By Jan Fisher
 
It is with great sadness that I bid farewell to my good friend, mentor, and poker sounding-board Barry Tanenbaum. A noted poker player, author, scholar, combatant, and friend to all who knew him, he lost his battle with kidney disease early on November 22, 2011. I had known Barry for as long as I can remember.  Barry, along with his wife Betty, whom he always referred to as “the lovely and talented Betty,” supported all of the events in which I was involved, even during his declining health.  Betty, a top-notch poker player in her own right, will continue to make him proud with her poker prowess in years to come.
 

I’ve returned recently from a week of poker playing at the Commerce Casino, and it was one of the best weeks of my life. I’m not saying that most weeks of my life aren’t right out of a fairy tale; actually, I’m a lucky individual when it comes to being content with my life. I’m just saying that when I play poker, I am usually hosting an event, teaching a camp, doing a fundraiser, or running a cruise.

It’s that time of year when all my free time is spent playing poker. There are tournaments everywhere in Las Vegas—at all limits, on the Strip and Downtown featuring all games at all hours of the day and night.

The weather was cold and there was snow on the ground but the action inside the Grand Hyatt, Washington (DC), was hot and heavy as the annual poker tournament fundraiser to benefit the Paralyzed Veterans of America commenced. The PVA was formed 63 years ago and has raised both money and awareness of the challenges returning veterans realize when facing life changing injuries. Millions of dollars have been raised and progress has been made not only in the advancement in treating spinal cord injuries, but in finding ways to make life easier for those facing their new reality.

Last year I made a conscious decision to really get active in helping the needy. Many of my poker friends and I decided that it was time to step up and donate our time and effort in addition to just writing a check to a charity.

We began collecting coats, socks, sweaters, and winter clothing a few weeks ago to give out to those less fortunate than us. We solicited our friends, neighbors, and our two different weekly poker meeting groups, the Wednesday Poker Discussion Group (WPDG) and the No-Limit Discussion Group (NLDG), to donate as much slightly used or new goods as possible.

As in the 1939 Jimmy Stewart movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but without the madcap comedy and foreign intrigue, I had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC as a player representative for the Poker Players Alliance. In conjunction with National Poker Week, PPA state directors (http://theppa.org/), lobbyists, and many professional players called on more than 100 members of Congress to plead our case for the overturn of the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006).

Summer has finally hit the Las Vegas Valley and the mercury is firmly planted into the 100s with no break in sight ... at least not for a few months. The WSOP has come and gone, except for the final nine who are set to play in November, and many new champions were crowned. There were repeat performances by some of the poker world's elite players too.

The Deep Stack tournaments at many other properties are also finished or winding down. It's been a great few months of poker in Las Vegas, with the Venetian, Golden Nugget, Horseshoe, Wynn, and Bellagio, all hosting major events.

There, now that I got your attention, I was honored to be one of the second-year inductees into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. Joining me were June Field, the founder of Card Player Magazine, and Cyndy Violette, noted top high-limit pro. Each of them is a WSOP gold bracelet winner and has been in the poker industry as long as have I ... 30 years give or take a few.

In June, The Golden Nugget in Las Vegas plays host to two very special events near and dear to my heart. The first is the inaugural fundraiser for Poker Gives, a charity organization at pokergives. org, I co-founded with Mike Sexton, Linda Johnson, and Lisa Tenner. It's a donation vehicle for poker players and others to channel funds to a preselected group of worthwhile causes without having to jump through hoops to make it happen. It is tax-deductible and the Nevada Community Foundation is managing the funds and accounting.

I just returned from another cruise and road trip that included Asia, the Caribbean, and the Deep South. I've been playing poker, giving seminars, and hosting events. Sometimes I feel guilty at my good fortune while the nation struggles through the current economic crisis. It's a time to step up and help our neighbors, our friends, and maybe even those we don't yet know. Respecting each other is key, and I saw this clearly during my recent travels.