Essex Bridge Center

At last our special week is here, the culmination of our participation in the joint Fund Raising Project partnered by the the ACBL and The Alzheimer’s Association.  We hope to see as many of you as possible at multiple games and events on Friday, June 21st supporting this great effort.  Click here to see a detailed schedule for that day.  Note that door prizes will be drawn for in each of our games and starting Sunday bids will taken on our Silent Auction items.  What a range of Silent Auction items we have: bridge games and lessons with expert players, golf clubs, hand made one of a kind jewelry, a spa day, hand knit scarves, ballet tickets, and even a baby bib embroidered with “Future Bridge Player.”  It’s all meant to provide a fun and meaningful day for our wonderful and caring bridge players.  Come and join us!

Thank you so much to those of you who have already donated. ALREADY HAVING RAISED $14,000+, WE ARE PROUD TO BE (at this writing) 4TH OUT OF 159 ACBL TEAMS AND 6TH OUT OF 707 TOTAL TEAMS IN THIS LONGEST DAY EVENT.  LET’S CONTINUE TO DO THE BEST JOB WE CAN! To donate online to the Alzheimer’s Association you can click on the Longest Day box on the right side of our web page, it will take you right to our Essex Bridge Center Team Page (note: their web site is slow responding sometimes).

If you would like to ask some of your friends or relatives to contribute to the fund drive as part of our Finesse Your Friends Contest or just independently, here is a link to a sample donation request letter.  Feel free to use or alter it for your use.  At the club check out our large poster with blank space for you to post your Alzheimer’s Longest Day comments, memories, and photos of loved ones and also our Honor Roll of Individual and Merchant donors to our event.

We have some special events this week.  Sunday, June 2nd, 12:30 Open & 499 NORTH AMERICAN PAIRS QUALIFYING GAME.  Masterpoints 1/2 red 1/2 black at sectional rating. This grassroots event is staged in qualifying rounds at the club, unit and district levels. It culminates in a final held in conjunction with the Spring NABC, which will be held in Dallas, TX in 2014.

WORLD WIDE BRIDGE CONTEST – no extra fee—Essex absorbs the $4 fee per player, Friday June 7 6:30 & Saturday June 8 12:30.  This international competition is scored across the world using the Internet to give an over-all winner. The Friday and Saturday games are separate events. Each participant receives a souvenir booklet containing Eric Kokish’s excellent commentary. The World Bridge Federation will award prizes based on world matchpointing.  Masterpoints 1/2 red 1/2 black at sectional rating.

We are making good progress and we continue to prepare for June 21st The Longest Day.  Thank you so much to those of you who have already donated. To donate online to the Alzheimer’s Association you can click on the Longest Day box on the right side of our web page, it will take you right to our Essex Bridge Center Team Page (note: their web site is slow responding sometimes).

If you would like to ask some of your friends or relatives to contribute to the fund drive as part of our Finesse Your Friends Contest or just independently, here is a link to a sample donation request letter.  Feel free to use or alter it for your use.  At the club check out our large poster with blank space for you to post your Alzheimer’s Longest Day comments, memories, and photos of loved ones.

Thank you so much to all who have already donated to  THE LONGEST DAY June 21st fund drive for The Alzheimer’s Association.  We have $7,000+ in donations now and are hoping for much more.  To donate online you can click on the Longest Day box on the right side of our web page, it will take you right to our Essex Bridge Center Team Page (note: their web site is slow responding sometimes).  If you would like to ask some of your friends or relatives to contribute to the fund drive as part of our Finesse Your Friends Contest or just independently, here is a link to a sample donation request letter.  Feel free to use or alter it for your use.  At the club check out our large poster with blank space for you to post your Alzheimer’s Longest Day comments, memories, and photos of loved ones.

We have several Charity Club Championship events coming up in late May.  On Wednesday, May 29th at 12:30 we have both Open Pairs & Intermediate Swiss Teams (0-499 Non Life Master) and on Friday evening, May 31 we will have 8 is Enough Swiss Teams.  Advance registration is required for all team games.

We were proud to celebrate the memory of Bob Ryder, Gentleman of Bridge, Grand Life Master and winner of National Events including Senior Player of the year.  Congratulations to the winning pairs: Peter Merker and Nicholas Hartung in the Open.  First place in the 0-499 section was won by Stephanie Austin and Colin Kelley.  See photos of the winners in our Gallery under Special Events.

On Wednesday, May 8th at 12:30 we will hold the ACBL-Wide International Fund Game.  Masterpoints awards are 50/50 red and black at 100 % sectional rating. There will be hand records and analyses and winners recognized on the ACBL web site and in the Bridge Bulletin.

Following are special lessons/lectures occurring this week in addition to our regular game/lesson-game/noon lecture schedule. Most of these items do not show on our Monthly Calendar because we cannot fit everything there.

You should have received an email with some specific information  about ways (our Silent Auction and Finesse Your Friends Contest) you may be able to help Team Essex Bridge Center for THE LONGEST DAY Alzheimer’s Association/ACBL June 21st charity event.  More information will be coming about our additional plans for that special day.  If you did not receive this email, please make sure we have your correct email address.

We are so lucky to have these master pastry chefs.  Thank you for your delicious gifts!