News, Upcoming Special Games & Events

Date	Time	Event
All Dates		Wireless Scoring We are trying wireless scoring on approval from the company Bridgemate for the next month or so. Since Sunday 12/27 we have used it with excellent results. No waiting for scores to be entered, and so far, no errors. Come down and give it a try.
Thursdays 2/4-3/25	10:00-noon	Beginning Bridge Lessons Eight weeks of lessons followed by supervised play. Teacher: Doug Frost. Call him at 651-429-6209 with questions or to sign up. Cost $45
Mondays 2/8-3/29	2:00-4:00pm	Intermediate/Defense Bridge Lessons Eight weeks of 1 hour lessons followed by 1 hour of supervised play. Teacher: Marlene Stronge. Call her at 651-482-9714 with questions or to sign up. Cost $45
Tuesday 2/9	10:00am	Club Championship
Monday 2/15	10:00am	Unit 103 Championship $7
Wednesday 2/17	10:00am	Club Championship
Monday 2/22	10:00am	ACBL Wide Senior Pairs This annual pairs event is for only those over 55.
Sunday 2/28	5:30pm	GNT Qualifier ($7.50) This is our second to last qualifier for open teams for the Grand National Teams.
Wednesday 3/4	6:00pm Mini Lesson 6:30pm Team Game	GNT 299er Qualifier (no extra charge) Grand National Teams are a fun addition to your bridge life. They allow four people to compete for our district at a National tournament. This is the second novice qualifier for the year, we will have one more on 5/4. Come as pairs or teams, we'll match up pairs.

Organization
Manager: Marlene Gipson
Asst. Manager: Kim Hayward
Board of Directors (8/09-7/10):
Peter Solberg, president
Mary Meinecke, vice president
Nan Gabriel, secretary
Shu-mei Hwang, board member
Mary McIntyre, board member

Brief History & Mission
     Dick Baker began the St. Paul Bridge center and held games in various locations including Stillwater, Hastings, 3M, Century College and more. He would drag the boards and bridge supplies, coffee pot, and cups. Soon he sought a permanent location, however, he needed financial support and found doners in Bob Lakken, Bob Steinfeld, Dean & Mary Ann Cook, Marlene Kasmirski-Stronge, and Linda Delzell. With this funding, he bought tables and chairs that are still used. He rented the space at English & Hwy 36, designed the layout: office, cloakroom, kitchen, bathrooms, and smoker (back in the days when smoking indoors was still allowed).
     Dick did the directing, teaching, and preparing lunches and dinners with the help of volunteers.
When Dick had bad times, he always said Bridge cured him. He died in 1996, but the club continued. In the late 1990s the club incorporated and became a federally recognized not-for-profit organization, with the new name Bridge Center of St. Paul. The club is governed by an elected Board of Directors and promotes and offers Duplicate Bridge instruction, games for all levels (9-10 games per week), and tournaments in a friendly club atmosphere in the East Metro area.