ACBL Unit 249

 Unit 249 Survey Report 

The Unit 249 board surveyed clubs within Unit 249 during the winter of 2024. This survey intended to identify best practices and potential weaknesses with bridge clubs within the unit. The Unit 249 board received comments from most clubs and identified several areas where the unit believes it can assist bridge clubs to increase member attendance.

A Club Survey Report was prepared and distributed to club managers in July. A copy of the Club Survey Report can be found HERE.

The Unit 249 board subsequently identified areas that it believes can assist clubs within the unit and then developed a series of strategic goals and work plans to meet these strategic goals. 

Unit 249 Strategic Goals

Goal 1 – The Unit will improve communications with each club to assist with ACBL needs, marketing, and educational activities.

a.       The Board will divide our clubs into 4 groups of 4 – 5 clubs by geography.

b.       2 – 3 Board members will work together to maintain personal quarterly contact with clubs within their group

c.       a report form will be designed and used to form the basis for regular contact with their clubs.

d.       Quarterly reports will be made to the Unit Board about club response.

e.       information of value to members will be transmitted by Pianola notification to individuals in the Unit.

f.        The board will assist clubs in maintaining their members' ACBL memberships by contacting lapsed ACBL members within the Unit.

Goal 2 – The Unit will facilitate educational activities within clubs.

a.       A Sub Committee of Board and Unit members will be established

b.       The subcommittee’s role will be:

1.       gather information on educational activity among clubs in the Unit.

2.       gather info on lessons available through clubs and ACBL.

3.       report to the Board on activities and opportunities across the Unit.

c.       increase educational activities by 10% each year as measured by teaching hours.

Goal 3 – The Unit will determine the needs of clubs to advertise the games and lessons.

a.       a Marketing Subcommittee of the Board and members will be established.

b.       The Subcommittee will identify advertising opportunities for the Unit and advise the Board of potential marketing opportunities.

c.       The Unit will communicate educational and tournament opportunities to all Unit 249 members. 

Goal 4 The Unit will investigate the opportunities for online games for all clubs in the Unit.

a.       The Unit will gather data on the evening online games run by clubs within the Unit.

b.       The unit will investigate the possibility of offering evening online games for members across the Unit considering sanctions, technology, and revenue sharing.

c.       A small group within the Unit will advertise, direct, and manage 2 – 4 evening games.

Goal 5 The Unit will sponsor Sectional and Regional tournaments available to all clubs in the Unit.

a.       The Unit will move toward offering nine Sectional and local sectional tournaments across the Unit for the members to access silver points, at a breakeven cost.

b.       The Unit must strive to provide tournaments near each club in the Unit.