December is the traditional time for giving. In addition to the time and money that might be donated to charity when the year comes to a close, you might want to end this year (or start the next one) by doing something cool for your bridge club too.
Here are a few suggestions.
1. Start a Duolingo Club
Bridge – especially when played at larger events or online – can become a multilingual game pretty fast. Start a Duolingo club for your card playing inner sanctum and it can boost your overall language skills. Everything from Welsh to Swahili is available, and if Duolingo doesn’t float your boat there are other apps and quizzes to make language-learning easier.
2. Subscribe to BBO Prime
A subscription to BBO Prime gives your club access to new articles about the game, bridge quizzes, free advanced robots, and an exclusive bridge club for Prime Members. Why not sponsor your club a subscription to BBO Prime for the year?
3. Book a Teacher
Connect with a bridge teacher and ask them to host a lesson or two at your club. For novice players, beginner lessons to get them started – and for more advanced players, intermediate lessons to better their game.
4. Help to Promote
One thing a lot of bridge clubs can benefit from is promotion. If people haven’t heard of the club, how will they know to sign up? Take a moment and advertise the club or an event on their behalf (after clearing it with the right Powers That Be in your club, of course).
How is up to you. A paid banner ad on a card site, physical flyers, an ad in the local newspaper. It doesn’t have to cost cash, either: There are many online advertising networks out there that are free.
5. Sponsor Your Services
Professionals in other fields can often apply their expertise to bridge. Web designers can design websites, graphic designers can create logos and flyers, writers can do the obvious (although I suppose there also writers out there who can juggle).
6. Donate!
Those in the position to donate money to their club by the end of the year is welcome to do so, of course: Many bridge clubs have a goal they’re working towards and it can do a lot for the club to support yours.
7. Clubs Almost Always Need…
There are a few things bridge clubs are almost always in need of. Chairs, tables, a selection of jams for accompanying snacks on game nights.
This might be a little different for your bridge club and you might have to speak to someone in your club to find out what they are in need of most right now, but there are many things you can do to help.
8. Magazine Subscriptions
There’s no shortage of bridge and card magazines out there. Why not invest in magazine subscriptions for your club? It’s a great way to stay current with what’s going on in international game news – and it can engage new and advanced players in the club.
9. Set Up a Movie Screening
These days, it’s not that hard to set up a movie screening – especially not if you have access to projectors-to-rent that are cheaper when you don’t have a massive area to cover.
Choose a few classic bridge flicks (or some newer bridge documentaries) and set up a screening night for your club.
10. Decks and More Decks
Every card player I know, even the ones who play mostly online, would appreciate another card deck in their collection. You can find everything from Yu-Gi-Oh!-themed card decks through to official ACBL decks, so you’re guaranteed to find one that suits every individual member.
11. For Everyone Else, Gift Vouchers
Some people are near-impossible to buy gifts for. Maybe this describes most of your bridge club. They can usually benefit from gift vouchers – in this case, bridge supply stores can be the perfect fit, but bookstores can also be great.