MANAGER'S MESSAGE - Jackie Altschuler
First, many thanks to Sandy Zions for her hard work producing this newsletter for the last several years.  It is more work than people imagine and, frequently a thankless job.  We appreciate all of Sandy's efforts.

Our new editor is Sarann Kraushaar who is very new to the duplicate world, but not new to the editorial world.   Sarann and Stan, her husband of 47 years, started playing bridge on a cruise ten years ago.  They have only recently started to play again when they became interested in the bridge group at Kensington CC, where they live.  Their automobile business in New Jersey is being run by their son and Sarann works part-time in retail clothing in Naples.  She is a former assistant high school principal and has a bachelor's degree in math and master's in education.

The Kraushaar's have been visitors to Naples for 12 years and moved here two years ago.  They spend some time each year in New York City and New Jersey where they have two children and three grandchildren.

It has been a pleasure meeting many of you for the first time – welcome back!  Please be patient with me as I try to learn everyone's name – it will take some time.

Of the many exciting events at the NBC, a few are time sensitive:  we are still accepting reservations for the Marty Bergen seminars on January 30 and 31.  You can attend either day or both for $75 per day for members and $80 per day for your non-member friends.  Each day features two different topics and includes both breakfast and lunch.  Saturday, Marty will discuss "Declarer Play the Bergen Way" and "To Bid or Not to Bid".  Sunday he will explain "Creating Trump Tricks out of Thin Air" and the "Law of Total Tricks – Key to Competitive Bidding".  Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the great bridge educators in person!

Audrey Grant's BridgeFest is Friday and Saturday, February 19 and 20 at a cost of $120 for both days.  This includes breakfast and lunch both days, three sessions with Audrey and a Saturday afternoon duplicate.  As this is always a sell-out, don't delay making your reservations.  More details will be in the February newsletter.

In response to your requests for a more relaxed afternoon game, we are now offering a 499er/Non-LM event on Thursday afternoons.  This will be separate from the open game and offers a lower-key environment for our non-Life Masters.  During the remainder of January and February, anyone who plays in the 299er morning game the previous Friday or Tuesday can play FREE in the 499ers on Thursday.  Remember, I give a free mini-class before the game at noon where I discuss interesting hands from the previous week.  You can always leave a hand record on my desk.  Just circle the boards you want discussed and I will talk about them.

The new membership directory will be going to press shortly.  Renewals turned in through January 27th will be included.

Lots more "good stuff" to come in February!

DECEMBER AND 2009 TABLE COUNT
The table count for December was 706 tables compared to 748 in December of 2008 - down 42 for the month.

The total tables for the year were 8888 in 2009 as compared to 9769 for 2008.  So we are down 881 tables for the year.

DECEMBER MASTERPOINT WINNERS        

Top Masterpoint winners in December were:

OPEN

299ers

TOP MASTERPOINTS FOR 2009

Watch for an article in next month's newsletter about Jim's accomplishment in spite of his broken arm!

NEW MEMBERS
A big warm welcome to all of you!  Be sure to let others at the club know that you are new so that they can properly welcome you and make you feel comfortable.

Barry & Marion Davey
Mary Fay
John & Marie Fiorillo
Joanne Gibbs
Edie Harvey
David Luzzatto
Dorothy Lyons
Ian MacIver
Michael Oesterle
Dick Redfern
Rebecca Sager

01/24/10