Darling Downs Bridge Club Newsletter April 2012

Special points of
interest
Congratulations
to Desley and
her Management
Committee
Plans to build
better Bridge
Skills
Welcome to the
new Committee
Visit to Moreton
Club
Inside this
Issue
Program Books
available Management
Committee 2
Upcoming
Events 2
Library
notes 2
AGM Annual
Report 3
Club 4
Masterpoints
Tournament
Committee
Report 4
Systems
Cards 4
Darling Downs Bridge Club
Newsletter April 2012
President outlines plans for future of DDBC
As I commence my year as Club President, I would like to congratulate Desley
Mundell, her management committee and the development committee who have, with
the help of a grant and natural talent, made our premises into a very pleasant
environment in which to conduct a bridge club. My sincere thanks to you all.
As you all know we are an ABF QBA affiliated club and are therefore playing
competition bridge. With this in mind, and with the approval of my committee, I hope
we can steadily improve our Bridge skills and our knowledge of game ethics. The
tournament committee together with the management committee have approved the
introduction of some tutorial sessions this year. They will take place from 9.30am-
11.30am on the last Monday of the Month, where they can be inserted into the
program.
The new committee is as follows:
Jenny Newman Vice-President, Desley Mundell Past President, Alison Evans
Secretary, Jane Lindenberg Treasurer, PaulineLutton Providore, Helen Henderson
Publicity officer, Laurie-Marie McRoberts Newsletter editor, Dawn Brosi, Desiree
Fenaughty, Roy Reynolds and Keith Jenkin.
Merna Atkins continues as Zone Chairman and I will maintain the position of
Masterpoint Secretary for this year, but I do hope there will be some interest shown in
learning this process.
The committee will also have the assistance of Richard Newman and Sue Crooke as
our office manager/computer wizards, Robbie Fulton has agreed to be our Congress
Convenor and Jan McIlwraith will look after our Floral Decorations as required.
I thank Keith for taking a position on our committee as he already is a committee
member at Toowoomba. I am sure his being on both committees can only foster
continuing good relationships between the clubs.
In February, about 20 of our members travelled to Brisbane to visit the Moreton Club.
We had a very pleasant day and I would like to thank them for their hospitality. We
look forward to their return visit next year.
Our Program books have Masterpoints returned from the printer for Amenities
and are now available for
collection at the club.
I wish
As the
you
final
all a very
project
happy
for
year
2011,
of Bridge
the
at
Development
DDBC
Committee
Barbara Wippell
embraced the upgrading of the toilet facilities, thus completing
a total renovation of our Bridge Club Rooms.
This was done on a minimum budget and our thanks go to
Desley, Rhonda and their willing helpers for a job well done and
with little disruption to Members.

Management Committee 2012
President Barbara Wippell
Vice President Jenny Newman
Secretary Alison Evans
Treasurer Jane Lindenberg
Committee Dawn Brosi
Desiree Fenaughty
Helen Henderson
Keith Jenkin
Pauline Lutton
Laurie-Marie
McRoberts
Roy Reynolds
Club Events Calendar Barbara Wippell
Congress Director Robbie Fulton
Masterpoint Secretary Barbara Wippell
Tournament Committee
Chair Merna Atkins
Zone Representative Merna Atkins
Chief Director Ned Kelley
Development Committee Richard Newman
Roey Kelley
Rhondda Dean
Office Manager Sue Crooke
Richard Newman
Newsletter Laurie-Marie
McRoberts
Publicity Officer Helen Henderson
Catering Committee Pauline Lutton
Jenny Newman
Judy Reynolds
Librarian Jenny Newman
Floral Director Jan McIlwraith
Editor for April Newsletter Jan FitzGerald
A note to those who want to play inspirational Bridge: When you have a moment,
don’t forget to check out the Library. There are some great Bridge books
available, with lots of up-to-date material. Books can be borrowed for 1 month –
just write your name in the lending book. Alternately, check with DDBC
Librarian, Jenny Newman.
Dates to remember
Monday 30 th April: The first Club
Tutorial for the year will be held prior to
normal play, from 9.30am to 11.30am.
The topic will be “Four Suit Transfers”
with Ian Jesser. Please add your name to
the list on the notice board to indicate your
attendance. If you intend to play in the
afternoon as well, please bring your own
lunch.
