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ACBL District 4

4 THE LOVE OF BRIDGE

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2023 D4 Goodwill and Charity Committee Appointees

ACBL District 4

Each year the ACBL seeks input from all Districts for players deserving of lifetime appointments to two honorary committees – the Goodwill Committee and the Charity Committee.  District 4 is pleased to recognize the following individuals who are our 2023 nominees.  They have made exceptional contributions to bridge and the bridge community.

Thank you for making bridge better for all of us.  Congratulations!


Goodwill Committee Appointments:


Mark Cohen:  Recognized for both his local bridge leadership and for accepting Tournament Co-Chair responsibilities for the Philadelphia Regional at Valley Forge and the 2025 Philadelphia Summer NABC.

Read more HERE to learn more about how Mark has dedicated his time to support bridge.


Lisa Mita:  Recognized for her determination and dedication to teaching and promoting the game of bridge.

Read more HERE about all the ways Lisa contributes to and promotes bridge.


Sue Manning:  Recognized for her many contributions as an integral volunteer member of multiple bridge technology teams, contributing to EDGAR (online cheating detection program), Shark Bridge, and The Common Game.

Read more HERE about how Sue is playing a seriously important role to advance bridge technology in support of modernizing our game.


Todd Thorsen:  Recognized for his skills and eagerness to create a modern website for District 4.

Read more HERE about how Todd utilized his skills to both develop and support the D4 Website.



Charity Committee Appointments:


Bill Herdle:  Recognized for his willingness to take on new responsibilities to deliver D4 tournament information to the email boxes of District 4 members.

Read more HERE about what Bill is doing in support of his Unit and District 4.


Ann Smallen:  Recognized for her helpfulness in assisting a District 6 (VA) club move to online games.

Read more HERE about the many ways Ann delivers results for the bridge community.


HOT OFF THE PRESS!

ACBL District 4

During the Fall NABC in Phoenix, AZ, Rui Marques and Rob Maier, both based in District 4, received promotions and additional responsibilities in recognition of their directing and leadership skills.  We are very fortunate beneficiaries of these two talented gentlemen, and the many ways they support our STaCs, GNT and NAP District Finals, and Sectional and Regional tournaments.  You often see them at tournaments and special games, but were you aware they also work hand-in-hand with organizers before, during, and after to provide planning support and after event reporting?

Congratulations Rob and Rui – we’re so very proud!

The full announcement from the Fall NABC 11/30/2022, is included below:

Director Promotions

Member Achievements

ACBL District 4

This Month’s Rank Advancements

Grand Life Masters of District 4

District 4 Top 100 (includes online)

NOTE:  To change the “Top 100” to include only F2F points earned, choose “Face-to-Face” from the “Points” menu, and the list will automatically refresh (see screenshot, at right)

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****The ACBL updates masterpoint holdings on or about the 7th of each month****

2023 Goodwill Committee Appointee: Mark Cohen

ACBL District 4

As a bridge enthusiast, Mark Cohen sprang into action after hearing the Valley Forge Bridge Club was closing.  He and other local players considered options and determined a member-owned club was right for the local community.  This resulted in the creation of the King of Prussia Bridge Club (KoPBC), in which Mark serves as Club Manager.

It was in his capacity as Club Manager that he answered the call to organize Unit 141’s first post-pandemic Sectional at KoPBC.  No small feat, since it required a pre-registration process, enforcement of ACBL Covid regulations, and providing a lunch for players.

More recently, Mark also agreed to take on two more major roles for District 4.  Beginning in 2023, Mark will serve as Co-Chair the Philadelphia Regional at Valley Forge (along with Betsy Cutler).  And he also stepped up to the challenge when asked to play a leadership role in the 2025 Summer NABC in Philadelphia.  He will serve, along with John Dickenson and Betsy Cutler, as one of the “Tri-Chairs” for that event.

