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Notices w/c 18 December 2021

  • Just a reminder that you must have a vaccination pass in order to play. Please show Megan or a playing committee member if yours hasn’t been sighted yet. Mask wearing remains recommended. Scanning in, using the QR code is compulsory and please observe the usual hygiene arrangements.
  • Just a reminder the annual subscription for 2022 is due by 1 January.
  • The office will be closed from Wednesday 22 December 2021. Bridge commences Monday 10 January 2022. Have a fabulous Christmas and a relaxing holiday. See you in January.

Notices w/c 06 December 2021

  • As of Friday 3 December we are in “orange” in the new traffic light system. This means that you must have a vaccination passport in order to play. Please show Megan or a playing committee member if yours hasn’t been sighted yet. Mask wearing remains recommended. Scanning in using the QR code is compulsory and please observe the usual hygiene arrangements.
  • Just a reminder the annual subscription for 2022 is due by 1 January.
  • The final Saturday revision for the year is on this Saturday 11 December at 10:30am in the playing room.

Notices w/c 29 November 2021

  • Last Monday the Prime Minister announced that the rest of New Zealand would be included in the traffic light system when Auckland shifts into ‘red’ on Friday 3 December. This means that we will have to bring forward the timing of our own requirements for entry to play bridge at our club to Friday 3 December. The main things we need to observe are:
    1. Only fully vaccinated players can play bridge at our club from (and including) this Friday 3 December.
    2. If you are unvaccinated after 3 December, you will be unable to attend playing sessions, regardless of wearing a mask.
    3. Proof of vaccination is to be provided to Megan by then – this is an earlier date than before. If you have any technical issues in obtaining a certificate please let Megan know asap. She may be able to help.
    4. Until 3 December, all players and the Director must wear a mask. Prior to that date, if you are unable to wear a mask, an official mask wearing exemption must be obtained from a qualified person such as your doctor and shown to Megan. These will only be accepted from vaccinated members, so make sure proof of vaccination has also been provided.
    5. Until 3 December, the current practice of no tea breaks is to continue. Tea, coffee, water and biscuits are to be consumed away from the playing tables. This is best done when you are at a phantom table, dummy or during some other long gap. You must keep an eye on the play in the room in order to get back in time for the next board/ move.
    6. From 3 December, with the mandate in force, when our region is in codes green or orange the club will have no limits on gatherings or close contact including socialising at tea breaks. Mask wearing will not be compulsory but is highly encouraged, especially when indoors.
  • Your 2022 programme book and invoice is available for collection in the foyer.
  • The Improver lessons are coming to an end. Vil is offering one final lesson next Monday 6 December. This lesson will be a recap on basic bidding theory aimed at newer players. There is no charge for this lesson and all members are welcome.
  • Saturday revision is on this Saturday 4 December at 10:30am in the playing room.

Notices w/c 22 November 2021

  • On Monday afternoon, the Prime Minister announced that the rest of New Zealand would be included in the traffic light system when Auckland shifts into ‘red’ on Friday 3 December. This means that we will have to bring forward the timing of our own requirements for entry to play bridge at our club to Friday 3 December. The main things we need to observe are:
    1. Only fully vaccinated players can play bridge at our club from (and including) Friday 3 December.
    2. If you are unvaccinated after 3 December, you will be unable to attend playing sessions, regardless of wearing a mask.
    3. Proof of vaccination is to be provided to Megan by then – this is an earlier date than before. If you have any technical issues in obtaining a certificate please let Megan know asap. She may be able to help.
    4. Until 3 December, all players and the Director must wear a mask. Prior to that date, if you are unable to wear a mask, an official mask wearing exemption must be obtained from a qualified person such as your doctor and shown to Megan. These will only be accepted from vaccinated members, so make sure proof of vaccination has also been provided.
    5. Until 3 December, the current practice of no tea breaks is to continue. Tea, coffee, water and biscuits are to be consumed away from the playing tables. This is best done when you are at a phantom table, dummy or during some other long gap. You must keep an eye on the play in the room in order to get back in time for the next board/ move.
    6. From 3 December, with the mandate in force, when our region is in codes green or orange the club will have no limits on gatherings or close contact including socialising at tea breaks. Mask wearing will not be compulsory but is highly encouraged, especially when indoors.
  • Your 2022 programme book and invoice is available for collection in the foyer.
  • NZBridge have awarded the following members with the rank of local master: Cathy Gilmour and Caryl Turner. Congratulations!
  • The Improver lessons are coming to an end. The final lesson in the series will be next Monday 29 November and will cover the topic “Ace asking and slam bidding”. Vil will be offering one additional lesson on Monday 6 December. This lesson will be a recap on basic bidding theory aimed at newer players. There is no charge for this lesson and all members are welcome.
  • Unfortunately there will be no further rounds of Interclub this year for Covid related reasons. As a result there will be no winners declared for any of the grades. However, special mention has been made of the Hutt Junior team captained by Neil Sargisson and including Jacob Pilalis and Peter and Dianna Snethlage. This team has once again been in very fine form and would have had a big carry over to any final round.
  • Saturday revision is on this Saturday 27 November at 10:30am in the playing room.

