District Director's Report
March 2005

Pittsburgh NABC

The Pittsburgh NABC was held at the David Lawrence Convention Center. Attendance was 9,593 tables, which is about 1,200 fewer tables than projected. It seemed to me that far fewer District 25 players attended this NABC than usual.

I extend my thanks and appreciation to the local volunteers, who did a wonderful job on hospitality. Despite this, most players felt that Pittsburgh was a poor site for an NABC. The convention center is a poorly designed building. As a result, getting to and from the playing space was quite difficult, especially close to game time. As an example, there is an overpass walkway from the Westin to the convention center. Unfortunately, at the end of the walkway there are only two small elevators, which were not sufficient to transport the players up to the playing space in a timely manner. Alternatively, players could walk up 51 stairs to reach the playing space from this location. Further, one ballroom was fairly dark because of dark rugs and wall covering. Players could see the cards OK but playing two sessions in a somewhat dark room was depressing to many.

Finally, room rates at the main hotels were over $140, including taxes, which most considered quite high. There were more complaints about this site than any other since I became District Director. I continue to believe that ACBL management does not do a good job planning and running our NABCs.

TOP 10 FINISHERS IN NABC EVENTS - DISTRICT 25

MIXED PAIRS

OPEN PAIRS

IMP PAIRS

RED RIBBON PAIRS

VANDERBILT KO TEAMS

Financial Status

For calendar year 2004, the ACBL reported an excess of expenses over revenues of $65,000. This is $84,000 worse than the budgeted gain of $29,000. What is of more significance to me is that management projected a 2004 gain of $100,000 as late as the Orlando NABC in November. The explanations provided by management for the $165,000 difference from the Orlando projection are unsatisfactory. There were a couple of poor projections for investment and rental income; it seems our CFO should be able to do a better job estimating these items just weeks before the end of the calendar year.

CEO Report

Compared with 2004, membership is up 310 as of February 2005. CEO Jay Baum reported that the ACBL will henceforth not count inactive unpaid life members, i.e., those who have not played in the past 24 months. This decision will make our membership appear lower but it is certainly the right thing to do, especially because membership is used as the basis for paying dues to the World Bridge Federation.

Mr. Baum also reported that regional attendance is down 20% for January and February and Sectional attendance is down 8%. Much of this is because of bad weather, date changes and a decrease in attendance of over 700 tables at Florida's January Regional, due to the Fall NABC being in Orlando. After experiencing gains in tournament tables over the last few years, a continuation of this downward trend would be cause for great concern. The CEO is optimistic that the trend will be reversed in March.

Five Year Strategic Plan

Based on BOD input from a two-day meeting prior to the Orlando Board Meeting, Management presented a Five Year Strategic Plan for 2005 - 2009. Among the ACBL Guiding Principles in the plan are the following:

• The ACBL will promote bridge as: social activity, available to all, mentally challenging, rewarding on many levels.
• The ACBL will encourage, enforce and model ethical behavior.
• The ACBL will promulgate and enforce zero tolerance policies.
• ACBL tournaments will be held to the highest standards.
• The ACBL will address itself to the diverse skills of its members.
• The ACBL will be managed and operated in a fiscally responsible manner.

How well Management will do in carrying out the plan remains to be seen but most felt that it was a good start.

As is customary, full minutes of the Board Meeting will be posted on the ACBL website within the next two weeks.

TOP 25 MASTERPOINT WINNERS –Pittsburgh NABC

The Summer NABC will be held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta on July 21-31. Please note that the starting times will be 10:00am and 3:00pm at this NABC instead of the traditional starting times.

Rich DeMartino
District Director