Western Conference

The Western Conference

By Ken Monzingo
Contract Bridge Forum Publisher

We have finished the Great Western Holiday STAC. Betty Bratcher, STAC director, reports the tournament was up an amazing 500 tables over last year. With 8300 tables this year and 7800 last year, the sky seems to be the limit for this December STAC played in local clubs. Next up: Great Western Spring STAC, May 8-14, 2006.

The Western Conference Board met January 4 in Monterey, California during the very successful District 21 Clambake Regional. As publisher of the Forum, I spent the entire meeting with them as many highly important issues were on the table. The current three districts in the Conference - District 17, District 21, and District 22 - still represent most of the West excluding Los Angeles and Oregon and have a total household membership over 19,000, down only 3000 since the departed District 20 was very small.

I was impressed with the camaraderie and willingness of this board to face each and every pressing issue with a professional attitude and a genuine caring for each other’s district as well as their own. We are truly blessed with an amazing group and I’m sure the recent booming successes of our tournaments and STACs has a lot to do with the loyalty of these members.

I'm also impressed with their united support of our conference vehicle, the Contract Bridge Forum of which I'm approaching a quarter century as publisher. In that time I’ve never seen a better board, nor can imagine one - unit, district or conference.

The current 2006 Western Conference Board members are:

	John Van Ness, Aspen, Colorado of District 17, is the current Western Conference president. John is an attorney and also current president of District 17. I’ve been vocal in anointing John the strongest man in the conference after years of observing him constantly watching over his own district and ours. His columns in the D17 edition of the Forum ("Rocky Mountain Hi!") can be read on line and at ContractBridgeForum.com are always outstanding insights into our tournaments, our membership and our Western Conference bridge atmosphere.
	Jerry Fleming, Los Alamos, New Mexico of District 17 is the D17 District Director and currently treasurer of the ACBL. Jerry has been very influential in holding the line on many issues of importance to survival of the conference. Like John, he’s a strong supporter of the Forum and a great asset to his district, the conference, and now the league. You can also read Jerry’s insightful columns on line at ContractBridgeForum.com
	Roger Smith, Sacramento, California of District 21, as well as District Director, is the past ACBL president, and current ACBL Chairman of the Board. Roger is the only Western Conference board member that dates back to the very early eighties like I do. We’ve been friends and I’ve admired his loyal support for his district and the conference. Now he has the same support nationally from the league.
	Marion Robertson, San Francisco, California of District 21 is the newly elected representative replacing Bill McIntosh who's term has just ended. During Bill’s tenure we’ve made great strides in increased attendance at all conference functions - regionals and STACs. Bill had always gone the extra mile to do whatever it takes to keep the successes coming. His support of the Forum and firm stance against the attempts to undermine it have been critical to me. Marion is welcomed addition to the board and I'm sure will continue the tradition from the very successful District 21. Marion is a former president of D21, and a chairman of the upcoming 2007 San Francisco NABC.
	Jim Kirkham, of San Bernardino, California, District 22 is a man of leadership qualities rarely seen. Jim has been president of the ACBL, president of District 22, president of the Western Conference, chairman of the ACBL board and a plethora of other titles including the WBF. I’ve known Jim for almost 40 years and seen him grow from a “high-moving, on-a-roll” leader to a caring, insightful contributor in all facets of the game. His courage in league politics of saying what he means, and doing what he says has been a bright light in a sometimes dark alley. Jim also carries a big stick in opposing those who would undermine our successes. Jim is chairman of the upcoming 2009 San Diego NABC.
	Gayle Andrews, Stanton, California is one of D22's hardest working members. Gayle took on the task of chairing the Costa Mesa Regional (along with co-chair Hal Binder) and set a terrific precedent in attendance and profits. The Los Angeles area has long since been on a decline in tournament attendance, but Gayle and Hal have set a new path to success. Gayle is also treasurer of District 22. She is very active on the D22 tournament committee. In her spare time she operates her own company and finds time to make the McKenney list in bridge! You can read some of her insightful columns on the D22 web page at www.ACBLDistrict22.com

So there are the four men and two women who represent the Western Conference. Like I said, an amazing group of talent and dedication. Add to the formula Tom Shulman of Las Vegas, our treasurer extraordinaire, plus my very dedicated Forum employees Leticia Magana and Sergio Mendivil and our three district editors, Joel Hoersch, Rich Luttrell and Jared Johnson and you can see we are in good hands with all states.

I am impressed.