[News] Afternoon plans

Pasadena Bridge Club Logo <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> News from North Fair Oaks Mojo ABTA Master Teacher 649 N Fair Oaks Ave #201 Pasadena CA 91103 (626) 247-4457 pasadenabridgeclub.com <https://pasadenabridgeclub.com> We had a bit of an adventure this past week when our internet provider couldn't get the WiFi router back up after attempting a "factory reset." We had to do without for a few days, getting by on my phone hot spot. On Tuesday they a tech finally figured out the problem and got us back online. Meanwhile, the emails from ACBL about "glitter points" this week have proven true! All of our open games this week have been awarding 25% gold masterpoints. We have a few more games, and they've been well-attended all week. (The bigger the game, the bigger the masterpoint awards.) What's cool is that there's no extra charge for these games. :) Plans taking shape for afternoons The 3:00-5:00 PM time period is a great opportunity to open the bridge club for new players. We're formulating plans to open the club during those hours again, but with a slightly different offering. There are a lot of students of the game who would rather not attend evening classes. I gave up Saturday morning classes to offer the popular "workshop and game" on Saturday mornings. I'm considering offering a course series, perhaps on Wednesday afternoons. There is also an opportunity to host a sanctioned two-hour duplicate game limited to players under 20 masterpoints. We're considering Thursday for those. On Monday and Tuesday (and perhaps Friday) we're looking for individual "hosts" who would shepherd new player casual bridge sessions. Several host candidates have spoken up, and there should be a good pool of experienced players to draw from. Let me know what you think, and hopefully we'll have a more concrete schedule soon! Bridge Classes This Week Each week I'll post the topics for the Wednesday and Thursday classes. Anyone is welcome to join a single class for $25 without purchasing an entire course. This week's offerings are both "practice hand" sessions. They're a great opportunity to drop in and practice the class topic. This week's classes: * Wednesday, February 12, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 2 - Competitive Bidding/ "Practice Hands" * Thursday, February 13, 7:00 PM /Bridge Basics 4 - Play of the Deal/ "Practice Hands" Our *next two courses are in a bit of flux*. I just learned that the textbook for "Opening the Bidding" is out of print and no longer available. And I need to offer a "Popular Conventions" course. I'll be updating the schedule for new courses later this week. The next /Bridge Basics 1 - Introduction/ class starts Thursday, April 3. It's open for registration at this link <https://pasadena.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&int_class_id=68489&int_category_id=0&int_sub_category_id=0&int_catalog_id=0>. If you get the PCC Extension catalog in your mailbox, you'll find our class listed! *Save the date* for our next *Robert Todd* seminar: Sunday, March 30, all day. Help support wild fire victims Our great friend of the club Jonathan Penzner has been volunteering tirelessly with a worthy organization, the Pasadena Community Labor Center. They have been providing food, water, medical supplies, hygienic products, and other necessities to people affected by the wild fires. They're accepting monetary donations at their web site https://secure.actblue.com/donate/lafires2025 and also accept in-kind donations of things such as trash bags, toilet paper, first-aid supplies, and diapers. (Clothing is not required.) The job center is very close to the bridge club at 500 North Lake Ave. Coming up ... Zachary, Jane and I are looking at ways to spruce up the "hospitality room" to make it more inviting, and have a lot more storage. It's not really a back room, and needs to mesh better with the rest of the club. (Plus we need more storage space!) Best regards, Mojo, Jane, Zachary