Currently, there are 25 geographically defined districts as shown on the map on the left. The 25 districts have been combined into 13 regions (district boundaries remain unchanged).
Our 300+ units supervise and promote bridge within their boundaries. They have the exclusive right to host sectionals in their territory and may conduct other special games such as unit championships. Each unit receives a share of ACBL membership fees via the 5/5/5 Program. We encourage units to use these fees for programs to increase membership and enhance the enjoyment of the game for all members.5/5/5 Success Scale.
Today’s world is one that requires adherence with laws pertaining to non-profit boards of directors. Are your board policies up to date? Take advantage of our Board of Directors Documents, including sample bylaws and minutes and the Board Meeting Rescue Kit.
Marketing Solutions by Pianola
Contacting your members to promote your unit and district events is easy with Marketing Solutions, powered by Pianola! It’s a quick way to send emails about tournaments, news and more.
ACBL funded the development of Marketing Solutions and the first two years of its availability to unit and districts. Due to the tool’s success, it was decided to extend the contract and ACBL’s funding of the service for another year.
On January 1, 2020, ownership of Marketing Solutions accounts will be transferred to units and districts. Each unit or district wishing to continue using the tool will need to contract directly with Pianola.
You can sign up with the company easily and quickly now at pianola.net/acbl. Use of Marketing Solutions is not required.
Tournament email notifications (e-blasts)Due to unit/district ownership of Marketing Solutions, ACBL will no longer send emails about tournaments on behalf of units, districts and tournament chairs as of January 1, 2020.
If you would like to send an email promoting your tournament with Marketing Solutions, your unit/district may work directly with Pianola. It’s a fast, simple way to reach members in your area. You can learn more and sign up today at pianola.net/acbl.
Ready to start reaching your members?
With Marketing Solutions, you can quickly and easily pick out an email design, choose your target audience and send an email to members in your area. Learn more at pianola.net/acbl. Units may contact members in a 200-mile radius for sectional tournaments and members of their own unit for other messages. Districts may contact members in a 500-mile radius for regional tournaments and members of their own district for other messages. Radius is determined by the zip code of tournament’s location.
Need Help?
For technical support, please contact Mary Maier at Baron Barclay at 1-800-274-2221 or mary@baronbarclay.com.
ACBL’s Board of Directors supervises and regulates the business, property, and affairs of the ACBL, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or the ACBL Bylaws. The Board is the ACBL’s legislative body with responsibility for approving an overall budget, determining strategy and policy for the ACBL, and establishing the regulations for tournaments and play.
The Board employs an executive director to manage and conduct ACBL business in accordance with the budget, strategy, policies, and regulations established by the Board of Directors.
Board Committees: Audit, Bridge/Executive Director Initiatives, Governance
Bridge Experience: ACBL member since 2010, Ruby Life Master
Volunteer Service: Unit 166 V.P. – 2019 to present, Unit 166 Board Member – 2017 to present, District 2 Board Member – 2021 to present, 2024 Toronto Summer NABC Tournament Chair, Unit 166 Tournament Chair – 10 Regionals, 9 Sectionals 2018 to present, Oakville Bridge Club Manager 2013 to present
Bridge Experience: Joined the ACBL in 1986 and played one of her first duplicate games in the 0-5 event at the Toronto NABC. Having caught the bug, she could be found at every local regional and most NABCs until giving up competitive play in 1998 to become a mom and a Tournament Director. Member of both the Goodwill and Charity Committees and received the Goodwill Award at the Providence NABC in 2022. Owning and managing the Viking Bridge Club, teaching and innovating is now her fulltime job – not to mention being New England’s Fairy GOLDmother.
Volunteer Service: Dedicated to helping the bridge community thrive since the early 1990s. Served on the Rhode Island Bridge Association board as Publicity Chair, President and now Treasurer. For more than fifteen years, she’s been focused on growing and nurturing District 25’s new and emerging players. She serves as the I/N Coordinator, Marketing/Communications Chair, GNT C Coordinator and is completing her term as District President. She also served on the Advisory Council and its Teacher and Club Committee.
