October 3, 2013

the 2013-2014 season will start with a series of events:

a. Oct. 10: Social Open House and Annual General Meeting

19:00 AGM
The meeting is an opportunity for the members to be informed of the operations of the club. Agenda::
1. Approval of the Agenda
2. Club Operating Structure
3. Finances
4. Technical
5. Club program
6. Installation of executive(elections if required)
The executive has for some time been composed of members who have taken on the tasks required for the operation of the club. Effectively it is a working committee and over the years volunteers have been recruited to fill vacant positions. To ensure opportunities for all members to participate executive is installed annually. Nominations for positions may be made at the Annual General Meeting and an election will be held if required.
7. Adjournment

19:30-21:00 Meet and Greet
Current and new members along with prospective members are invited to gather to reminisce about great and other curling moments of the past, along with those yet to come, and rekindle the curling spirit

Registration for League Activities:

Entries  for the first round of the House (Monday and Thursday) and Friday night leagues.  Also, team entries for the Ladder(Tuesday and Wednesday).
Town of Hudson Bonspiel: coordinated by the Legion and held from October 15-20, and, possibly the 27/28, depending upon the number of teams. Remember: teams must include a novice.
Opening Bonspiel: begins Monday October 21 and runs through Friday the 25th.

b. Oct. 11-14: open ice time for individuals and groups to practice and prepare for the season
Friday Oct. 11           13h00-19h00
Saturday Oct. 12       10h00-13h00 clinic
Sunday Oct. 13         10h00-13h00 clinic
Sunday Oct.13          13h00-16h00
Monday Oct. 14         13h00-19h00
c. Oct. 15-20 (and possibly Oct. 26-27): Town of Hudson Bonspiel. Sign-up sheets have been
   posted at the club and on-line registration forms are available at the Town of Hudson Bonspiel
   web site
d. Oct. 21-25: Opening Mixed Bonspiel

• last April the curling club members gathered in a town hall meeting to discuss the future of the club as a follow-up to the remarkable work which had been done in the shed.  It was felt that a long term plan which would ensure the maintenance of the facilities, growth of the membership and appropriate programming was essential. The executive committee then gathered the information and  developed  a  list of priorities reflecting the importance of the items as identified by the members. They are: 
  1. Quality of the ice
  2. Cleanliness of the facility
  3. Condition of the rocks
  4. Friday night activities
  5. Financial Plan 
  
  Here is what has been done, or will be completed in time for the upcoming season:
  
  Facitilites and equipment
  
  Dehumidifier
  The unit has been purchased and installed. It is the last component of the ‘refitting’ program for the shed.
   
  Electrical work
  To accommodate the dehumidifier, heaters, compressor and lights in the shed, it was determined that a dedicated line should be installed. This has been done.
  
  Floor grills
  These will be installed inside the front and back entrances to the Legion to help with the cleanliness of the facility.
   
  Temporary shelter
  A unit 16 feet in length by 5 feet in width will be attached to the rear entrance during the curling season. This will significantly reduce the snow and dirt which would be brought in, directly in the path of access to the shed.
   
  Curling rocks
  An evaluation of a pair of rocks has been completed by a company in London, Ontario. The decision regarding the type of work which we will have done will be made this year and undertaken for 2014-15.
   
  Programming:
  
  Friday Night curling
  To encourage individual members  and couples who wish to curl only on Friday nights a more appropriate membership fee will be introduced.
   
  Clinics
  The annual introductory clinics will be offered and will be expanded to include a program for more advanced curlers. Spread over the season this will focus on the strategy of the game, a training ground for potential thirds and skips.
   
  Season warm-up
  The ice will be available from the evening of the Social Open House, Thursday October 10 through Sunday October 13 for members and potential new curlers to ‘prepare’ for the curling season.
   
  Town of Hudson Bonspiel
  The Legion and Whitlock have agreed to disband the partnership which had been responsible for this event. The Legion will run it independently during the second week of October and it will maintain its objective of introducing  the  game to ‘new curlers’.
   
  Opening Mixed Bonspiel
  This will be held during the week of October 21, following the Town of Hudson bonspiel.
   
  Finance
  A copy of the proposed budget extending through 2017-18 has been sent out to all members who had provided an email address and is available to anyone on request. The purpose of this five year plan is to ensure that there is a membership fee structure which will provide the revenue to offset the expenses which have incurred with the renovation of the club. It is understood that this will be reviewed annually and restructured if there are changes which will need to be accommodated. This budget was presented at the April meeting and there have been some modifications based on the recommendations of the members. Here are the highlights:
   
  Membership fees
  The general membership fee has been increased by $25. The Hardy Rock fee increase is $35 based on the recommendation that the gap between that and the general  membership should be narrowed.
  A subsequent annual increase of $5.00 is projected.
  A discounted membership fee for first year curlers has been introduced.
  The Friday night curling fees have been modified.
  The new fee structure has been posted on the Curling Club membership information page.

Important curling competitions and bonspiels announcements

WINNIE’S MEMORIAL
CHRISTMAS OFFICE PARTY

DECEMBER 6, 2013

It is that time of year again when curling and the Christmas spirit mix at the Legion. Winnie’s Memorial Christmas Office party will again be held at the conclusion of the Ham and Turkey Bonspiel Finals, this year on Friday December 6. The curling gets underway at 19h30 and the party will follow the awards presentation, at approximately 22h00.

All members are invited to watch the curling and then join in the celebration of Winnie Normandeau’s contribution to the Christmas social season. Winnie was an active curler and supporter of the club, often coming up with great ideas for fun and fund raising for the Legion Curling Club. She worked very hard to get all involved.

One Christmas season Winnie was trying to get everybody to come to a Christmas Party, only to be told that they had other plans and were going to their own office party. Not to be daunted, she said – “I’ll have my own OFFICE PARTY - and they had better come because I’m the BOSS”. Well, many showed up and everyone had a great time. It’s now become a Christmas tradition at the Legion in her memory.

The focus of the evening is the always entertaining and somewhat riotous gift exchange. Participants bring a wrapped gift with a value of $5.00-$10.00 and the fun begins with an attempt to explain the rules of the game. Once underway players will select a gift from the table, may find it taken by another player, then return to the table and so on. Some gifts will may tour the room before eventually finding a home at the end of the game. Disguising the gift contributes to the mayhem. Laughter trumps all during the evening and experience shows that it is a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season.

Munchies for the evening are in a pot luck format and as always is wonderfully organized by Sandy Eades. Please bring a little something(nibbles or sweets) to share with everyone and let Sandy know what you will be contributing.

Hopefully you will have the opportunity to join us on December 6.