Unit 473 represents the interests of members of the ACBL who live in Reno and surrounding areas. The Unit sponsors a variety of bridge events, including sectional ACBL duplicate bridge tournaments. It is governed by a Board of Directors that elected annually by the Unit membership. Our current board members are:
Richard Bartlett – President
I grew up in San Diego and began playing bridge in 1963. Moved to Denver in 1973, where I met my wife, Ginny, we played bridge socially, in local games and local tournaments. At the time, Charles Goren was all the rage. I moved to Reno, after my wife passed away, in February 2019, just in time for the Covid Lockdown. I was looking to play bridge at the Arrowcreek club and other games in the Reno area. Discovered Better Bridge Online in late February, 2019 and began playing weekly with various partners. I was introduced to Mathewson Bridge Center by Linda Frye, in mid-2021. I have continued taking private lessons, lessons from Jill and studying the new 2 Over 1 method. I am learning some core conventions, four from Larry Cohen and six from Barbara Seagram. I enjoy teams play and playing in the open games, to improve my skills.
Ed Winchester – Vice President
Mark Lundblad – Treasurer
Shannon Dressel – Tournament Chair
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, I moved to the United States in the early 1970’s. My background in healthcare began as a Registered Nurse in Critical Care, and was followed by multiple careers, all in healthcare. My work required several moves and frequent travel throughout the United States and a little in Europe. My husband, John, and I moved to Reno from Northern California, in 2004. I retired in 2018.
My first introduction to duplicate bridge was at Mathewson Bridge Center in 2019, after a brief introduction to social bridge. When Covid brought person-to-person bridge play to a halt, Jill Wallace took to the internet and showered all who were interested, with lessons, coaching, study material and supervised practice online. I continue to be a student of bridge and lifelong learner (and perhaps I’m addicted to the game). Thank you, Jill!
When I am not playing bridge, I golf with my husband and friends, play mahjong, and love fireplace time with a really good book and accompanied by our two needy felines.
Judy Kienle – Co-Tournament Chair
Marus Jastrow – Education Coordinator
Shelly Nork – Hospitality
Karen Lind – Hospitality Co-Chair
Donna Neff – District 21 Representative
I learned to play bridge at my mother’s knee. She was so desperate to play that she surrounded herself with 3 children and essentially played all four hands. I was the only one old enough to actually absorb anything. I played in college and graduate school, but then life intervened. Forty years later, I took the game up again. I went to my first tournament in Monterey when I had less than 5 points and no partner. Today I am a Silver Life Master.
I serve on the ACBL District 21 Board of Directors representing the Northest Area (includes Reno) and on the American Bridge Teachers Association Board of Directors representing the South Pacific Region (includes Reno).
