DRAFT bridge news column - Unit559board

12 Oct 2024

Please review for omissions and corrections!

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Pasadena San Gabriel Unit 559

On September 29 the unit hosted an "Over/Under" game, randomly pairing 
experienced players with newer players. This is always a popular event! 
We had 24 "under" players sign up, and a full 12 tables playing.

On the face of it, it seemed like a great success. Players were laughing 
and conversing and generally appeared to be having a good time. There 
was applause at the end of the game.

Unfortunately, these games turn out to be mine fields. For the newer 
players, it can feel like you can do nothing right. The experienced 
players simply can't resist pointing out everything the newer players do 
wrong. Even worse, two experienced players could get into a bickering 
match at the table, creating a horrible example in front of the new 
players. It can truly be an exercise in humiliation!

While most of the newer players are able to shake off such a gauntlet, 
it's quite likely that bridge /lost new players/ as a result of their 
experience at this game.

You might suggest that this was caused by inadequate screening, or 
orientation of the experienced players, but the entire organization put 
lots of effort into giving instruction to the experienced players, with 
the goal of preventing that from happening. It didn't make any 
difference. It's not something we will do again, unless we can find a 
better way!

Winners at the Pasadena Unit Game:

  * Sunday Sept 15, 11 tables:
      o N/S: Paul Nason, Diana Borgatti
      o E/W: George Want, Shiu-Ming Huang
  * Sunday Oct 6, 14 tables:
      o N/S Carolyn Cohen, Stephen Licker
      o E/W Thompson Jin, Shiu-Ming Huang

Unit games will be held every first and third Sunday of each month. For 
November those dates are the 3rd and 17th. To make reservations for a 
unit game, contact Miriam Harrington at (626) 232-0558 or miratpf(a)aol.com.

In December we'll hold a unit game on December 1, and December 15 will 
be the unit Holiday Party held at the Arcadia Community Center. The unit 
is planning a fabulous buffet, and it should be a great party! Save the 
date for now. The party will be $30 per player (same as last year), and 
you'll be able to buy tickets at the Pasadena Bridge Club using cash, 
check, or credit cards, until December 8.

Congratulations to players achieving new ranks in the ACBL!

  * Junior Master
      o Robert Hunt
  * Club Master
      o Anne Buettner
  * Sectional Master
      o Carol Maffin
  * Regional Master
      o Liza Billington
  * Ruby Life Master
      o Diane Gulbrandsen
  * Sapphire Life Master
      o Joan Mesias

-- 
build message
Morris "Mojo" Jones
mojo(a)PasadenaBridgeClub.com
https://PasadenaBridgeClub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>
Pasadena Bridge Club <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com>