Grand Reopening
Music, please! by "DJ' Rick Roder
Tales from the Olden Days by Barnet Shenkin
The Death of the Doomsday Scenario
Half a Loaf by Augie Boehm
Holding Hands by Simon Cocheme
Successful in Seattle by Al Bender and Ann Romeo
Product Reviews
Hollywood Magic results
Educational Foundation News
Club News
Ruling the Game
The Bidding Box
It's Your Call
Card Play 101 - Phillip Alder
Parrish the Thought - Adam Parrish
Reasoning with Robert - Robert Todd
Startup Bridge by Lynn Berg
Lessons Learned by Michael Berkowitz
Bidding Basics by Larry Cohen
West Hands -Bidding Box
Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
Mike's Bridge Lesson- by Mike Lawrence
East Hands -Bidding Box
Chalk Talk- Eddie Kantar
Defensive Maneuvers - Paul Ross
The Real Deal - by Larry Cohen
Challenge of the Month
Boehm on Bridge
Better Bridge with Bergen
Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
Test Your Play
Election Notice
Mike's Advice - Mike Lawrence
Solutions to Test Your Play
My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
Consults with the Doctor
Bridge with the Abbot - by David Bird
Big Games
Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
George's World - by George Jacobs
Life Master Milestones
New Life Masters
In Memoriam
Obituary - Steve Nellissen (1953-2021)
Obituary - George Bloomer (1930-2021)
Obituary -Mary Oshlag (1942-2021)
Obituary - Frances Yedlin (1938-2021
Tournament Directory
May 2021 - 1
May 2021 - 2
May 2021 - 3
May 2021 - 4
May 2021 - 5
May 2021 - In First Seat - Paul Linxwiler
May 2021 - Inbox -Letters to the Editor
May 2021 - 8
May 2021 - A Message from the Executive Director
May 2021 - NABOBC Results
May 2021 - 11
May 2021 - 2020 Canadian Bridge Championships
May 2021 - 13
May 2021 - 14
May 2021 - 15
May 2021 - How's Your Imagination?
May 2021 - 17
May 2021 - 18
May 2021 - 19
May 2021 - Grand Reopening
May 2021 - Music, please! by "DJ' Rick Roder
May 2021 - Tales from the Olden Days by Barnet Shenkin
May 2021 - 23
May 2021 - The Death of the Doomsday Scenario
May 2021 - 25
May 2021 - Half a Loaf by Augie Boehm
May 2021 - 27
May 2021 - Holding Hands by Simon Cocheme
May 2021 - 29
May 2021 - Successful in Seattle by Al Bender and Ann Romeo
May 2021 - Product Reviews
May 2021 - Hollywood Magic results
May 2021 - 33
May 2021 - 34
May 2021 - 35
May 2021 - Educational Foundation News
May 2021 - Club News
May 2021 - Ruling the Game
May 2021 - 39
May 2021 - The Bidding Box
May 2021 - 41
May 2021 - 42
May 2021 - 43
May 2021 - It's Your Call
May 2021 - 45
May 2021 - 46
May 2021 - 47
May 2021 - Card Play 101 - Phillip Alder
May 2021 - Parrish the Thought - Adam Parrish
May 2021 - Reasoning with Robert - Robert Todd
May 2021 - Startup Bridge by Lynn Berg
May 2021 - Lessons Learned by Michael Berkowitz
May 2021 - Bidding Basics by Larry Cohen
May 2021 - West Hands -Bidding Box
May 2021 - Ask Jerry - by Jerry Helms
May 2021 - Mike's Bridge Lesson- by Mike Lawrence
May 2021 - Chalk Talk- Eddie Kantar
May 2021 - Defensive Maneuvers - Paul Ross
May 2021 - Challenge of the Month
May 2021 - Boehm on Bridge
May 2021 - Better Bridge with Bergen
May 2021 - Bidding Matters - by Karen Walker
May 2021 - Election Notice
May 2021 - Mike's Advice - Mike Lawrence
May 2021 - Solutions to Test Your Play
May 2021 - My Bridge and Yours - by Frank Stewart
May 2021 - Consults with the Doctor
May 2021 - Big Games
May 2021 - Dear Billy - by Billy Miller
May 2021 - George's World - by George Jacobs
May 2021 - 71
May 2021 - Life Master Milestones
May 2021 - 73
May 2021 - New Life Masters
May 2021 - In Memoriam
May 2021 - Obituary - Steve Nellissen (1953-2021)
May 2021 - Obituary - Frances Yedlin (1938-2021
May 2021 - 78
May 2021 - Tournament Directory
May 2021 - 80
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