In The News:

News Flash!!

  • New Thursday 7 pm Open Virtual Game has begun! Help us build up this game! Director Jeff G. (937-554-0856)

  • April 12-18  – ACBL Charity Foundation Week

    Upgraded masterpoints® awards in our  Virtual Clubs

  • Reopening survey letter is attached that was sent to all members with emails listed with ACBL.
    • Connie Wiest sends all of the Unit & Bridge Center email blasts. I have received over 90 responses so far, but I’ve heard that some of you say you didn’t receive the email. Please add her to your email addresses so they don’t go to spam mail. (conniewiest@yahoo.com) The final decision about the open process will be made at the Board meeting, April 20th. Connie will send out the information again and it will also be posted here.
    • Dear MVBA members,Our MVBA club games are planning to return in person in the coming weeks.Given that the current guidance from the Center for Disease Control (cdc.gov) allows groups to get together without restrictions if everyone in the group is fully vaccinated against Covid 19, we are planning to reopen our club’s games to vaccinated members.

      There is a question we would like answered by the membership. Our target dates are Monday, May 3, Tues May 4th, and Thurs May 6th. Please send reply “Yes” if you will be able to participate in any of these games. If “No”, please reply when you think you would be able to participate. (June1, July1, Aug 1, Sept 1 , later or probably not coming back due to ____)

      More information will follow as to the exact date and time each club game will open.

      The Virtual online games will also continue with possible time changes if there conflicts with the in-person club games. There will be no Virtual online club game before 4 o’clock on the day of an in-person club game.

      Our aim is to reopen and assure the continued existence of the MVBC. We must build back our Club games. At the same time, we must also continue our revenue stream from the online games.  We ask all our members to be flexible and help us in this endeavor.

      Please provide feedback as soon as possible to Georgia’s email, gbanzi@sbcglobal.net

      Thanks for your responses.

      Georgia Banziger, Joanne Duetsch and the reopening committee

  • Limited Virtual Game Schedule

    Tuesday 1 pm 0-1500, Tues 7:30 pm, 0-750, Steve Forsythe directing these 1st two games (937-640-1665),  and Thursday 1 p.m., 0-2500, Bill Gottschall directing (937-974-2159)  We are hoping that players who don’t want to play against the “big guys” will come  to these games. 

  • Due to the ongoing risk posed by COVID-19, the ACBL has canceled all tournaments through July. (including some of ours)..

  •  President’s Report: 

    •  This is a challenging but hopeful time for everyone. I hope you all are staying healthy (and getting those shots!) If you want to see the minutes from this and other Board minutes, go to “About Us” at the top of the home page, and then the link for “MVBA Board Minutes”. 

    • Unit Financial Reports provided by David Kennedy, Treasurer, and Jim Rachal, Investment Committee Chair.

    • Bridge Center Manager’s Report

      • MVBC Financial Status    
        •   We received $250 in  donations from members since last meeting. We received $3020 from ACBL for our Virtual Club Games for the month of February 2021. but had to pay $ 341 to ACBL for sanction fees. (leaves about $2700 for us)
        • Bridge Center Checking Account trans –
      • During the closure of MVBC, the following 3 types of BBO Bridge sessions are available for our MVBC players to participate, thanks to the efforts of ACBL and BBO. All Masterpoints are ACBL. A portion of all entry fees are returned to MVBC:
          1. Support Your Clubs Pairs Program Sessions are conducted 3 times daily at 10:00 AM, 5:00 PM, and 7:30 PM.  Entry Fee is $6.00/player in BBO currency.  Registration is available 2 hours prior to the start time of the session, and is advisable to register early as these sessions are open to all ACBL players in North America and fill up quickly with a limit on # of tables.
          2. Support your Club ACBL Daylong Individual vs Robot sessions – Sign up anytime and you have up to 12 hours to complete the 18 board session.  Entry Fee $6.00.  See the following link:  About ACBL Support Your Club Black Point Daylong Tournaments.  
          3. ACBL/BBO Virtual Club games.  Our current Schedule of MVBC games: MVBC currently has 7 games weekly in this program:  Mon , Tues 1 pm(0-1500),  Wed, Thurs (0-2500), Friday,  Saturday all at 1:00 PM,  and an Open game on Thurs Eve at 7pm. For newer players Tuesday’s 749er game at 7:00 PM. Starting in April, these sessions have averaged about 7 tables per session. Entry fees are $6.00/player. You will receive results in email or they are on our website in results.
        • Directions: On BBO home page go to “Virtual Clubs”, then ACBL North American Clubs, and then locate Miami  Valley Bridge Pairs… Host VABC 197145.  It’s best to sign on a minimum of 15 minutes prior to start time. Currently Bill G is running the 1 pm M, W, & Th (0-2500) games (937-974-2159), Jeff Gargrave is running the new Thurs 7pm Open game and the 1 pm Fri. game (937-554-0856), Steve Forsythe runs the Tues 1 pm (0-1500) & Eve & pm (749er) games (937-640-1665), and Lori runs the Sat 1 pm game (937-305-5495).
        • If  you need a partner for any of the MVBA Bridge Center Virtual Games, Marilyn O’Connor is our Partnership Chair.  Additionally, the director of these sessions, Screen name VACB197145, may be able to find a “sub” to play with you.  Also, there is a “Partnership Desk” option on the BBO web site in the Virtual Games area.  List yourself there, and any club member can invite you to partner with them.
        • If you haven’t signed up to play on BBO, sign up at  www.bridgebaseonline.com and follow their tutorials. Your results will be emailed to you or you can check them at the “Results” section on this website.

MVBA Bridge Library  Several donated books were added 5/15/19 . The books have been alphabetized by author. Please help keep them this way. All have been stamped ” MVBA” and have pockets with cards in the back. See the Director for check out and return. The MVBA Board has committed to buy $300 worth of books per year. The right side of the bookcase has a “Reference” shelf and 2 “Historical Books” shelves; these are for perusing only and cannot be checked out.

If you do not want your information in our online or printed booklet Directory, please let Georgia know. Remember the on-line version is user name (“directory”) and password protected, so only our members have access. Ask your director or Georgia for the password.

Check out ACBL’s new “Bridge Feed ACBL’s Bridge Feed  

Policies that are enforced at MVBC :

    • MVBC Slow Play Policy
    • MVBC Cell Phone
    • The first 4 spots in the parking lot are now allowed for our members. ( Lifepointe office moved to the other side of the building) Please don’t park in either ramp entrance.
Miami Valley Bridge Association