Community Service: Susan also has a long record of community service. For almost a decade she served on the board of All Saints Academy and as its Finance Director. She also served on the Financial Council and as a Trustee of St. Christopher Church. She shepherded both places through times of financial peril and left them with bright, sustainable futures. She’s also a passionate volunteer and fundraiser for GiftsToGive and the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.
Career/professional Activities: Began her career in the government tech world. She was one of the first people certified by the Department of the Navy as an ADP Security Analyst and spent several years doing risk and threat analysis and contingency planning. She received a special commendation for her work on bringing the Navy’s Supercomputing Plan to life. Not long after, she launched her own company to provide conference and meeting planning services to tech organizations. Although she assumed ownership of the Viking Bridge Club in 1990, it didn’t become her fulltime focus until 2014.
Education: BA, Boston College, MA, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Hobbies: Reading & Book Club, Movies-Movies-Movies, Knitting, Pilates
Family: Married to Greg Klinker who she met at the bridge club. They have a son, Jonathan, who’s closing in on the last of his glitter points. Let’s not forget Welsch Terrier Riggins, who enjoys watching everyone else play bridge.
Board Committees: ACBL President 2022-2023, ACBL Treasurer and Finance (Chair), Governance/Board Operations, Tournament Taskforce, Executive Director Review (Chair).
Bridge Experience: : I joined the ACBL in 1976. My proudest bridge achievements are eight NABC wins and three world medals. Enjoying a busy bridge teaching career.
Volunteer Service: Unit 141 and District 4 board member for more years than I can remember, serving as Unit 141 treasurer, Unit 141 President and District 4 President. Webmaster and Publicity Chair for District 4. Fast Results bulletins and slide shows for all District 4 Regional tournaments. Entertainment chair of 1996 Philadelphia NABC. Co-chair of 2010 WBF tournament in Philadelphia. Co-Chair of 2012 Philadelphia NABC and 2018 Philadelphia NABC.
Career/professional Activities: President of Spirit Financial, a non-profit organization for 30+ years before retiring in 2010.
Education: B.A. Villanova University.
Hobbies & Interests: Travel, wine, food, theater, puzzles, British mysteries and teaching on bridge cruises.
Family: Married for 42 years to husband and bridge partner, Bob. Four sons, four daughter-in-laws and ten grandchildren.
Board Committees: ACBL President 2024 and 2025. Prior to becoming ACBL President, I chaired key committees and Task Forces including Governance/Board Operations, Executive Director Review, Transition Taskforce, multiple Tournament Taskforces, and Grass Roots, and served on many others including Appeals and Charges.
Bridge Experience:Joined the ACBL in 1980 and have been playing duplicate bridge for over 45 years after playing social bridge in dorm rooms during college and grad school. My proudest achievements include two top ten finishes in NABC+ events in the early 2000s—the Open BAM and the Mixed Pairs, both with my husband and favorite partner; 2nd in the Senior Mixed Pairs in Fall 2019, 2nd in the Rockwell Mixed Pairs in 2025, and winning the 10k Swiss in Fall 2021.
Volunteer Service: Served in multiple capacities on Unit and District Boards since 1984, and active in the Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference (organization created by Districts 6 and 7 to promote best practices across regional tournaments) until its dissolution in 2014. District Director 2011-2021, Regional Director since 2022. Tournament Chair for four Washington, D.C. NABCs (1993-2016) and countless D6 Regionals through 2012, and current Chair for Unit Sectionals.
Career/professional Activities: Systems analyst for 33 years with a not-for-profit company working for the federal government. Requirements, workflow, and best practices analysis; acquisition training, support; budget reporting.
Education: BA, American University; Russian Language Certification, University of Toronto; MA & Russian Institute Certification, Indiana University; SW Engineering Certification, GWU; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification achieved in 2005.
Hobbies & Interests: Wine, cooking, fine and fun dining with friends, offering wine and food tastings for auction through not-for-profit organizations, reading, working in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
Family: Widowed. Stepson, daughter-in-law and 16-year-old (talented ballerina!) granddaughter living on the West Coast.
