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*** Announcement ***
ABTA - Master Point Press
Teacher of the Year
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details...
2010 Finalists
For Immediate Release
Announcing the ABTA Master Point Press Teacher
of the Year Award
Friday September 4, 2009 – Not every bridge
teacher has authored a bestseller, written a newspaper column, or become
well-known enough to receive an entry in the Encyclopedia of Bridge.
Nevertheless, there are many teachers who continue
to inspire their students day in and day out, promoting the game in
their community and answering any question clearly, concisely and
without judgment, whether it’s about Roman Keycard Blackwood or simply,
“What’s a finesse?”. Their work too often goes unrecognized, yet it is
vital to the future of the game.
Starting next year, thanks to Master Point Press,
the world’s largest publisher of books on bridge, and the American
Bridge Teachers Association (ABTA), these anonymous-yet-praiseworthy
mentors will finally have an annual award to call their own: the ABTA
Master Point Press Teacher of the Year Award.
“This is really for the unsung heroes of the bridge
world”, Barbara Seagram, co-author of the bestselling 25 Bridge
Conventions You Should Know, chair of the ABTA Teacher of the Year
Committee, and a bridge teacher herself, said in a statement. “At last
there is an award for those in the trenches.”
To nominate someone, students are encouraged to
e-mail one or two paragraphs to Seagram (bseagram@ca.inter.net)
explaining why their teacher deserves consideration. Nominees must have
at least five years’ teaching experience, and teach at least 75 hours a
year. Nominations will close on April 1, 2010.
The award will be given to a teacher who
exemplifies what Seagram calls “love for the game.”
“They may not have a famous name, but… their
communication skills and enthusiasm promote bridge’s future, adding to
your enjoyment,” Seagram said.
Master Point Press co-founder Ray Lee is
“delighted” to be working with the ABTA to create the Teacher of the
Year award.
“It is the bridge teachers who bring new people
into the game, and we want to recognize their hard work and dedication,”
he said.
The first winner will be presented with a “Teacher
of The Year” plaque and a cash award next July in New Orleans, at the
ABTA’s 2010 convention.
The ABTA is a professional organization of
bridge teachers from Canada, Mexico and the USA. Its mandate is to help
those who teach bridge to do it better.
Master Point Press is the world’s largest
publisher of books on contract bridge with more than 150 titles in
print. Most recently MPP has expanded its reach by starting a blog
site at
www.bridgeblogging.com, aimed at providing a forum for discussion on
all things bridge, and a sister site
www.masteringbridge.com designed for teachers and students.
For more information, contact Barbara Seagram
(416-487-8321,
www.barbaraseagram.com) or Linda Lee (416-781-0351,
www.masterpointpress.com), or visit the ABTA website at
http://www.abtahome.com.
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