American Contract Bridge League
District 8 Board of Directors Meeting
Saturday May 24 2014
Illini Regional
Champaign, IL

Members and Officers Present: Debbie Avery, Chuck Briggs, Ron Brotherson, Michael Carmen, Jay Coleman, Karl Dencker, Rajahneen Dencker, Richard Ellis, Kimberly Grant, Margaret Hansell, Georgia Heth, Martha Leary, John Pree, Debbie Romero, Chris Shaw, Mary Beth Shaw, Carole Sholes, Ron Sholes, Neil Whittle, Hugh Williams.

Members and Officers Absent: Scott Davis, John Kinst, Tom Oppenheimer, Chris Patrias, Camilla Rabjohns, Bill Rotter, Linda Seibert, Karen Walker, Milt Zlatic.

Ms. Romero called the May 24 2014 District 8 Board of Directors meeting to order at 9:30 AM.

Mr. Ellis moved to accept the minutes of the September 14 2013 Board of Directors meeting as presented. Second Ms. Sholes carried. 

Treasurer’s report: Ms. Avery submitted copies of the District Check register, money market account NABC CD and income and expense details for the Board’s review. Mr. Carmen moved to accept the documents as presented. Second Mr. Coleman carried.

President’s report: Ms. Romero commended Karl Dencker on his election as the National Goodwill player of the year. She presented a comprehensive list of all transfers into District 8.

ACBL Directors Report: Ms. Heth reported on the funding that District 8 received from the Grassroots Pairs event. 

Finance report: Mr. Carmen reported that he had completed his review of the District’s financials and that based upon his review everything appeared to be in good order. 

Charity report: Mr. Dencker reported that the District Wide Charity game would again be held in October and the funds would be designated for the Districts Youth Bridge program.

Goodwill report: Ms. Heth reported that we will need to order District Goodwill pins soon. She will check with the Jeweler to estimate the cost and report in St. Louis. 

Discipline report: Mr. Carmen noted that the discipline committee has met but there is nothing to report from that meeting.

Appellate report: Mr. Williams will be submitting his committee report soon.

Education report: Ms. Romero noted that as Mr. Winter the District Education chair has relocated and will no longer be able to serve on the District Board. Ms. Romero appointed Mary Beth Shaw as the District’s new education Chairman.

Page 2 
Minute of the May 24 2014 District 8 Board of Directors meeting

Youth Coordinator report: Mr. Shaw reported that the attendance for the upcoming Bridge Camp is looking good. He asked the Board to approve the inclusion of an adult Bridge Boot Camp to be held in October 2014. He noted that the revenue generated by 2013 adult camp saved their budget last year. Mr. Coleman moved that the District approve the October Bridge Boot Camp. Second Ms. Leary carried.

Regional Tournament reports:
	St. Louis: Mr. Carmen submitted the financial report for the St. Louis regional.

	Ft. Wayne: Mr. Ellis submitted the financial report for the Ft. Wayne regional.

Champaign: Ms. Sholes reported that attendance was running about the same as this time last year. She will submit the financial report in St. Louis.

Future Regional Status Reports:

	Champaign: Ms. Sholes will submit the 2015 schedule for approval in St. Louis.

Crystal Lake/Paducah: Due to site loss, Paducah will not host a tournament in 2014. Paducah has submitted a financial report with the minimum payment to the District reflecting the buyout from their contract. Mr. Coleman noted that Unit 223 (Paducah) has a contract for a tournament site in Effingham for 2015. Mr. Coleman will check to see if there are dates available for 2016 that coincide with the Ft. Wayne tournament.
Mr. Dencker indicated that Crystal Lake will have a stand-alone tournament this year and noted that he would like to continue to do so. He feels that the split regional is costing him tables because of the adjusted masterpoint awards for pair games. 
 Ms. Heth noted that the ACBL only allows District 8 to hold four Regional Tournaments in one year. It was noted that in District 8 the Unit that hosts a Regional Tournament realizes much of its revenue from the Regional Tournament. 
After much discussion an informal straw poll of the District Board indicated their support for continuing a split Regional format in some form. 

St. Louis: For the 2014 St. Louis Regional, Mr. Carmen is offering a newcomer lecture and game on the Monday before the Regional begins.

Ft. Wayne: Mr. Ellis noted that all was in place for their tournament. Mr. Ellis moved that they be allowed to deduct the normal one half expense for their dinner and breakfast less any monies the ACBL President spends to entertain at the Hilton as the contracts for these events were in place prior to the cancellation of the Board of Directors meeting in 2014. Second Ms. Leary carried.

STaC report: Ms. Heth reported that there was a misunderstanding regarding the District 13 STaC which was incorrectly shown as including District 8. Ms. Leary moved to not allow District 8 clubs and Units to participate in non-District 8 STaC events.  Second Mr. Coleman carried.

Page 3
Minutes of the May 24 2014 District 8 Board of Directors meeting

NAP status report: Ms. Leary submitted the NAP financial report.  The table count was down from 2013 by 18 tables. The NAP event will be held November 1 2014 and the entry fee will be $12.50. Mr. Carmen moved that the NAP COC be changed to not require qualification slips for the finals. Second Mr. Coleman carried.

GNT status report: Ms. Heth noted that though the table count was down this year she felt that could be attributed to the proximity to Gatlinburg.  Mr. Carmen moved that the COC be changed to make the flight C teams a 1 day event second Mr. Coleman, carried. Ms. Leary moved to use the Grassroots funding to increase the GNT funding by $500.00 per team. Second Mr. Carmen carried. Ms. Sholes moved that the COC for the GNT reflect that the GNTs are a timed event and that one minute per board more than the standard is that limit. Second  Ms. Leary carried.

Promotions: None.

Old Business: None.

New Business:  None.

Being no further business before the District 8 Board of Directors Ms. Grant moved to adjourn the May 24 2014 District Board meeting. Second Mr. Ellis carried.

Respectfully submitted
Deborah Avery
Secretary District 8
Minutes of the May 24 2014 District 8 Board meeting