Newsletter - 24 December 2020

From the President:

I am sure that many of you will have noticed that the Club has registered for the Check In CBR App and posters have been placed on all tables in the Barry Turner Room. The app, which has been developed by the ACT Government to make contact tracing easier and quicker, is not compulsory. However, I do urge all members, if they have smartphones to download it from their App Store and install it on their smart phone, and to then use it when at the Club.

I would like to thank our wonderful managers, Emily Inglis and Kerry Butcher for all their help and assistance, and patience over the past year with the many new issues which arose as a result of COVID. 

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and for better year in 2021.

Cheers,

Margaret

COVID-19 Update

In line with the ACT Government’s advice, any person who has been in:

• the Northern Beaches Local Government area since 11 December, or
• Greater Sydney, Central Coast, or Wollongong Local Government areas from 21 December

must not attend the Bridge Club – you must quarantine for 14 days and get tested.

• Canberrans are advised not to travel to Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, Central Coast, or Wollongong Local Government areas until further notice.

If you are unsure of the listed areas, please view the ACT Government’s COVID-19 page: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel/nsw#COVID-affected-areas ‘

Christmas & New Year Arrangements at the Club

Over the Christmas / New Year period (24 December to 4 January) bridge sessions at CBC will be as follows:

Face-to-face sessions

All current face-to-face sessions will occur except: not on 24, 25 & 31 December (so no face-to-face bridge on the two Thursdays and Christmas Day).

Online sessions

All online sessions will be available, including BBO at 10.15am on 24, 28 & 31 December and 4 January. So the BBO Monday and Thursday morning sessions will be available as per usual.

The Wednesday 7.15pm online session on 30 December will also proceed. It will be using the RealBridge Online Platform, as will the 6th and 13th January sessions. A final decision on the RealBridge Platform will be made by the committee at the 11 January 2021 meeting.

We hope the above arrangements will mean that all members who wish to play bridge over the holiday season will be able to do so.

Office Opening over Christmas & New Year

The office will be closed completely on Christmas Day. Kerry and Emily plan to be in the office as normal where daytime sessions are occuring. However on days where there is no daytime session, they will not be available at the Club. Thus, on 24 December please contact the office by email - the phone will not be answered. 

Merry Christmas everyone.

RealBridge Online Platform Trial on Wednesday Evenings

The trial of RealBridge on Wednesday Evenings concluded last night. Those members who playing in any of the three trial sessions (9, 16 and 23 December) have until 9pm Boxing Day to submit their survey forms. A final decision on the Wednesday Evening online platform (BBO or RealBridge) will be made a the next CBC Committee meeting on 11 January.

Until a decision is made, we have decided to continue the trial and use the RealBridge platform for the next three Wednesday Evenings (30 Dec, 6 Jan and 13 January).

Members who have not yet played on RealBridge but would like to try the experience are welcome to play in any (or all) of the matchpoint sessions over the next three weeks.

Our CBC RealBridge webpage has been updated to include:

• RealBridge etiquette
• How to deal with technical issues & a contact email for those who need extra help
• Update on Taster Sessions for those who have not yet played on RealBridge
• Details of help for finding a partner to play with on RealBridge

We hope to see more members try the RealBridge experience over the next three weeks.

 

Check-In CBR App - now at the Club

If you come to the Club you will notice we have some new signs requesting people 'check-in' with the Check-In CBR App. This app is operated by ACT Health and is used to streamline contract tracing if required.

Whilst we hope ACT Health never need to use it for our Club, we strongly encourage members to download the app to their smartphones and check-in every time you come to the Club.

Visitors to the Club will be required to either use the Check-In CBR App (preferred) or give their name and phone number to the Manager. Since we have records of who has played in which session, and the contact details for all members already, use of the app is optional (but strongly encouraged) for members. However if a member is visiting the Club but not playing, they must check-in with the app or Manager/Director.