Board Committees: Appeals and Charges, Bridge, Masterpoints
Bridge Experience: I learned bridge while watching my parents play rubber bridge with other bridge playing couples. I have been a member of the ACBL since 1973. My proudest achievement is making the finals in the Blue Ribbon pairs during the Providence NABC.
Volunteer Service: Western Michigan Unit Board President, 1986-present; District 12 Board Member, 1986-present (three terms as President; four terms as Vice President); District 12 First Alternate, one term; member, National Goodwill and Charity Committees and elected trustee to the ACBL Educational Foundation; co-chair of seven ACBL regional tournaments.
Other: Active in unit mentoring programs, bridge teacher in private group sessions. Directed bridge games in the late 1970s, early 1980s.
Career/professional Activities: I have work experience in the auto service industry and in retail book sales. However, my career was in the steel industry, working 25 years at Hascall Steel.
Education: B.A. inBusiness Administration, Western Michigan University.
Hobbies & Interests: Golf and board games (especially Dune and Settlers of Catan).
Family: I met my wife, Susan, in 1977 at the Lansing, MI Sectional held Thanksgiving weekend. We were married in March 1978. Our son, Taylor, was born in December 1979. We had a daughter in October 1981, who is deceased. My mother, Darlene (former secretary of Unit 195), continues to play bridge now in Oklahoma City, where she moved from Florida to live with my brother, Bob. A sister in Florida has returned to bridge after a long absence, and a brother in California is trying to increase and improve his bridge playing. I have two other non-bridge playing siblings.
Bridge Experience: Joined the league in 1980. Member Goodwill Committee since 1988 and Charity Committee Since 1995
Volunteer Service: From 1983-present in bridge. Co-Chair of Gatlinburg, Co -Chair two Atlanta NABCs
ACBL Educational Foundation 2012-2022 past president
Numerous Sectionals, numerous district offices and committees and presidency
Career/professional Activities: Southern Association Evaluator of Middle School Curriculums, Technology Librarian Taught K-12 as well as Jr. College and Public Librarian
Education: M.S Library Science
Hobbies & Interests: Love games of all types especially word games such as Words with Friends and Boogle and travel
Family: My husband, Bob, former President of the ACBL, 2 children, 9 grandchildren
Bridge Experience: Joined ACBL in 1975, when in college. Represented University of Alabama-Huntsville in National Intercollegiate Bridge Tournament (1978). Played professionally (part-time) in 1980s. Took 1990s off while coaching youth baseball, softball, basketball, and soccer. Played sporadically in 2000s. Began playing more again after retiring (2013). Won 2013 NABC+ Fast Pairs; 2 NABC+ 2nds; 15+ top 5s; WBF World Master.
Volunteer Service: Unit 232 Rep to District 10; District 10 Recorder (4 years); Vice-President (4 years); President (2019-present); BoG (2016-2021); First Alternate District 10 Director (2018-2021)
Other: Retired Missile Defense Scientist/Manager. Participated in several national defense expert panels.
Career/professional Activities:Retired Missile Defense Scientist/Manager. Participated in several national defense expert panels.
Education: B.S. Mathematics, UAH (1977); Graduate work in Math and Operations Research, UAH, (1977-78)
Hobbies & Interests: Fantasy baseball and football, trivia (esp., sports, rock ‘n’ roll, and history), traveling, cooking, walking.
Family: Wife, Cindy (Diamond Life Master), 2 children, 1 grandchild, 2 cats: Muggsy and Romeo.
Bridge Experience: I started playing bridge while attending Vanderbilt University, representing Vanderbilt in the Inter-collegiate competition.
Volunteer Service: Served in every capacity in District 9 and Florida Unit 128, including President, Vice President, and Secretary. I have volunteered around duplicate bridge since 1971. I previously served on the National Disciplinary Committee (Chair), Goodwill Committee. Volunteer of the Year- District 9, First Alternate District 9 Director, Member- Board of Governors District 9.
