Donations and Volunteers Needed!

This article goes a long way to explaining why we think this charitable organization is needed in the KC Metro area.

With our newly achieved status of a charitable organization 501(c)3 we are in fundraising mode!  We need your help to turn the metropolitan Kansas City area, in particular, into the recognized leader in promoting the benefits of playing bridge to people of all ages!  Please read this letter to see what we’ve been up to and read about our matching donor and our appeal for 2022-23!

We have succeeded in our short term fundraising goal.  We now have  6 tablets and 6 Bridge+More dealing machines and cards for 6 tables!  

Our goal for 2023 had been to purchase another 2 B+M dealers and associated tablets, cards, and carrying cases.  We have decided not to pursue that due to some issues with the machines and the  difficulties in transporting more machines.  So until we get a permanent facility, we will not be buying more dealers.  We will be continuing our youth summer lessons.   We do get grant money from the ACBL Educational Foundation to help with the youth lessons but that grant does not pay for all the expenses.  So help us raise some more money!  Mail us a check, or catch one of our board members to donate cash, or talk to our treasurer to donate stock.  We take it all!

PAYING BRIDGE FORWARD!
Has the game of bridge been beneficial in your life or in the life of someone you care about?
 
Has it provided social connections, intellectual challenges, scholarship money?
 
I know it has provided me with both social connections and intellectual challenges over the years and has allowed me to in turn provide those for others, as well as provide scholarship money for some. Kathy Rolfe
 

Kathy, I believe in what you do. I’ve borne witness from two different angles. First, the children you taught and how it developed their intellect and social skills. And, now living in Florida, I see the elderly who are playing bridge and are incredibly sharp for their age. Two of the women are in their 90’s. Are they playing bridge because they are sharp and enjoy the game or are they sharp because they’ve been playing bridge for years? To me it doesn’t matter, the fact is, bridge is a part of their lives at age 90, and that’s amazing!

Best wishes, 
Stacia 
 

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO PAY ( and PLAY) THOSE BENEFITS YOU HAVE RECEIVED FORWARD!

With this fund drive we hope to move into our first leased space and grow our base for lessons and games.  We will continue to fund raise beyond that, hoping to get into a much larger, multi-functional space to increase our outreach as we continue to grow.

While we are fundraising we will begin offering classes, particularly to youth and to their family members.  Those classes will be held wherever anyone will host us!  We are looking for libraries, churches, community centers, country clubs, etc. to offer us space at a nominal fee or no fee to begin offering these classes.  The classes will be led by paid accredited bridge teachers only, but we are looking for volunteers to help out as table coaches as well.  If you are interested in joining our list of teachers or volunteers, or if you have space available for holding classes – please contact us!

The longer term goal is to raise enough funds to either lease or own our own space.  That facility will have its own instructional room as well as a separate large playing area.  Of course, plenty of clean restroom facilities, kitchen space, coat storage space, parking space, and the latest in duplicate bridge equipment along with comfortable chairs with plenty of space around those tables and chairs, will also be included in that plan.  As funds are raised we will begin to look into options for that facility’s location, hopefully in Lee’s Summit to encourage both existing players and new players in both states to give us a try.  If you know of a suitable property, let us know!

Like what you’ve read so far?  Want to make a tax deductible donation?
Donate

Or you can donate by contacting any of our Board Members.  (The amount that is tax deductible will depend on your own tax situation.  Please consult your tax advisor.)  You can mail a donation directly to Mo-Kan Bridge Academy, 490 N Winnebago Dr, Lake Winnebago, MO 64034.

If you wish to make a donation of shares of stock, please contact the Treasurer for transfer information. Want to avoid even more taxes?  Consider making an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution. Seniors 70 ½ years of age and over, can transfer their IRA distribution directly to charity. By going directly to charity, the money is not included in the IRA owner’s income and is not taxed. This preserves the full amount for charitable purposes. Ask your IRA administrator to make a qualified distribution to Mo-Kan Bridge Academy.

Even if you can’t donate money right now, consider volunteering or at least letting others know of this organization.  They might be interested in learning to play bridge or they might be willing to donate.  So help get the word out there!

