Gateway Bridge Club
OVERLAND OCCIDENTAL LODGE

Monday, Wednesday & Thursday a.m. 

Unit Team Game: 8 is Enough

AMERICAN LEGION CREVE COEUR

First Sundays at 5 p.m.

I have taken a quantum leap into bridge directing. My first idea was quite simple, but circumstances and opportunities changed everything. I have recently added a fourth game in less than a year of becoming a Director. I have started a game with a 0-49 master point limit that so far has drawn many newcomers to the duplicate bridge world. That game has evolved into a 0-199 game on Thursday morning.

I am very grateful to the other directors, my friends, and all of the bridge players who have supported me by playing in my games and encouraging me in all aspects of my new career. I hope to see all of you at any of my games or at any of the other club games that I play in.

Donna Coker

Mark Ehret

Metro Bridge Club
OVERLAND OCCIDENTAL LODGE
Wednesday a.m.

Mark Ehret has been playing since 1982 and became a Director 10 years ago. He learned bridge in college but had to give up bridge and go to work. Mark runs a Monday evening game and a Wednesday day game, both at Olivette Community Center. Prior to the game on Wednesday he gives a lesson regarding some aspect of bridge that he feels will help his players with their game. Mark is also available for private lessons. He is a silver life master. Mark’s best memory of bridge is Fred McAvoy being his mentor. Fred (an experienced player) took Mark under his wing and helped him develop his game.

Monday Morning Bridge Club
MARYLAND HEIGHTS CENTRE
Monday morning (of course!)

Paul & Louise Ellebracht were childhood sweethearts and were married after Paul’s discharge from the Navy in 1946, 62 years ago. They raised five children.

They started playing duplicate in 1986 and in 1989 purchased three duplicate bridge games in North St. Louis County from Pat Scharick and Mary Hedrick. Louise gave lessons, was the perfect partnership person and Paul directed. The games grew and eventually they sold two of them to Dan & Jane Schaffer.

Today, their weekly 10:30 A.M. game has, arguably, the best snacks in town and has a unique monthly series where extra Masterpoints can be earned.

“Thank God for bridge,” quotes Paul.

Paul & Louise(RIP) Ellebracht

Monday Morning Bridge Club
BRIDGE HAVEN
Monday morning (when else?)

My name is Jim Hammond and I'm a bridge-aholic. It started in 1945 when I learned the game while serving in the US Navy. The addiction was immediate. I continued playing rubber bridge thru college and most of the fifties years. The addiction was wearing off a little when I discovered DUPLICATE. The curse was worse than ever!

Until about 1990 I only played the game. But then the Matriarchs of North County bridge, Mary Hedrick and Pat Scharick, died or retired. To help keep the game going in North County I became a director and started a club. Currently I am the director of the Bridge Haven 10:30 AM Monday game. It's a fun game but the competition is good. Come on by. We'll leave the light on for you.

Jim
Hammond

    Lee Hastings

Lee's Deal and Play

BRIDGE HAVEN

Monday evening, 7 p.m.

Unit IMP Pairs

AMERICAN LEGION CREVE COEUR

Second Sundays, 6 p.m.

Beth Percich

House of Bridge
• OVERLAND OCCIDENTAL LODGE
Tuesday a.m.

OLIVETTE COMMUNICTY CENTER

Thursday a.m.
• GARDEN VILLAS WEST
Tuesday p.m.
• OLIVETTE COMMUNITY CENTER
Saturday afternoon

I started running bridge games in 1981 with my grandpa, Ted Browne; however I did not learn to play the game right away. I first was taught to score (of course, by hand) and when I asked, “When will you teach me to play?” He said, “Later.”

Next I learned all of the wonderful movements of this game including a few of Grandpa’s. Again, I asked, “When will you teach me to play?” and he said, “That’s the easy part. You need to know the laws and rules of the game first.”- which I did and took the director’s test. I asked again about playing and he said, “Now you need to learn the most important part of the game and that is everyone’s name”.

After awhile I was finally allowed to kibitz but only the players who played strong 2’s, 4 card majors and a nice straight Standard American game. Well, here I am 22 years later and loving it! I know my Grandpa would be proud.

West County Bridge Club
OLIVETTE COMMUNITY CENTER, Friday a.m.

