ljconant3@gmail.com

This is my 4th year on the Unit 176 Board, and I am now serving as President. I grew up in Northern California, and graduated from Stanford University in 1974. I moved to Chicago immediately after graduation to pursue an MBA at the University of Chicago, and spent the next 5 years as a corporate banker. George (husband) and I met on a blind date, and moved to Dallas with his job. I worked in the corporate world until the birth of our first child, and then opened a children's clothing store, which I owned for 13 years. I “retired” because I thought I needed to be home saying, "no”.

All 3 of my children are now working and living in Dallas, so life is good. I have been playing duplicate bridge for 6 years, aand achieved life master status last year. I love the new friendships and the challenges of the game. I look forward to getting to know all of you. I’m here to serve you and appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Vice-
President

greims@sbcglobal.net

I am a retired telephone engineer after 31 years service with Southwestern Bell. Currently, I do various odd jobs including handyman work and wall covering installation. I am also the guy that transports and sets up tables and equipment for our Dallas bridge tournaments. This is my fifth year as a member of the Dallas Bridge Association Board of Directors.
I was born in Springvale, Maine and moved to the Dallas area in 1967. I am married with one son and a four year old grandson. I truly enjoy the competitive challenge of duplicate bridge, along with the many new friends and acquaintances I have because of bridge. I also have a great love for the outdoors, including fishing, archery, golf, volunteering at the Dallas Arboretum, and walking my dog, Addy.

sbkeyes@att.net

was born in Dallas and attended Tufts University finishing at Baylor University where I met my husband, Bryan (also a bridge enthusiast). I have served on a number of boards and committees for both church and civic organizations. I also have writ-ten curriculum for church study and currently teach 2 women’s Bible Studies as well as teaching 2 year-olds with my husband each week.
Having played Duplicate Bridge for the past ten years, I have served sev-eral years as partnership chairman for the Big D Sectional tournament and last year for our unit’s Election Sectional. I have the honor to have been asked to serve as partnership chair-man again this year. I have travelled often in the past 2 years to various Sectionals, Regionals and this past summer to the NABC in Philadelphia. What I have discovered is that the Dallas Unit organizes some of the best tournaments, giving those living in this area ample opportunity to par-ticipate beyond the club level.
I love bridge and desire to see our unit continue to grow. I’m encouraged by the emphasis that our unit has on bringing youth into the duplicate world. The Dallas area and Unit 176 in particular is fortunate to have some of the best bridge teachers to be found anywhere. It is my goal to promote duplicate bridge in whatever group I’m in, as I have found it to be very rewarding both personally and socially. I hope to serve our unit well.

cherylsclark@yahoo.com
I was raised in the Houston area and moved to Dallas about 2 years ago. I have been playing duplicate bridge since 2005 and achieved Life Master status in March 2011. When I'm not playing bridge, I have a small CPA practice and I volunteer with my golden retriever Lola and visit the elderly. I've also been asked to serve on the Unit 176 finance committee and will be working on the financial goals and objectives. I truly enjoy bridge and enjoying serving the Dallas bridge community on the Unit Board.

stevieb6929@yahoo.com

I'm Steve Birnbaum and I'm currently serving my sixth year on the Unit 176 Board. I was born and raised in Dallas, am a realtor, and I'm married with two grown kids. I've been playing bridge for 10 years now.
(Tomi's added note: Steve sent me this short and sweet bio, but he is far too modest. He forgot to mention that he has served for those three years as our membership chairman. When you get an e-mail reminding you about our unit games and tournaments, those are from Steve. He has cleaned up and expanded our database and when we needed to ensure all members were in good status in order to qualify for a new tournament, Steve went to work. Our communications are constantly improving, thanks to Steve.)

jfletcher3858@aol.com

I'm originally from New York, but I've been a resident of Dallas since 1957, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School with a degree in Economics. I started to play bridge soon after that, but life, work and family (my wife, 3 children and 2 grandkids) interfered for the next 40 years or so. After my retirement, I began playing again and really became active about 3 years ago. I now play very regularly. I strongly feel that one of our most important objectives should be to bring new players and young players into the game and I am ready to work hard to increase that participation.

harpiii@aol.com

Born and reared in Dallas, TX, I returned to the unit 176 Board after a year's hiatus.  I graduated from Highland Park High School, received a BS from Yale Univ. in electrical engineering, received an MBA from SMU in finance, and am a CPA. I am a realtor with Ebby Halliday real estate.  I have served as treasurer of multiple Dalllas area  YMCAs, treasurer of The 500 Inc, treasurer of the Dallas Theater Center, treasurer of the Dallas Symphony Guild, treasurer of the Dallas Housing Finance Corporation, and treasurer of the Turtle Creek Chorale. I have been playing duplicate bridge almost 10 years, am a Silver Life Master, and have a special proclivity for team events.  I love bridge, and I am willing to focus time, energy and attention to making the game fun, available and accessible to all those attracted by the social interaction and mental stimulation - irrespective of a player's skill level.

jublo_2000@yahoo.com

It was June, 1970. My roommate and I had entered an ACBL-sanctioned event supporting a local charity, and we finished 4th! We were told that to have our fraction of a masterpoint recorded, we would have to join the
ACBL. So we joined. I don't think my roommate renewed her membership
after the first year or two, but I have been a member ever since. I was
hooked! Over the years bridge has seen me through one marriage, two children (Victoria and Bonnie), and three careers (college professor, bank vice president, and database administrator). It has been a wonderful source of good friends and good times. Now that I have retired, it is time to giveback to the game that has meant so much to me. This is my first year on the board. Currently I am the unit's NAP and GNT coordinator, and I write the Unit 176 column for the Scorecard. I plan to do what I can to ensure the smooth operation of the Unit and to maintain its appeal to all members, newcomers and veterans alike.

Jim Thurtell

jthurtell@sbcglobal.net

I came to Dallas in 1977, after looking at the ACBL Bulletin and seeing how many tournaments there were in Texas and being told that it didn’t snow here.  I met my wife at Harry Weiss’ bridge club and we have two grown boys.
In the 80’s, I served on the Unit 176 Board.  I helped author the Unit Bylaws and helped again when they were revised in 2008.  I served as the unit recorder for six years and was on the unit disciplinary committee for four years.
I serve on the National Board of Appeals and am a life-member of the National Goodwill Committee.  Within District 16, I am presently the District 16 Second Vice-President as well as the District Disciplinary Committee Chairman and the district GNT Chairman.
I believe that bridge should be fun for everyone that participates, regardless of their skill level.  If you have any complaints or ideas I would certainly be willing to listen.