November 2022 - 7

IN Box
Tiny type
I recently completed the new ACBL
convention card. While I fully respect
the ACBL's determination as to
appropriate content, I believe that an
even more important consideration
needs attention: readability.
I suggest that the new card (and
most likely the old card) would fail
any credible readability test. Keep in
mind that written materials are only
as good as their readability. If, in fact,
the intent of the card is to communicate
one's systems to opponents, it is
essential that the card is easy to read.
The new card is not, especially for
players of my age and those of the age
of the average ACBL player.
Some of the descriptions that must
be written in are in five-point font.
Clutter is another issue. And I could
say more.
I encourage the ACBL to carefully
review expert recommendations on
readability. There are many credible
sources, but a particularly comprehensive
one is " Toolkit for Making
Written Material Clear and Effective, "
produced by the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services.
I suggest that this matter be carefully
reviewed prior to establishment of a
requirement for use of the new card.
It's true that improved readability
will result in a two-sided, standardletter-size
document. I believe most
ACBL members would gladly give up
the scoring sheet on the reverse side
of the current card to truly accomplish
the new card's intent.
STEVEN WINOKUR
Rochester MI
Remove vaccine requirements
The ACBL is trying to encourage
a return to face-to-face bridge.
I believe the biggest barrier is the
requirement to show proof of vaccination.
Look
at society in general. Sports
events, restaurants, gyms and other
public events that have dropped their
COVID-19 restrictions have returned
to pre-pandemic attendance. F2F
bridge, stubbornly holding on to its
restrictions, is lagging behind. Even
the Centers for Disease Control has
revised its guidelines. In early August,
they announced recommendations
for reduced COVID restrictions.
The ACBL should " follow suit. "
The ACBL's current COVID restrictions
aren't protecting anybody. We
have learned, beyond a shadow of a
doubt, that the COVID vaccines don't
prevent transmission of the disease.
People will get COVID, whether the
person sitting next to them is vaccinated
or not. Players who are afraid
of catching COVID will stay away
from F2F bridge, regardless of any
restrictions. I implore you to drop the
restrictions, and let bridge players
reassume personal responsibility
for their actions. If I'm right, F2F
attendance will return to pre-pandemic
levels within a few months. I'm
begging you to allow the bridge world
to rejoin the rest of society as soon as
possible. Attendance will go up, and
you'll be happy that you did.
A. WILLIAM (BILL) SCHMIDT
Morton PA
I just got through the June issue
of the Bridge Bulletin. I don't keep
up quite as well since I haven't been
allowed to play in person. It seems
that our League president realizes
that there are many reasons for poor
attendance at tournaments, but she
failed to mention one that is probably
very significant. The continued
requirement for vaccination eliminates
some percentage of the ACBL
population from even being able to
make a choice to attend. Despite this
restriction that is supposed to make
live play safer, many players are still
afraid to participate face-to-face, and
breakout infections continue at tournament
sites. Because it is apparent
by now that vaccines do not eliminate
transmission or contraction of the
virus, the vaccine requirement seems
purely punitive. Why not let everybody
that wants to go to tournaments
do so and see what kind of bump you
get in table count?
PRESTON KAUK
Cupertino CA
It is time to return to the bridge
table and F2F bridge regardless of
whether players have received a
COVID shot or not. Cruise lines are
dropping their COVID mandates,
countries are dropping their COVID
travel restrictions, and other companies
are dropping their COVID
requirements.
I have spoken with folks who have
returned home from regional tournaments
who have contracted COVID
despite having received the shots
and boosters. And they were playing
bridge around like folks that had also
been vaccinated. Of course, one does
not know where a person picks up
this virus. It could have been contracted
anywhere.
If the ACBL is afraid of the liability
of people coming down with COVID
at their tournaments, why couldn't
there be a waiver that players could
sign that the ACBL not be held responsible
for any infectious disease
that a person might incur. This could
include colds, influenza, COVID and,
my greatest fear, MRSA after handling
cards all day long.
LISA LOMBARDY
Goodyear AZ
Live it up
Sorry, mate. So you want to play
bridge in your pajamas. No! In alphabetical
order, bridge, chess and poker
have to be played face-to-face, mano
a mano. Get out of your PJs, take a
shower, have a shave, splash on some
November 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
7
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November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2022