Jane and Dan Schaffer have lived in the St Louis area since late 1979. They've been involved in various aspects of bridge since they moved to Delaware after their marriage. Jane began teaching beginning bridge in Delaware, and also was on the board of the local bridge club. She became an ACBL Certified Teacher and taught a couple of courses at Maryville University.

Dan started directing games in Delaware and continued directing off and on till after retirement. While in Dover, Delaware and Warner Robins, Georgia, he ran a couple of local tournaments. In St Louis they ran as many as 7 games a week when involved with Bridge Haven. Dan has also been on the Unit 143 Board and was Registration chairman for our recent NABC. They are proud of being able to maintain a harmonious partnership while remaining married to each other.

A native of Minneapolis, Dan learned to play bridge when his aunt bought him an Autobridge set when he was in 3rd grade. He started playing regularly in the mid-60's in Minneapolis, where he had the benefit of spending time with such players as Hugh McLean and Ron Anderson. Honeywell sent him on the road in 1968 and he has worked at a number of locations around the country, including Atlanta, where he met Jane.

Since being married, they lived in Dover, Delaware, and Warner Robins, Georgia, before being moved to St Louis. In addition to directing and playing bridge, they occasionally go dancing. Jane is an excellent dancer and Dan tries to keep up.

Jane and Dan want to thank everyone who supports their game and especially for being their friends.

Jane & Dan
Schaffer

Chuck
Starovasnik

Bridge Haven
BRIDGE HAVEN
Friday p.m. & Sunday afternoon

In 1971, my late wife, Barbara, a friend and I decided to learn to play bridge and embarked on a 13-week course on Channel 9 TV. After the course, we thought we knew all there was to know about bridge and began to play duplicate at June Chiste’s duplicate game in Alton, IL. I got hooked on bridge but my wife was disenchanted about the game and did not pursue it.

I played duplicate about 12 or 13 years in St. Louis and Alton with numerous partners. In about 1982 June Chiste gave up her Wednesday night game in Alton which I took over and became a Director. I later took over a Friday night game in St. Louis from Harvey Wolff. I closed both these games down in 1988.

I became a Life Master in 1989 with the help of Rod Van Wyk. In 1998 I took over the Bridge Haven duplicate games from Dan Schaffer and George Hawley. The games took place in several locations over the years and are presently located at 6206 N. Lindbergh, (N. Lindbergh & 270). My games are on Monday A.M., Tuesday P.M., Thursday A.M., Friday P.M. and Sunday afternoon.  Bridge Haven holds other games throughout the week.  Bridge Haven has its own website.

Bit O’Bridge
LAKE ST. LOUIS
WEDNESDAY 6:30 p.m.

jvontz@charter.net

636-561-8808

Mike and Janet Vontz learned the basics of bridge one weekend in 1988 when they were trapped at Mike’s parents’ home in Buttonwillow, California. It had been snowing in the mountains and I-5 was closed over the Grapevine. The Senior Vontzes thought they could make the frequent visits of their son and his girlfriend even more enjoyable if they would become bridge players. It would also make the duration of the snowstorm more tolerable.

Back home in Westlake Village, CA., Janet, a transplanted Missourian, immediately raided the local library and checked out six bridge books including Charles Goren’s Precision System of Contract Bridge Bidding. The opening chapter made a compelling argument for its use, and Janet taught Mike the Precision bidding system. It was several years before Mike knew that there was another system of bidding. He is still quite lost when he plays Standard American. Soon they discovered duplicate bridge at a club in Thousand Oaks and became hooked.

Mike and Janet married in 1989, and started a family. They both realized that close proximity of cousins and extended family would become even more important since between them they had twelve siblings and eventually twenty two nieces and nephews. The choice was either Janet’s family in Missouri or Mike’s in California. Since Mike had never experienced Missouri, they headed east and wound up in Lake Saint Louis, even though no one in Janet’s family had a clue that bridge was anything but a structure built over water (and still doesn’t).

They started playing at the Bit O’ Bridge club in Lake Saint Louis in 1992 and spent the next eighteen months in last place. When Jane Moore elected to move to Mississippi in 1996, they acquired the club. Mike and Janet invite you to discover the best kept secret in St. Louis Bridge. Lake Saint Louis is a pleasant drive west on Highway 40 or Highway 70. The game is held in the beautiful Community Association Clubhouse on Lake Saint Louis. There are always lots of delicious homemade cookies and coffee. Join them next Wednesday night at 6:30.

Mike & Janet Vontz