RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH THE EXPERTS …
In today’s NABC Daily Bulletin on page 4, Bobby noted a column captioned NABC Diary. As he read on, he asked if I realized that it was actually Yours Truly who initiated Breakfast with the Stars. Jackie Matthews, beloved “mother” of the caddies, who is recovering from surgery and missed Orlando, did some reminiscing by telephone:
Judy started it.
It has been pointed out that Judy Kay-Wolff was the originator of what has become Breakfast with the Stars, now being guided and organized by Rose Meltzer. The first such get-together was at the Spring NABC in Philadelphia in 2003 and was organized by Kay-Wolff.
I was aware that Rose had turned this into an ongoing successful event, but I must confess I really had not associated it with the one Jill Meyers and I collaborated on back in Philadelphia. In fact, in reading through my recap, I see Jill named it One-on-One Celebrity Brunch and also helped recruit many of the stars. I was Publicity Chairman and Co-Entertainment Chairman as well (and in retrospect can’t believe I agreed to don two hats, and play also). Naturally I started rummaging through my NABC Boxes and came upon a typewritten summary captioned “THE PHILADELPHIA NABC REPORT – MARCH 2003” which I had written (probably at someone’s request) recapturing all the events we put on each night, the names of all who helped, what kind of programs we presented, etc.. It was to serve as a guide to all future NABC holders suggesting successful ventures and warning them of some of the pitfalls of which we were not cognizant. It was a nine page summary and invited questions by contacting me by phone or by my (old) email address, coincidentally named judykay@bridgelove.com.
Here is a tiny part of the coverage:
“A novel concept introduced in Philly was our well-received ONE-ON-ONE CELEBRITY BRUNCH. Following through with the ideal of the ACBL of merging the newer, less-traveled player with the experienced world-famous expert, our District hosted a highly-successful (though very expensive) landmark event. For a paltry fee of $6.00 (a portion of which went to charity), our guests were able to “buy” brunch and the thrill of a fifteen minute sitting with the star of their choice (if one of the three slots was still available). The event was held Tuesday morning and tickets went on sale Saturday. Guess celebrities included: GRANT BAZE, LISA AND DAVID BERKOWITZ; SHANNON AND MIKE CAPPELLETTI, JR.; LARRY COHEN, DICKIE FREEMAN AND NICK NICKELL; AUDREY GRANT; ERIC GRECO AND GEOFF HAMPSON; ZEKE JABBOUR; DON KRAUSS; KYLE LARSEN AND ROSE MELTZER; JILL AND BOBBY LEVIN; JILL MEYERS; MIKE PASSELL; ERIC RODWELL; DEBBIE AND MICHAEL ROSENBERG; TOBI SOKOLOW; JOANNNA STANSBY; DOROTHY TRUSCOTT AND GAIL GREENBERG … and 24 hours before the brunch I accosted ZIA in the Marriott Lobby since he could not be reached in advance of the tournament.
….. ONE-ON-ONE was an uncontested winner.”
In retrospect, it was a very expensive adventure which was done as an accommodation to our guests. We had a healthy budget so money was not a consideration. Since we have not attended any of the Breakfast with the Stars events, I have no idea how it operates but I am so happy Rose continued the concept as it is a marvelous opportunity for the public to meet the great and gracious celebrities of our day.
Thanks for the memories, Jackie. Get well soon.
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The One on One event was one of the most outstanding of the entire national. Even the celebrities enjoyed it as people came out to honor them and ask questions ad infinitem. I remember how disappointed everyone was when they had to close shop although they could have stayed all day. The celebrities were so gracious and giving of their time and it was appreciated by the fans. Rose Meltzer is to be commended for following through with this theme.
When you have a chance, why don’t you give the entire ‘entertainment schedule of Philly 2003. It was novel and creative and the volunteers were standing in line to help.
JSS
JSS:
I must say I (and all our dozens of enthusiastic volunteers) were on duty (and playing) practically 24/7. I am delighted to have found the report I sent on (requested I believe) by the ACBL to give others ideas for entertainment. It also included the high times as well as ways we could have improved.
I would never have remembered all of them, but luckily my Report itemized them.
1) The unveiling of THE PHILADELPHIA CONNECTION (a HOF gallery of Philly’s 14 finest). They were copied at Kinko’s from pictures from the individual or their family,
mounted and then assembled as a collage (each being 18″x24″) suspended by cable
(2 rows of 7). The honorees were B. J. BECKER, JOHNY CRAWFORD, BOBBY GOLDMAN, CHARLES GOREN, BOB JORDAN, NORMAN KAY, PETER PENDER, OLIVE PETERSON, ARTHUR ROBINSON, SIDNEY SILODOR, HELEN SOBEL, CHARLES SOLOMON, DAVE TREADWELL AND SALLY YOUNG. IMPRESSIVE!
2) THE ONE-ON-ONE CELEBRITY BRUNCH.