 

Summer 2024 – Friday Morning Youth Bridge Lessons

We will be having bridge lessons for youth age 8 to 18 from 9:30 to noon.  An adult can come to the lessons as well as long as they bring a youth with them. 2024 Summer Flyer.  See the details below:

Dates for 2024:

When:  Fridays,

  • May 31
  • June 7, 14 (Youth Lessons, but no duplicate game), 28
  • July 12,26
  • August 2,9 

Where:  Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 SW State Rt. 150, Lee’s Summit, MO

Time:  lesson from 9:30 to 10:15, snack break from 10:15 to 10:30, supervised play/continuing lesson from 10:30 to noon or if deemed ready by the teacher, any youth may join the duplicate game from 10:30 to approximately 1 p.m. at no additional cost.

Who:  Youth ages 8 to 18, or an adult who brings a youth with them.  All skill levels are welcome, we’ll teach you wherever your skill set is, including absolute beginners.

Cost:  $5 per Friday session per student.  You must pre-register so we can make sure we have enough helpers and lesson material.  This also lets us notify you of any last minute cancellations.  Any adult moving from the lessons to the duplicate session will be required to pay an additional $3, this effectively pays for the duplicate but your lesson is free.  A Minor Consent form must be completed and turned in the first time your child attends.  That form is available here and will be available on site.

What:  Students will get printed handouts or possibly textbooks (attend and pay for at least 4 classes and you will definitely receive a textbook).  Prizes for attendance will also be provided.

Current Covid policy:   If staying for the duplicate session we ask that you bring your own lunch as lunch will not be provided to the duplicate players, grab and go snacks will be available.  Or you can wait until after the duplicate game to go find your lunch elsewhere!  We PREFER everyone be vaccinated.

Get the Summer 24 Youth Bridge Flyer and spread the word!  

Games – Location and Times

Covid-19 vaccinations not currently required.  THIS is now a MAY through AUGUST GAME ONLY!

  1. NEXT GAME: May 30, 2025. Pre-registering for the Friday games by 5 p.m on the Thursday before is now required.  See more detail below.    We are now using a shortened game format, only 18 to 21 boards, should be done by 1. 

GAME RESULTS:  (Remember for any game played with the dealing machines, you can always see detailed results of games you played in by going to the bridge plus server and (after creating a log in with your email and the pswd bridge)  click on RESULTS.  Once you’ve established that log in you can change the password.)

Aug. 09 Game Results   Aug 9 Hand Records  

 Aug. 2, 2024 Game Results  240802HandRecord

July 26 Game Results.   July 26 Hand Records

July 19 – 2 table homestyle pairs results.  Masterpoint awards

July 12 Game Results.    July 12 Hand Records

June 7 Game Results. June 7 Hand Records

 

DAY:  Fridays 10:30 a.m. .  SANCTIONED GAME!  Member of the Common Game! NEXT GAME: May 30, 2025 You must notify us that you plan on playing – please do so by 5 p.m. the day before the game.   The game will cancel if we don’t have at least 12 players signed up ahead of time.  If you find yourself able to play on Friday but had not signed up, please check this page to make sure we have not canceled.  If the game is still on, please feel free to come.    

Contact the director,Kathy Rolfe,  to let her know you plan on playing.  For the foreseeable future,  we are requiring that you sign up by Thursday at 5 p.m. if you plan on playing the next day.  If you have any questions or need a partner, please contact the director.

Where:

Holy Spirit Catholic Church
1800 SW State Route 150
Lee’s Summit, MO

The church is located on the north side of 150 Highway,  second street on the right west of Ward Road (SW Arboridge Dr.) or the first left east of Pryor Road (SW Arboridge Dr.)

When:  10:30 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m.
Play begins promptly at 10:30, please arrive a few minutes early so you can be in your seats and ready to go by 10:30!

Cost:

  • $8 
  • We will let you have your first play for $6 if you are an ACBL member.

What is included?

  • Coffee, tea, some grab and go snacks 
  • Guaranteed partner if necessary
  • Pre-duplicated boards with hand records.  We will use the Bridge+ More Dealers and email hand records to you if we have 6 tables or less.
  • Member of The Common Game.  You will have results emailed to you if you are an ACBL member with your email on file.
  • Results will also be posted on this website.

Games Offered

Novice Game:   (0 to 20 masterpoints) stratified within this bracket if possible.  3 table minimum required.  If less than 3 tables, players will need to play in the open game.

Open Game:  Players can hold any number of masterpoints and play in this game.  Stratification within this game whenever possible, dependent on number of tables in play.

Partnership Guaranteed

This is a pair duplicate game which means you will be playing with the same partner throughout.  We encourage you to find a partner with whom you are comfortable.  However, if you need us to find a partner for you we will make every effort to do so ahead of the game if you contact us.  If a partner has not been found or if you suddenly find yourself without a partner, you can still come to the game, but let the director know ahead of time if possible.  We will either match you up with someone else in a similar situation at the game, or you will play with the game director as your partner.  Bear in mind, if you come to the game without a partner, you may have to play in the open game if your partner is not eligible to play in the novice game.

