I managed to miss the NABC in Chicago, a national so close I would not have even had to cross a state line to reach it! My husband’s family held a family reunion in Birmingham , Alabama the same week as the NABC, and one week before the Birmingham Regional started. What ghastly timing! I was quietly gnashing my teeth as I did my family “duty” and attended. It was a ‘sacrifice’ for a player who thinks nothing of ditching family Thanksgivings to attend NABCs! My husband didn’t flinch because our new 6-month-old-grandson was in Birmingham for him to play with and cuddle. He also spent a lot of time in the swimming pool, buddying around with our four-year-old grandson, so he was bridgeless but content.

Unit Board elections

We arrived back home in time to attend Ruby Nelson’s wonderful sectional in Edwardsville on the weekend of July 28-30. The Unit Board met concurrent with the tournament, and I thought you might like to know who your Unit Officials and Officers will be for 2006 – 2007:

Ray Sigler, Trenton – Unit President
Ruby Nelson, Edwardsville – Vice-President
Karen Coe, Ewing – 2nd Vice-President & Secretary-Treasurer
Doug Edwards, Hardin KY – Business Manager
Joan Musgrave, Oblong -- Recorder
Jay Coleman, Hutsonville – Tournament Coordinator
Mike Ritchie, Teutopolis – Charity Chairman & Disciplinary Chairman
Dean Stow, Paducah KY – Publicity Chairman
Villa Aschenbrenner, Ledbetter KY – Hospitality Chairman
Col. Chris Shaw, Carlinville – Unit Education Liaison

Board Members recently elected to serve on the Unit Board are:

Dean Stow, Paducah KY
Dalton Darnell, Murray KY
Ruby Nelson, Edwardsville
Karen Coe, Ewing
Jay Coleman, Hutsonville
Mike Ritchie, Teutopolis

Continuing on the Board are:

Doug Edwards, Hardin KY
Dr. Wal Wallis, Carbondale
Joan Musgrave, Oblong
Pat Rezabeck, Effingham
and, of course, our president, Ray Sigler, Trenton

The Board bids farewell -- with many thanks for his service to the Board -- to Tom Wynn of Paducah KY, who has completed his term of office, but continues volunteer service to the Unit.

Advancements in rank  

Congratulations to these Unit 223 Players who have advanced in rank:

New Junior Masters: Bob & Linda Biarkis, Glen Carbon & Eric Bizzell, Altamont

New Club Master: Shirley Heuerman, Effingham

New NABC Masters: Bill Lentz, Paducah;  Michael Ritchie, Teutopolis;  Raymond Ford, Highland

New Life Masters: Robert (Bob) Johnson, Godfrey & Nancy McQuigg, Kuttawa KY

New Bronze LMs: Bill Amason, Centralia; Dr. Virgil Holdeman, Highland;  Ben Englert, Edwardsville; Glenda Piek, Edwardsville; Nancy McQuigg, Kuttawa KY

New Silver LMs:  Dr. John Coe, Ewing; Charles Keltner, Highland; Sandy Linn, Paducah

Unit 223 Sectionals

The Irvin Cobb Sectional will be held at Robert Cherry Center in Paducah KY on Sept. 1-3. Contact person for this tournament is Jim Kallaher -- (270) 444-6882 or jkallaher@bellsouth.net. A tournament schedule is available at www.acbl.org and in this issue of the Advocate. Kentucky tournaments are always notable for fine hospitality, so make plans now to attend!

Other upcoming Unit 223 Sectionals are:

Southeastern Illinois Sectional Bridge Tournament, Robinson, October 28-29 at the Robinson Community Center . Contact person is Jay Coleman -- (618) 563-9927 or fanklincoleman@hotmail.com

A new sectional, the Bill Harrison Memorial Sectional, will be held December 8-10 in Belleville/Swansea . Tournament chairs are Ray Sigler -- (618) 624 6060 -- and Carol Warner -- (618) 632-9652.

The Saluki Swiss Sectional will be held again this year in Mt. Vernon at the Holiday Inn on Jan 27-28. Tournament chair is Karen Coe -- (618) 435-4200 or karenann4200@yahoo.com