Newsletter - 27 November 2020

From the President:

In the past week, members have been advised about the proposed introduction of RealBridge, a new online method for playing bridge. As the Pianola message advised, beginning next Wednesday night and then continuing for the following two Wednesday nights, members will be able to play using the RealBridge platform. To use this platform, your computer must have a camera and microphone, as RealBridge enables players to see and talk to their partner and the opposition. At the end of these sessions, we will gather feedback about your experience with RealBridge. This will be coordinated by Deb Milner who will provide a short survey.

The NSW Bridge Association is offering taster sessions on this Saturday at 10.30am and 2.30pm (which can be accessed from its website), and the Club is offering taster on sessions Monday 30 November at 5:30pm and another on Tuesday 1 December (TBC). These sessions last for 30 minutes.

I hope all players enjoy these RealBridge sessions.

On a completely different matter, the Club is largely run by volunteers, and we need more volunteers, in particular to wash the cloths used for cleaning, and on kitchen duty. Every session needs a kitchen volunteer. Without volunteers, the kitchen cannot open. As there is no volunteer on kitchen duty on Fridays, the kitchen will not be able to operate on those days. Please consider volunteering at the Club.

Remember, there is a working bee this Saturday morning at 9.30am to decorate the Club for Christmas. All volunteers (including all small folk) are most welcome.

Stay safe.

Margaret

Christmas Celebrations at the Club

This year CBC is planning to celebrate Christmas and farewell 2020, truly an annus horribilis, at all Clubroom sessions from Tuesday afternoon 8 December to Monday evening 14 December.  

At each session there will be a short break in play for a small COVID-compliant celebration. Members will be offered a glass of champagne/OJ/mineral water and a slice of Christmas cake courtesy of the Club. A gluten-free option will be available. Note that the session may finish a few minutes later than normal.

The Christmas tree and decorations will be up. To add even more cheer, members are encouraged to wear something festive.

We hope you can join one of these sessions to help celebrate Christmas at the Clubrooms!

Christmas Raffle

Our annual Christmas Raffle is now available for purchasing raffle tickets at the club, and on display for your drool-worthy pleasure. Please bring your own pen to write your raffle tickets and exact change, due to our COVID-19 Safety Plan we cannot share pens or give change.

Tickets are $2 each, or 3 for $5.

50% of profits go to Canberra Bridge Club, and 50% to our Club charity Beyond Blue.

Prizes:

1. Hamper
2. Christmas Cake
3. Christmas Crackers (Bon-Bons)

Xmas Working Bee

Volunteers are needed tomorrow, Saturday morning 28 November, from 9.30am for a short working bee decorate the Club rooms for Christmas. All helpers great and small are appreciated.

Barnardos Christmas Gifts for Kids

CBC has a tradition of present giving at Christmas.This year we would like to direct these gifts to Barnardos. If you wish to help, please bring:

• presents for teenage boys aged 14-18 (e.g. Gift vouchers for movies, bowling,  jb hifi, Westfield, clothing or sports stores, lynx or other hygiene or pamper packs, clothes) would be very welcome unwrapped. 
• Food such as Christmas puddings and chocolates & more standard items such as tinned, food, spaghetti, jam, cereal, Milo will also help. 

We need the donations by Friday 11 December.

Special International Guest on BBO 

Players in our BBO Sessions on Monday 23rd November & Thursday 26th November at 10:15am might have noticed an unfamiliar name in our BBO players. Upon request, we granted special entry to Tony Cherrett  (tonycherr) and Andy Poole (Beard Andy) from Caterham Bridge Club in the UK.

Tony was in process of completing a challenge to play 500 bridge boards in one week, as a fundraiser for TASK charity (financial aid to Kenyan schoolchildren), and needed to fit in some additional boards!

Tony & Andy did very well in the Monday 10:15am, coming second in the N/S with a score of 59.82%. Well done to Larissa Cowlishaw & Peter Waight who can boast having beat our international guests with a N/S scoring of 60.71%.

Next week at the Clubrooms

New versions of the CBC COVID-19 Safety Plan and Checklist for Members & Kitchen released. Please read.

• COVID-19 Safety Plan & Checklist & Checklist (including how to buy vouchers and payment details)
• At the end of all sessions, all players (not just east and west) are responsible for cleaning the tables, bidding boxes etc.

For the week commencing Monday 30 November we have six sessions scheduled at the clubrooms

• Monday morning 10:00am                                                     Bruce Crossman
• Monday evening 7:00pm (walk-in) & 7:15pm (event)            Christy Geromboux
• Tuesday afternoon 1:15pm                                                    Sally Barber
• Wednesday morning 10:00am                                               Ian Robinson
• Thursday morning 10:00am (MP and Imps)                          Jodi Tutty
• Friday afternoon 1:15pm                                                        Bruce Crossman

Reminders for in-Club sessions:

• Please make Vouchers & Membership payments made via Table Money envelope, unless this is a volunteer at the entrance door.
• BYO Pen (table money envelope, raffle, etc). If you do need to borrow a pen, please sanitise it at the end of the session/use.
• Kitchen opens at start of play – not before. If there is no volunteer, the kitchen will be closed.
• One person ONLY in the kitchen at a time. You are welcome to gently remind others if you see they have forgotten.
• Payment of vouchers ($50/$45) by online bank transfer is greatly preferred, to reduce cash handling and processing time. For those unable to pay by bank transfer, please have the exact cash amount to prevent needing change given.

Next week on BBO

For the week commencing Monday 30 November, we have scheduled 3 tourneys on BBO. Please note the removal of Tuesday 7pm from BBO.

• Monday Morning 10:15am                           Bruce Crossman
• Wednesday Evening 7:15pm                       Christy Geromboux
• Thursday Morning 10:15am (matchpoint)    Jodi Tutty

Next week on RealBridge Online

• Wednesday Evening 7:25pm - Two Week Event, 2nd & 9th December
  Registration Required before 1:30pm Wed 2nd Dec
  View the current entry list

Update your details and permission to list

As the club will not be producing a 2021 calendar/member list it is more important than ever that your personal details as recorded in Pianola are correct.

You are able to update your details in Pianola yourself - see instructions in previous newsletters. Whilst we encourage members to update their details themselves to reduce the office administration burdons, we understand that for some members this is not possible. If you are unable to update your details yourself please send an email to the office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or "reply" to the email newsletter) to confirm your current details and advise of permission for your phone and/or email to be listed in Pianola for other members to view. 

Upcoming Events

Online Teams Event by the ABF

• Weekend of 28-29 November.
• Swiss of 8 x 12-board rounds,
• Finals (for the top eight Teams) held over the following weekend (December 5-6).
• An optional Swiss Pairs consolation for non-qualifiers will be held on Saturday 6 December.
• Entry fee: $220 per team.

For further information please see the ABF Online Teams flyer.

Results

ABF NWP Online

22 Nov - Restricted
E/W 2nd - Dan Danton & Odette Mayne

Lighter Moments

The Bridge Player’s Prayer

“Lord, grant me a partner who won’t trump my aces.
Deliver me from short suits and card without faces.
Grant me finesses that work as I’ve planned.
And just once today, please a nice Grand Slam hand."