Contact the director, Kathy Rolfe ,  if you have any questions or need a partner, or just to let him know you plan on playing!

GAME CANCELLATION NOTICES

NO GAME AUG. 30, 2024

next game May 30, 2025

  • We might need to cancel on short notice due to unexpected Church events.  Those who have let us know they plan on coming will get an email notice of cancellation.
  • Game cancellations will be noted on this page when they happen.    Games will be canceled by the Thursday evening prior to the game if we don’t have at least 12 people signed up to play ahead of time.

Looking for Event Space

Mo-Kan would like to start a youth bridge education program on Saturday mornings!  We are looking for space to hold the lesson followed by supervised play.  A snack in between the lesson and play would be provided.  The program would be either free or for a nominal fee.  In order to do that, the space needs to be offered either free or at minimal cost.  We would need the space from about 9:30 to noon, or possibly 9 to 11:30.  We’d like to offer it beginning the second Saturday in October.  If you know of an organization that could help us out, have them email us or message us.

Learning bridge teaches one how to think, not what to think!  China, India, and Europe are way ahead of us!

If we get this going, we will also be in need of volunteer bridge teachers (or almost volunteer) and volunteer table coaches.  If you would like to help please let  your Kansas City area board members know!

Benefits of Bridge for Youth and Adults

At the Unit 131 Fall Sectional Tournament on Oct. 28, 2023 at 2 p.m.  we  had 6 current youth students of Mo-Kan Bridge Academy and regular players in our Friendly Friday game and one former student (now all grown up) competing in the 0-299 masterpoint section.  There were 8 tables in play.

Charlie and Alex came in 3rd EW and 5th overall with a 54.39% game for .78 silver master points.  Robert and Rose came in 3rd NS with a 52.31% game for .47 masterpoints.  While Ana and Tom did not scratch they had a perfectly respectable game (better than mine!) of 46.22% for 5th EW.  For their efforts Charlie, Alex, Robert, and Rose will each receive a $50 Scholarship towards their post-secondary education when they graduate from high school.  Kathy Rolfe provides this scholarship through the Rolfe Bridge Fund administered through the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.

The students are pictured here: L to R:  (teacher Kathy Rolfe) Alex, Rose, Tom, Ana, Robert, Charlie)

Looking for a summer camp?  Try out  the Youth Bridge Education Organization (YBEO) residential week long camp in Carlinville, IL.   YBC 2022 Camper Application

Bridge may help your child perform better academically!

Another Youth Bridge group run by youth!  Check it out!

Statistically Speaking – Read the study results!

Students helped with Math – read the article!

Bridge is great for social interaction and friendships.

How they did it in St. Louis.

Bridge isn’t just for math skills.

Bridge Tricks are for kids.

Bridging Generations

89 Years Bridged!

Another young life master!

Mo-Kan Bridge Academy Organizational Structure

Mo-Kan Bridge Academy is incorporated in the State of Missouri as a non-profit corporation.  We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Donors can deduct contributions made to us under IRC Section 170.  Please consult your tax advisor.

Current Board:
Sandi WITT

TERM ENDS 12-31-24

President (contact her)

 

MELINDA MOYLAN,

TERM ENDS 12-31-25

 

PatrICK MOYLAN, TERM ENDS 12-31-26

(Contact him)

Officers:

President:  Sandi Witt

Vice-President: Eric Rolfe (Contact him).      

Secretary-Treasurer:  Kathy Rolfe, (contact her)       

Contact us:  816-237-0519
Mo-Kan Bridge Academy, 490 N Winnebago DR, Lake Winnebago, MO 64034

You can find our Articles of Incorporation here.

Our  bylaws:  Mo-Kan Bridge Bylaws 180116

Our Whistle Blower Policy:  MoKan Whistleblower policy

Our Conflict of Interest Policy:  MoKan Conflict of Interest Policy

Minutes:

Minutes 180116

Minutes 181109

email agreements 18119-181221

Minutes 181226

email agreements 2019

Minutes Dec 29 2019 Board Meeting

Approved Minutes Dec 23 2020 Board Meeting

Approved Minutes Dec 29 2021 Board Meeting

Approved Minutes Dec 29 2022 Board Meeting

Approved Minutes Dec 27 2023 Board Meeting

Email Agreements April 24, 2024