Career/professional Activities: Member of the Florida Bar (since 1979). Former Chief Circuit Judge, Chief Assistant State’s Attorney, Chief Assistant Public Defender. Former: Special Magistrate for Monroe County and The City of Key West. Mediator. I was a licensed Real Estate Broker.
Education: BA – Cum Laude, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, JD- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, FL.
Hobbies & Interests: Travel, Movies, and Foodie
Family: Married to Bryan Armstrong, 2 dogs- Cooper and Dash
Bridge Experience: I joined the ACBL in 2006 but started playing in earnest in 2008. I am a Gold Life Master, believing that my best times at the table are yet to come! In 2024 I was certified as a bridge teacher and director. I enjoy mentoring new players and teaching on cruises.
Volunteer Service: I served on Unit boards (207 and President of 172), represented my Units on the District 16 board, chaired sectionals, mentored, served as President of D16, and Disciplinary Chair of D16. From 2023-2024, I volunteered as Adjunct National Recorder, handling conduct matters. In 2024, I was on the Advisory Council, Co-Chair of the National Goodwill Committee and President of the ACBL Charity Foundation.
Career/professional Activities: I am a retired attorney, psychologist, and mediator. My law career included civil litigation, international transactions and managing the law department of the South American subsidiary of an American energy company. In my retirement, I served on various non-profit boards and served as a pro bono attorney in child welfare and mental health matters.
Education: B.A. Spanish/Comparative Literature (CUNY); M.A. Clinical Psychology (EIU); J.D. (DePaul University, College of Law)
Hobbies & Interests: Travel, reading, movies
Family: Widowed, two sons, two daughters-in-law, two grandchildren, and my dog, Sherlock.
Board Committees and Task Forces: 2026 ACBL Board President. ACBL Board Vice President, 2024 and 2025. Governance Committee Chair, 2024 and 2025, Communications Task Force Chair and Executive Director Review Co-chair. Member, Strategic Planning Committee.
Bridge Experience: Joined ACBL in 2011. Bronze Life Master. .
Volunteer Service: ACBL Charity Foundation Trustee 2021 – 2025. Unit 356 Board President, Publicity Chair and Newcomer/Intermediate Representative. District 17 Communications Chair and Editor, District 17 Newsletter, The Buzz.
Career/professional Activities: Financial editor, marketing manager/director, marketing consultant specializing in 501(c)3 organizations. Public relations coordinator, American Cancer Society.
Education: Bachelor of Science, Journalism, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Arizona State University.
Hobbies & Interests: Attending a concert, a play or the latest must-see movie and spending time with family and friends.
Family: Married to Jack, a recent IBM retiree. Two children, Matt and Bob.
Bridge Experience: Learned bridge as a teenager at home, later playing late-night in college. After a hiatus for many years, joined ACBL in 2011. Became a life master in 2019, and am an ACBL Director.
Volunteer Service: While living in District 21, served on the Unit 465 Board, as well as on the District 21 Board for approximately 6 years, including as a member of the Executive Committee for the final two years. District 21 representative to the Western Conference (and later the District 22 representative), ultimately serving as President of that organization. While in District 21 my husband, Ed, and I ran a small bridge club in north Lake Tahoe during the summers. We were honored to be named to the ACBL Goodwill Committee in 2017. In 2023 we relocated to District 22. Immediately prior to becoming the Region 11 Director, I served on the Boards of District 22 and Unit 533.
Career/professional Activities: ERISA attorney (retirement plan law); residential real-estate investing.
Education: B.A., Political Studies. L.L.M. Masters in Tax
Hobbies & Interests: Ed and I spent the first five years of retirement living on a sailboat, making our way gradually from San Francisco to Brisbane, Australia. We love to travel, but now prefer to see the world by land and by cruise ship. While home I enjoy reading (participate in two book clubs), water aerobics, bocce ball, trivia, Mah Jongg and walking our yellow lab, Harley. Our grandchildren are on the east coast, but we visit with them as often as possible.
