Bridge-It Jane's Diary

Breaking ground which none have yet trod, Cambridge's own Jane Stearns has sprung to national prominence with the release on YouTube of her NZ Bridge-commissioned video. The video provides an insight into Jane's methods for reviving bridge clubs. This is a subject of prime importance to NZ Bridge which is very concerned about declining numbers. Jane gives the background to the origins of this piece:

A player from Hawkes Bay was unable to attend one of my seminars and asked if I could film it so a wider audience could enjoy it. At first I just thought he was mad, but then I thought about it some more and decided if I could get my courage together to do it, perhaps it might help clubs where their numbers were dwindling. So I approached NZB and as they had liked the presentations I have been doing at Regional Conferences countrywide they agreed to me filming it. It took only a couple of hours to do the actual filming, but days to do the editing! It really was like producing a film. The final running time is an hour. It was released on 24 September with an invitation to all clubs across the country interested in rejuvenating their club to get members together over a pot luck supper and view it. The Bridge-It Jane's Diary that I developed accompanies it and is an action plan that helps clubs work towards a busy rejuvenation year.

I was taken very much out of my comfort zone on this project. My husband is the one who acts not me! But I just gave the same presentation I have been giving around the country, spoke from the heart, and hoped for the best. I had to contend with cuckoo clocks, cats, losing my way ... and the last 3 mins are worth a look just for the bloopers! I am now filming the lessons for NZB to help students who miss a lesson catch up easily and also provide refreshers to those who found the lesson pace a bit too fast.

Jane is a most compelling speaker. It was like reading a good book before bedtime. You want to go to bed but just cannot find a natural break to put the book down.

Click here to see what you think ... or save it for later if your club is one that will run a mass viewing.