Kudos to the people who keep our bridge clubs running. Rose Knutson (left) is the long time treasurer of the Stockton Unit. Ken Hillman is the director and unit president, and Debbie Dezarn (center) a director and correspondent for the District 21 newsletter. A debt of gratitude is also due to Korey Baumbach, the retired owner and director of the Oak Park Club. 

The three amigos - Mother Lode Club director Alan Hamilton, Gold Country Club director Sharon Ritchie and Sonora Bridge Club director Mike Wells. The clubs held their Christmas Party and game at Camps Restaurant in Angels Camp on Thursday December 11th. 

Sonny Bailey bought merry red Christmas scarves for everyone, and corsages for the director Sharon Ritchie and helper Sue Kroning.

• Exciting Partnership Announcement: American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) & Grouper
• American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) has teamed up with Grouper to support our members in a way like never before! This collaboration is designed to get eligible participants paid for engaging in our community, ensuring you stay healthy and connected.
• Grouper, a leader in the social fitness movement, encourages healthy living through meaningful social connections and shared experiences. Grouper makes it easier than ever to access benefits that pay for part or all of the activities that keep you active and engaged. Eligible participants age 65 and older, through their participating Medicare Advantage and Supplemental plans, can now receive a check simply for staying active.
• Here's how it works: Grouper helps you connect to social activities that match your passions. As you stay socially active and participate in qualifying in-person activities with your group, Grouper works with your health plan to support the cost of your activity. Grouper will confirm eligibility, and eligible participants will receive a check to support the cost of ACBL membership dues.
• Get ready to enjoy more fun, more friends and more unforgettable moments!
• Check Your Eligibility & Join the Fun!
• [Eligibility Check Button] HelloGrouper.com/ACBL 

Barbara Smart of Stockton is a new Gold Life Master. Congratulations!

Newer players practice their Stayman skills during a workshop run by Mike and Mary Wells at Copperopolis. Soon they will play in a newly sanctioned limited masterpoint game to be held once a month at 4 pm on Mondays. Call 209-454-1223 for more information. The mp limit is 50 but anyone is welcome to mentor a new player (but the pair cannot earn masterpoints). 
Mary will be starting a new beginners class in the new year. 

Congratulations to new Gold Life Master Mort Horn.

Sue Vogtlin is also a new Gold Life Master - congratulations too.

This must be a record for our small unit - three new Gold Life Masters in one month.

Mike Wells of Copperopolis is a new Silver Life Master. Congratulations!

Debbie Dezarn's Stockton Unit report

in the D21 Diamond in the Ruff October 2024 newsletter

Not one, not even two, but three Stockton Players recently passed the 2500 point mark to become Gold Life Masters! Congratulations to Sue Vogtlin, Barbara Smart, and Mort Horn. They are all regulars who support the Stockton and Oak Park clubs by playing three times a week.

Not to be overlooked but others have had rank advancements as well: Frank Klo became a Sectional Master but is just a few silver shy of the next rank. Michael Wells achieved Silver Life Master. We also celebrate the relative newcomers who have achieved Junior Master: Eric Daegling, Beryl Simkins, and John Oesterle.

David McGee is a former Stockton Life Master who has been away from the game for many years. He now plays in the Mountain clubs so we welcome him back to the Unit!

In a huge surprise to all the Stockton and Oak Park players, (former) Oak Park Director Korey Baumbaugh decided to “retire” from duplicate bridge and pursue other interests. Korey was a dedicated and hard working player, Director, and member of the Unit 510 Board of Directors. He sponsored the only Longest Day fundraiser (knife sharpening) in the valley clubs and taught beginner and private bridge lessons for many years prior to becoming a busy Director.

There have been increases in card fees at both valley clubs to offset the higher ACBL fees and to create an emergency fund in case the dealing machine needs to be replaced. It has been “refurbished” once and still acts up now and then and will have to be replaced eventually at a cost exceeding $5,000. Stockton Bridge Center now charges $10 and Oak Park $3 (plus membership in the Stockton Community Centers). But the good news is that the STaC games in November will not charge the players anything extra.

Wendy Buchanan has been teaching (very) beginning bridge to 24 students since September. None have dropped out yet and at least 3 are people who have never before played any card games at all. Two are current duplicate players (but rarely come) just taking the class as a refresher. The rest are mixed levels of “social bridge” who we hope will join ACBL soon.

I will close with the sad news of 3 deaths of longtime Unit 510 players who will be sorely missed. Don Stillman was a long time Director of the Mountain clubs (see the Unit 510 website for a nice article). Irmgard Owen has played for years and was very tickled to get a Golden Master certificate a few years ago. We will miss her warm and quiet demeanor and generosity. She always arrived with a cake or other German dessert in hand when playing on Thursdays. The most surprising was the sudden passing of Marilyn Minden who was the Unit 510 representative to district 21 ever since I have known her. Many long time players would recognize her as the face of the Hospitality Room at District Regionals until she gave that up about 5 years ago. She frequently bought pizza for the Stockton club games and was the first to recognize the achievements of others.

STOCKTON BRIDGE CLUB

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:30 am.

Non-Life Masters (NLM) 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 11:30 am

3rd Sunday Potluck and Unit game at 12 noon.

MOTHER LODE BRIDGE CLUB AT MURPHYS 

Murphys Diggins Club House alternate Mondays at 12:30 pm.

GOLD COUNTRY BRIDGE CLUB AT SAN ANDREAS

Alternate Wednesdays and one Monday per month.

12 noon at San Andreas Senior Center.

SONORA BRIDGE CLUB

 Every Friday at the Sonora Senior Center at 11:30 am.

HWY 49ers BBO CLUB

Online at 1:00 pm alternate Wednesdays.

Call 209-768-2936 for more information on the foothill bridge clubs.  

For a full schedule of all the foothill games, click below.

Master2024Dates1.pdf

♥  There's lots to see! For your game results click on the date in the green boxed heading under RESULTS on the TOP RIGHT of the screen. Now you should see a list of players and their percentages. Click on your name for a list of your personal scores. Scroll down to the end to see if you were a better declarer than your partner!

   On the right you can see some [PLAY] tabs. Click on one, select the BBO tab, and now you can 1) Replay the hand as you did at the table [NEXT], 2) Replay the hand as you wish you had at the table [PLAY], 3) Let GIB – the super-robot – replay the hand as you should have done at the table [GIB]. Cool stuff!