Family: Husband, Ed; two children; five grandchildren.
Board Committees: Governance/Board Operations and NABC Finance
Bridge Experience: I joined the ACBL on September 9, 2009. I didn’t play in a duplicate game until 2010. My proudest moment was earning Life Master in 2013.
Volunteer Service: Tournament Chair for four sectionals. Past Membership Chair, Vice President and President of Unit 499. Unit Representative on D21 Board of Directors. ACBL Board of Directors 2018-2020. Tournament Chair for 2022 Reno NABC. Past ACBL Charity Foundation President and trustee 2020-2023. Past Western Conference Board (STaCs) President and member.
Career/professional Activities: Spent 8+ years working for County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County in accounting, human resources and grants management. Spent 22+ years working for Central Contra Costa Sanitary District in grants management and community relations.
Education: Bachelors in English; Masters in Public Administration
Hobbies & Interests: Travel, puzzles, computer games, visiting museums, and enjoying our condo at Lake Tahoe
Board Committees: Appeals and Charges, Strategic, Codification work group, Communications work group
Bridge Experience: Joined ACBL in 2004. Played social bridge until retirement in 2008; club and tournament play since. Enjoy playing at least one NABC every year.
Volunteer Service: Seattle U446 board member (6 years), Treasurer, President, and Tournament Sites Committee Chair; District 19 board member (6 years), NAP Coordinator, and GNT Coordinator; D19 2nd and 1st Alternate.
Other: United Way of King County (WA), Junior Achievement Project Business, other community activities.
Career/professional Activities: Engineer, manager, and executive management during 32-year career with The Boeing Company.
Education: Undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, graduate degrees from Univ. of Southern California and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Advisory Council (AC), formerly known as the Board of Governors, composed primarily of three members from each district, reviews reports of actions taken by the Board of Directors.
Advisory Council Chair
Richard Popper
Advisory Council Chair
Richard Popper
Residence: Wilmington DE
ACBL Position: Advisory Council (Chair)
ACBL Board Committees: Governance, Bylaws, Stakeholder Task Force
Bridge Experience: I joined the ACBL in 1972 and have played regularly at all levels since then. I am a platinum life master and have finished as high as third in NABC + events. I have played in world championships on multiple occasions
Volunteer Service: Have served in multiple positions on the Board of Unit 190 and District 4 including President of both organizations. Chair of several regionals and multiple sectionals. Prior chair of Board of Governors. Member of National Appeals and prior member of Online Ethical Oversight Committee and prior Arbitrator for Institute for Bridge Arbitration.
Career/professional Activities: Retired attorney at major law firm who focused practice on estate planning and estate administration. Fellow of American College of Trust and Estate Council. Served terms as chairs of two different sections of Delaware State Bar Association.
Education: BS in mathematics Tufts University, JD George Washington University, Master of Laws in Taxation Georgetown University
Hobbies and Interests: Bridge, Tournament scrabble, Photography, Reading, Travel all over the world
Committees assist ACBL by recommending policy, actions or alternatives for Board deliberations. There are five types of committees: Committees of the Board, Committees of the Corporation, Special Committees, Management Committees, and Other ACBL Bodies.
ACBL Laws Commission
The ACBL Laws Commission, in cooperation with the laws committee of the World Bridge Federation, prepares the laws under which both duplicate and rubber bridge games are governed. The commission consists of between nine and 15 members appointed by the president of ACBL with the approval of the Board of Directors.
The ACBL Competition and Conventions Committee reviews conventions, convention charts, the alert procedure, convention cards, conditions of contest and any other competitive aspect of bridge. Recommended proposals for change are forwarded to the ACBL Board of Directors for approval.
The committee will hear cases regarding matters specified in the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations (CDR) or other original cases when so instructed by the ACBL Board of Directors.
The committee will consist of 12 members appointed by the President for three-year terms.
