September 2020 - 9

A Message
from the President
The American Contract
Bridge League
President
Georgia Heth
Chair, Board of Directors
Suzi Subeck
Executive Director
Joe Jones
Chair, Board of Governors
Richard Popper

Board of Directors
District 1 * Leo Weniger
District 2 * Paul Janicki
District 3 * Carlos Muñoz
District 4 * Joann Glasson
District 5 * Brian Ellis
District 6 * Margot Hennings
District 7 * Mike Kovacich
District 8 * Georgia Heth
District 9 * Jeff Overby
District 10 * Ned Irving
District 11 * A.J. Stephani
District 12 * Dennis Carman
District 13 * Suzi Subeck
District 14 * Sharon Anderson
District 15 * Warren Smith
District 16 * Paul Cuneo
District 17 * Cindy Shoemaker
District 18 * David Johnson
District 19 * Julie Smith
District 20 * Laurie Rowe
District 21 * Jacqueline Zayac
District 22 * David Lodge
District 23 * Kevin Lane
District 24 * David Moss
District 25 * Bob Bertoni
To contact a district director,
visit acbl.org/boardofdirectors.

BY GEORGIA HETH

It makes me sad when people tell me they won't play
online because people cheat there. They are missing out
on a great playing opportunity. It is true that cheating does
occur online. However, cheating also occurs in face-to-face
bridge. We are doing our best to eradicate both. Many of
you will have read the accounts on Bridge Winners from
two world-class players who have admitted to online
cheating. Many more cases have been processed without
publicity. While I don't know the details of cases, additional staff have been assigned to the system and they are busy.
If you see actions online that appear suspicious, please
complete the report forms on BBO or file an ACBL Player
Memo. Everyone needs to understand that online cheating is just as serious as faceto-face cheating and that neither is tolerated in our game.
The Board of Directors is considering a motion in September regarding sending the cases that used to be heard by the Ethical Oversight Committee to binding
arbitration instead. Top bridge players will be trained as arbitrators to serve on our
cases if the proposal is adopted.
At the July Board of Directors meeting, the board reorganization motion was approved at its second reading, and the Board of Governors also approved the plan. By
2024, there will be only 13 members of the Board. A new masterpoint calculation
passed its first reading. This method takes the strength of field into account when
determining the number of masterpoints to be awarded. While a few awards will
be less, most awards will increase, especially Gold Rush games. The committee's
research showed that Gold Rush awards were the most in need of adjustment. The
Board also voted to extend the contract of Joe Jones, our executive director, through
2024. We are pleased Joe accepted our offer.
The visitors policy for online games was changed at the end of July. Greg Coles,
director of operations and the moderator of the virtual clubs roundtable, polled
approximately 200 clubs and found that 76% of the owners thought the policy was
about right or a little too restrictive. It was decided to increase the permissible number of visitors from 5% to 15%.
While with face-to-face bridge, a member could choose to play anywhere, the accessibility of online games to anyone anywhere in the world led to the development
of the visitors policy, to protect local clubs until face-to-face bridge can resume.
However, many people wanted to play with friends at different clubs, or people
who had moved wanted to play at their old club - and there were many other valid
reasons. Like many of our responses to COVID, policies are evolving and can change
as circumstances change. We have learned from each online special event and made
changes to the next one. It is an exciting time.
Finally, I want to thank management, staff and all of the volunteers who are making the ACBL successful during this period. I know I say this every time I write here,
but they just continue to amaze me with their talent, hard work and dedication. I
believe we will come through this crisis stronger than we were before.

September 2020 Bridge Bulletin

http://www.acbl.org/boardofdirectors

September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2020