Friday May 4: “Bridge for Brains”
Challenge, commencing at normal
Friday time of 9.30 am. The aim is to help
raise funds for Alzheimer’s disease and
dementia research. The same hands are
played throughout Australia in the first
week in May. Come and have some fun.
Tickets in a great Mothers’ Day Raffle are
available and all proceeds will go to
Neuroscience Research.
Monday May 7: Labour Day Holiday
No Bridge at DDBC. Toowoomba
Congress to be held over long weekend..
Monday May 14 th /21 th /28 th : Club
Selection Grand National Pairs will be
held over three weeks. $30 per pair.
Open to all players under Life Master.
Nominations are essential but walk-in
pairs are allowed each day. Contact
Barbara Wippel to nominate for comp.
Monday May 28 : Club Tutorial
Monday June 11: Queen’s Birthday
Mixed Pairs.
Friday June 15/Monday June 18/
Friday June 22: Mining Expo at Show
Grounds No Bridge
July Jottings: Don’t forget
8 th July: Sunday Challenge
9 th July: Invitation Day
16/23 July: Restricted Pairs
22 nd July: DDBC Novice Pairs
Congress

14 th Annual Report of the Darling Downs Bridge Club
ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, I NOW SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING REPORT.
AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THREE YEARS AGO, THE MEMBERS OF THE DARLING
DOWNS BRIDGE CLUB VOTED TO USE CLUB FUNDS, TO RENOVATE THE DOWN UNDER ROOM.
THE R.A.S. HAD GENEROUSLY OFFERED THE CLUB A 5X5 TENANCY AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS
GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED.
THE WORDING OF THE MOTION FROM THE FLOOR IS AS FOLLOWS:-
‘THAT THE CLUB ESTABLISH A ‘DEVELOPMENT SUB-COMMITTEE’ – AUTHORIZED TO IMPROVE THE
AMENITIES OF THE CLUB AS THEY THINK APPROPRIATE’.
WHILST THERE WILL ALWAYS BE UPGRADES, MAINTENCE AND REPAIRS – I THINK WE CAN SAY THAT
THE BRIEF WE WERE GIVEN HAS BEEN FULFILLED.
THE AUSTRALIAN BRIDGE FEDERATION HAS APPOINTED SANDRA MULCAHY, AS A MARKET
RESEARCHER. THIS IS TO IDENTIFY A STRATEGIC PROJECTION AND VISION, FOR THE FUTURE
OF AUSTRALIAN BRIDGE AS A SPORT.
SANDRA HAS BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES, AND TO GIVE JUST A THUMBNAIL
SKETCH OF THE FINDINGS, WOULD BE TO SAY – AND I QUOTE ‘THAT THE ‘INTERNAL CULTURE’ OF A
CLUB, AND AN ONGOING TEACHING PROGRAMME, HAS A HUGE BEARING ON ITS SUCCESS’. THAT
OF COURSE – IS VERY MUCH ‘IN BRIEF’.
THE DEFINITION OF ‘INTERNAL CULTURE’ IS THE ETIQUETTE AND SELF REGULATING BEHAVIOURAL
STANDARDS OF ITS EXISTING MEMBERS. WORD HAS IT THAT OUR CLUB HAS A VERY HEALTHY
‘INTERNAL CULTURE’. WITH THIS AS A YARDSTICK, AND INITIATIVES IN PLACE FOR SUBJECT
TUTORIALS, I KNOW THE DARLING DOWNS BRIDGE CLUB HAS A VERY POSITIVE VISION FOR THE
FUTURE.
I THINK WE HAVE TICKED ALL THE BOXES FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE. OUR MISSION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN TO HAVE MODERN PREMISES, HIGH MORAL, A HEALTHY BANK BALANCE
AND STABLE GOVERNANCE.
WE HAVE TRIALED A 9.30 A.M. START FOR FRIDAYS, AND RESULTS INDICATE THAT IT WILL
CONTINUE. THIS OF COURSE WILL BE VOTED ON TODAY.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CLUB IS BASICALLY DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTIONS - WITH INFORMATION
FED INTO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - WHERE FINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE.
