September 2022 - 6

SEAT
IN FIRST
MEMBER SERVICES
662-253-3191
Providential musings
With the conclusion of the Summer North American Bridge Championships in
Providence in July, the ACBL has managed to complete its first seasonal cycle of
its premier events since 2019.
Following Austin in the fall of 2021 and Reno in the
spring of 2022, the successful NABC in Providence has
demonstrated that the League is determined to power
through the lingering COVID pandemic, while acknowledging
that the virus will continue to play a role
in event planning.
The Providence NABC attracted 7463 tables, as well
PAUL LINXWILER
editor@acbl.org
as 128 tables of Junior players for the Youth NABC.
This is the best-attended NABC since the two-year
hiatus caused by COVID, and it follows the trend of
increasing table count at each successive national,
although the summer tournaments have historically, of
course, had the best attendance each year.
As noted in previous editorials, it remains to be seen
whether current NABC attendance is a leading indicator
for regionals and sectionals.
As with the Reno NABC in March, dozens of attendees at the Providence
NABC became infected with COVID. Tracking such cases has become an exercise
in futility, however, as the number of infected players who report their
health status at the NABC to the ACBL is low. The League received about 60
reports from players who got sick in Providence, but it was obvious to everyone
in attendance that the true number was much higher. A large part of this is due
to the perception from many people that the disease is no longer a death sentence
for fully-vaccinated folks - indeed, we heard of no one becoming seriously ill at
the NABC - so players are opting to simply quarantine for a few days or go home
rather than report their illnesses.
This new reality will undoubtedly cause the ACBL to reexamine its health
policies to see if they are still practical.
The number of players and staff who elected to wear masks in Providence was
definitely higher than what was observed in Reno, as many members have decided
that the simplest way to shield themselves from the pathogen is just to mask
up.
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 MONDAY-FRIDAY
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CST
EMAIL CUSTOMER SERVICE:
service@acbl.org
More contact information
on page 86.
EDITOR
Paul Linxwiler
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Chip Dombrowski
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Amy Casanova
GRAPHIC DESIGN / LAYOUT
Liza Frisbie
Lisa Jackson
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, $49
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 BRIDGE
BULLETIN, P. O. Box 289, Horn Lake MS 38637-0289
AMERICAN CONTRACT
BRIDGE LEAGUE
6575 Windchase Blvd.
Horn Lake MS 38637-1523
acbl.org
6 | Bridge Bulletin | September 2022
http://www.acbl.org
September 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2022