3) A PIANO CONCERT of classical music given
between sessions one evening by Gertrude Flor, a Holocaust survivor, who offered her services (though we handed her some free entries). The audience gave her a standing ovation.
After hours:
We hired the POLISH AMERICAN STRING BAND
famed in Philly;
Put on HOLLYWOOD (Philly) Squares (produced by the late Bruce Keidan, technical support by Jane Segal and emceed by Larry Cohen and David Berkowitz). Panel was STEVE GARNER, ZEKE JABBOUR, GEORGE JACOBS, ZIA MAHMOOD, ROSE MELTZER, JILL MEYERS, BILLY MILLER, JANICE SEAMON-MOLSON and RON SMITH. A projector and screen were used to give the same game-effect as the celebrated TV program.
Next was a musical tribute to Philly (it’s movies and famous artists).
We had two casino nights (Monday and Friday). Themes were MARDI GRAS and SEQUIN/TOP HAT (with dealers appropriately garbed). Had 15 BJ Tables (rented), 4 poker tables, 2 roulette wheels, 2 crap tables. a money wheel and 12 slot machines. Prizes were free dinners from local restaurants plus wines, on-line-bridge subscriptions, designer watches, videos and cosmetic gift certificates. The top prizes were two-night stays at the TAJ MAHAL in Atlantic City plus food vouchers. We charged $10 for $500 worth of chips (and people kept going back for more).
MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE USA (18 MONTH ANNIVERSARY OF 911) REPLETE WITH FLAGS,
BANNERS, POMPOMS AND MUSIC OF SOUSA, BERLIN, COHAN, ETC. PLUS ARMED FORCES THEME SONGS. Very moving.
CARNIVAL NIGHT (bingo/tarot card reader/palm reader/ caricaturist/games of chance). Prizes were stuffed animals, tee shirts, mugs and bridge bucks for bingo.
SONGS OF YESTERYEAR (DANCE FLOOR WITH
MUSIC) from the 20s to the present).
A lot of advance preparation and lots of volunteers participating — but it was a smash hit.
So, if your locale has been awarded a National, the above should give you some ideas that you can convert to your particular city.
P.S. We did have one disaster — an after the first session cameo appearances by invited guest celebrities. I remember this for one particular reason (Bobby Wolff was one of the several other invited guests). We had an area reserved with tables and a buffet of goodies and soft drinks where the stars could mingle and talk to the guests. It was scheduled to open at 5:00 but the I/N game broke much earlier and the non-thinking (idiotic) employees opened the flood gates 45 minutes early. By the time the scheduled crowd arrived, the food and drinks were gone and all we had were hungry celebrities and guests who had been looking forward to the hour with the “cameos.” Were our faces red — especially mine. It was the only big flub, however, but haunted me for months. (Poor starved Bobby although it wouldn’t hurt him to miss a meal). That was back in March of 2003 — seven months before we reunited and married on Pearl Harbor Day of that year — coming up on our 7th anniversary this Tuesday).
Judy:
Your Report is a wonderful set of both guidelines and suggestions as well as a pre-alert as to the pitfalls of running a National. With all of your contributions to the game, it is incredible you remember so many milestones.
It is a shame LV didn’t inherit you in your younger days.
CP
Yes, CP, I always seem to be smack dab in the middle of things.
IMHO, the ACBL has run amok and there are too much politics and personal agendas involved. People turn their backs and point the other wayl No one is willing to assume responsibility for wrongdoing as you will continue to read about picking Peter Pender’s pockets and the refusal of the ‘directors’ committee to punish, reprimand and correct the individuals involved in the October 22nd debacle at our sectional where they were in outerspace. We have appealed to Jay Baum (CEO) to reproach them with all the facts (many of which seemed to be missing) and asked them to reconsider their decision with all the new information with which they were supplied.
The Peter Pender issue is worse — where a dead donor’s money was not spent as he intended it — but neither he nor his family and friends are here to attempt to right the wrong. It involved the disbursal of monies by either the ACBL or Educational Foundation that should no longer have been within their province after the Pendergraph which disappeared (in violation of his intention to perpetuate his name).
So, what else is new?
The ACBL,with certain sparse exceptions, needs all the help it can get. If the situations are not corrected, I will be compelled to write detailed blogs, naming names, figures, etc. I have tried in an amiable way to resolve the issues but everyone keeps passing the buck (and the head of the “Directors” does not even give me the coutesy of a reply — not wanting to get involved with their ridiculous ironclad decision to allow the status quo of October 22nd in Las Vegas). HORRORS! WHAT AN ORGANIZATION!
Judy
Judy, I had no idea you had started this. It is a great concept, however, and people (both experts and guests) seem to love it. Well done by you and Rose!
Peg:
I started it but Rose really developed it. To be honest, it seemed so long ago (and we had different names for the brunch, I had almost forgotten about it until Jackie Mathews’ comment.) Our guests loved the idea of one-on-one or two-on-two and the privacy of speaking to the experts without interruption. Whoever thought it might boomerang? Not I!