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Event Summaries
INDIANA ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED (IAG)
December 8-10 Indianapolis, IN
Indiana was a blast! Matt Cory was the organizer and working with him were Brooks Chupp and
Beth Morton.
Over 160 teachers came by to find out about bridge and play a few hands. Everyone had a
great time and we’re expecting more good news coming from Indiana over the next few months.
Thanks all!
Texas Association of Gifted and Talented (TAGT)
December 4-6 San Antonio, TX
Sally Sassen was the organizer for the event. Working with her were Allison Freeland and Betty Starzec and they were BUSY!
They spoke to over 150 teachers. 93 teachers have joined ACBL and registered for supplies for 5,705 students.
Based on overwhelming support from Texas Units and District the participated in the Scavenger hunt and a 45 minute ‘speaking time’ with a talk prepared by Starzec/Tucker and designed by Blakely Meyers of ACBL.
Betty Starzec stated that the teaching session was very worthwhile and that numerous teachers were heard to say “now I’ve got to teach my husband to play bridge.”
Great job and thanks to them for their hard work. We’ll be back…this is an annual conference that we will attend.
FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF GIFTED
November 1st Cocoa Beach, FL
The Amazing Sharon Carter was the organizer of the Booth. Sharon reported that the display
was big hit. One of the organizers of the conference personally came over to compliment the
banners. Thank you!
Several teachers stopped to read the banners and then initiated conversations. As Sharon
mentioned bridge is a social game. One of our ‘life lessons’ is learning to work with each other
for a common goal. That’s a huge part of the game of bridge!
Over 50 teachers were interested in finding out information about out program. Some of whom
requested a Zoom meeting to garner more detailed information. CALL ANYTIME….I’M
READY!
Jump Start Bridge Training!
October 27th Atlanta, GA
Eighteen bridge players and teachers gathered from all over the country in Atlanta to learn
about Jump Start Bridge, how to get involved AND how to organize and host a
booth/conference in their state!
We went over the program itself, the logistics of setting up a booth, how to register school
teachers for the program and poured over Frequently Asked Questions and how BRIDGE is
the answer to everything a teacher wants and needs in their classroom curriculum!
Many thanks to Sam Marks the owner of the Bridge Club of Atlanta for the use of his space
and to Eileen Seitz for organizing breakfast pastries and lunch for us! A shout out to
Stephanie Threlkeld from ACBL as well for coming and explaining the ins and outs of the
School Bridge Program.
We even had Mike Levine attend so he could learn how to run a booth as well! Let me know
when you are ready for me to sign you up!
Here’s where we all came from:
Allison Freeland – Florida
Bruce Pynnonen – Michigan
Elise Read – Louisiana
Ginna Domm – Tennessee
James Herchenroeder – Kentucky
Jan Sardina – Tennessee
Jane Champion – North Carolina
JennyPeterson – Minnesota
Jenny Wolpert – Florida
John Jones – California
Kay Enfield – New Mexico
Linda Dunn – Georgia
Marty Nathan – Georgia
Pamela Dow – Arkansas
Patty Nathan – Georgia
Sharon Carter – Florida
Stefanie Scott – Texas
Wayne Dow – North Carolina
Colorado Association for Gifted Teachers
October 21-23 Loveland, CO
The CAGT conference was enormous with over 900 attendees. Sharon Smith was the organizer for
the booth and working with her were Jo Smith (retired gifted teacher), John Grossmann, Sally Ann
Rhea, Kelly Wawrzynek and Linda Thieken (who is the organizer for the Arizona conference in
February 2025).
Over 30 teachers registered for Jump Start Bridge. Two were from South Dakota! We are going to
have some bright new players to play with soon!
Many thanks to the conference’s onsite personnel and the organizing committee. Extremely well run!
This was a very rewarding conference and one we will certainly return to in the future!
ALABAMA ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN (AAGC)
October 15-17 Birmingham, AL
JUMP START BRIDGE AT THE AAGC!
Kris Oliver was the local organizer of the booth at the Alabama Association for Gifted Children
conference. She and her crew (Keith Anderson, Susan Bridges, Clay Hall and Dennis Luft) did
a wonderful job. The conference was extremely well run! Many thanks to those that made this
possible.
The conference was an unqualified success For Jump Start Bridge. When the teachers were
not in a meeting, they stopped by our booth and a few even played a hand of cards with us!
We were one of the only exhibitors that offered a free program to the teachers. One teacher
came back a few times before she believed us! Things that were interesting and exciting to the
teachers:
1) Lack of bridge knowledge was not an obstacle.
2) Yes, the program is really free?
3) The partnership and inferential thinking opportunities for their students.
4) Something new (and fun) for their students.
5) They could earn stipends for teaching their students a new sport!
Over 30 teachers joined ACBL and ordered materials for their Fall classes.
