SEEMS LIKE A PATRIOTIC TIME OF YEARAs we go to press for this issueof the Sunshine Bridge News,the Red, White and Blue is veryevident. Around Florida, clubsobserved Memorial Day with specialcelebrations for so many playerswhose major social outlet is at theirlocal bridge club. Whether your clubenticed you to wear red, white andblue, treated you to a sugary treathonoring our fallen troops, or foundsome other way to make your dayspecial, we certainly hope you tooktime out to remember those whogave their lives so we here in theUnited States of America can be free.As you read this, you are probablyplanning your next patriotic bridgegame, on July 4 th . A fun way for manyof us to enjoy the anniversary ofour independence from merry oldEngland is to participate in the July4 th Regional in Deerfield Beach.The final piece of the patrioticpuzzle is the Summer NABC, whichthis year will be held in Philadelphia.Congratulations to the winningteams who will represent <strong>District</strong> 9at the Grand National Teams Finalsat the Philadelphia NABC in July.Championship Team:Warren Spector, Palm Beach; Michael Beckerand David Berkowitz, Boca Raton; Gary Cohler,Miami, Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell,Clearwater BeachFlight A:l to r, Michael Wolf, Coral Springs;Saul Gross, Miami Beach; Lee Bukstel, BocaRaton; John Lewis, Fort LauderdaleFlight B:l to r, Linda Hait and Randall Rathjen,St. Augustine; Regina Sooey and Bill Page,JacksonvilleFlight C:l to r, Elizabeth Black, Dunedin;Matthew Weingarten, Safety Harbor;Robert Witham, Clearwater;Van Thomas Black, DunedinWhile the Summer NABC is always the host to the Youth NABC, this year<strong>District</strong> 9's Flight C team includes youth player Matthew Weingarten. Matthew is avery popular player among the club players in Pinellas County, and we're pleased tobe able to publish a few words from Matthew.Good luck to all <strong>District</strong> 9 players who are going to the Philadelphia NABC, and doremember there's not a city in the U. S. that's any better for sightseeing than this one.Youth Invasionby Matthew WeingartenIn the 1960s (way before I wasborn), the United States experiencedan invasion in rock n’ roll when afew kids from Great Britain took theAmerican music scene by storm. Asimilar invasion is occurring rightnow in Bridge, led by Adam Kaplanand Kevin Dwyer. However, I havejoined the invasion because lastmonth, the team of Robert Witham,Elizabeth Black, Van Black, andmyself finished first in the <strong>District</strong> 9GNT for Flight C. I feel honoredto have joined such a list of names.Hopefully, I cement that legacy thissummer in Philadelphia.This will be the fourth NABC Ihave gone to, and I am only 18! Lastsummer, I finished third in the YouthNational Pairs in the Youth NorthAmerican Bridge Championships inToronto. In 2010, I finished fourthin Youth National Teams in NewOrleans. National tournaments areexciting to me for two reasons. First,there are hundreds of games that I canplay in during the 11 day experience. Ican play three sessions a day, which isgreat for me but usually spells disasterfor my partner. Second, I can earnRed and Gold Masterpoints, which Iam still working on to make the rankof Life Master.You may be asking yourself, “Howdid this geek get started playingBridge?” Well, I began playing in 8 thgrade, where I partook in an afterschoolclub led by Mark Goldschmidt.In the fall of 2008, I participated ina mentoring program at the localduplicate club. Fabulous work fromMarjorie Boldus brought me upto speed on how to succeed in thiscomplicated game.I enjoy Bridge because of thelogic and critical thinking that itdemands from its players. I am a very20 <strong>ACBL</strong> <strong>District</strong> 9www.<strong>District</strong>9<strong>ACBL</strong>.org21