Dear Members,

Welcome back to those who have been gradually reappearing at the club and our thoughts are with those who feel safer staying at home over the winter months. Recently we have been phoning members who haven't attended the club for some time to check on their welfare. The response to these calls has been overwhelmingly positive; people have been pleased to hear from us and are looking forward to returning to the club once COVID numbers begin to decline and the flu season has abated.

Our current membership stands at 754 and the number is steadily rising as people from the Wednesday night classes begin to join up. Our thanks go to Shirley Newton for her excellent teaching, to Liz Armstrong and Lizzie Thompson for their nurturing of the new recruits, and to the steady stream of volunteers who assist at the classes. We have some very promising players coming through and we welcome them to our club.

At the other end of the membership continuum we were delighted last Tuesday night to congratulate John Wignall, not only for having turned 90, but also for having been a member of the club for approximately 69 years. During this time John has led by example in terms of his bridge prowess, his leadership and guidance of the club during difficult times and his ongoing loyalty and commitment to an organisation which he says has always supported him. The comradeship and sense of belonging which members often allude to are the aspects which draw us back and ensure the club's continued survival.

The game of bridge has had to adapt to the new situation created by COVID. Maintaining a balance between face-to -face club bridge and the increasingly popular online alternative is an issue which NZ Bridge intends to address. A questionnaire has been sent to all regional committees and clubs asking for input to inform future strategy. This will be sent out to all CBC members and the data collated by the committee and submitted to the national body.

In the meantime the committee continues to administer the day-to-day business of the club. A new motor has been fitted in the front gate and the spouting cleared of blockages. Bev Johnson, the committee member with responsibility for the Health and Safety and Convenors portfolios, has resigned recently for health reasons, and we have co-opted Jan Lenton onto the committee to take over these responsibilities. We thank Bev for all her hard work and are grateful to Jan for her willingness to step up. Other club members have also helped out during recent staff absences due to illness and we thank you all for what has been a real community effort. The committee also appreciates that members who are unwell are continuing to stay away from the club until they have recovered.

Take care everyone.

Marilyn Copland,

Club President.