The Ethical Oversight Committee acts upon charges brought by ACBL Management as the ACBL disciplinary body in cases of alleged cheating by the use of signals, other unauthorized information, other forms of cheating, or serious breaches of ethics, in accordance with the ACBL Code of Disciplinary Regulations. League Counsel, the ACBL President and the District Director (for the district of the person charged) are to be notified of a decision to hold an ethical oversight hearing.
The ACBL Goodwill Committee was organized in 1955 with John E. Simon as chair and Louise Durham as co-chair. Aileen Osofsky became chair in 1985 and has expanded the committee’s endeavors, taking on the promotion of active ethics, awareness of those with disabilities such as hearing loss, support for junior programs and naming of a goodwill member of the year.
The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is committed to respecting both your online and non-online privacy. Please read the following policy to understand how your personal information provided by you and collected by us will be treated. This policy may change from time to time so please check back periodically.
The American Contract Bridge League (“ACBL”) and each of its individual members agree as follows:
Any dispute in any way related to membership in the ACBL, or any action for damages or injunctive relief against ACBL or any action to reverse, modify, amend, or delay enforcement of a disciplinary action or other decision of the ACBL, regardless of the facts or legal theories involved, shall be resolved by the ACBL member or former member with ACBL on an individual and confidential basis through the steps set forth in this arbitration agreement up to and including final binding arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) by a single arbitrator.
This arbitration agreement covers any and all disputes that an individual member may have with (a) the ACBL, (b) the ACBL’s current or former officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise, or (c) other ACBL members to the extent that dispute arises directly from ACBL membership or participation in any ACBL program or event. Likewise, the arbitration agreement covers any and all disputes that the ACBL may have with an individual member.
Each individual member agrees that a dispute covered by this arbitration agreement does not include any dispute or disagreement about the adoption, change, revision, interpretation or discontinuance of any ACBL policy, practice, rule or procedure absent some legally recognized right enjoyed by the individual member related to the matter in dispute. In other words, ACBL retains the right to adopt or change its policies and rules using the normal process for such changes, not subject to arbitration.
Each individual ACBL member hereby specifically waives the right to present disputes covered by this arbitration agreement in any court or before a jury and hereby recognizes and accepts arbitration as the exclusive forum for resolution of all disputes described in this arbitration agreement. Individual ACBL members further agree that if they file or anyone else files a claim on their behalf in any state or federal court, the ACBL shall have the right to seek to stay or dismiss such a lawsuit and to compel arbitration. The only exception is that either party may seek an injunction in court if interim and/or immediate relief is necessary to preserve the status quo and such injunctive relief is permissible under applicable state or federal law.
Each individual ACBL member hereby waives any right for any dispute to be heard, decided or arbitrated as a class, collective or representative type action and agrees that he/she will not, in arbitration or otherwise, pursue a representative action and agrees that the assertion of any class, collective or representative action will be subject to immediate dismissal by the court or the arbitrator.
Arbitration is a formal dispute resolution process where an arbitrator, like a judge, takes evidence at a hearing and then a final binding decision that may be enforced against either party.
Individual ACBL members may commence arbitration under this arbitration agreement by making written demand for arbitration directed to the ACBL at Legal Dept., American Contract Bridge League, 6575 Windchase Blvd., Horn Lake, MS 39637-1523 or by making a written request for arbitration of a dispute with ACBL directed to the AAA at American Arbitration Association, Case Filing Services, 1101 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 100, Voorhees, NJ 08043, tel. 877-495-4185 or through its website at www.adr.org.
A demand for arbitration must be made in writing addressed to the ACBL or to the AAA prior to the end of the statute of limitations period applicable to the claim being asserted by the individual member or the statute of limitations period applicable to the claim being asserted by the ACBL against the individual member. The applicable statute of limitations will be deemed tolled once the written demand is received by the ACBL or the AAA.
Each individual member shall have the right to be represented by an attorney of choice prior to the initiation of and throughout the arbitration process provided however, that the individual member will be responsible to pay the costs of his or her representation.
This arbitration agreement shall be interpreted and its validity and enforceability shall be determined strictly in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §1 et. seq.).
