Dear Indianapolis Bridge Center (IBC) Members:
Thanks to all of you who voted for the IBC Board candidates and to those who attended the annual meeting. Linda Cronkleton, Nick Curott, Joyce Pepple, Joe Shierling and Brenda Smith have been elected to serve beginning January 1, 2025. We emailed an annual meeting report that I hope you opened and read it. The board then met on November 11 and the main agenda item was review of the Finance Committee’s proposed balanced budget for 2025. It will be voted upon at our December board meeting. The approved budget will be posted on bulletin boards at IBC and emailed to you.
Congratulations to the October Novice of the Month (NOM), Ghaith Mahafzah, and Bev Brown, the Player of the Month (POM). Due to a very full schedule of specials games and parties, celebration of their achievements will be in January.
Joyce Pepple emails weekly updates. Please take a few minutes to read them. Watch for these and please participate:
1. Club Championships on November 26 and 27. If you aren’t sure what these are, visit the website and Ask Bridgette. Click here to submit a question to Bridgette.
2. CIBA Sectional at IBC on November 22, 23, and 24.
3. Celebration of Marcia Fidler’s Diamond Life Master and Marcia and Glen’s 50th wedding anniversary on Monday, November 25, at 10:00 a.m.
It’s that time of year: please pay your $50 annual membership fee before December 31. We already have 60+ and 20 of those are new members. Annual membership dues are a critical part of our business plan to maintain operations. IBC’s five-year business plan’s four priority goals:
1. 400 paid, annual members;
2. 1600 paid players in F2F games per month;
3. 40 new members annually – and we are meeting that with the help of IBF and our free summer classes; and,
4. Operating Reserve (contingency) sufficient to “stay open” for nine to twelve months during an emergency.
Don’t Forget (please):
1. Use the recycling bins in the back hallway.
2. Wear your name tags.
3. Bring a new unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots Drive or give cash donations to Charlene Lutz or Sharon Austin. The drop box is in the front room at IBC.
Life is a roller coaster with ups and downs and that is certainly true for our IBC “family.” This past month we celebrated the 90th birthday of past board president, Tom Haines. Members gathered for a congratulations and best wishes game as Heather Harmeyer leaves us, moving to St. Louis and planning her wedding! There was also sad news last week with the passing of John Kilgard. Our sincerest sympathies to his wife. Pam, and their family.
As always, thank you for all you do and give!
Andie Marshall
IBC Board President