Use of the app allows us one person per two square metres at the club, so a greater capacity in the Club rooms if we need it. The 1.5 metre social distancing requirement has not changed, so the three table set up will remain for the foreseeable future. Please continue to observe the 1.5 metre requirement, both at the club and elsewhere.

Help wanted

The Canberra Bridge Club holds certain significant financial assets in the Barry Turner Fund. The fund is managed internally by a group of four members chaired by our Treasurer Lyn Turner. We presently have a vacancy and are seeking some help from a member who has an interest in and understanding of investments in the share market and associated cash accounts. The group meets briefly about four times a year. If you would like to help the club, please contact our Treasurer Lyn Turner.

Beginners Lessons - February 2021

Our next Beginners Lessons are being held in February 2021. For full times and dates please view our Beginners Lessons webpage.

Places are filling up fast, with lots of interest in the lessons, so if you or someone you know is interested please contact either the office (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Lesley Gunson quickly to avoid missing out.

ABF Bridge Player Survey

The ABF, state bodies and clubs now need to plan how to create the best possible bridge games, congresses and selection events in 2021 both in clubs and online to give maximum enjoyment to all bridge players in what could be still a challenging environment. THe ABF needs your input and help.

This survey is to help the ABF in determining:

1. If and how people have played bridge during COVID 
2. The resultant effects it may have on playing bridge in the future
3. What people want to get out of bridge at all levels, experience and gender 
4. This will help us provide better services to bridge players in the future
5. Make the game more enjoyable for you

You do not need to provide your name as it is completely anonymous unless you want to add your name at the end.
This will take only a few minutes to complete.

Fill in the survey now: https://tinyurl.com/y8vkdu3fhttps://tinyurl.com/y8vkdu3f

Next week at the Clubrooms

Have you read the new versions of the CBC COVID-19 Safety Plan and Checklist for Members & Kitchen?

• 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 28 December:

• Monday morning 10:00am                                                     Jodi Tutty (TBC)
• Monday evening 7:00pm (walk-in)                                         Christy Geromboux
• Tuesday afternoon 1:15pm                                                    Sally Barber
• Wednesday morning 10:00am                                               Ian Robinson
• Thursday morning 10:00am (MP and Imps)                          CLOSED - New Years Eve - BBO Only
• Friday afternoon 1:15pm                                                       Ian Robinson (TBC) - OPEN - New Years Day

Reminders for in-Club sessions:

• 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.
• 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.
• One person ONLY in the kitchen at a time, after start of play. You are welcome to gently remind others if you see they have forgotten.

Next week on BBO

For the week commencing Monday 28 December, we have scheduled on BBO:

• Monday Morning 10:15am                           Jodi Tutty (TBC)
• Thursday Morning 10:15am (matchpoint)    Jodi Tutty

Next week on RealBridge Online

• Wednesday Evening Matchpoint/Duplicate 7:15pm - No registration required. A link to the session will be posted on the RealBridge information page at 5pm Wednesday.
  Directed by Christy Geromboux

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. With COVID-19 Contract Tracing requirements, it is essential we have up-to-date phone records.

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

BFACT InterClub Teams 2020

Do you want to represent your club? The BFACT interclub teams event to be held on Sunday 17 January 2021 is looking for entries.

Categories are:

• Novice: <100MP at Jan 17 2021
• Restricted: <300MP at Jan 17 2021
• Intermediate: <750MP at Jan 17 2021
• Senior: Born before 01/01/1960

Put together a team of 4 people and nominate (state representatives not eligible to enter) for the event.

Enter via our Online Entry Form. Please note the location has not been decided yet - could be live at the club or on realbridge. When nominating please indicate which location you would play at (or 'either'). Don't forget to state your category too!

Full details available on the BFACT InterClub Teams event page. 

Lighter Moments - Christmas COVID-19 edition

Why didn’t Mary & Joseph make it to Bethlehem?
All Virgin flights were cancelled

Why are Santa’s reindeer allowed to travel on Christmas Eve?
Because they have herd immunity

Which Christmas film was 30 years ahead of its time?
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