Absent agreement by the parties to a particular arbitrator or process, the arbitrator shall be selected jointly by the parties using the process in effect at that time by the AAA. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Commercial Rules of the AAA in effect at the time the arbitration proceeding is initiated. The AAA Rules are available at www.adr.org.
Unless otherwise agreed by the ACBL and the individual member or otherwise ordered by the arbitrator, the arbitration shall be conducted by the AAA at a location to be mutually selected by the parties in Memphis, TN or DeSoto County, MS. If the parties cannot select a mutually agreeable site for the arbitration hearing, the AAA shall resolve that issue by selecting a location for the arbitration hearing.
The arbitrator shall:
have the exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, construction, applicability, unconscionability, arbitrability, enforceability, or formation of this arbitration agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of the arbitration agreement is void or voidable; however, nothing herein shall be interpreted to permit an arbitrator to hear, consider or arbitrate any claim on a class, collective or representative basis;
have the authority to adjust the venue for the hearing in the interest of fairness and to meet the reasonable needs of the parties and witnesses;
have the power to award to the individual member or the ACBL any remedy to which that party could be entitled under the law applicable to the claims;
have the authority to manage and rule on discovery between the parties applying the AAA rules and principles that would apply to a dispute between the parties in court;
have the authority to require any prevailing party to pay all costs associated with the arbitration if the shift of such costs are in the interest of fairness;
have the authority to award attorneys’ fees to any prevailing party based on applicable legal principles; and
render an award by written opinion no later than 30 days from the date of the conclusion of the arbitration hearing or the last due date for receipt of any requested post-hearing briefs, unless the parties agree otherwise. The opinion shall be in writing and set forth the factual and legal basis for the decision.
Each individual member agrees that the mutual obligation of the ACBL to arbitrate disputes combined with the privileges of ACBL membership represent good and sufficient consideration for this arbitration agreement and agrees not to challenge the sufficiency of such consideration at any time.
Absent an award of fees or costs by the arbitrator, the parties shall split the costs of the arbitration and each party shall pay their own attorneys’ fees and litigation costs.
2026 Board of Directors Committees
Committeee
Board Members
APPEALS AND CHARGES:
Sealy (C), Brown, White
AUDIT
Overby (C), Brown, Carman
BOARD OVERSIGHT
Carman (C), Glasson, Hennings
BRIDGE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INITIATIVES:
Heller (C), Hennings, Miguel, Scott
TOURNAMENT TASK FORCE (Subcommittee under Bridge):
Dennis Carman – ACBL Board
Sol Weinstein –Staff
Lee Lin – Advisory Council (non-voting)
Steve Gaynor – Advisory Council (non-voting)
Doug Couchman – Advisory Council (non-voting)
Committee Procedures
The committee meets at each NABC to formulate proposals to go before the ACBL Board of Directors for approval. The committee also reviews issues and proposals sent to it by the ACBL Board of Directors.
In between meetings, discussions on issues are conducted by email. Occasionally, a proposal or an advisory to the board may be based upon email discussions. However, the committee prefers, when time permits, to meet face-to-face to develop proposals and develop a reply to an issue referred to by the board.
Convention and Defense Approval
Committee Members:
Chip Martel
Jeff Meckstroth
The sub-committee is also responsible for approving experimental methods to be added to the ACBL Mid-Chart and for approving defenses to Mid-Chart methods to add to the ACBL Defense Database.
Two classes of methods are particularly difficult to defend against, and these methods are allowed only in events governed by the Open+ Chart, and then only in segments of six boards or longer. These methods, based on #3 of the Opening Bids section of the Open Chart and on #3 or #7 of the Opening Bids section of the Open+ Chart, require both a pre-alert and a written defense, including a separate copy of that defense for each opponent.
Requirements for playing these methods
If you choose to play one of these methods, you are required to:
Pre-Alert the method prior to the start of the auction on the first board.
Have a complete written description of the method available for your opponents.
Have a copy of an approved defense from this database available for your opponents should they wish to use it. If there is no approved defense for the method you wish to play, you may not use that method until such time as you have submitted a defense to ACBL and that defense has been approved.
