In Portland, I think we are treated really well, compared to what I am hearing from you-all. We have class every Wednesday for the entire season for four years. Our "commissioner" (assignor and big-daddy) makes a great effort to know us all by name in about three weeks. He keeps track of our capabilities and keeps us from getting in over our heads. And gives us partners who will work with us and treat us right. I hate to think what some of my partners from last year were saying about me after the game, but to my face they were uniformly encouraging, helpful, and respectful. Except for one guy, who isn't in the Association any more. All my class mates say the same. So if anyone wants to know how to do it right, talk to Howard Mayo. Find him at
http://www.pboa.org.
The only thing I think could be better around here would be to have a separate little group for women. I envy some of my hoop-sisters who have their own org. in their town. This one thing made it very, very tough for me to get past that first meeting. But on the other hand, I have heard not one word of patronization or of discrimination. The leaders in our group just do not tolerate it.