Chairman’s Corner

No.2, April, 2005

It’s been an eventful couple of months, with significant progress made on several fronts. Firstly, the Association’s accounting procedures have been reviewed by Michael Phillips who very kindly volunteered his services. His report identified a number of areas, relating primarily to the structure of the accounts and our operating procedures, where we not only can but need to do better.

Council has moved swiftly to address these anomalies by upgrading to the latest version of QuickBooks, organising formal training on the product for our office staff, and establishing a working party under the direction of the Treasurer, Mike Hughes, to overhaul the accounts completely. The objectives of this exercise are threefold: (1) to bring the accounts in-house, which will save us some money; (2) to achieve greater transparency by giving us the option to report along multiple lines (eg Club, State, ANC, Sydney Festival, etc); and (3) to streamline office functions and increase efficiency.

In regard to the last point, Council has resolved to purchase two new computers, sign-up for a broadband internet service, install a WiFi network, and implement proper commercial-grade security and backup regimes. The current Dealing and Director’s computers will be phased out, though one may be retained to provide players with (free) Internet access. For a relatively modest outlay of under $5,000, we will actually achieve a reduction in our monthly internet charges and will be far better placed to host the ANC and other major events where BBO broadcasting facilities are now pretty much de rigueur.

The playoffs to select this year’s Australian Open and Women’s teams were held at the NSWBA in March. Bruce Neill and his team did a great job of sprucing up the premises and, with Ben Chosid looking after the catering, there was no risk of a shortage of food. Councillors were on hand at every session to welcome players and promptly attend to any problems that might crop up. None did in the sessions that I attended so most of the time was spent picking up scrunched up bidding slips and uneaten sandwiches. Consequently, I was somewhat dismayed to see Phil Markey having a go at our premises in the April 2005 issue of Australian Bridge, without acknowledging any of the effort that went into hosting the event. After all the choice of venue is entirely a matter for the ABF and presumably involves a trade-off between the level of entry fees charged and the sumptuousness of the accommodation. The NSWBA for its part provides this service to the Bridge playing elite at a modest loss and, more importantly, at considerable inconvenience to our regular members whose sessions are displaced. Wouldn’t it be nice if those critical of the NSWBA were gracious enough to recognise this.

Anyhow enough of that, at unfavourable vulnerability I am holding

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and RHO opens 4S …

Alex Yezerski