The intent of these requirements is to permit responsible pairs a reasonable amount of freedom to determine the methods they wish to play while ensuring that no advantage is gained from a method that is unknown and/or whose submitted defense is inadequate.
Convention and Defense Approval
Convention and Defense Approval
A sub-committee of the Conventions and Competition Committee is responsible for approving defenses to methods which require them for addition to the ACBL Defense Database.
All proposals must include:
a complete description of the method, including responses and rebids and what happens in competition,
a detailed defense including initial actions, responses to the initial actions (including in competition), actions after opening-P- bid/P (and responses there to), delayed actions such as opening-P-bid- P-P/bid
Defenses To:
1. Artificial One-level Openings Showing Length Only In A Known Suit Other Than the One Opened:
The Ethical Oversight Committee consists of 15 members. During a member’s term of office, a member may not be dismissed except for grossly inappropriate behavior. To remove a member of the committee, the President of the ACBL or the Chairman of the Ethical Oversight Committee will schedule a meeting of the members of the committee. Removal of a member requires a majority vote of the committee.
Five members are appointed each year by the President of the ACBL for three-year terms. The Chairman of the Committee shall be elected from among and by the members of the committee. The Chairman may not serve more than three consecutive one-year terms.
Name
Term Ends
Jon Brissman, Chair
2025
Kevin Bathurst
2025
Cheri Bjerkan
2026
Bart Bramley
2027
Lesley Davis
2027
Bruce Ferguson
2025
Marty Fleisher
2026
John Fout
2026
Craig Kavin
2027
Alex Kolesnik
2027
Rick Roeder
2026
Hendrik Sharples
2025
Karen Walker
2024
Kevin Wilson
2026
Eddie Wold
2025
Online Ethical Oversight Committee Members
Member
Term
Jordan Chodorow- Chair
2025
Cheri Bjerkan
2025
Jon Brissman
2026
John Jones
2027
Ira Chorush
2025
Phil Clayton
2024
Jan Martel
2026
Marjorie Michelin
2026
Chris Moll
2027
Richard Popper
2025
Rick Rowland
2025
Alex Kolesnik
2027
Karen Walker
2026
Pam Wittes
2027
District/Unit Officers List
The button below will take you to the MyACBL portal (you may need to log in). By default you will see the officers associated with your unit. To see other officer lists, you can sort with the buttons at the top right of your screen.
The Prices and Fees are currently being updated for 2023. Please check back for the updated list.
Reorganization to Region
Region 1 – D1 and D2 (effective January 2022)
Region 2 – D24 and D25 (effective January 2022)
Region 3 – D3 and D4 (effective January 2024)
Region 4 – D5 and D6 (effective January 2022)
Region 5 – D12, D13 and D14 (effective January 2022)
Region 6 – D7 (effective January 2022)
Region 7 – D8, D10 and D11 (effective January 2023)
Region 8 – D9 (effective January 2023)
Region 9 – D15 and D16 (effective January 2022)
Region 10 – D17 (effective January 2023)
Region 11 – D22 and D23 (effective January 2022)
Region 12 – D20 and D21 (effective January 2023)
Region 13 – D18 and D19 (effective January 2022)
The Zoom Room is available Tuesday through Thursday, 3:30 pm-5:30 pm (Eastern).
Getting help is easier than ever with the ACBL Zoom Chat service.
Simply click the "Join Zoom Chat" button below to be taken to our dedicated zoom room.
Once there, click the "Launch Meeting" button to start your session. To hear us and vice-versa - don't forget to "Join with computer audio."
If the Zoom Room isn't available and you need answers, you can email us at membership@acbl.org.
ACBL Regions
District/Unit Officers List
Order Mini-McKenney Medallions
Marketing Solutions by Pianola
C & C Procedures
The button below will take you to the MyACBL portal (you may need to log in). By default you will see the officers associated with your unit. To see other officer lists, you can sort with the buttons at the top right of your screen.