RHONDA DEAN HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF CATERING, RICHARD NEWMAN, DEVELOPMENT, MERNA
ATKINS, TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE, AND NICK WILLEMS, OFFICE.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DARLING DOWNS BRIDGE CLUB, I OFFER BREATHLESS AND
SINCERE THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR SUB COMMITTEES DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THE RETIRING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE:- CEL PHILIPS WHO HAS BEEN ON COMMITTEE FOR
APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS, RHONDDA DEAN WHO HAS SERVED ON COMMITTEE AT THREE
DIFFERENT TIMES, JAN FITZGERALD, NICK WILLEMS AND MYSELF.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BARBARA WIPPEL, THE INCOMING PRESIDENT, AND OUR BEST WISHES TO THE
NEW COMMITTEE. I KNOW BARBARA HAS LOTS OF NEW INCENTIVES FOR THE COMING YEAR, SO WE
CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A FABULOUS 2012.
AND TO YOU – THE MEMBERS – THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST AND SUPPORT OVER THE LAST TWO
YEARS.
Desley Mundell
President 13 th February,2012.

Club Masterpoint
Promotions
Congratulations to all
members who have
achieved Masterpoint
Promotions since the last
Newsletter.
**Local Master
Sue Crooke
Local Master
Colin Clift
Adrienne Lynch
Graduate Master
Rob Catto
SYSTEMS CARDS
All players should try to have a
System Card on the table every
time they play and not only
when they are playing in a
congress.
It is important to realize that
opponents are entitled to know
exactly what bids mean and
intend.
It is also a great help if partners
check their system cards before
play and know what they are
playing!
Everything is open in bridge
and there should not be any
unauthorized information by
way of misleading bidding,
hesitations, full stops, body
language, change of pace in
bidding, throwing down pencils
etc
TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – FEB 2012
We have now commenced our sixteenth year as a bridge club. We have
advanced a long way from playing one afternoon a month in a church hall
having afternoon tea with the parishioners making their jams for their fund
raising. We have a lovely comfortable venue here at the showgrounds and
plenty of competition and social events.
Our President, Desley, will have mentioned our Honour Board and annual
competition winners in her report and we congratulate them. We try to have
plenty of variety in competition and the standard of play has greatly
improved. To help in this direction we are having Special Topics during the
year on some Monday mornings from 9.30 – 11.30am. There will be notes
provided and set hands to play. It will be BYO lunch if you are staying on
to play in the afternoon. We continue to introduce new events. We are
hoping to introduce a Sunday Challenge in the winter. I am happy to say
our numbers playing on both Mondays and Fridays have increased again
this year.
Once again I would like to thank our willing workers – the directors who
keep the competitions rolling, the office manager, the congress convenor,
the card dealers, the provedore and the providers of all the beautiful lunches
and teas, the scorers, those who fill bidding boxes and sharpen pencils and
do all the jobs that make a club so successful. I have seen one of my
directors cleaning windows when we have had visitors coming.
Bridgemates make competition scoring so much easier and we thank Nick
for his expertise and ability to train our members in the office.
Tournament Committee runs your competitions under the Rules of
Bridge, the QBA Regulations, the ABF Conditions of Play, etc and has the
job of deciding what is best for the majority of members of the club but we
are always open to new ideas from players.
As we do not have Disabled Access we are not able to host a zone event
here at our club but Zone co-ordinator, Chris Snook, has negotiated with
Toowoomba for us to use their club rooms. The event will be held there
and our members will do the work. The zone has small clubs spread over a
large area and it is a help to have the event in Toowoomba which is central
and saves an extra hour of driving for many players.
In conclusion I would like once again to stress, be seated fifteen minutes
before start of play, nominate for events as required, respond to
directors’ requests and please play quietly. Always call the director -
the director is there to look after you.
I wish you all the very best with your bridge in 2012 Merna Atkins
Contact Us
Darling Downs Bridge Club Inc
PO Box 1726 Phone: 0447 788 066 Email: downsbridge@gmail.com
Toowoomba Qld 4350 Web: www.ddbc..bridgeaustralia.org
This newsletter will be uploaded to our website. Check out the coloured version and
the extra photos. Please advise Alison Evans if you would be happy to access your
newsletter via the web, thus saving on printing, postage and Committee workload.