Newsletter - 1 January 2021

From the President:

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

Just a couple of brief reminders please remember that the kitchen is not open before play and to maintain social distancing both within the Club rooms and outside whilst waiting to enter the Club.

Please enjoy your bridge and remember to introduce yourself and your partner to the opposition.

All the best,

Margaret

Do you have a Card Table available to lend us?

If you have a small card table (good condition, no cloth covering) not being used, and you would be willing to lend it to the Club, please contact Liz Van Der Hor.

If lending to us, please put a tag or label on your table to make sure we all know who it will be returned to when no longer required. If you need help with this, please let us know and we can arrange a paper tag to tie to it.

With our registration of the Check-In CBR App we are allowed more players in our rooms, and we are hoping that as people return to playing Bridge in 2021 we will be able to add a few more tables to the room to allow for larger groups. Tables will remain in the 3-table setup, to comply with 1.5 meter distancing requirements.

RealBridge Online Platform Trial on Wednesday Evenings

The trial and survey of RealBridge on Wednesday Evenings has concluded. 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 Wednesday Evenings 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.

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.

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 4 January:

• Monday morning 10:00am                                                     Bruce Crossman
• 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)                          Jodi Tutty
• Friday afternoon 1:15pm                                                        Sally Barber

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. 
• 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                           Bruce Crossman
• 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 John Donovan

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. 

The Australian National Championships

In discussion with the ABF, NSWBA and BAWA have agreed to swap the hosting of the Australian National Championships 2021 and 2023. The 2021 Australian National Championships will now be held at the Perth Convention Centre, Western Australia from 10th to 22nd July. The championships will include State representatives in Open, Youth, Women’s and Senior categories and the Butler. The Swan River Swiss Pairs will also be incorporated into the programme. A comprehensive programme will be circulated early in 2021.

The Tournament Organiser for the ANC on behalf of BAWA is Robina McConnell.

Results

December Eclectics

• Monday Morning: Trevor Berenger & Ian Dalziell
• Monday Evening: Annabelle Boag & Jeanette McCorriston
• Tuesday Afternoon: Anne Jensen & Jon Pike
• Wednesday Morning: Bruce Crossman & Niek Van Vucht
• Thursday Morning - Blue MP: Maxine Anderson & Margaret Fanning
• Thursday Morning - Red IMP: Bernard Waters & Stephen Mendick
• Friday Afternoon: Vic Meakins & Maria Meakins

Lighter Moments - New Years

What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar on New Year’s Eve?
He got twelve months.

May your troubles last as long as your New Year Resolutions!