American Contract Bridge League
District 8 Board of Directors Annual Meeting
Gateway to the West Regional
Saturday August 16, 2014
Renaissance Hotel St. Louis Missouri

Board and Committee Members Present: Debbie Avery, Ron Brotherson, Michael Carmen, Karen Coe, Jay Coleman, Marilyn Croft, Scott Davis, Karl Dencker, Kimberly Grant, Martha Leary, Marci Meyer, John Pree, Debbie Romero, Bill Searcy, Linda Seibert, Carole Sholes, Georgia Heth, Chris Shaw, Mary Beth Shaw, Neil Whittle, Hugh Williams.

Board and Committee Members Absent: Chris Patrias, Camilla Rabjohns, Margaret Hansell, John Kinst, Karen Walker, Milt Zlatic.

Ms. Romero called the August 16, 2014 Annual Meeting of the District 8 Board of Directors to order at 9:30 AM. She introduced new Board members, Karen Coe, Marilyn Croft, Marcie Meyer, and Bill Searcy.
Mr. Coleman moved to accept the minutes of the May 24, 2014 District 8 Board of Directors meeting as presented. Second, Mr. Dencker carried. 

Treasurer’s report: Ms. Avery submitted the proposed budget for calendar year 2015. Mr. Coleman moved to accept the budget as presented. Second, Mr. Carmen carried. Ms. Avery presented the District 8 check register, money market, and NABC certificate of deposit balances for the Boards review. Mr. Coleman moved to accept the documents as presented. Second, Mr. Carmen carried. Ms. Avery then distributed copies of the District 8 tax returns for the Boards review.

Nominating: Ms. Sholes presented the slate of candidates for 2015. The committee nominated Ms. Leary for President and Mr. Carmen for Vice President. Mr. Dencker moved to accept the slate as presented. Second, Mr. Coleman carried.

President’s report: Ms. Romero appointed Ms. Avery as District Secretary/ Treasurer and Mr. Patrias as Tournament coordinator.

ACBL Director’s report: Ms. Heth reported that a new masterpoint formula has been introduced. The ACBL score project has been discontinued and that for the NAP flights B and C the first through fourth place pairs are eligible to participate in the NABC NAP event. Details of all of the above can be viewed in her article in the August Advocate.

Audit Committee report: No Report.

Charity report: Ms. Croft noted that the District wide charity game would be held in October.

Goodwill report: no report.

Discipline report:  Mr. Carmen reported that a copy of the Disciplinary report had been forwarded to all parties concerned.

Appellate report: Mr. Williams presented a copy of the findings of the appellate committee’s findings to the District Board. 

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Minutes of the District 8 Annual Board meeting 8/16/2014

The District 8 Board of Directors entered into a closed session to review proposed charges by District 8 against Unit 154 for alleged violations of the ACBL code of disciplinary regulations 9.1. In this closed session the District 8 Board of Directors decided by majority vote that there was sufficient merit to proceed with convening a 9.1 disciplinary review committee. 

Regional Tournament reports:
Champaign: Ms. Sholes reported that this year’s tournament appeared to be drawing about the same number of tables as last year. She presented the financial report from 2014. She noted that the site would remain the same for 2015.  .

Crystal Lake: Ms. Croft presented the financial report for the2014 tournament. Ms. Croft reported that they hosted 1108.5 tables.

St. Louis updates: Mr. Carmen reported that while attendance appears to be down the room count was above the minimum. 
	
Ft. Wayne addendum: Mr. Searcy noted that Mr. Ellis wishes to rescind his motion made at the  May 24 2014 Board meeting regarding the District’s continued responsibility to pay one half of the cost of their dinner and breakfast as those contracts were never put in place.  Mr. Coleman moved to rescind the motion made by Mr. Ellis. Second, Ms. Leary carried

Future Regional reports:
	Champaign: Ms. Sholes presented the 2015 Tournament schedule for the District Boards review. 
	Mr. Coleman moved to accept the schedule as presented. Second, Mr. Decker carried.

Crystal Lake/Effingham: Ms. Croft presented the 2015 Tournament schedule for 2015. Ms. Sholes moved to accept the schedule as presented. Second, Ms.Seibert carried. Mr. Coleman presented their schedule for 2015. Mr. Dencker moved to accept the schedule as presented. Second, Mr. Pree carried.

Ft. Wayne: Mr. Searcy noted that the Tournament dates are September 28 through October 4 2015. He asked to postpone the schedule approval until the meeting in Champaign.

St. Louis: Mr. Carmen presented the Tournament schedule for 2015. He noted that to avoid conflict with the Chicago NABC, the tournament would be held July 13 through 19 rather than in August in 2015. Ms. Croft moved to accept the schedule as presented. Second, Mr. Searcy carried.

STaC report: Mr. Davis presented the financial report for the District Boards review. He noted that this year’s Fall STaC dates are October 25 through 31 2014. 

NAP report: Ms. Leary submitted the financial report for the 2014 NAP event. She noted that the NAP flyer and COC are posted on the ACBL Web site. The District final will be held November 1 in Springfield.

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Minutes of the District 8 Annual Board meeting 8/16/14

GNT report: No report.

Promotions: none.

Old Business:  Mr. Williams distributed information regarding masterpoint awards for split regional events. He noted that there was very little change in the award amounts. The pair games first and second place awards would be reduced to 80%.
 Ms. Romero distributed information illustrating table counts over a seven year period for all District Regional Tournaments and a list of players by geographical area. She noted that in the past seven years that Crystal Lake had held constant or risen over those years. She also pointed out that players attending these split regionals had little or no impact geographically on the each other. She noted that the impact on Ft. Wayne in splitting with Effingham would tend to negatively impact Ft. Wayne geographically.
Southern Illinois, Unit 223, desires to continue to split their regional with Crystal Lake.  Unit 223 has the site in Effingham for 2015 and 2016 and asks that the District Board to review any impact on Crystal Lake. 
Mr. Coleman moved to hold the split regional in Effingham for 2015 and 2016 with Crystal Lake being the lead on the schedule and an impact analysis report after the 2015 tournament. Second, Ms. Seibert carried.

Being no further business before the District 8 Board of Directors Mr. Coleman moved to adjourn the May 16, 2014 District 8 Annual Board meeting. Second Mr. Searcy carried.

Respectfully submitted
Deborah Avery
Secretary District 8
Minutes of the August 16, 2014 District 8 Annual Board meeting