Two years ago, the long-running Wednesday Night Duplicate Bridge group at the Senior Center decided to stave off their dwindling numbers by offering classes to teach new members how to play. The plan worked beautifully.
“Sometimes we have up to five tables, which is spectacular!” says long-time bridge enthusiast Shirl LeVesconte, who co-teaches the game with Susan Freeman on Monday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. As LeVesconte explains it, duplicate bridge at the Senior Center is completely different from what duplicate bridge means to most bridge players.
“Duplicate bridge groups can get very competitive and can also be unfriendly,” she said, “but this is a very low-key, relaxed kind of duplicate bridge. You won’t find anything like this in Dayton.” When I spoke with her on Wednesday night during a break in the action, LeVesconte pointed out all the participants that evening who were recent “graduates” of the class. She especially wants people to know that Wednesday night bridge games include “gentle instruction” and “lots of laughing.”
Freeman is currently teaching a group of new players on Thursday nights. She would be happy to teach an additional group (at least four new persons) on Tuesday afternoons. On Wednesday nights, the action starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information about classes and dates, contact Freeman at 767-0235. All ages are welcome. You do not need a bridge partner to attend.
photo by Susan Gartner -- May 26, 2010
posted to A Yellow Springs Blog -- May 28, 2010
