American Contract Bridge League
Unit 484   District 20

It's been but a few months since Leah McKechnie started playing Duplicate. Yet we are seeing her name every where--in the columns of Winners Circle and in announcements of volunteers for our bridge organization. Leah is one of the new members of our Unit Board. She represents our burgeoning group of newer players; she injects her enthusiasm and energy into promoting Duplicate in the Valley. "I never miss a chance to promote Duplicate at our social gatherings," she says. She was event coordinator at the recent Valentine party at the Ashland Club, and she has taken on the responsibilities of Hospitality Chairman for the Southern Oregon Spring Sectional. Added to that, she and Gee Gee Walker will be flexing their culinary skills to provide the dinner for the March Unit game.

Leah was born and reared in Minnesota. She and her family played all types of board games. (Leah learned party bridge from her husband of thirty years, Mark.) She earned her degree in Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University, and she practiced her art until she and Mark retired to Medford last year.

Laura, their daughter, is a graduate student in International Studies at Syracuse, and Noah, their son, is studying Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State. The patter of little feet, heard at the McKechnie house, are from Izzy (a Jack Russell terrier), and two cats. Leah's other hobbies, in addition to bridge, include quilting and faux painting. Leah belongs to a church organization that makes and contributes warm quilts to underprivileged youngsters

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Leah's first introduction to Duplicate was at a 99er game at the Ashland Club. She found everyone to be "extremely helpful and nice." She began lessons with Bernadine Lacy. Leah admires Bernadine's "positive attitude and energy" as well as her knowledge of bridge. Leah is proud to be a Junior Life Master. She aspires to climb the masterpoint ladder to Life Master. She and Mark like to compete occasionally with the more advanced players. Leah comments that she especially enjoys the "courtesy rules and procedures" that are read by players before each session of the 99er games. The rules are instructive and necessary to proper play. She would like to see more beginner games offered and more evening sessions scheduled for younger players who work.

With Leah McKechnie injecting her enthusiasm, hard work and optimism into her many volunteering duties and play of the game, the bridge organization is bound to grow.

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