Thank you so much, Carol Gerlach and Richard Katz.  They were the tournament chairpersons, and the tournament was so well run.  The Unit 351 Board knows just what to do to provide its members with the best.  We had lunches, lectures, timely events.  If you have ever considered what it takes to plan, set up, and take down, get the items and stuff the yellow bags for thousands of us (which was done at Carol's house), and run one of these tournaments, you will really appreciate the hard work the Board does for us and they give an amazing amount of their time.  Dale was arranging getting the extra tables and chairs loaded up on his truck and delivered to the tournament site two days prior.  Joyce was getting ready for the Daily Bulletins.  There are countless other tasks prior to a tournament that are just too numerous to mention and many I have not even thought of.  I do know that it all starts out as a date, a time, a place, and that's all.  The tournament personality is work that the Board is devoted to creating.  Thank you!  You have a great personality. What would we do without you.  Their names are listed on the Results and Links page toward the end of the page.

The Hospitality Suite was a huge success and offered free soft drinks, coffee and wine, along with deserts, delicious dips, even meals.  It was the best Hospitality Suite I have ever seen at a tournament and was in a lovely location in a large room with tables and chairs set up inside and just outside the sliding glass doors. It is this kind of hospitality and fun that spreads throughout ACBL-land and increases attendance.  It is one of the ways "Gatlinberg" became so famous.  Theresa Olson was responsible for organizing it, and our famous Unit 351 chef, Charlotte Katz, was there for the Unit as always.  It is also my understanding that the delicious "dip" that Carol Gerlach made took her 5.5 hours to prepare.  Yum, it was good.  Thank you. 

When the unexpected occurred in the "Pavillion," on Sunday, with the air-conditioner freezing up, Richard Katz was right there with the best solution he could come up with.  He had huge buckets of ice, and wash cloths delivered from the hotel to help keep us cool.  Great thinking on your feet in a "small but significant, "crisis", Richard.  You did a great job!  :}} 

At the end of the tournament when most of us have gone back home feeling exhausted from all the activity and fun we had, there are about ten or so people remaining.  The Board president, Dave Zapatka, Jo Ann, his wife, Richard and Charlotte, Carmen, Mayre, Dale, the caddies, the directors and whomever else decides to pitch in!  They are returning the hotel to its prior state before we came and as you know, that is quite a job.  What a great Board we have!  Thank you!  You went above and beyond and it showed.


LINKS

The Ace of Clubs proudly announces that Alice Pierce will be our Wednesday and Saturday afternoon director beginning March 26, 2008.  Come meet her!  A picture of Alice (click)