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| National Champion and Unit 141 President Joann Glasson |
The Unit 141 Newsletter continues its regular feature interviewing the very best players in our unit. This month, we talk with National Champion and Unit 141 President Joann Glasson. In January, Joann will complete her busy and successful two-year term that also included the responsibility of co-chairing the Philly Nationals held this past July. Joann is a Grand Life Master with over 11,500 masterpoints. As a player, Glasson holds four national championships and three seconds and a silver medal in international competition. She was elected to the Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2010.
U141: Let's first talk bridge. How did you start playing?
JG: When my kids were babies I moved into a new housing development. I had learned to sew as a child and made all the draperies for my new house. A neighbor asked me to teach her to sew and I did. After the lessons, she said, "When someone shares a talent with you, you should share one back - so I'm going to teach you how to play bridge."
U141: What did you do to reach such a high level of play?
JG: What high level? I'm still a student of the game.
U141: What one piece of advice would you give to advancing players?
JG: Find a good teacher before you learn any bad habits.
U141: Which was your first important win and which one was most memorable?
JG: Your first national win is always the most exciting. We were in San Diego. I remember staying up all night and partying with my team! (I was much younger then!)
U141: Which one player, living or dead, would you (metaphorically) give your left toe to have as a partner for a round of bridge and why?
JG: There really is no one that I pine to play with - I have two wonderful partners - my husband, Bob, and Sylvia Moss.
U141: Away from the table, you have been involved in so many ways in bridge. How did you first start volunteering your time?
JG: Bridge has been such an amazing part of my life. When I slowed down my work career, I vowed to spend my time giving back to our game.
U141: Tell us a little more about the many roles you have played over the years and what you have learned from them.
JG: I have served as President of Unit 141 and District 4, co-chaired the Philly NABC and the World Championships, and worked as the Webmaster and Publicity Chair for District 4. I also hand out pizza at the sectionals and wash the tablecloths and bidding boxes. I've learned that all contributions are important.
U141: What changes have you seen in the bridge world, particularly since you've been the president?
JG: Okay, now I can brag a bit - I asked Allison Brandt to produce an online newsletter for Unit 141; I asked Meyer Kotkin to take on the job of tournament chairman of our sectionals; I asked Jane Ball to start chairing tournaments for new players; I asked Joan Brandeis to run the Jane Segal Pro-Am; I asked Phyllis Taxin to take over as Treasurer and I asked Mike Giesler to give the Unit a website presence.
So I guess I'm a really good people picker and delegator.
U141: If you were a benevolent bridge dictator, what changes would you implement - locally, nationally, or globally - to improve the game for the future?
JG: I would bar any player that made the game unpleasant for his partner or the opponents.
U141: What bridge-related activities will keep you busy now?
JG: I have found that I love teaching bridge - how lucky to find your dream job in retirement!
U141: What activities outside of bridge do you enjoy that will keep you busy now?
JG: Are there activities outside of bridge?
U141: What final thoughts or advice do you have for the Unit 141 members?
JG: Just a thank you for supporting our tournaments.
October is NAP month. You've been hearing about this event for months and now it arrives this month. The links in the Upcoming Events section at left provide all the details you need, but note these key dates:
Wendy De Chadarevian
Alfred Sheinwold (1912-1997) was the co-developer of the Kaplan-Sheinwold bidding system, editor of the ACBL Bulletin, and chair of both the National Laws Commission and Appeals committees. He wrote 13 bestselling bridge books, including 5 Weeks to Winning Bridge, and a syndicated column that appeared in over 200 newspapers. He won hundreds of championships, including the 1958 Reisinger.
We've said it before (and we'll probably say it again), but there are things you should do help keep a game moving. Everyone at the table wants to have as much time as possible to think about the hands, so we don't want to waste it. These tips will save the valuable time that we can all use to think about how to bid, play, and defend a hand.