[TimG]

Elianna, on Jun 26 2008, 02:24 PM, said:

In Los Angeles (D25) some clubs have gotten around this by:

1) A separate game (in addition to the normal club game) for NAP qualifying.

D25 is New England.

The person who directs the club game closest to my house sometimes call me in to play with him so they don't have a 2 1/2 table game with a 5 board sit out. Splitting this game into a regular and NAP game would prove difficult. This is particularly small, but the average club game in Maine is below 10 tables.

[Elianna]

I meant 23

[barmar]

Our club doesn't charge extra for the qualifying games. Basically, every game in June and July that isn't some other special game is a NAP qualifier, I think.

[mycroft]

Well, if there are three clubs in all of Maine, and they average 5 tables, I can see the point.

If nobody wants to qualify, don't hold the games. If they do, they need to be as vocal as the squeaky wheels that don't want to pay the extra 1.50.

People who "don't want to travel to the District Finals" get no sympathy from me - our District final is 600 miles away from me, and for the rest of the likely lads, it's 800 - 1000. Yes, the District Qualifier game is near the geographical centre of our district; but 90% of the likely players are from SA part of WASUMI. Yes, 600 miles out here isn't as long a trip as 600 miles on the Eastern Seaboard, but still, No Sympathy.

[mycroft]

And just in case that all sounded to cynical and downbeat, I strongly recommend people play in NAP and GNT - especially new ACBL players that qualify for flight C. The "run to qualify" is a new experience for most, and an amazing and addictive one; and if that's the way to actually decide to go to a NABC, well, that's also an experience.

Not everybody is going to make it deep into the Spingold; but most have a good chance at making it to the finals of the District GNT flight B.

[jtfanclub]

mycroft, on Jun 27 2008, 11:22 AM, said:

And just in case that all sounded to cynical and downbeat, I strongly recommend people play in NAP and GNT - especially new ACBL players that qualify for flight C. The "run to qualify" is a new experience for most, and an amazing and addictive one; and if that's the way to actually decide to go to a NABC, well, that's also an experience.

$$$$$$$

First place in the region is $1400 for expenses at Nationals, $700 per partner. Unless you're Bill Gates, that's qualifies as Real Money, and can be the difference between going to Nationals and being able to afford it.

[TimG]

mycroft, on Jun 27 2008, 11:20 AM, said:

People who "don't want to travel to the District Finals" get no sympathy from me - our District final is 600 miles away from me, and for the rest of the likely lads, it's 800 - 1000.

They aren't looking for sympathy. They just don't go. I don't think they are upset about it.

If it was in their backyard, they might play. But, I think most players have some limit on how many times per year they will travel to a bridge event that would require an overnight stay. And, people from Maine who do travel to play bridge choose to attend regionals (or NABCs) rather than the GNT/NAP.

By the way, in 2004 an average of 26 players from Maine attended each regular New England regional and made up 4% of the entries bought by District 25 members. We really are dealing with small numbers.

Regarding travel distances, yes, things are usually much closer on the east coast. But, I live outside Portland, Maine. I can drive about 6 hours south and be in Manhattan (if I don't get stuck in traffic along the way); I can drive about 6 hours north and still not reach the northernmost point in Maine (where I am more likely to hit a moose than get caught in traffic). There are players in Maine who cannot practically travel to a bridge tournament and play a two-session event the same day or play an event and then drive home afterwards. Once you get to the point where you have to allow for a travel day before and after a regional, I don't imagine it really matters whether you are 400 or 700 miles away, you either commit a day to travel or you don't go.

But, most players in New England are fortunate to be within commuting distance to at least one regional a year and are seldom faced with the problem of having to allow for travel days.

[JoAnneM]

I don't think that most District realize that they are also competing for a "4th pair qualifying" berth in each flight that will also win the $1,400 stipend, and this is based on totals tables at the club level (a weighted ratio to flight members), so even the smaller Districts have a chance to win.

I have found during my experience with bridge administration that having a NAOP and GNT Coordinator with a mindset toward marketing and sales will do great things for the program. Left to the devices of the clubs and Units the program will languish, but under the direction of a "ball of energy", players quickly become more interested and start asking when and where the games will be held.

[TimG]

JoAnneM, on Jun 29 2008, 02:27 PM, said:

I don't think that most District realize that they are also competing for a "4th pair qualifying" berth in each flight that will also win the $1,400 stipend, and this is based on totals tables at the club level (a weighted ratio to flight members), so even the smaller Districts have a chance to win.

Isn't it the case the 1st place gets the airfare and hotel stipend, 2nd place gets one or the other and 3rd place gets invited to participate at their own expense?

Yes, there is a District that is awarded a 4th participant based upon some attendance percentage, but are they really given the full stipend?

The ACBL covers the NAP prizes (with the increased club sanction fees), but the Districts are responsible for the GNT prizes and they vary quite a bit from District to District.

[JoAnneM]

ACBL changed the NAP stipends two years ago to cash instead of plane fare and hotel because it is easier for both sides.

I apologize for not referencing my information, which I usually do: this is from the ACBL site:

1. In districts with three qualifiers, the 1st place qualifiers will receive $700 per person and the 2nd place qualifiers will receive $300 per person. The 3rd place qualifiers will be invited to participate in the national level finals, but will not receive any prize.
2. In districts with four qualifiers, the 1st and 2nd place qualifiers will receive $700 per person and the 3rd place qualifiers will receive $300 per person. The 4th place qualifiers will be invited to participate in the national level finals, but will not receive any prize.
3. Invited defenders will receive $700 per person.
4. No individual may collect two concurrent prizes.


In my District (20) we used to give two days of playing fees to the 3rd place finishers but ACBL no longer charges playing fees for these events, which is another nice bonus for the winners.

For the GNT we give $1,800 per flight unless the NABC is right on the west coast in which case the stipend is $1,350.

Jo Anne
President D20

[TimG]

I thought they had changed to a fixed rate rather than air fare and hotel room, but the end result is pretty close.

I am pleasantly surprised that the bonus 4th place participants get an extra full stipend for the district.

Quote

For the GNT we give $1,800 per flight unless the NABC is right on the west coast in which case the stipend is $1,350.

In District 25, an extra dollar per person per session is collected for KO events and the money goes into the GNT pool. The four teams that represent the district each receive an equal share. So, it varies from year to year. And, from what I can recall, it is generally a bit less than the $1800 provided by your district.

Tim
(former D25 President)

[rbforster]

Thanks to everyone for pointing me in the right direction. Despite a session of fairly poor play and bad luck yesterday, me and my partner qualified for the District finals having somehow tied for 2nd/3rd our direction with ~55%. So far, so good .