Did I mention that Mark still has a “day job” as a Real Estate agent?  What’s that old saying… “if you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it”.  Mark fits that description – in spades (or hearts, or diamonds, or clubs)


Mark’s Backstory:

Mark started in bridge by helping out after playing in games in New York City clubs. He became an employee and junior partner for 13 years at the Beverly Bridge Club, and also served on the ACBL Board of Governors.  Upon returning home to Philadelphia, family and work kept him out of bridge for 25 years.

It was during the pandemic that Mark helped create the King of Prussia Bridge Club where he now serves as volunteer manager. He ran the April 2022 PCBA Sectional and hosted 4 I/N Sectionals at KOPBC. Mark is running for the Unit 141 Board and will also be a Chair of the Valley Forge Regional and the Philadelphia Summer Nationals in 2025.

Mark is a Gold Life Master and in his 30th year as a local residential real estate agent. He lives with his husband Marty Johnson in Audubon, PA.

Mark Bolotin – Gold Life Master

ACBL District 4

Despite receiving Autobridge among my Bar Mitzvah presents, that’s not when my bridge career started. Sniffing my nose up at that gift, I buried it deep in a desk drawer.

During the summer after my sophomore year, I attended a National Science Foundation program for high school students at the University of Notre Dame. Spare time activities there included chess (which I knew how to play) and bridge (which I certainly didn’t).

Upon returning home, I dug into my desk drawer and retrieved Autobridge. Carefully following its steps, I learned the basics of bridge. To raise my game to a higher level, I also completely read Goren’s massive book Bridge Complete which my parents possessed.

Now ready to conquer the bridge world, I joined some family members for a few hours of bridge. Not only did I fail to conquer, but my uncle (correctly) told me that I should go back and reread the book. With my tail between my legs, I did so.

I don’t recall the details of later games with family members, but I think I kept from embarrassing myself too much the following two summers at other NSF programs (Of course, my fellow students didn’t play as well as my family members).

It was at college that I began to learn how to play at higher levels…intermediate, maybe even advanced. There were some very good players around me and I learned by playing with them and by reading additional bridge books. Some would say that I should have put the same effort into my studies.

I continued to play too much bridge in graduate school. However, after that, my game was shelved until I retired and moved to Philadelphia.

On the way to look at the condo my wife and I soon bought, my wife saw a familiar face across the street and shouted out, “Hey, did you used to live in Northern Virginia?” It was Carol Greco; she had belonged to the same Temple we did in Fairfax County. We spoke some. The next time we saw her, she gave us information about the city including Center City Bridge Club.

So, I resumed playing bridge after a 40-year hiatus.

There are many partners I could single out; I’ll mention just four local players. The late Steve Kahlstein rescued me from the vagaries of pick-up partners. Phil Greco has been my longest-standing partner. The late Stephen Vineberg might even have been more of a convention geek that I am. Lynn Condon fights valiantly, but unsuccessfully, to structure my bidding.

COVID and BBO also deserve significant credit in my reaching Gold Life Master. Without all the clear points I earned during the pandemic, I’d still be well short of Ruby Life Master

To all my partners and opponents, thanks for making bridge a great game!

May 2-6, 2022: Rehoboth Beach Regional

ACBL District 4

Daily Bulletins from the tournament:

Welcome
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Bulletins include photos from the tournament, players advancing in rank, and event winners.


FLYER
HOTEL INFO

WELCOME BULLETIN
DIRECTIONS
I/N PROGRAM
RESTAURANTS
VISITOR INFO
RESULTS


Tournament Co-Chairs
   Kim Holm and Caroline Hughes
       regional@unit190.org

Partnership Chair
   Anne Taylor
       partnerships@unit190.org


Health & Safety Guidelines for this Tournament
  – ACBL Guidelines enforced
         (current transmission rate in Sussex County is LOW)
  – Proof of Covid vaccination required


Click Here to join the District 4 mailing list to receive District 4 Tournament updates

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