Summary
This was a wonderful and rewarding experience. Two of our Huntsville Gifted teachers who
have been teaching since last spring were at the conference and told other teachers they knew
to visit our booth and check us out. Word of mouth spread, and we were deluged. The
Alabama bridge groups from Huntsville and Birmingham could not have been more helpful,
enthusiastic and welcoming. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME NEW FACES AT THE
BRIDGE TABLE!
OHIO ASSOCIATION FOR GIFTED CHILDREN (OAGC)
October 16-18 Columbus, OH
The Ohio Conference was a medium size conference. Trish Jones was the local organizer for
the booth. She and her crew Judy Williamson, Phyllis Allmacher, Siraj Haji, Jerry Smith, Janelle
Courtright and Laurie Nolta did a marvelous job speaking with the teachers and explain the
benefits that Bridge can offer to their students!
Over 65 teachers stopped by to find out about Bridge, three deciding on the spot that they would
offer a bridge to their students.
A wonderful experience for everyone!
Jump Start Bridge at the Georgia Association for Gifted Children Conference (GAGC)
March 4-5 Columbus, GA
Introducing bridge to Gifted Teachers has proven to be an exciting and rewarding adventure! On the heels of the National Association for Gifted Children conference in November of 2023, Jump Start Bridge ventured on to the state scene in Georgia.
Over 700 gifted teachers attended, and many stopped by our exhibit to find out about the bridge! What is bridge. What bridge can offer them, their students and their school. And, best of all, how to play bridge!
Evelyn Gilliard, Linda Dunn and Patty Tucker from Atlanta and Amy Willis and Brenda Willis from the Columbus Bridge Club manned the booth, playing bridge with the attendees and sharing information about the game and the program. Three teachers indicated interest in trying bridge this summer in their schools’ summer program. Three teachers joined ACBL immediately. Over 175 teachers left information and asked to be contacted to find out more information, thinking about programs this August.
Jump Start Bridge is off to a rousing start. 19 programs of a total of 490 students have started school programs since November of 2023 from the attendees at the NAGC conference. Will have to wait until August for a final count from the GAGC conference. What will THAT number be?
Jump Start Bridge is an initiative of Atlanta Junior Bridge a 501(c)3 Educational Charity. If you are interested in more information about Jump Start Bridge, please contact Patty Tucker at patty@jumpstartbridge.org.
News and Articles
On June 9, 2024, twenty bridge teachers and players from eleven states met in Atlanta to learn how to staff exhibitor booths at state conferences. The event included training, guest speakers, and a collaborative effort to promote bridge education.
Check out how RSS is spreading bridge in their community! Giving kids skills and tools they can use everyday and in the future.
Congratulations to the winners from the Winter Bridge Class Tournament from Ms. Allen’s class! Great job all!
Fourth and fifth-graders at James River Elementary School in Williamsburg learn bridge, enhancing critical thinking and social skills. They compete in tournaments and enjoy the mental challenge.
University of Oklahoma sophomore Eric Sieg breaks stereotypes by playing bridge competitively, aiming to attract a younger crowd to the game. Despite perceptions and the allure of poker, Sieg and others see bridge’s complexity and social benefits as reasons for its appeal.
Students at Sullivan Middle School in Bonsall learn bridge weekly, improving math skills and making new friends. Instructor Mark Freundel guides them, supported by the American Contract Bridge League. Bridge offers intellectual challenges and life-long skills, with prestige as a grand life master being a major goal.
Twelve-year-old Adam Grossack defies stereotypes as a competitive bridge player, teaching the game to peers. Despite its image, bridge attracts young players like Adam, prompting efforts by the American Contract Bridge League to promote the game among youth.
Fourth and fifth graders share their opinions on bridge: it’s fun, challenging, and teaches patience, teamwork, and problem-solving. They find it rewarding and believe it improves memory and logical thinking skills.
Discover how today’s youth are embracing the classic game of bridge, building friendships, and bridging generational gaps. Explore the impact of initiatives like Atlanta Junior Bridge and the School Bridge League in shaping young minds.
The article explores how younger people are increasingly drawn to bridge, traditionally seen as a game for older adults. Efforts by organizations like the ACBL aim to engage juniors through initiatives like bridgeiscool.com and school programs, emphasizing the social and intellectual aspects of the game over online play.
Dr. Christopher Shaw’s study shows that children who learn bridge exhibit higher standardized test scores, attributed to improved inferential reasoning skills. Bridge instruction correlates with greater academic gains across various subjects over time compared to non-bridge learners. Click here to view the full data.
Lamplighter Montessori students excel at the Youth Bridge Conference in Atlanta, winning first place trophies and enjoying the experience.
The article discusses efforts to teach bridge to younger generations, focusing on two California programs for children aged 8 to 11. Despite financial challenges, instructors like Teri Atkinson and Nancy Schramm are dedicated to expanding the game’s reach, recognizing its long-term potential.
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