Notices w/c 15 November 2021

  • The Committee has held its final meeting for the year and some important decisions were made to help keep us all safe for the rest of the year. COVID-19 is clearly on its way south and until we are ready to implement the vaccination certificate system fully (for us from 1 January 2022 though we are gathering your information from now on), our club will have the following requirements:
    1. All players and the Director must wear a mask from next Monday 22 November.
    2. A mask wearing exemption will only be accepted if you have been vaccinated. Proof of both must be provided to the Manager during office hours by the day before the first session you wish to play at.
    3. The current practice of no tea breaks is to continue for the rest of the year. Tea, coffee and biscuits remain available, but are not to be taken to the bridge table for consumption. Please move through to the East Room to do this – the doors will be kept open. Also, please move away from the table to drink water. Special arrangements will be made for those with seating rights.
    4. There will be no end of year functions. The last session of the year for each programme will be a full round of bridge with a short break for the presentation of trophies at a time to be determined by the Playing Committees
  • Your 2022 programme book and invoice is available for collection on the table in the foyer.
  • The next Improver lesson in the series will be next Monday 22 November and will cover the topic “More on Doubles”. The lesson starts at 7pm and costs $15. All members are welcome.
  • Saturday revision is on this Saturday 20 November at 10:30am in the playing room.

Notices w/c 08 November 2021

  • Just a reminder that we will be using the Vaccination Certificate system and more details will come out about this with the 2022 programme book.
    The usual arrangements apply regarding health and safety and contact tracing. Masks are highly recommended for everybody. Until the Vaccination Certificate system is ready, unvaccinated members are currently able to come along and are expected to wear masks.
  • Saturday revision is on this Saturday 13 November at 10:30am in the playing room.
  • The Improver’s lesson next Monday 15 November will cover the topic “Defensive 2nd & 3rd Hand Play”. The cost is $15 and all members are welcome.

Notices w/c 01 November 2021

  • COVID-19: More on the new protection framework
    The Committee has decided that we will be using the Vaccination Certificate system when it is available to manage entry to our Club. Like all organisations in NZ, we do not know yet how vaccine certificates will be implemented, how the technology will work in practice or what the settings are for vaccine passports under the current alert levels or the forthcoming traffic light system. However our plans are based on vaccination certificates being in use at the Club early in the New Year. We plan to include more information on this with the 2022 programme booklets which are expected to be issued in a couple of weeks’ time. Meanwhile, our region remains in the Alert Level 2 system. The usual arrangements apply regarding health and safety and contact tracing. Masks are highly recommended for everybody. Until the Vaccination Certificate system is ready, unvaccinated members are currently able to come along but are expected to wear masks.
  • Saturday revision is on this Saturday 6 November at 10:30am in the playing room.

Notices w/c 25 October 2021

  • COVID-19: The new protection framework - VACCINES and MASKS
    The Committee has decided that we will be using the Vaccination Certificate system when it is available to manage entry to our Club. It will definitely be in force here by the beginning of next year. There will be more information on this with the 2022 programme booklets which are expected to be issued in a couple of weeks’ time. Meanwhile, our region remains in the Alert Level 2 system. The usual arrangements apply. Masks are highly recommended for everybody. Until the Vaccination Certificate system is ready, unvaccinated members are currently able to come along but must be masked.
  • Saturday revision is on this Saturday 30 October at 10:30am in the playing room.

Notices w/c 18 October 2021

  • Please keep up the contact tracing and the usual hygiene standards. There are no tea breaks during Alert Level 2. Please bring your own pen. No visitors allowed.
  • More about masks. Wearing these is highly recommended but the Committee has decided that it is a requirement at this Club for any member not vaccinated. Just do it please. There are disposable spares in the Director’s room, but you are expected to provide your own mask.
  • As it is Labour weekend coming up, there’s no revision class this Saturday 23 October and, on Labour Day next Monday 25 October, there is no afternoon bridge or Improvers’ Lesson in the evening.

Notices w/c 11 October 2021

  • It is important to remain vigilant in these uncertain times. Please keep up the contact tracing and the usual hygiene requirements. Tea, coffee and biscuits remain available but there will be no tea breaks. Sanitise your hands beforehand and use the tongs please. Please bring your own pen. No visitors allowed.
  • A word about masks. Wearing these is highly recommended anyway but if you have not been vaccinated then it is a requirement at this club. Please wear your mask correctly – covering the nose as well as the mouth. Disposable ones are only good for one session of bridge. The blue side faces out. We are not providing these – the ones in the Director’s Room are spares to help out.
  • Thank you to the many of you who have done the vaccination survey. We are pleased to report a very high vaccination rate.
  • Saturday Revision is on this Saturday 16 October 10:30am in the playing room.
  • Improver lessons next Monday 18 October will cover the topic Declarer Play in No trumps. The start time is 7:00pm. All members are welcome. If you wish to attend particular lessons the cost is $15 per lesson.
  • Unfortunately, Interclub this Friday 15 October and the Kapi Mana Intermediate tournament this Sunday 17 October have been cancelled.
  • Megan is on leave this Friday 15 October and next Monday 18 October.