180 people will say you missed something if you didn’t attend our unit member appreciation dinner at Fung Lum in June. We rented a large room at the Campbell Community Center for the 45 tables of people who played in the following unit game. First overall were T.C. Yang & Fang Wu. First in the other direction were Virginia English & Anne Struthers. First in flight C were Eric Yang & Peter Kao. First in the 7-table beginner game were Fia & Ben Bosklopper.

Gigi Spinazze is newly elected to our unit board. Returning incumbents are Dan Turkus, Lynn Yokel, Art Fonda, George Pledger, and Phyllis Vierra. I was glad to see a lot of candidates for the board, since we can always use help.

Thanks to Art, Phyllis, Neal Webb, Alex Tampilang, Rich Jacobs, and Ron Siegrist for setting up tables and chairs for the unit game, and to Tony Staw for helping me carry supplies back to the club. My apologies to all affected by the malfunctioning coffee pots. We heard the room had a kitchen, but didn’t check whether it had working outlets.

At the San Francisco sectional, strat tops in pair games went to Ted Richmond, Steve Chen, Eric Yang & Peter Kao, Michael Migdol, Ray & Maxine Lubow. First in their respective Swiss teams brackets were: Don Nemiro; John Hoffman & Leila Sink; K-P. Cheng & Jeffrey Hu; Richard Jacobs, Hiram Shen, Peter Kao & Eric Yang.

Unfortunately I have no results from the Hollister sectional as I’ve been unable to contact the guest director. Our usual directors were at the Las Vegas regional. At that regional, Rose Meltzer’s team won two knockouts. Gerry & Joan Piaget’s team won a knockout. In pair games strat tops were earned by Emil Domis and Joy Baker & Jane Casciano.

Time marches on. Gee Bogdan passed away. Will Watson is turning over directing duties on Friday nights to a coalition of our other directors. I think the game will be stratified open pairs, but not a barometer. It takes a lot of work to make all those extra boards. We hope to get Will back for unit games.

Faye Parsons is starting up another Easybridge! series in early August. If someone wants to have fun learning bridge, let them know about this game on Sundays at noon. Check with Faye to make sure (408)378-4719, but I believe it’s starting August 4.

On a personal note, I’ll regret saying goodbye to Tony Staw, the gentleman from England who is moving back in August. My memory is unreliable, but it seems we first met in Ralph and Mary Slick’s Tuesday night novice game. I’ve been fortunate to play with him over the years. Tony epitomizes the saying, “a soft answer turneth away wrath.” If I ever learn to be a good partner, he’ll deserve a lot of the credit.

Corrections, comments and news are welcome at (408)379-7717 and rayyuenger@starband.net. Old columns appear under “old stuff” at www.sjbridge.org.