The Rita Alkonis Memorial Award goes to the Unit 359 Intermediate player who wins the most master points in Unit 359 local club games. The Unit 359 Board has defined "Intermediate" to mean one who begins the calendar year with between 500 and 1000 masterpoints. So that the Award may be made at our annual Holiday Party, the Award covers points won between 1 January and 15 November of a given year. The winner collects a $100 cash prize.

The Award was established by former Unit 359 member Irene Hyatt in memory of her friend and frequent bridge partner Rita Alkonis, who passed away in 2004. Rita and Irene were both longtime Unit 359 members and feared competitors at the table. Irene moved from Boulder some years ago and is now a member of our neighboring Denver unit.

Kaye Birmingham won 55+ masterpoints in local games to claim the 2008 Award. Here is a list of those who garnered 20 or more masterpoints in the 2008 race:

1)	55.06	Kaye Birmingham
2)	42.27	Andy Johnson
3)	42.14	Nettie Ashbee
4/5)	40.14	Gloria Sager
4/5)	40.14	Ed Sager
6)	38.95	Ann Johnson
7)	36.41	Paul Benson
8)	34.76	Martha Gagliano
9)	28.40	Maud Greer
10)	28.32	Betty Jacobson
11)	28.12	Katelin Yates
12/13)	26.62	Lois Quinn
12/13)	26.62	Paul Flanders
14)	26.03	Denise Desbarats
15)	25.24	Pat Lucas
16)	23.35	Joan Stern
17/18)	21.95	Andrea Kutscher
17/18)	21.95	Ed Gardner